eBay

theofficefan4life · ‎01-22-2019

Why is it that when it comes to a govt. subsidized "business" known as the USPS, the rule "if it's not broke, they'll find a way to break it" is so clearly evident? This entity known as the USPS is $13.2 BILLION in debt. We're supposed to believe that somehow their stupid new "zone" regulations are somehow going to change anything for the better? As if this new system is going to magically bring them out of the red? I mean seriously, do they offer a college class to learn all the new shipping container mathematical equations and zone breakdowns? Gotta be rocket scientist to ship a **bleep** Nintendo game now.

ripcityresell · ‎01-22-2019

@theofficefan4life wrote:
@ripcityresell wrote:
@theofficefan4life wrote:
Why is it that when it comes to a govt. subsidized "business" known as the USPS, the rule "if it's not broke, they'll find a way to break it" is so clearly evident? This entity known as the USPS is $13.2 BILLION in debt. We're supposed to believe that somehow their stupid new "zone" regulations are somehow going to change anything for the better? As if this new system is going to magically bring them out of the red? I mean seriously, do they offer a college class to learn all the new shipping container mathematical equations and zone breakdowns? Gotta be rocket scientist to ship a **bleep** Nintendo game now.
Not really Just a tape measure and the ability to add. Should do ya just fine!
Right, cuz that whole "one flat rate" for 1st class and priority was just too simple for you? You must welcome the burden of learning different zone rates and DIMweights and volume vs weight and box size versus this versus that? Well, congrats you got your wish. As for me, I prefer the old system, flawed and expensive as it was. It wasn't complicated and I knew 7 ounce package would cost the same whether going to hawaii or the house next door.

I know that I do what I have to do to make sure my items are feasible to sell here and that my customers are getting a good deal and I don't complain about it. If I find the changes affect my business too much that I'm not making a profit, then I evaluate things and again, don't complain about it. I would never come to the boards to rant about something I can't change because it's absolutely pointless. I do feel your pain, it does affect me too because I use First Class on a lot of items I sell. But again, I do what I have to do.

I prefer the prices we had in the 1960s. It was so much cheaper! Man, I sure would love to live in yesteryear, but guess what? I can't. So we adapt or die. It's pretty much as easy as that.

kiddo005 · ‎01-22-2019

I will just have to stop selling.. The way the cost of shipping and ebay's charges are already , both make more money then I do. It is NOT worth my time any more.

lja440 · ‎01-23-2019

@kiddo005 wrote:
I will just have to stop selling.. The way the cost of shipping and ebay's charges are already , both make more money then I do. It is NOT worth my time any more.

Then you are simply not getting a good enough deal on your inventory.

In a very real sense you make your money when you BUY your inventory. It is the only price point you control. To make money selling you simply have to BUY SMARTER.

lja440 · ‎01-23-2019

@theofficefan4life wrote:
Why is it that when it comes to a govt. subsidized "business" known as the USPS, the rule "if it's not broke, they'll find a way to break it" is so clearly evident? This entity known as the USPS is $13.2 BILLION in debt. We're supposed to believe that somehow their stupid new "zone" regulations are somehow going to change anything for the better? As if this new system is going to magically bring them out of the red? I mean seriously, do they offer a college class to learn all the new shipping container mathematical equations and zone breakdowns? Gotta be rocket scientist to ship a **bleep** Nintendo game now.

First off, USPS is NOT government subsidized. It works on POSTAGE only. The debt you speak of is primarily (almost totally) because Congress mandated that USPS FULLY FUND the pension plan for the next 75 years within 10 years (this went into effect in 2006) meaning annual payments of 5.5 billion dollars. (read more on this at https://www.cnbc.com/id/45018432), (oh then Congress promptly "barrowed" this fund, so in reality USPS has been subsidizing some other program).

As for the zoned package system, well see if you can drive your car 1000 miles for the same cost as driving 10 miles. If you can manage that the PLEASE let USPS know how you accomplished this.

ubidemnow · ‎01-23-2019

I know somehow this must be Amazon's fault..they are destroying America one platform at a time..can't hardly do first class free anymore it nearly doubled.

whileilaysleeping · ‎01-23-2019

USPS Pension Plans.

Pension Plans tend to implode and bankrupt companies. It is simple math and common sense. They cannot be sustained forever.

Signed sidekick of a 36 years of service postal carrier. What an insight into the postal service.

lja440 · ‎01-24-2019

@whileilaysleeping wrote:
USPS Pension Plans.
Pension Plans tend to implode and bankrupt companies. It is simple math and common sense. They cannot be sustained forever.
Signed sidekick of a 36 years of service postal carrier. What an insight into the postal service.

Pension Plans can work but they are a temptation. Managers tend to put the money in high risk investments and personally "borrow" from them. They think it is needed so far in the future that there is PLENTY of time to return the funds. Congress manages the Postal Pension Plan and has "borrowed" nearly all of it.

