Shipping Options Different Between Listing and Label

[smlouky]

I must be doing something wrong because my actual shipping charge is usually higher than what the buyer paid even though I'm using the built-in shipping tools to list and ship the item. Here's the most recent example. I'm hoping that someone can shed some light on what I'm doing wrong.

I listed an item and used the listing tool to put in the dimensions and weight. Then I selected Economy Shipping, Parcel Select Ground. You can see that in the screen prints below:

This is what the buyer selected and paid for. Then I was notified to ship the item. So when I go to print the shipping label, the system has defaulted to Flat Rate ENVELOPE and the Parcel Post option that I chose when I listed the item is not available. Any ideas? This happens to me all the time.

[nobody*s_perfect · Accepted solution]

The only think you're doing "wrong" is to assume that eBay operates logically.

eBay has decided to phase out access to Parcel Select Ground labels, even though USPS has made no changes in their services or policies, and it's offered by all other online postage sellers including PayPal, endicia, stamps.com, etc. When it's not offered, the shipping label page usually defaults to the first option on the list which is flat rate envelope. You can purchase Parcel Select Ground postage through PayPal at

www.PayPal.com/shipnow

But do compare prices before you do that. For Zones 1 - 4, the USPS online price for Priority Mail is  less than a dollar more than Parcel Select Ground. If you're a TRS you get a 3% discount when purchasing Priority labels through eBay, which often makes it cheaper than Parcel Select.  Your item shows a shipping cost of $16.78 to my location; the cost for online Priority Mail label would be $17.28, just 50 cents more which gets you faster delivery time and less rough handling which could potentially damage the item.

IMHO Parcel Select ground should only be offered when necessary such as for hazmat or Oversize packages (i.e., length-plus-girth above the Priority limit of 108 inches).

[albertabrightalberta]

You use calculated shipping so the rates will vary depending on the buyer's zip code. 

As for your "not an option" perception, that's not correct. You can choose one of the other boxes as long as the shipping method isn't downgraded. 

In that listing you show, shipping for me shows a price of  $16.78. If I put in a zip code across the country, it shows $27.83. (Those prices are for Parcel select. I don't see an option of Priority mail.)

If priority is less expensive, you ARE allowed to upgrade. Just tick the appropriate box when preparing the shipping label.

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@albertabrightalberta wrote: ... As for your "not an option" perception, that's not correct. You can choose one of the other boxes as long as the shipping method isn't downgraded. ....

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The point is that there is no box to check off for purchasing a label for Parcel Select Ground postage.

[smlouky]

Thanks, that's  very helpful.

But if eBay doesn't offer Parcel Select Ground when I ship it, then they shouldn't offer it to me when I list the product. It's misleading.

The buyer paid the Parcel Select rate which was less than $9.

I figured out I can get a Regional Box B and do that for about what the buyer paid. 

[smlouky]

I don't understand  your response. Parcel Select Ground was an option when I listed the item. It is not an optiion when I go to ship the item. I'm absolutely correct in that statement.

You're talking about $16.78 to ship when the buyer paid less than $9.  That's not an acceptable solution to me.

[nobody*s_perfect]

$16.78 was just an example of one of the potential Parcel Select Ground shipping costs for your listing -- that's the Zone 5 price.

If your buyer paid less than $9, then he must live in your Zone 1 or 2; Parcel Select Ground would be $8.58 and Priority Mail (for the same weight and Zone) would be $8.98 and Regional B would be $8.48.  But most PO's don't carry the Regional boxes so if you don't already have one on hand, just use the box you originally planned to use.

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@smlouky wrote: ...  if eBay doesn't offer Parcel Select Ground when I ship it, then they shouldn't offer it to me when I list the product. It's misleading..... 

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eBay allows sellers to choose any domestic USPS service when setting up their listing.  But they don't provide labels for several of them; not only Parcel Select Ground, but also Retail Ground and FIrst Class letters and flats (AKA Large envelopes).  

Rather than not allowing them in listings at all, it would be helpful if eBay gave sellers an alert when they choose a service that can't be purchased thorugh eBay.