USPS First Class is twice the price than what the shipping calculator is saying

[duckisland]

This started happening last week. I list the item with weight. Check the shipping calculator to see the lowest shippings. 3 items have said $2.16. I'm offering free shipping. So, when I go to ship the item through Ebay of Pirate Ship, it says $3.81. My daughter took it to the post office and it was $2.16. Is anyone else seeing this happen? Is there a minimum rate for First Class now that is not being reflected in the Ebay shipping calculator?

[nobody*s_perfect]

There are 3 types of First Class mail: letters, flats (AKA Large envelopes) and packages.  eBay only sells labels for packages.  

Apparently your item was listed as a flat (Large envelope) and also the clerk at the PO agreed that it met the criteria to be mailed as a flat. eBay showed a higher price because they were offering a label for a package, not because they charge more for a flat.

[martin2001]

To answer your question you need to provide more information. What type of package were you sending (package, media, flat envelope), the weight, what exactly had the post office quoted to your daughter.  I use pirateship and the 3.81 price seems like you were sending a package up 8 ozs, depending on your  and addressee's location. You can't send this type of package at the post office counter for 2.16

[1tuna]

to make a long story short is this

you did not set up the calculator correctly

you daughter did not get tracking  at he post  office because she did not send a package but a flat

the shipping  calculator will only come up correctly with the correct input

lots of sellers have made the same mistake many times

[nobody*s_perfect]

The PO clerk apparently decided that the piece was a flat.  So there was no error in setting up the listing.

[1tuna]

I understand  this but most sellers  do not  sets up the calculator for flats

I am unsure why ebay allows  you to do that

flats do not come with tracking and ebay wants to see that

sellers  that go the the post office and purchase shipping  there normally go  home and enter the tracking

I do not think you can do that with this transaction since it was not paid for

the calculator also offer options that are phased out

[nobody*s_perfect]

eBay can control which shipping options they sell postage for, but they can't control what the seller offers, or what the seller purchases at the Post Office counter.  

If the seller is willing to take the risk of shipping an untracked item, that option should be available for them to offer to buyers. The most recent items that the OP sold were toy catalogues for $15, so IMHO it's reasonable for them to take the risk to ship without tracking.

Even if eBay didn't allow the seller to offer calculated shipping for a flat,  the seller could   just list with the flat postage price.

[duckisland]

It was 9 x 10 inches and 4 ounces. $2.16 at post office and $3.81 from Ebay and Pirate Ship.

[duckisland]

Ebay shipping calculator also said $2.16 but when I bought the label, it changed to $3.81

[duckisland]

Yes, that is the difference. I entered 0 for the one dimension, so it is a flat, but Ebay is charging for a non flat. So, I have to decide if tracking is worth it for a $10 item. Would there be insurance on the USPS FC non flat with tracking? Would a catalog be considered "merchandise" by the USPS? 

[nobody*s_perfect]

eBay is "charging for a non flat" because eBay only sells postage for "non flats," i.e., packages. eBay decides which types of postage they will sell. There are some types of postage which are offered by USPS but which cannot be purchased through eBay, including postage for letters and flats.

Free insurance is provided by USPS only with Priority Mail. There is no insurance automatically included with any type of First Class mail (letters, flats, or packages).

USPS has specific definitions for letters, flats, and packages based on criteria like weight, dimensions (including thickness), and rigidity/flexibility.  Any First Class piece falls into just one of those categories. Putting package postage on a flat doesn't magically turn it into a package; due to the tracking it might be upgraded to Priority Mail if it's not eligible to be mailed as a package. If your 4-ounce piece is flexible and not over 3/4 inch thick, then it's a flat.

Sorry I don't understand the "merchandise" question.

[goldair1_4]

LOL @ $3 to post a parcel.Very cheap

[nobody*s_perfect]

Current price for a First Class package not over 4 ounces is $3.31 - $3.79 depending on distance, which is potentially not cost-effective for a $10 item.