Tracking ... My tracking is at a low level as I do not purchase TRACKING on items under $5.00

[checkitoutbooks]

On items around $5.00 and under.   I do not choose postage options with TRACKING  as they are sent in a 50 cents envelope....  and you can't add tracking to a regular envelope... Example:  Postcards, Greeting Cards, other things that fit into a flat regular envelope....  THUS EBAY REDUCES your seller level if you do not use tracking...  Does not seam Fair to either SELLER  (having seller level reduced in the tracking section) or the BUYER (who would have to pay more to have it shipped in a larger envelope just to have tracking on a cheap item)..   If items do  not arrive mostsellers are willing to refund the customer on items that cost so little...  A lot of savings for Sellers and Buyers...  Not so sure about Ebay, Pal Pal and the Postal Service... 

[orangehound]

Some sellers who have a mix of items will create two eBay accounts.

The first account will sell low-cost items (shipped without tracking) and the second account will sell more expensive items (with tracking).

[disneyshopper]

If you use orangehound's suggestion, also check out if Paypal still has micro-payments.  That system gave a lower cost than Paypal's regular 2.9% + .30 for each payment received.

[sweetpieces4you]

No doubt some items can be sent with a postage stamp . Particularly paper products . It's fast to do and easy and quick to ship. And I personally don't believe a penalty should be given for this type of transaction. Unfortunately the system doesn't recognize this type of transaction and penalties follow. Ebay needs to recognize this a trusted way to ship certain items. As I still send my bills thru the mail using stamps. And if that's not trusted I don't know what is !!! 

[siamdao]

eBay likes to reduce your seller level, especially when it translates into being able to charge higher final value fees.

[lja440]

You NEED to get another ID.

I have several mainly because I had a few buyers get miffed at me for not shipping non media items media mail when I had books listed and they snagged one thinking it would qualify the other items (it does not). Or not combining fragile pieces with heavy items.

My ID's are 

One for Media, books, records, CD's and DVD's 

One for Clothing

One for Glass, pottery and other fragile items.

One for Non fragile household and farm related, including horse tack and antique non breakables. 

I have sold postcards and vintage photos but in lots so they slide into my last ID well and by being a lot generally need to be a package.

I had a short lived coupon ID but that was years ago when my daughters then boyfriend worked at the local paper and brought home over-runs of the Sunday inserts.

[checkitoutbooks]

That an AWESOME... COME ON EBAY... It effect MANY EBAY SELLERS Tracking Score... Let's give your sellers some help here.. Thank you...

[southern*sweet*tea]

If you ship without tracking (I have two accounts where I ship in a regular envelope with a stamp) those transactions DO NOT COUNT toward your shipping metrics UNLESS the buyer marks them as late.  My tracking upload percentage on those accounts is zero percent, and my late shipment rate is zero percent, which translates into an on time percentage of 100%. Both accounts are above standard.  I sell 175-200  items/month between both accounts.

This is why you need a separate account for untracked items if you're going to be selling them in any sort of volume.

[terrycanarsky]

Crazy thing is - I've shipped things with just stamps (bubble mailer, super light weight), and our postmistress very specifically placed tracking on every one of them free of charge.  It was part of 1st class, and I did not use pre-printed labels. 

That was a couple years ago.  So not sure why everyone thinks the tracking costs extra.

~M

[disneyshopper]

So not sure why everyone thinks the tracking costs extra.

The least expensive shipping, with tracking, for up to a 4 oz package via first class package is $2.66, which is the commercial base pricing.  At the post office counter, the cost for that package would be $3.50.

[lja440]

There is no extra charge for tracking BUT you must pay the package rate. You can not get tracking if you just pay letter or flat (flat as in a physical flat like a catalog or magazine size piece) rates. If your Postmaster is putting tracking on those she is wrong and the items should arrive Postage Due.