USPS to replace First Class Package, Retail Ground, Parcel Select with Ground Advantage Summer 2023

[wastingtime101]

As USPS implements price & service changes every July (think the first year was August), I expect that's about the time they're planning to roll this out.

https://postalnews.com/blog/2023/02/10/usps-seeks-to-replace-first-class-package-service-with-usps-g...

WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — As part of its overall strategy to enhance its shipping offerings, the United States Postal Service today filed a procedural filing with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) notifying the commission of the Postal Service’s intention to replace its existing First-Class Package Service category with USPS Ground Advantage. USPS Ground Advantage will feature two-to five day service standards for packages up to 70 pounds.

The filing streamlines and simplifies package shipping options for customers and enhances the Postal Service’s ground product offering with the anticipated summer 2023 launch of its improved ground product — USPS Ground Advantage.

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@opshop85 wrote: ... . The online postage cost for packages up to 15.99 ounces is NOT staying the same. I put in lower weights to see what would happen to the cost and it was $8.09 for any under-a-pound package....

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No, the current rate for 8 ounces via Parcel Select Ground is $8.09.  Why do you think you are seeing the rate for Ground Advantage? It hasn't started yet. Here are the new prices, starting on Sunday:

https://pe.usps.com/resources/PriceChange/July%202023%20Price%20Change%2020230627%20-%20Notice123%20...

[fern*wood]

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@fern*wood wrote:

Thanks for the heads up and update.   How do folks feel about ebay's ability to update their shipping flow for this? 

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This was my post back in February when I first heard of this change.  I wish ebay would prove me wrong and help us out here. 

[wastingtime101]

I have a new Ground Advantage question kyle@ebay :

As we're aware, eBay is auto-updating Parcel Select to Ground Advantage. They are not updating First Class or Retail Ground. Sellers will have to handle that themselves starting Sunday, July 9 with a window of 30 days.

eBay recently changed the Parcel Select name within shipping settings and listings. It was changed to: Parcel Select / Ground Advantage

This is causing confusion today as many sellers seeing this are incorrectly assuming when they select that service and see the current Parcel Select rates that it's reflecting the Ground Advantage rates that will be in effect in 2 days. So they are concerned their 4 oz package is going to see a big price jump when that's not the case.

My question:

When this change takes place on Sunday, is eBay going to drop Parcel Select from the current "Parcel Select / Ground Advantage" name? Because if they don't, that's probably going to create even more confusion.

[wastingtime101]

I was replying to your post on another thread, but it was locked before I could publish, so I'm putting it here @fern*wood .

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@fern*wood wrote:

no explanations at all--especially as to why our 1st class can't be automatically converted for us just as parcel select will be. 

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I'm of two minds on that one. On the one hand I strongly believe eBay should be handling the changeover for FC and RG.

On the other hand, there are programming hurdles to merging several services into one, especially when multiple services are offered on the same listing. Plus there's the USPS API and potentially layers of old eBay code involved. There are biz policies and non-biz policies. App users and web users. Third party listers. A lot of customization. We've seen in the past the types of tech issues that can result when complex changes are made costing sellers time, money, sales and upset buyers. So the fact that eBay is keeping it simple, even though it means more work for sellers, will greatly reduce the chance of costly tech errors.

While a tech company like eBay should be able to handle this kind of change, we all know that doesn't always go smoothly. So to me it kinda feels like the way they're going about it is the lesser of two evils. I'll take a bit of extra work over dealing with a big tech issue most any day. 🤷

[norskmediashop]

 I'll take a bit of extra work over dealing with a big tech issue most any day. 🤷

No thanks, many of us are now up a river when it comes to hundreds or thousands of listings that have to be changed, thats impossible to do and a train wreck ahead. It could very well put many out of business, I don't know what were going to do but will keep complaining to ebay. 

[fern*wood]

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@wastingtime101 wrote:

...So the fact that eBay is keeping it simple, even though it means more work for sellers, will greatly reduce the chance of costly tech errors.

While a tech company like eBay should be able to handle this kind of change, we all know that doesn't always go smoothly. So to me it kinda feels like the way they're going about it is the lesser of two evils. I'll take a bit of extra work over dealing with a big tech issue most any day. 🤷

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I guess that was my fear back in February.  I had my doubts about this being a smooth operation.  I truly hoped ebay would at least try, though.  At least offer some guidance, even if they don't want to tackle the job themselves.  

[normkin8]

So I am specifically on this thread for the how to change. We currently have a few thousand Items. With maybe half of them currently listed as First class.  Is there a bulk edit option I can use in order to make this change. Or will I have to go in and change each individual Listing?  Ive only played around on bulk edit a few times and did not see this as an option to do?

