eBay

buxnbas · ‎08-14-2022

HELLO I AM A LONG TIME SELLER AND PRINT MY OWN SHIPPING LABELS FOR A LONG TIME..I PRINT MY OWN LABELS THROUGH EBAY I HAVE SHIPPED FISHING RODS IN THE PAST FOR 9.00 TO 11.00 DOLLARS WITH USPS,,NOW I TRY TO PRINT MY LABEL AND THEY ARE 24.00 TO 26.00 DOLLARS FOR FISHING RODS ..THE AVERAGE WEIGHT IS AROUND 1 POUND 7 OZ AND 76 TOTAL INCHES..BUT WHEN I TAKE THE ROD TO THE POST OFFICE TO MAIL THE CHARGE IS 9.00 TO 11.00 DOLLARS LIKE I USE TO BE ABLE TO DO ON MY COMPUTER ..ALL MY OTHER SMALLER BOXES ARE THE SAME AS ALWAYS JUST THE LARGER ITEMS SEEM TO BE AFFECTED..WHAT AM I DOING WRONG ..IM DOING IT THE SAME WAY I HAVE AWAYS DONE IT...HELP

theteamsetguy · ‎08-14-2022

The USPS recently added a big surcharge for lengthy packages which affects items like fishing rods, golf clubs, baseball bats, and etc.

buxnbas · ‎08-14-2022

THANK YOU FOR RESPONSE..BUT WHEN I TAKE A ROD TO THE POST OFFICE THE COST IS 9.00 TO 11.00 DOLLARS TO SHIP ..BUT WHEN I TRY TO MAKE LABEL FOR THE SAME ROD ON MY COMPUTER IT IS 24.00 TO 26.00 DOLLARS

ajs_coins_and_alchemy · ‎08-14-2022

Why in the world are you shipping the fishing rod without pulling it apart in the middle?

This is not even a joke...14 years ago during my dad's depression, he got "hooked" (haha) on Ebay. He bought a ton of fishing poles and fishing lures, (and boats and canoes on craigslist and tons of stuff). Needless to say we went fishing like 2x. At last count he bought 37 F-ING FISHING POLES. Yes. 37. It is a running joke in my family.

So what's the point. I know the shipment of fishing poles pretty well. 99.99%+ of fishing poles ive ever seen or heard of split in the middle. You can stick them in the tube. Why are you shipping a 76" fishing pole?

But ya idk if splitting it in half will fall under the lengthy surchage threshold.

Why didnt post office charge as much? Did they measure it? Some postal workers just dont care enough to check ... aka no surcharge

fab_finds4u · ‎08-15-2022

Then you need to take it to the PO to ship because the clerks there must not be aware of the surcharge, and they're using the rate table instead of inputting dimensions in their calculator. A regular size package less than 12 inches in length is 8.50 to 10.25 retail ground, or rounded up is $9-$11 before the $15 surcharge.

Add the surcharge and $24 to $26 is the correct charge.

If you go to the USPS website and use Quick Tools to calculate a price and you choose large package for any length over 12 inches the shipping coast to coast is $20-$26 for 7 oz 72x3x3 package.

nobody*s_perfect · ‎08-15-2022

On April 3, 2022, USPS introduced a surcharge which your local clerks are failing to charge, so it's in your best interest to ship your item at the PO counter, paying the regular retail postage rate, until they catch on. The new surcharge is $4 on packages with a length over 22 inches, and $15 for over 30 inches.

toysaver · ‎08-15-2022

I'd ship at the PO to save $15. Watch out for golf clubs too, some of those boxes are now oversized.

An inch can make a difference. If you round up for each 1/4" that adds 3 inches when it's really only 1". Is your PO measuring the box? If they are watch and copy how they measure. The PO does not measure the three dimensions they measure all 3 sides combined as one. Use a flat flexible sewing tape measure.

fern*wood · ‎08-15-2022

This is a general question to anyone. Can the USPS automated system that checks postage to see if they are correct also catch a package where the clerks were incorrect?

toysaver · ‎08-15-2022

No, if it was paid for at the counter there is no way to charge the account, there is no account to charge. If it was paid with cash they have no info other than return address. If charged they have no billing address, just a return address which is not necessarily the same. Name could have been different as well. I had a huge issue having small flat rate boxes charged as medium rate for months and the only way to escape the situation was to pay at the desk. Turns out the boxes were mislabeled.

nobody*s_perfect · ‎08-15-2022

@fern*wood wrote: ... Can the USPS automated system that checks postage to see if they are correct also catch a package where the clerks were incorrect?

Great question, I'm curious too. And if an underpayment is caught, who is the Postage Due billed to? The clerk who made the error? The customer on the return address? That would seem very challenging to pursue.

I'm pretty sure that the APV system is strictly geared towards labes that were purchased online. If the OP's packages get caught, we'll find out.

monica-sells · ‎08-15-2022

As a buyer, I have had 1st Class Packages (should have a 15.99 ounce weight limit) that weighed well over 2 lbs delivered to me. I was stunned......they were printed labels too.....

As a seller, I had to use the P.O. clerk counter once awhile ago (before the QR code option) to ship something (printer issue at home) they did the weight, measurement, and affixed the label. I "knew" it was not enough of a charge for the parcel. I tried to tell them. They insisted it was correct. 4 days later, "Returned to Sender" for Postage Adjustment.....

I am just trying to say, there is probably not a 'right' answer to your "Should I go to the Post Office" question.....

stephenmorgan · ‎08-15-2022

@buxnbas wrote:
THANK YOU FOR RESPONSE..BUT WHEN I TAKE A ROD TO THE POST OFFICE THE COST IS 9.00 TO 11.00 DOLLARS TO SHIP ..BUT WHEN I TRY TO MAKE LABEL FOR THE SAME ROD ON MY COMPUTER IT IS 24.00 TO 26.00 DOLLARS

There is a chance the buyer may receive a Postage Due Notice.

ajs_coins_and_alchemy · ‎08-15-2022

I've received packages that weigh 12 oz listed and charged a 4 oz rate. Always stuns me.

Your comment about buyer getting postage due notice is exactly why I NEVER underestimate my weight or print a label with wrong postage on it. I rather mark a 4.2 oz package for what it is, over 4 oz, than try to save 30 cents by marking it 4 oz. Why? I dont want my buyer getting **bleep** off at a postage due notice. It's the right thing to do and the last thing I want is to screw over or p off my buyer.

nobody*s_perfect · ‎08-15-2022

@ajs_coins_and_alchemy wrote:
I've received packages that weigh 12 oz listed and charged a 4 oz rate. Always stuns me.....

Probably the seller didn't actually get away with it. If the labels were purchased online, then probably the underpayment was detected by the APV system, and the Postage Due was automatically charged to the sender's account.

If you're shipping packages that weight 4.0 ounces or less, but paying for the 4+ to 8-ounce rate, then you should be getting credits when those overpayments are detected.

https://link.usps.com/2017/10/05/what-is-apv/

Old-fashioned Postage Due and "return to sender" are nowadays mostly due to errors by counter clerks, or misuse of Media Mail.

http://pages.ebay.com/sellerinformation/ship-smart/ebay-shipping-partners/avoid-extra-postage-costs....