Shipping Options won't let me Mix USPS Flat Rate and other options like USPS Retail Ground now!

[tradebeadgallery]

I'm having Issues with creating Shipping Policies that combine USPS Priority Mail options with (calculated) USPS Retail Ground or (calculated) USPS First Class. The problem is, when I create a policy that contains these two options, I am unable to mix a Fixed rate (USPS Priority) with a sliding scale / calculated rate for USPS Retail Ground or USPS First Class.

I have many old listings that have the correct combination of choices, but I am unable to create a new Shipping policy that behaves the same way as they used to. Perhaps there is some subtlety that I am missing. Being forced to choose shipping policies that have presets seems to be more limited than what we had before so I am taking advice and updating my Shipping Policy List. 

Thanks for any help!  Anne

[nobody*s_perfect]

eBay's wacky programmers have recently introduced a completely unnecessary hoop to jump through for sellers who want to use Priority Mail flat rate packaging:  Sellers must enter specific package dimensions which correspond to the dimensions of the flat rate package.  This is what member @wastingtime101  wrote about the situation:

eBay made an unannounced change related to setting up listings with certain types of packaging. When package dimensions entered exceed eBay's programmed dimensions, eBay will not show you those shipping options when setting up your listing.

To access these services, enter the following package dimensions:

USPS Flat Rate Envelopes: 12x9x1
USPS Small Flat Rate Box: 8x5x1

USPS Med Flat Rate Box: 14x12x3

USPS Large Flat Rate Box: 12x12x6
eBay Standard Envelope: 11x6x0.25

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@tradebeadgallery wrote: ... I am unable to mix a Fixed rate (USPS Priority) with a sliding scale / calculated rate for USPS Retail Ground or USPS First Class....

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On second thought, maybe I'm misreading this. Are you trying to set a flat price for Priority shipping but use calculated for First Class or Retail Ground? I'm pretty sure that has never been possible and don't see why you'd want to do that.

[wastingtime101]

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@tradebeadgallery wrote:

I have many old listings that have the correct combination of choices, but I am unable to create a new Shipping policy that behaves the same way as they used to.

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Hey @tradebeadgallery - can you provide item numbers for listings you're trying to replicate?

Are you new to using business policies? Let me know because that will determine the level of detail I go into with my reply on that aspect of the equation.

It has never been possible to mix flat rate and calculated shipping. But you can use calculated shipping and select a flat rate box as one of the selections if that's what you're getting at. eBay will calculate based on weight/size/distance for ground while pulling in the fixed price for a medium or large flat rate box on the priority selection.

[tealt]

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@nobody*s_perfect wrote:

eBay's wacky programmers have recently introduced a completely unnecessary hoop to jump through for sellers who want to use Priority Mail flat rate packaging:  Sellers must enter specific package dimensions which correspond to the dimensions of the flat rate package.  This is what member @wastingtime101  wrote about the situation:

eBay made an unannounced change related to setting up listings with certain types of packaging. When package dimensions entered exceed eBay's programmed dimensions, eBay will not show you those shipping options when setting up your listing.

To access these services, enter the following package dimensions:

USPS Flat Rate Envelopes: 12x9x1
USPS Small Flat Rate Box: 8x5x1

USPS Med Flat Rate Box: 14x12x3

USPS Large Flat Rate Box: 12x12x6
eBay Standard Envelope: 11x6x0.25

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I haven't had to enter those exact dimensions to get flat rate USPS options when creating labels on eBay.  Thank goodness.

1)  When I go to the Ship Order page for one item, the dimensions that I've entered when listing are there (e.g. 12x10x2), but If I click Carrier Packaging at the top left, a drop down appears where I can choose any flat rate service

2) When I use the Bulk Shipping page, there is a drop down next to any individual order (once again with dimensions when  listing created).  I choose Priority Flat Rate from that drop down, and then a drop down appears next to the individual order from which I can choose any of the flat rate services.

More clicks, but eBay seems to be on a "more clicks" binge these days.

Disclaimer:  I use My eBay rather than the Seller Hub.

[tradebeadgallery]

Hello, I've been on eBay as a Seller but not Store for about 4 years.  When I set up shipping initially I didn't realize that USPS Priority for Business at large was different and a different price than the USPS Fixed Rate Priority Boxes for the general Public... so I have a combo choice in my Old Shipping Policy that includes USPS Priority Shipping and Calculated Shipping as in USPS Select Ground or USPS First Class.   I could pick several choices that way and mix at will.

Example: https://www.ebay.com/itm/202834024385?hash=item2f39d997c1:g:slcAAOSwrxpd4On1#shpCntId

I am slowly making new Shipping Policy selections, and Updating prices and shipping.  This (above link) will be one listing I change to  USPS small Flat Rate Priority Box.  

Thanks so much  for any help, Anne

[tradebeadgallery]

Yes I want to be able to offer both USPS Flat Rate Priority Box Shipping and as second option either USPS First class (if under 1 Lb.) or USPS Retail Ground.

