Send invoice USPS cost way too high.

[otismccool]

I'm trying to send an invoice to the buyer and I want to pay for shipping because he bought 2 items. Total weight is under 3 oz. Package size is 7" x 5". When I click Send Invoice the shipping is $24.40. It should be around $9. I tried clicking on the shipping calculator but when I was done it still showed $24.40. How to I resolve this? My zip code is 01824 and buyer's zip code is 45420-3835.

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@1tuna wrote:

this is the info I found for packages

Is a padded envelope considered a package?
Bubble Mailers and Envelopes are Considered Packages When They're 3/4 Inches Thick or More. USPS will only accept bubble mailers as packages if their total thickness is 3/4 of an inch or more. This applies not when the bubble mailer is empty, but when the contents of your shipment are inside.

A mailpiece must be flat-size or larger, if rigid, or over 3/4" thick to be classified and priced as a package (parcel). For padded bags (e.g., ReadyPost ® “cushion mailer”), when the thickness is 3/4" or less and the item is flat-size and somewhat flexible, the item should be classified and priced as a large envelope.

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That info is from some rando site called shippingschool.com, whereas I got my info from USPS's own Domestic Mail Manual and provided a link to the relevant section about flats.

Your quote isn't even consistent: in one place it says that the envelope must be over 3/4 inch thick, but the part that you set off in bold says OR 3/4 inch thick. The second statement is the accurate one, because a piece that's not over 3/4 inch thick still might not qualify to be mailed as a letter or flat, based on flexibility and evenness as I mentioned above.

[1tuna]

not trying to start an argument here  but they have gages at the post office that have 3/4 of an inch wide slots

if a bubble mailer can fit thru the slot it does not qualify as a package and its not  going to get tracking.

tracking is what we need.I wanted to talk about packages and you wanted to give example for flats

[richard1rst]

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@otismccool wrote:

7" x 5" by .25"  padded envelope

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That may be your problem. The computer doesn't understand decimals. It is reading ".25" as "25" and assuming it is 25 inches long. And that kicks in the new over length add on.

I don't use eBay shipping, but when I ship in Pirateship and click on padded envelope it only asks for 2 dimensions. In your 7x5.

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@1tuna wrote:

not trying to start an argument here  but they have gages at the post office that have 3/4 of an inch wide slots

if a bubble mailer can fit thru the slot it does not qualify as a package and its not  going to get tracking.

tracking is what we need.I wanted to talk about packages and you wanted to give example for flats

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The gauge is to determine whether the piece is eligible to be mailed as a flat (i.e., if it goes through).

A piece that is under 3/4 inch thick is not eligible to be mailed as a flat if it's rigid or uneven, so it's a package despite its thickness allowing it through that gauge.

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@richard1rst wrote: .... The computer doesn't understand decimals. It is reading ".25" as "25" and assuming it is 25 inches long. And that kicks in the new over length add on....

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I think that's getting closer to the answer, BUT the surcharge for a package that's 25 inches long is just $4.  The surcharge is $15 for packages over 30 inches.

[otismccool]

Okay, I'm all set. I put the discount of $24.40 in the invoice and sent it to the buyer. He paid for the two items he won and then when I paid for and printed the USPS label I was able to modify the shipping container's size (which is the reason the shipping was so high) and the shipping ended up at a more reasonable rate.

Thanks to everyone who chimed in. I appreciate your help!

[richard1rst]

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@nobody*s_perfect wrote:

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@richard1rst wrote: .... The computer doesn't understand decimals. It is reading ".25" as "25" and assuming it is 25 inches long. And that kicks in the new over length add on....

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I think that's getting closer to the answer, BUT the surcharge for a package that's 25 inches long is just $4.  The surcharge is $15 for packages over 30 inches.

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Interesting l I had one that weighed less than a pound. If I put in 25" it kicked it to Priority Mail and did not offer the option of first class. Because first class is limited to 22". So it wasn't just the length, it was also the upgrade to Priority. If I reset it to 21" then first class kicked in. Based on the weight I could send it first class  but the computer forced priority based on the length. I then sent it UPS at only about $1.00 or so over the 21" first class quote.

[nobody*s_perfect]

USPS has dimensional limits for all categories of mail. For online postage, the length limit for First Class packages is 22 inches:

https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/201.htm#ep1097318

In contrast, the dimensional limit for retail First Class packages is a length-plus-girth of 108 inches (which is the same as for Priority Mail). So there might be occasions when you're be better off paying for retail First Class package postage rather than online which would bump you up to Priority.

https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/101.htm#ep1002718