Shipping discount on USPS Parcel Select Ground?

[ewenice]

Shipping label printed here for the same amount of shipping paid by buyer.   I learned today there's no discount for media mail.  Does that apply to Parcel Select Ground as well?  Any others?  Thanks in advance.

[nobody*s_perfect]

Parcel Select Ground IS the online discounted price. The equivalent that you would buy at the Post Office counter is called Retail Ground.  Both services used to be known as Parcel Post.

[ewenice]

Sorry.  I don't understand.  Calculated shipping was $14.95, label here printed for $14.95.  So the buyer and I both got the discount?   Since Parcel Ground Select seems to only be available online, we should say that's the price, period...not discounted?  If Retail Ground was offered here, it would have been discounted down from the $22.20 price, and would my label print for less than the buyer paid for shipping (eBay shipping discount)?

[nobody*s_perfect]

Yes, the buyer got the online discount because you set up your listing with the online version of this service.  If you offered Retail Ground in your listing, then that's what the buyer would be charged for.  You cannot buy a Retail Ground label online, so on the eBay label form, you'd choose Parcel Select Ground or Priority Mail.  Those prices are correct; it's an example of the online discount being very significant for basically the same service.

Most sellers offer Parcel Select Ground only when there's a very good reason, such as a big price difference between Priority and Parcel Select, or a USPS requirement to ship via ground (e.g., hazmat). In this case, Priority would cost $17.84 online and $22.40 retail.  I recommend that you offer Priority rather than Parcel Select Ground for packages like this.  

[ewenice]

Thanks for explaining things.   

It was an oversized package.  NOBODY likes to pay shipping, so I let the buyer decide if they want fast or less expensive. 

I don't understand this part:

"you set up your listing with the online version of this service."

Is there a place to change a setting or it happens whenever I do...what?   I listed using the mobile app.  I usually list from the website.  Does that make a difference?

I really appreciate your time.

[nobody*s_perfect · Accepted solution]

If you set up your listing with Parcel Select Ground, you have chosen the online version of the ground-shipping service formerly known as Parcel Post.

If you set up your listing with Retail Ground, you have chosen the retail version of the ground-shipping service formerly known as Parcel Post.

There is a place in your site preferences where you can decide whether the shipping calculator in your listings will charge buyers the online or retail version of a service, but that only applies to services that have both online and retail rates, such as Priority Mail and First Class package.  That site preference would have no impact on Retail Ground or Parcel Select Ground rates.

[ewenice]

I think I get it now. Thanks so much!! 

[getitmehled]

What no one has told you, is Parcel Select offers no insurance. It's the same shipping service as Retail Ground. Just no insurance. It's the slow boat and often goes in the wrong direction of your buyer.

[nobody*s_perfect]

True, Parcel Select Ground and Retail Ground do not automatically include insurance as Priority Mail does. But then, neither do other USPS services such as Media Mail and First Class packages.

This situation will change in July: USPS is merging First Class package service and the ground services for heavier packages, calling the new service "Ground Advantage" and it will include $100 of insurance coverage, as Priority does now. Here's the announcement form USPS about this planned service renaming:

https://postalnews.com/blog/2023/02/10/usps-seeks-to-replace-first-class-package-service-with-usps-g...