USPS Shipping Ground Advantage vs. Priority and How What a Buyer Chooses Can Cost Sellers More

[captpguy]

Hello Friends.  My selling has ramped up and I have found myself studying all sorts of topics at night to learn how everything works so I can make the best informed decisions.  I have noticed that when I create a listing and I get to the "shipping" section exact information is necessary to prevent all kinds of unexpected charges.  These little mistakes added up to quite a bit and one package I sold for $35 cost me $31 in extra shipping from the USPS.  Here is the simplest way I can explain.

1.  I create the listing, and (now with my fancy scale) I weigh the item in the appropriate box with a bundle of bubblewrap and a few pieces of paper.

2.  I enter the box size and weight, which have been right on since I started doing this.

3.  Curveball.  I let the buyer choose USPS Ground Advantage or Priority.  

4.  Sometimes, the best box size (to be cost and environmentally responsible) is one of the Priority boxes supplied by the USPS.  In the past, I just used a Priority box with the item and my little stand in bubble, etc.

5.  The buyer almost always chooses Priority.  So having entered the correct dimensions and weight.  I pack it up and before printing the label, I am able (and do) choose the carrier packaging (for whatever box I am using.)

6.  As soon as I check the button next to the box I am using from the list of USPS Priority boxes listed, my shipping costs immediately jumps.  It was jumping $4 or more on every package.

7.  My issue is, I am not able to select their packaging when listing the item. That means I either add to the costs I charge the buyer to cover the cost jump, or I take a loss on the shipping.  I had to start adding a handling fee to cover the boxes, bubble, labels, etc I buy for safely shipping items.

That was much longer than it was in my head, but has anyone else had this issue?  I have tried to read help, support, and articles- I even had an eBay support staff call me.  I still have no idea how to solve this.

Please educate me or help me get things changed so we Sellers do not have to absorb costs for USPS or eBay.  

If you read this far, THANK YOU!  

[r_lresale]

Are you putting small items into oversized boxes?  Your listing for the coasters shows I would pay $16.60 shipping to Texas. That equates to around a 4 lb package...do they weigh that much?

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@captpguy wrote: ...

5.  The buyer almost always chooses Priority.  So having entered the correct dimensions and weight.  I pack it up and before printing the label, I am able (and do) choose the carrier packaging (for whatever box I am using.)

6.  As soon as I check the button next to the box I am using from the list of USPS Priority boxes listed, my shipping costs immediately jumps.  It was jumping $4 or more on every package.

7.  My issue is, I am not able to select their packaging when listing the item. ...

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That should not be happening.  Sounds like you are setting up the listings with calculated shipping for regular Priority Mail rates (based on package weight and dimensions) but then shipping in a flat rate box? The solution is to not use the flat rate box; use the box that you would have used if the buyer had chosen Ground Advantage.

[captpguy]

Thanks for the message!  No, I use the smallest box possible.  Read my feedback - everyone raves about my packaging.  But that cost depends on which coasters you are talking about.  I just packed up a set that are stone and combined it with another order from the same buyer (a heavy Disney pin in a case).  Plus, I included a couple of free gifts.  So I paid fr that shipping anyway.  But yes, (I'm from DFW originally) and these shipping rates seen crazy to me.....

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@captpguy wrote: ... these shipping rates seen crazy to me.....

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We can probably help if you provide specific details, including package weight and dimensions, service used (e.g., Priority Mail?), both ZIP Codes, and both exact prices.

And I just remembered one other thing:  if the flat rate box dimensions won't show up when you're setting up a  listing, enter the following package dimensions:

USPS Flat Rate Envelopes: 12x9x1
USPS Small Flat Rate Box: 8x5x1
USPS Med Flat Rate Box: 14x12x3
USPS Large Flat Rate Box: 12x12x6
eBay Standard Envelope: 11x6x0.25

[1tuna]

$21 to ship a tote bag or a small sweathsirt seems way overpriced.You are charging 18 to ship by ground I use ground 40 times a week and can ship any sweatshirt or tote bag for less than $10 by ground

priority mail is a rip off is you ask me.Ship the way you feel like shipping

I only offer ground shipping because its cheap

@captpguy 

[monica-sells]

Kudos for learning about the most overlooked area of listing (Shipping)

You have one of the best members for shipping @nobody*s_perfect helping you out here....

I want to point out one thing for your listing:

Disney Haunted Mansion "Tombstone Quake" watercolor giclée print by Kevin-John

you have quoted shipping for this painting at $283.00

(error: FedX in the description and Ground Advantage on the shipping page)

seemed high to me..here is pirateship estimates based on the box size you quoted and i guessed 10 lbs.

Remember, when you sell such a wide range of things, one size does not fit all with shipping

[monica-sells]

sorry...the above sample was from 44149 to 91701 (Ohio to California)

[pjcdn2005]

Some of your shipping rates do seem high. To ship to another California address your listing for a keychain or Pez dispenser shows at $12.80 with ground advantage.