Thanks for any help, Anne

[nobody*s_perfect]

You should be able to choose a flat rate box as one of your options when setting up calculated shipping. If they don't show up, then try the appropriate box dimensions noted above.

You might want to offer First Class package as your first option and Priority as your second, since it costs so much less and the delivery date estimate is usually about the same.

[wastingtime101]

Can you confirm if you're using business policies or if you're using the term shipping policy but really referring to setting up shipping options on the listing form?

That may sound unclear, so let's do this. Go to this link @tradebeadgallery and let me know if you see a bunch of policies or if it invites you to opt-in to using biz policies.

https://www.bizpolicy.ebay.com/businesspolicy/manage

If you're using biz policies I'll walk you through some tips on setting up policies and your listings.

If you're not using biz policies then you can follow the advice already provided which is to set up calculated shipping and choose your preferred services like first class & small flat rate box.

[tradebeadgallery]

Yes I am using Manage Your Business Policies  - I guess I should have said that instead. 

Thank You for any help, Anne

[wastingtime101 · Accepted solution]

No, totally fine. Just some sellers say policies when really they're not opted in. Didn't want to give you wrong info.

Here's some basic info on getting started with policies:

Manage and edit them (or disable them to go back to how you used to set up your listings) on this page. Once you set up your shipping policies and name them so you can easily identify them, you can go to your active listings and bulk edit to assign your new policies.

After the initial mess of policies that are created when you first sign up are no longer tied to active listings, you can delete them. You can see if they're tied to active listings by the listing count on the page where you manage policies. It takes a little time and work to set it up, but in my opinion it's well worth it.

To create the specific policy you're asking about, you'd set it up using calculated shipping like this:

Give your policy a clear name. I tend to go with something that specifies if Flat or Calculated, the services offered, the handling time, and I'll also put international stuff in there. If there's a handling fee I'll put that in the title and if I use flat I'll specify the cost + additional in the title. Use whatever labeling system works best for you.

Calc: First Class or SM Flat Rate / 1 Day

[tradebeadgallery]

Sorry- my reply timed out.  Yes I am using "Manage your business policies" and trying to add a shipping policy that is updated so that when I make a new listing I can pick the correct shipping options that I want. Specifically the two options: USPS Priority Mail Box of X Size, and second option either USPS First Class if under one lb, or USPS Retail Ground.  

I am in the process of creating Business Shipping policy presets that cover the different permutations of USPS Flat Rate box sizes & Either Retail ground or First Class. So I think I figured it out, with your help. If you have any other tips about this, I would appreciate it.  Thank you so much.
Thanks, Anne

[wastingtime101]

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@tradebeadgallery wrote:

When I set up shipping initially I didn't realize that USPS [...] for Business at large was different and a different price [...] for the general Public... 

[...]USPS Select Ground

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Just wanted to add one thing here @tradebeadgallery.

You're talking about the difference between Retail rates (postage paid for at the counter) and Commercial rates (postage prices you pay online from numerous postage providers.

Within eBay settings you can select whether you want to charge buyers retail or commercial rates when you use calculated shipping. You're set up to charge retail rates which is, in my opinion, the way to go. The difference in cost helps to cover the eBay final value fees applied to tax & shipping and sometimes there's a little in there to go towards packing materials.

But there is one caveat. USPS current ground service is split out with 2 different names: Retail Ground & Parcel Select. Quite stupid, but that's how it's set up. Offering Retail Ground will charge buyers retail rates and offering Parcel Select (same service, commercial equivalent) will charge buyers online rates. So if you want to offer ground shipping and charge retail rates, set up your policies with Retail Ground.

As of July 9th, First Class, Retail Ground and Parcel Select are transitioning into one single service. You can read about it in the thread linked below in my post signature. When this happens, eBay should automatically change things over. On July 9 your policies with First Class/Ground will change over to the new Ground Advantage.

[wastingtime101]

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@tradebeadgallery wrote:

If you have any other tips about this, I would appreciate it. 

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Review post #11 above and if you have any questions about that let me know. 👍

[tradebeadgallery]

here is an example of the. OLD way some of my shipping Business Policy Choices looked- I believe I had accidentally mixed the sliding scale USPS "Priority Mail" and other Calculated USPS and didn't understand the difference in that and USPS Priority Box of set sizes.

Example: Calculated:Small Flat Rate USPS Priority & USPS First Class

Example: Calculated:USPS Priority, USPS First Cla,3 bu#6 

I have to keep this the same until I revise and update all the single and combos Correctly! 

Now my newest updates to the Business Policies are easier, more correct, and do appear on the Shipping Options when I make a new listing!

Example: $ Small USPS Flat Rate Box & First Class (my name for it)

I hope this is more clear, and that I'm finally on the right track!

Thanks for all your help and Thanks to everyone that helped me,  Anne