Thanks in advance for anywhere you could point me to read up on how to make the change all at once if that is an option. 

[wastingtime101]

Hey @normkin8. I'm working on a tutorial to help sellers with bulk edit, but with a few thousand listings I strongly suggest switching to business policies.

I posted info on setting up business policies a short while ago and you can find that here:

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Shipping/Setting-up-Business-Policies-Update-to-USPS-Ground-Advantage/...

[ltldpr]

@wastingtime101 

Can you please clarify something from the USPS site?

"...130 inches in combined length and girth"

Do they mean combined HEIGHT and girth, since length (left side to right side) is actually included in girth? Girth is the measurement around something, correct? 

Also, is there an actual easy way to understand the cubic pricing? I'm sure I passed that part of math class back in the 70s or probably 80s (I even passed Algebra 2 & Trig lol), but I certainly don't remember any of it anymore. 

Thank you!

[wastingtime101]

No, they mean combined length plus girth, exactly as it's written.

If your package is 12L x 8W x 6H:

12 is the length

8+6+8+6 = 28 is the girth

Combined length + girth = 40

eBay does not currently offer cubic pricing, but you can read more about it on pirateship.com since they offer it.

[ltldpr]

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@wastingtime101 wrote:

No, they mean combined length plus girth, exactly as it's written.

If your package is 12L x 8W x 6H:

12 is the length

8+6+8+6 = 28 is the girth

Combined length + girth = 40

eBay does not currently offer cubic pricing, but you can read more about it on pirateship.com since they offer it.

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Thank you!

[fern*wood]

I'm needing to list some perfume and previously I listed with parcel select shipping since I thought 1st class/Priority wasn't permitted.   Now do I list with ground advantage and does the weight matter?  For instance, is the 13 oz work around for up to 15.9oz still work and get me the old 1st class rates?  Is that allowed now for perfume?

[nobody*s_perfect]

If a package is required to travel by ground (e.g., hazmat, perfume), the box is supposed to be labeled as such.  

https://www.usps.com/ship/shipping-restrictions.htm

Yes, you can purchase Ground Advantage for that.  The prices and weight brackets are the same for online postage, and for retail the top bracket now goes up to 15.999 ounces so there's no more need to worry about that 13-ounce limit.

[wastingtime101]

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@wastingtime101 wrote:

I have a new Ground Advantage question kyle@ebay :

As we're aware, eBay is auto-updating Parcel Select to Ground Advantage. They are not updating First Class or Retail Ground. Sellers will have to handle that themselves starting Sunday, July 9 with a window of 30 days.

eBay recently changed the Parcel Select name within shipping settings and listings. It was changed to: Parcel Select / Ground Advantage

This is causing confusion today as many sellers seeing this are incorrectly assuming when they select that service and see the current Parcel Select rates that it's reflecting the Ground Advantage rates that will be in effect in 2 days. So they are concerned their 4 oz package is going to see a big price jump when that's not the case.

My question:

When this change takes place on Sunday, is eBay going to drop Parcel Select from the current "Parcel Select / Ground Advantage" name? Because if they don't, that's probably going to create even more confusion.

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Additional questions kyle@ebay 

We're already seeing confusion from many sellers today because of the PS/GA name mentioned above. Sellers are looking for straight up "Ground Advantage" with no mention of Parcel Select.

Another issue is the listing form is showing old (higher) Parcel Select rates for packages under a pound. This outdated info has resulted in sellers mistakenly (yet understandably) believing selecting PS/GA will result in incorrect rates.

The eBay shipping calculator and live listings are all reflecting accurate rates, but for some reason the listing form is not.

Since I use biz policies I can't capture a screenshot, but perhaps someone else reading can.

Will we see that issue fixed in the next couple days?

Another question being brought up: when will eBay remove both First Class Package and Retail Ground from the list of services when creating new listings? Will that be done within the next couple days to avoid sellers creating new listings with the discontinued services, or is eBay planning to wait out the 30 days? I'm assuming those services will remain for 30 days since they're still live on active listings, but couldn't eBay program things to gray out those options - make them un-selectable on the listing form?

At this point it's probably late in the game to get that kind of change made quickly, but it would definitely help sellers if that could be done.

[wastingtime101]

Thanks to @my_old_stuff_for_sale we have a screenshot of the listing form error showing the wrong rates kyle@ebay 

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Shipping/USPS-Ground-Advantage-I-am-so-confused/m-p/33858842#M451836