USPS Priority Mail Shipping

[petprods]

There were two different costs to ship a USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelope with in the USA.  One package cost was $8.18 and the other was $8.50 purchased thru Ebay.  No additional insurance was purchased.  Any idea why since they are both the same package allowing weight up to 70 lbs?  I have never had this issue before and do not know why or what changed.  Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

[u2_vintage]

Priority Mail service includes tracking and delivery in 1-3 business days1. Check delivery time estimates on the Priority Mail Delivery Map. Priority Mail Flat Rate products let you ship packages up to 70 lbs to any state at the same price. Ship from Post Office locations or online from your home or business.

https://www.usps.com/ship/priority-mail.htm#back-2

[tobaccocardyahoo]

The new surcharge for rural zip codes took effect on 16 Sept and applies to Priority Flat Rate as well as other services.

[fern*wood]

I'm not one of the postal experts, but recently USPS raised the costs to ship to some rural zip codes, so possibly that is what happened.  One of your packages went to a rural area.

[chevymontecarlo88]

Can you provide a screenshot?

[nobody*s_perfect]

As noted in other posts, on September 16 USPS implemented a new policy: for about 17,000 out of the total 42,000 ZIP Codes, we will no longer be able to pay the excellent reduced eBay rate for shipping labels for Priority Mail and Ground Advantage; instead, the rate for those ZIP Codes will be the published Commercial rate with no further discount.  

As you can see in the rates document linked below, the Commercial rate for a regular Priority flat rate envelope is indeed $8.50.  The buyer with the $8.18 label apparently lives in one of the other ZIP Codes which are not affected by the new policy.

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

[valueaddedresource]

@petprods as others have said, it's likely due to the new zip code based pricing that went into effect 9/16 for some areas which impacts Priority Mail, Priority Flat Rate, and Ground Advantage.

More info:

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Announcements/USPS-Rate-Changes-Effective-September-16-2024/ba-p/34661... 

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Shipping/USPS-Rate-Increase-Sept-16-2024-based-on-zip-codes-not-zones/...