eBay

oilsofasgard · ‎09-24-2019

Since June 23rd 2019, All the carriers have doubled/tripled/quadrupled their shipping prices due to over sized packages bigger than 12x12x12.

I'm an Etsy seller too and was selling my stuff with great results until June 23rd this year.

All sales are virtually flat, either Ebay or other website.

The post office said Retail Ground is ONLY for Retail businesses, big biz. Whatever the rates we got a few months ago are now what big biz get now.

The question is: If someone purchases a product of mine and tries to use the Retail ground option, will it allow me to print and pay for a label ?

lja440 · ‎09-25-2019

@nobody*s_perfect wrote:
As noted in the other post, Retail Ground is available for Zones 1 - 4 only if you are mailing contents that must be shipped via ground, such as hazmat or live animals.

Live animals MUST go Priority or Express.

nobody*s_perfect · ‎09-25-2019

The acceptable services are specific to the type of animal. Bees and scorpions can only go by surface transportation; birds that are more than 1 day old can only go via Priority Express, etc.

https://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52c5_008.htm#ep203239

oilsofasgard · ‎09-25-2019

That makes sense. I'll call to confirm that confusion on their part.

oilsofasgard · ‎09-25-2019

They're saying that only MASS shipments, generally from businesses are accepted by Retail ground.

They can't tell me how many packages needed to ship, quantity.

nobody*s_perfect · ‎09-25-2019

The minimum quantity for using Retail Ground is one. They must be thinking of some other service with high-volume requirements for discounted shipping (e.g., Parcel Select Destination entry).

lja440 · ‎09-26-2019

@nobody*s_perfect wrote:
The acceptable services are specific to the type of animal. Bees and scorpions can only go by surface transportation; birds that are more than 1 day old can only go via Priority Express, etc.

https://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52c5_008.htm#ep203239

Yes but they have a Special Handling designation for ground but they get treated as Express. LOL queens actually come in an express envelope in a little box. One of the bee keepers opened one in front of us. It contains the queen and some workers to feed her on the trip.

lja440 · ‎09-26-2019

You are talking about bulk shipping, not retail ground.

Bulk shipping discounts can be had for various services, and have minimum volumes.

Presorted and automation First-Class Mail®: 500 pieces
USPS Marketing Mail™: 200 pieces or 50 lbs
Destination entry Parcel Select Ground: 50-piece minimum per mailing
Presorted and carrier route sorted Bound Printed Matter: 300 pieces
Commercial Library Mail: 300 pieces
Commercial Media Mail®: 300 pieces

nobody*s_perfect · ‎09-26-2019

@lja440 wrote:
@nobody*s_perfect wrote: ...
https://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52c5_008.htm#ep203239
Yes but they have a Special Handling designation for ground but they get treated as Express. LOL queens actually come in an express envelope in a little box.....

As the linked page shows, queen bees are shipped by Priority Express, not ground shipping.

oilsofasgard · ‎09-26-2019

Guess I have a post office that was told not to offer it. They refuse to do it no matter whom I talk with.

The excuse used is: We can't find it on our computers.

One more call to make.......

karen.larry · ‎01-14-2020

Post Office refused today.

I think tomorrow I will add a lithium coin cell in its original packaging to the shipment.

Then I can specify it is surface shipment only.

Probably have to add a HazMat label

Last year the same PO took a package without problem.

nobody*s_perfect · ‎01-14-2020

When they took your package last year, it might have been going to a destination in Zones 5 - 9, which do not have this "ground only" constraint. This will all become a moot point on January 27, because the new USPS rates extend the dimensional weight policy to Retail Ground.

https://pe.usps.com/resources/PriceChange/January%202020%20-%20Notice123.pdf