Shipping Options

[totstoteensidaho1]

I have a buyer who paid for Priority Medium Flat Rate box shipping.  eBay is not giving me that as an option when trying to purchase the shipping label.  WHY??  It wants me to ship USPS Parcel Post which is more than the cost of the flat rate box.   I'm incredibly frustrated!

[orangehound]

---

@totstoteensidaho1 wrote:

WHY??

---

eBay has several rules on the new shipping page to prevent sellers from buying incompatible postage.

For example, if the dimensions you have on the shipping page are larger than the flat rate box dimensions, it will not show you that option .... change them to 0-0-0 or 1-1-1, and then press the "Carrier Packaging" button.  Hopefully that will fix your problem and show you the Medium Flat Rate Box.

[academic.ealim.books]

This is the "new" and improved eBay shipping label page.

My advice is go sign up at PirateShip.com (it is free) and use that to buy a label.  They have better rates on some big packages, but I believe the same on Priority Flat Rates.

Just don't forget the come back to eBay & upload the tracking number to your order or link your PirateShip account to ebay!

[7606dennis]

Does the item require ground shipment?

[berserkerplanet]

>>Does the item require ground shipment?

That may ultimately be a consideration, but has nothing to do with what options the label flow displays.

(there is no provision in the listing flow to indicate hazardous or any other condition that might require ground shipping, eBay doesn't make any guesses about it, and the label flows don't even know any restrictions might exist. Up to the shipper to know and choose)

OP's issue is likely the dimensions.

[goldguy22k]

---

@berserkerplanet wrote:


OP's issue is likely the dimensions.

---

and that is a problem and place where eBay should not be injecting themselves.  But I know, simplify things and dumb them down so no one has to think!

From what I have been told, as long as item "fits" inside a FR container, and the flaps close 'normally' then USPS will accept the package.  So in some cases, I have had to 'deform' the FR container to get item to fit, but because the flaps closed normally it shipped!

[berserkerplanet]

>>as long as item "fits" inside a FR container, and the flaps close 'normally' then USPS will accept the package.

Exactly. The padded Flat Rate Envelope (PFRE) is a prime example of this. Any dimensions larger than 12x9x3 cause the new label flow to ghost that option. But a 7x5x4 box or object (things like a stack of dvds in case, etc) can be easily be inserted in a PFRE, and those dimensions will cause the new label flow to hide the PFRE option on the custom size tab because of the 4" dimension exceeding the 3" programmed limit.

Yes the seller could be sure to enter fake dimensions no larger than 12x9x3 if using a PFRE, but that becomes problematic if offering multiple shipping options in the listing where Dimensional weight or other USPS shipping packaging might be offered.

The larger problem is for things like the Small Flat Rate Box (SFRB). Its dimensions are 8 5/8 x 5 3/8 x 1 5/8, but because the listing and label flows only allow integer entries, the dimensions in the listing and/or entered in the label flow have to be rounded down to 8x5x1 or omitted completely for the label flow not to hide the SFRB option. Doable, but problematic when doing sell similar and changing shipping options in new listing (have to remember to remove or change dims, etc)

Regional Boxes are really bad since the dims have to round down to prevent the label flow from hiding them, but they fall in FedEx dim weight territory - which if multiple options are offered could cause buyer to be undercharged when choosing FedEx option (because actual dims would actually have to be rounded UP for the dim weight calcs and/or the CC box you have to use with FedEx is a slight larger standard size, but were rounded down when entered in the listing to get the new label flow not to hide the option.)

Most of this CAN be worked around by flipping over the the carrier packaging tab on the new label flow, where for the most part (except for some bugs/weirdness for SFRB and MFRB?), the ghosted options do appear no matter what dims are present.) In some cases fudging the dims to satisfy the label flow thresholds and also maintain the same dim weight can be performed, but come on, should we have to do that because some sellers can't be bothered to find out on their own that they won't be able to use a PFRE when the item isn't going to fit in it?

It is another case of the rest of us suffering with inconvenience and/or loss of functionality because ebay chose to bubblewrap the lazy/stupid who have to be led by the nose ring every step of the way* and protected from hurting themselves (Learn or die 🙂

*Just because you exist and have a pulse doesn't mean NASA MUST create an iPhone app to let you pilot the space shuttle with no training.

