USPS Parcel Select Ground, I'm A Bit Confused

[opshop85]

I apologize if this is an old topic, I'm just now running into issues with this.

I have a 15 pound box to ship - the auction will close today. I chose USPS Parcel Select Ground. I had to ask a question somewhat related to this sale and someone said, "Oh by the way, ebay doesn't offer Ground shipping".

WHAT?! I've been using Ground for years. Is this true? Is USPS Ground not available anymore? And if so why is it still on the chart for postage options? I just NOW listed an item and USPS Ground is right there on my ebay postage list. I have a number of items listed USPS Ground.

When this auction closes and I go to print a label tomorrow, what do I do?

FYI, UPS isn't an option. They are too far from where I live.

Thanks for your help guys!

[magicjohnsonsvariety]

Although Parcel Select is still available, Ship it Priority. 

I haven't shipped anything Parcel select for like 2 years, no need too when Priority is nearly the same and sometimes even less.

[nobody*s_perfect · Accepted solution]

eBay has decided to phase out access to Parcel Select Ground labels, even though USPS has made no changes in their services or policies, and it's offered by all other online postage sellers including PayPal, endicia, stamps.com, etc.  You can purchase Parcel Select Ground postage through PayPal at

www.PayPal.com/shipnow

But do compare prices before you do that. For Zones 1 - 4, the USPS online price for Priority Mail is  less than a dollar more than Parcel Select Ground. If you're a TRS you get a 3% discount when purchasing Priority labels through eBay, which often makes it cheaper than Parcel Select. Shipping a 15-pound package to Zone 8 costs $53.80 via Parcel Select Ground and $57.87 via Priority (or $56.13 if you're a TRS).

IMHO Parcel Select ground should only be offered when necessary such as for hazmat or Oversize packages (i.e., length-plus-girth above the Priority limit of 108 inches).

[juicydrupes]

My latest understanding was...you can offer USPS Parcel Select in your listing, but you have to buy it at the Post Office?

[opshop85]

Thanks - that may be the case. 

[opshop85]

I will have to take a closer look at Priority. But I don't think you can send something flammable Priority, it has to go Ground. Like perfume or scented items like room oils. I'll have to check and see what shipping option there is for flammables. 

Thanks!

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@juicydrupes wrote:

My latest understanding was...you can offer USPS Parcel Select in your listing, but you have to buy it at the Post Office?

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It is not possible to purchase Parcel Select Ground at the Post Office, because it's an online product.  The retail equivalent is called Retail Ground. Both services used to be known as Parcel Post.  Retail Ground will  will cost more than the online price for Priority Mail.  

[juicydrupes]

Where do you buy Parcel Select?

[magicjohnsonsvariety]

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@juicydrupes wrote:

Where do you buy Parcel Select?

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As of last night, Parcel Select was still showing as a option on my ebay shipping page. 

[juicydrupes]

I can offer it in my listings - but after purchase, it will not be an available option from ebay...

I thought I had to buy this at the Post Office?

[kensgiftshop]

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@juicydrupes wrote:

Where do you buy Parcel Select?

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You can buy it on Pay Pal or sites like stamps.com.

[thecompleatbear]

Sign up for Pirate Ship. Discounted rates, easy to use, has Parcel Select.

You can export tracking to ebay.

[moonshadows_spirit]

Perhaps priority is sometimes nearly the same, but not always.  I just had that same problem - selected parcel select when listing, the buyer paid $20, but priority mailing was over $40.  That puts a hit on the profit margin.  And to make matters worse, the actual cost at the post office was going to be $50 if I did the cheapest USPS thing.

So I sent the package UPS.  

From now on I will be careful to not select parcel select for anything.  

[nobody*s_perfect]

@moonshadows_spirit 

You have resurrected a thread from last November.

New USPS rates went into effect on Sunday, January 9. Much of the advice given above is obsolete.  Under the new rates, Parcel Select Ground can be significantly cheaper than Priority Mail, especially for farther Zones and higher weights.  

At the PO counter, you would pay the retail rate for Priority Mail rather than the discounted online rate that eBay charges.  And instead of Parcel Select Ground, they sell Retail Ground which of course costs more than its online counterpart.  Both  services used to be known as Parcel Post.

You can see all the current pricing in the official USPS rates publication, Notice 123:

http://pe.usps.com/cpim/ftp/manuals/dmm300/notice123.pdf

[magicjohnsonsvariety]

Ok, so maybe things will be going back closer to the way is was 3 years ago when PS was always less than PM for large, heavy packages. The post office really screwed things up with the whole Dimensional weight thing.

As for Parcel select not being available from ebay...it always shows up for me. Sometimes you need to scroll all the way to the very bottom to find it.