Shipping Calculator Error

[tadmj]

I recently sold a 9x7 matted print on ebay. Using ebay's shipping calculator I selected large envelope and entered the weight 3oz and dimensions 11x8x1 (bubble wrap envelope). Cost $1.40. When I sold the print I was charged $3.12 by USPS for shipping. I was very unhappy.

I know what went wrong. A thickness of 1" makes it a package and not an envelope. USPS picked up on this. The shipping calculator did not. I went to the 'practice' shipping calculator and even entered 2" for thickness and it still did not catch the error.

It would be nice if someone would fix this.

[nobody*s_perfect]

eBay only sells  labels for packages, regardless of the dimensions that were entered in the listing.  

eBay's shipping calculator only uses dimensions to determine (1) whether a package is within the maximum size limits allowed for the chosen package service; and (2) dimensional cost if applicable. As you have seen, only full numbers can be entered; no decimals or fractions.  Because those aren't used by USPS in measuring packages.

If your item is eligible to be mailed as a flat (AKA Large envelope) then you can ship it at the PO or just put stamps on.  You told the shipping calculator to calculate postage for a flat (AKA Large envelope) and it did exactly what you asked.

The maximum allowed thickness for a flat is 3/4 inch. But USPS also requires flats to be flexible, so your matted print probably isn't eligible to be mailed as a flat.