[green-night]

As stated above, clicking on carrier packaging in the right hand corner and it will give you the option.  It's a nutty new page.  Not a huge fan, but I'm used to it now. 

[kensgiftshop]

You should be able to click the Carrier Packaging button and get the flat rate boxes.

[goldguy22k]

---

@berserkerplanet wrote:

It is another case of the rest of us suffering with inconvenience and/or loss of functionality because ebay chose to bubblewrap the lazy/stupid who have to be led by the nose ring every step of the way* and protected from hurting themselves (Learn or die 🙂

*Just because you exist and have a pulse doesn't mean NASA MUST create an iPhone app to let you pilot the space shuttle with no training.

---

LOL!  Thanks for the mirth this evening!

[johnrj1226]

@berserkerplanet 

It is another case of the rest of us suffering with inconvenience and/or loss of functionality because ebay chose to bubblewrap the lazy/stupid who have to be led by the nose ring every step of the way* and protected from hurting themselves (Learn or die 🙂

Now  that is Funny- it is what one expects out of the  San Jose, Headquarters.

[disneyshopper]

I was just opted into the new label flow this morning.  Had a dickens of a time trying to find the Regional Rate A box that I use for his item in the past.  I tried changing the dimensions smaller and smaller and that didn't work.  Then I tried increasing the weight (the packaged item is 2 lbs 4 ounces) and that didn't work.

I finally saw the blue box about CARRIER PACKAGING and that worked.  Once I printed the label, I saw that the ship from post office zip was wrong (I ship from 3 different post offices).  Where do I go to change that option?  The clerks don't usually refuse to accept, but if I can select the correct zip I would prefer to do that.

And, where did the Package List and Receipt for Label purchase go?  I usually print those on the back of the SCAN sheet, and that was missing as well.  I did leave feedback for ebay, if that will do any good.

[anthology-of-treasures]

1. Your account is not Top Rated. You should not be buying shipping labels from eBay. eBay gives you Commercial rates and $50 insurance. Pirateship gives you $100 insurance and Commercial rates plus Cubic pricing.

2. After you become Top Rated switch back to eBay labels to get the Commercial rate less a 3% discount. Cubic pricing (1/2 a cubic foot or less) packages may still be cheaper for some shipments via Pirateship even with the extra Top Rated discount.

3. This will at least save you having to use eBay's new label system for awhile.

4. Always compare service costs before printing a label. Buyers sometimes pay for a flat rate box when a regular Priority Mail (or regional box) ends up be cheaper. The buyer paid for Priority Mail service - it does not matter what Priority Mail box it comes in.

5. The reason why is because eBay does not eat its own dog food.

[berserkerplanet]

>>I was just opted into the new label flow this morning.

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/Method-to-Automatically-Switch-Back-To-Classic-eBay-Label-FLow...

>>Had a dickens of a time trying to find the Regional Rate A box that I use for his item in the past.  I tried

>>changing the dimensions smaller and smaller and that didn't work.  Then I tried increasing the weight (the

>>packaged item is 2 lbs 4 ounces) and that didn't work. I finally saw the blue box about CARRIER PACKAGING >>and that worked.

The dimension change should have worked, but there are some weird things going on with SRFB, MFRB, and RR Boxes. Weight wouldn't matter unless exceeding an  options limit (70lb, 15lb, 20lb, etc) Carrier packaging tab/button should show the USPS Flat and Regional options.

>>Once I printed the label, I saw that the ship from post office zip was wrong (I ship from 3 different post

>>offices).  Where do I go to change that option?  The clerks don't usually refuse to accept, but if I can select

>>the correct zip I would prefer to do that.

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/Ebay-needs-to-fix-its-shipping-label-generator/m-p/29606637/hi...

>>And, where did the Package List and Receipt for Label purchase go?  I usually print those on the back

>>of the SCAN sheet, and that was missing as well.  I did leave feedback for ebay, if that will do any good.

(I print the label receipt on the back side of the archival  order printout too.)

then

[berserkerplanet]

>>And, where did the Package List and Receipt for Label purchase go?  I usually print those on the back

>>of the SCAN sheet, and that was missing as well.  I did leave feedback for ebay, if that will do any good.

(I print the label receipt on the back side of the archival  order printout too.)

[disneyshopper]

GREAT!

Thanks for the reply and all the screen shots!