Shipping Issues

[technolife1]

I have not sold on Ebay in awhile so I am a little rusty on the shipping options. 

I have an item that weighs 8lbs and is 16x16x4.5   I set the shipping estimate for 17x17x7 (this is a box I have available to ship it in)

I checked the Ebay shipping estimator https://www.ebay.com/shp/Calculator#USPS_ECONOMY
I used my zip code and then selected a zip code in the farthest zone (zone 8 to get the high end of the estimate. 

The estimator shows USPS is the most expensive option $46.31 for priority mail and FedEx is the cheapest $19.05 for ground and home delivery.  Yet in the listing it says "USPS recommended" with a completely different rate showing 12.30 - $36.75 and the Fedex is showing $11.67 - $96.67. (it originally showed the higher rate $14.04 - 130.88 before selecting Ebay's recommendation of USPS and switching it back to Fedex which then it showed the $11.67 - 96.67). see screenshots

I even took it a step farther and went to the USPS site and even though it doesn't provide Ebay pricing is $47.55 

SO what is accurate here? the Ebay shipping estimator or the shipping calculation in the listing (considering the quote for Fedex changed after selecting USPS and then switching back to Fedex)  I do not want to overpay for shipping nor do I want to include it for free if the shipping is more than $25 

[nobody*s_perfect]

USPS charges a "dimensional weight" for packages that are over 1 cubic foot (1728 cubic inches) if they are sent via Priority Mail, Parcel Select Ground, or Retail Ground.  At 17x17x7, your package has a volume of 2023 cubic inches, and the formula is to divide that by 166, so your package will ship at the 13-pound rate even though its actual weight is less.

eBay's recommendation that you use USPS, and their price quote of $12.30 - $36.75, is based on the retail 8- pound rate for Priority Mail, not on the 13-pound rate that USPS will charge because of the package volume.

I don't use FedEx, so I can't help clarify that, but I do know that I see a lot of threads about surprise surcharges that show up later.

[cosmo2tan]

If you can fit it in a flat rate box ship it. eBay changed the pricing for most packages this year by zones. So if you are in OH and you are shipping to PA and the package weighs 4oz then the cost is $2.76 but if you are shipping the same package to CA then the price is $3.18. Regardless its a pain. I try to ship everything flat rate if i can because the price is the same.

As for fedex we ship that as well and if the weight and measurement are off the slightest you will get hit with a huge fee. We have has overcharges of $500 plus for something being off.