eBay

cannonball-jojo · ‎01-04-2018

I was curious if any sellers out there have used a USPS shipping software that is doing a good job for them. I mainly ship small boxes that weigh less than 10 lbs.

I have a decent scale to weigh items, and the boxes will be the same in about three different sizes. I am hoping to download some software or an app that can preset certain values, and streamline the process of ascertaining the shipping cost and creating paid postage labels on a HP laser jet printer at home.

It does not have to be anything too intricate or complicated. I am not a mass seller. I hope to find something in a reasonable price range.

Any suggestions would be great! Thanks!

partial*eclipse · ‎01-04-2018

cannonball-jojo wrote: .... Which service selection should match with USPS walk in customer rates? I am talkig about lowest cost and probably the slowest delivery option - is it Retail Ground Service?

Parcel Select Ground and Retail Ground used to be known as Parcel Post.

It's natural to assume that the slow ground method wil be cheaper than Priority Mail, but as noted in the other post that's not the case. For online postage, the prices for Parcel Select and Priority Mail are identical (or just 5 cents apart) for all packages up to 18 pounds, except those that are over 1 cubic foot and going to Zones 5 - 9 (those incur the dreaded "dimensional weight" fee for Priority). IIRC, the same is true for the equivalent retail services.

Here's a link to the official USPS rates publication, Notice 123.
http://pe.usps.com/cpim/ftp/manuals/dmm300/notice123.pdf

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fern*wood · ‎01-04-2018

Maybe I'm not understanding what you are asking for, but if you have a scale and a printer that's about all you need.

The shipping will be calculated by ebay based on what you enter when you list, or you can enter a flat rate if that is appropriate. The labels are easy to print directly from your paid for item on ebay.

partial*eclipse · ‎01-04-2018

@fern*wood I'm glad you posted that; I didn't understand the question, either. Just printing labels through ebay works for me.

cannonball-jojo · ‎01-04-2018

In my experience the Ebay calculator under prices the item shipping costs. I have looked at all my preferences in my account to make sure to not get discounted prices, and the total seems to always be different when I go to mail the item. I saw quite a few people posted that they were having the same problem.

fern*wood · ‎01-04-2018

@cannonball-jojo wrote:
In my experience the Ebay calculator under prices the item shipping costs. I have looked at all my preferences in my account to make sure to not get discounted prices, and the total seems to always be different when I go to mail the item. I saw quite a few people posted that they were having the same problem.

I've never had a problem when shipping via USPS. I have my preferences set to not pass on the discount, and that helps cover the fees ebay charges on shipping.

Unless I enter something wrong, such as weight or neglect to enter dimensions (larger items), the amounts charged my buyers have always been correct. I'm not talking about UPS or FedEx---I stopped using both of those.

I've seen plenty of posts about the amounts being wrong, but when details are given, they can usually be determined as seller error.

sam9876 · ‎01-04-2018

Ummmm... have you been paying for postage at the post office?

cannonball-jojo · ‎01-04-2018

What information or details do you need? I can give them to you.

The next box I weigh and measure and get a price for I will keep a separate memo on it and then go get postage paid and see if it is different.

cannonball-jojo · ‎01-04-2018

Yes

cannonball-jojo · ‎01-04-2018

yes paying at the post office

missjen831 · ‎01-04-2018

@cannonball-jojo wrote:
yes paying at the post office

Then that could be the problem. You pay MORE when you pay at the PO. Ebays USPS calculator is 99.9% accurate. If postage is being undercharged, you are either passing on the commercial discounted rate to the buyer and then paying the retail rate at the PO, OR you are entering the wrong weight/dimensions or choosing the wrong package type. If postage is undercharged, its a seller error.

One life is all we have to live
Love is all we have to give

**Formerly known as MissJen316**

cannonball-jojo · ‎01-04-2018

@missjen831 wrote:
@cannonball-jojo wrote:
yes paying at the post office
Then that could be the problem. You pay MORE when you pay at the PO. Ebays USPS calculator is 99.9% accurate. If postage is being undercharged, you are either passing on the commercial discounted rate to the buyer and then paying the retail rate at the PO, OR you are entering the wrong weight/dimensions or choosing the wrong package type. If postage is undercharged, its a seller error.

How is it seller error if I set my account preferences to "no discounts" and the pricing is different? Where did you come up with 99.9%? Do you have published data to back that up?

I am not the only person to bring up this issue, so telling me it is my fault does not solve the problem. Please tell me where I am going wrong.

I really do not want to set a flat rate for shipping because some buyers complain about set rates for shipping.

Right now my only option is to go to the post office.

fern*wood · ‎01-04-2018

If your shipping wasn't enough in your listing, then paying for it at the post office doesn't help at all. That will always cost more than printing online, due to the discount offered for online postage. Please post an example of what you entered in the listing (weights/dims/method) and what you were paid that you feel was wrong, including zips both ways.

fern*wood · ‎01-04-2018

@cannonball-jojo wrote:
@missjen831 wrote:
@cannonball-jojo wrote:
yes paying at the post office
Then that could be the problem. You pay MORE when you pay at the PO. Ebays USPS calculator is 99.9% accurate. If postage is being undercharged, you are either passing on the commercial discounted rate to the buyer and then paying the retail rate at the PO, OR you are entering the wrong weight/dimensions or choosing the wrong package type. If postage is undercharged, its a seller error.
How is it seller error if I set my account preferences to "no discounts" and the pricing is different? Where did you come up with 99.9%? Do you have published data to back that up?

I am not the only person to bring up this issue, so telling me it is my fault does not solve the problem. Please tell me where I am going wrong.

I really do not want to set a flat rate for shipping because some buyers complain about set rates for shipping.

Right now my only option is to go to the post office.

What makes you feel going to the post office is your only option?

Shipping does have a learning curve, but nothing too difficult to learn. There are some simple things than sellers do wrong on a regular basis that causes their postage to be incorrect. We need more information from you to be able to help.

partial*eclipse · ‎01-04-2018

cannonball-jojo wrote: ... How is it seller error if I set my account preferences to "no discounts" and the pricing is different? ... Right now my only option is to go to the post office.

It's seller error when the seller chooses to set up his listing with Parcel Select Ground, which is only available as an online discounted service, and then ships the item at the Post office.

You have listings set up with Parcel Select; if you ship those at the PO, then you will be sold either Retail Ground or Priority Mail, which both will cost more than Parcel Select. In order to charge an accurate price, you must set up the shipping calculator with the service that you will actually use.

As noted in the other post, the shipping calculator for USPS psotage is (approximately) 99.99% accurate when set up correctly.

cannonball-jojo · ‎01-04-2018

@fern*wood wrote:
If your shipping wasn't enough in your listing, then paying for it at the post office doesn't help at all. That will always cost more than printing online, due to the discount offered for online postage. Please post an example of what you entered in the listing (weights/dims/method) and what you were paid that you feel was wrong, including zips both ways.

I will do it tomorrow with a new shipment, so I can double check everything