Pension Plans would work fine if they were put in diversified, low risk programs and everyone kept their fingers out of the piggy bank.

magman55775 · ‎01-29-2019

Lemme see...if Amazon got a great discount on published ratesfrom USPS and they wont accept an increase, the only solution for USPS is to increase rates on smaller shippers.

even under the e bay 'umbrella', we're smaller shippers.

claraandcali_jewelrylocketscharms · ‎01-29-2019

Hello,

I certainly can't figure this out. These past few days ebay charged me $3.09, $2.76 and then $2.96 all for the same weight 4oz. packages. I need a map for the zones as well. I completely feel your pain. I'm thinking of going to the calculated shipping cost with ebay, but afraid they will figure out some way to screw that up and I'll pay more then I need to as well. I'm worried about a breakdown in their system between what they tell the buyer is the shipping cost versus what they actually charge me.

Funny you mentioned rocket scientist, I actually have a degree in Finance and love 3D helicopter graphs etc. But these new zones have me absolutely flabbergasted!

Thank you for posting. This is the very time I ever have posted.

nobody*s_perfect · ‎01-29-2019

@claraandcali_jewelrylocketscharms

Zoned pricing isn't new; USPS has used zoned pricing for Priority Mail for many years. Sellers who use eBay's shipping calculator in their listings have found it to be 99.99% accurate.

Zones are based on distance from the sender. Everybody lives in their own Zone 1. You can set up your own 1-page reference chart here:

https://postcalc.usps.com/DomesticZoneChart

If you'd rather see the information in map form, use this; just change the "from" ZIP Code:

https://www.fitshipper.com/freeTools/usps-zone-calculator.html?toZip=&fromZip=90210

Here are the new USPS online prices for First Class; you can see why your pries for 4 ounces weren't all the same:

lja440 · ‎01-30-2019

@magman55775 wrote:
Lemme see...if Amazon got a great discount on published ratesfrom USPS and they wont accept an increase, the only solution for USPS is to increase rates on smaller shippers.
even under the e bay 'umbrella', we're smaller shippers.

Yes, Amazon gets a tremendous discount. I'll let you know how they do it.

They organize and deliver packages directly to the delivering PO each morning before 8am. The are organized on pallets. We only scan them arrived and sort to our PO's routes.

They get the same rates as FedEx does for SmartPost and UPS does for SurePost. The only difference is that they got a pledge to have their packages delivered the same day if it is possible for that office. In our office we will wait until 9 to leave for the routes but if something happens the driver is always nice enough to call and say he cant make it on time, letting us get on with our day.

lja440 · ‎01-30-2019

@claraandcali_jewelrylocketscharms wrote:
Hello,
I certainly can't figure this out. These past few days ebay charged me $3.09, $2.76 and then $2.96 all for the same weight 4oz. packages. I need a map for the zones as well. I completely feel your pain. I'm thinking of going to the calculated shipping cost with ebay, but afraid they will figure out some way to screw that up and I'll pay more then I need to as well. I'm worried about a breakdown in their system between what they tell the buyer is the shipping cost versus what they actually charge me.
Funny you mentioned rocket scientist, I actually have a degree in Finance and love 3D helicopter graphs etc. But these new zones have me absolutely flabbergasted!
Thank you for posting. This is the very time I ever have posted.

Here is where you can get a zone chart for your zipcode.

http.postalcal://usps.com/domesticzonechart

sorry if this doesn't come up as a link. I get a pop up that says Please use Ctrl+V/Cmd+V keyboard shortcuts to paste contents. and I have no clue how to do that.

nobody*s_perfect · ‎01-30-2019

@lja440 wrote: ... sorry if this doesn't come up as a link. I get a pop up that says Please use Ctrl+V/Cmd+V keyboard shortcuts to paste contents. and I have no clue how to do that.

That means hold down both the CTRL (or CMD) key and the letter v at the same time.

the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth · ‎01-30-2019

LJA said exactly what I was thinking.

So let us review. The government is not subsidizing USPS, rather it's the other way around.

Amazon, UPS and FedEx have a special deal because they are doing some of the work of delivering packages. Plus we know it is actually illegal for the PO to make contracts with corporations that are not at least revenue neutral.

As for the rest of the OPs rant, carry on.

lja440 · ‎01-31-2019

@nobody*s_perfect wrote:
@lja440 wrote: ... sorry if this doesn't come up as a link. I get a pop up that says Please use Ctrl+V/Cmd+V keyboard shortcuts to paste contents. and I have no clue how to do that.

That means hold down both the CTRL (or CMD) key and the letter v at the same time.

Thanks, that's what I thought but it doesn't do anything. Is there something you need to do while holding these keys down?