USPS rates on ebay seem much higher than you can get elsewhere

[bookengine]

We've been shopping our rates every order lately through paypals ship station program. USPS rates are often 15-25% cheaper than the same USPS service through ebay. We mainly ship 6lb-8lb packages.

Feels like ebay's really dropping the ball here or just being predatory and making money on shipping labels.

[lakefor94]

Where are you finding these lower rates? EBay has basically the same rates as PirateShip. If there are better rates elsewhere, please share that information. 

If my packages are 6-8 lbs, they certainly are not being shipped via USPS. 

[yuzuha]

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@lakefor94 wrote:

Where are you finding these lower rates? EBay has basically the same rates as PirateShip. If there are better rates elsewhere, please share that information. 

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I'm curious too, because I ship via ShipStation frequently for non-eBay sales and I have never once seen a lower rate there.

[richard1rst]

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@bookengine wrote:

We've been shopping our rates every order lately through paypals ship station program. USPS rates are often 15-25% cheaper than the same USPS service through ebay. We mainly ship 6lb-8lb packages.

Feels like ebay's really dropping the ball here or just being predatory and making money on shipping labels.

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As with the other posters I disagree on its face.

HOWEVER - Pirateship (and maybe shipstation - I've never used them so I can not say for sure) offer Cubic Pricing. It is an entirely different rate structure for smaller heavier boxes. Sort of the equivalent of Flat Rate shipping but you can use ANY box not just the PM boxes provided by the post office. eBay does not offer it so on that basis, yes, eBay would be higher.

But, as another poster noted, at 6-8 pounds priority mail is a lousy choice from anybody. Cubic Pricing, Ground Advantage or UPS/FedEx would be better choices.

[bookengine]

The savings is due to them offering cubic rates but it's kind of laughable that a company eBay's size can't offer them.

Here's some example shipments. We are located in zip 14032. These were the cheapest rates available in plain packaging.

Zip 60139
W: 8lb
16x12x5
Ebay rates;
USPS Ground Advantage - $10.30
Paypal shipstation rate;
USPS Ground Advantage - $7.64

zip 01923
w: 6lb
16x15x3
ebay; USPS ground advantage 7.88
pp shipstation ; USPS ground advantage 7.09

zip 98032
w: 6lb
16x15x3
Ebay- USPS ground advantage 14.37
PP shipstation- USPS ground advantage - 12.13

[lakefor94]

The cubes can save some money on USPS. Never have figured out why eBay doesn't offer them.

The rest of the pricing is basically the same on what eBay offers.

I stay away from the Ground Advantage for the expensive items. They go with the more reliable and consistent service of UPS Ground. The Ground Advantage is a sub-standard service as compared to USPS Priority and UPS, in my book.

[titipeo]

It's always good to check pricing on other suppliers just in case the cubic pricing favors you. 

[deserdog]

Ebay shipping is higher in lots of cases, because they do not offer cubic pricing. And it does not have to be a real heavy package. For example, I have a cast iron trivet that will ship at 2 lbs. in a box that is 11x6x2

To zone 8, Ebay labels will be 9.88 GA, and $13.17 priority. Pirate Ship will be $8.03 Cubic GA and $10.85 Cubic Priority. Even zone 1, Ebay labels are higher. Same package, Ebay labels $6.83 GA  $7.00 Priority. Pirate Ship $6.32 Cubic GA and $6.73 Cubic Priority. 

[deserdog]

Here is an example of another case. Cast iron cornbread pan , going to zone 2. Boz was 17x7x2 6 lb. Pirate ship is $6.85 Cubic GA and $7.02 Cubic Priority. Ebay labels would be $9.28 GA and $7.88 Priority. It gets even worse going to zone 8: Pirate Ship $9.29 Cubic GA and $13.17 Cubic Priority. Ebay labels $14.37 GA and $28.53 Priority.

[monroe67]

Title:  "USPS Rates on ebay seem much higher than you can get elsewhere."  

So?  Get your postage elsewhere then!  eBay will not stop you.  

If you think eBay's prices are "predatory" compared to those other shipping services out there "elsewhere", what do you think of the prices you would have to pay if you took your sold items into your local post office and paid their retail prices? 

Compared to those retail prices, and as long as my buyers pay the postage/shipping costs in my listings, my selling ID will continue to pay eBay's discounted postage prices.  

[tracker1115]

I set up a USPS account and it is always a few dollars cheaper than Ebay