Stop Ripping Off Buyers and Yourselves with USPS Ground Advantage

[erzengelb]

USPS Ground Advantage is a scam. It does NOT cost $50 to $75 to ship an 8 pound box from California to New York. You can ship up to 70 pounds in a Priority Flat Rate box (multiple sizes) to anywhere in the continental U.S. for $20 max. UPS Simple Rate offers similar pricing.

You're killing your own sales and bottom line by using Ground Advantage, and you're ripping off buyers who aren't aware that you could be shipping far cheaper.

[1786davycrockett]

@erzengelb 

Except if that 8 pound item doesn't fit inside a USPS Priority Flat Rate box.

Ay, there's the rub.

And the USPS Priority Large Flat Rate boxes cost over $20.00, as of January 21, 2024.

[gator08041971]

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@erzengelb wrote:

USPS Ground Advantage is a scam. It does NOT cost $50 to $75 to ship an 8 pound box from California to New York.

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I have never paid anywhere near that, even to my farthest places.  Even shipping a 9lb laptop never costs me more than 12-15 dollars using GA.   Not sure why you are even seeing that price?  Is that retail at the USPS counter or something?  Is your box dimensions too large?

As long as you can fit your item into a PFR box, sure it can be cheaper.  I always compare my prices, and sometimes I might change to a PFR box if it will be to my advantage.

[sawri_2017]

What's wrong with USPS ground advantage? 

[erzengelb]

USPS Flat Rate costs $14.85 for a medium box, $20.05 for a large box, when you purchase the labels through eBay. Don't try to argue with me about this, I print out labels all the time.

[erzengelb]

It's too expensive, that's what's wrong with it. Sellers are charging $50 to $75 shipping for items that cost $20 or less to ship via any other shipping service (including USPS Ground, Economy, UPS Simple Rate, and Fedex). 

[erzengelb]

Also, the point is that people are using USPS Ground Advantage for merchandise that could easily fit inside flat rate boxes. And it's their own business they're killing.

[albertabrightalberta]

There are certain categories of items that aren't allowed to be shipped by air. They must go GA. 

[sawri_2017]

9 out of 10 times ground is cheaper than priority.  i'm not sure why your getting so worked up about how sellers choose to ship their packages and what they charge for shipping. Maybe they have an item worth $60 and they charge $20 for the product and $40 for shipping.

[cardsforauction]

Maybe the item is higher value.  Ground Advantage you get $100 insurance coverage.  I think Priority you get $50 insurance coverage.

[tinsoldierunderground]

Why are you concerned with other sellers  shipping habits?  If their buyers are happy, and get their items delivered without issue, that's all that should matter.  This site doesn't need a shipping czar on top of everything else.

[richard1rst]

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@erzengelb wrote:

It's too expensive, that's what's wrong with it. Sellers are charging $50 to $75 shipping for items that cost $20 or less to ship via any other shipping service (including USPS Ground, Economy, UPS Simple Rate, and Fedex). 

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So the problem is with what THE SELLERS !!!! are charging, not with Ground Advantage itself.

[richard1rst]

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@erzengelb wrote:

Also, the point is that people are using USPS Ground Advantage for merchandise that could easily fit inside flat rate boxes. And it's their own business they're killing.

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Most of what I sell does not fit inside any of the Flat Rate Boxes so that is not an option. And Ground Advantage has ALWAYS been cheaper than Priority Mail.

[richard1rst]

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@erzengelb wrote:

USPS Flat Rate costs $14.85 for a medium box, $20.05 for a large box, when you purchase the labels through eBay. Don't try to argue with me about this, I print out labels all the time.

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All generalizations are bad - even this one.

True, a medium FRB cost $14.85 Nevada to NY. But I can ship the same size and weight by Ground Advantage from Nevada to NY for $ 6.33 or by regular Priority Mail for $10.85.

FRB is RARELY the best buy. So who is ripping off whom?

[1786davycrockett]

@erzengelb 

"USPS Flat Rate costs $14.85 for a medium box, $20.05 for a large box, when you purchase the labels through eBay. Don't try to argue with me about this, I print out labels all the time."

Okay, don't believe me.  Will you believe the USPS site, then?

Large Flat Rate Box

$21.85 Commercial Pricing $24.75 at Post Office