Weights are rounded down?

[pvcliff]

Discussion on FB indicates an 8.2oz package ships at the 8oz rate and not 12 oz rate. I have always cut box flaps down to get a package down to the lower rate when possible. Folks are saying up to .4 ounces can ship at the lower rate, .5 pops you to the higher rate. I learned about cutting boxes down on this forum years ago, but don't ever recall a mention of "don't sweat it, .2 ounces ships at the lower rate". If this is really true, what a time saver!

[Anonymous]

I've always round up and care not, what tier, class, rate, etc. the items goes to. Doesn't concern me.

For your 8.2 oz package I would enter 9 oz into the system and have done so since 2001. 

Skimping 1 oz on a package only to have it backfire is not worth it to me.

[99centhousefund]

If its 8.2 & you are rounding up go to 12 OZ!

9-12 oz is the same price on ebay First Class.

If you are anywhere in a class go to the Highest amount possible!

If mailing a 1 lb 2 oz Media Mail item List it as 2 Lbs! You pay the same for 1 lb 1 oz as you do for 2 lbs so why take any chance on a wonky scale etc!

[coffeebean832]

Those people on FaceBook are wrong. Weight always rounds up. The one instance where you can round down with USPS is when it comes to package dimensions.

This link has details for First Class- https://pe.usps.com/cpim/ftp/manuals/dmm300/283.pdf

" Any fraction of an ounce is rounded up to the next weight (postage) increment."

This link has details for Priority Mail- https://pe.usps.com/cpim/ftp/manuals/dmm300/223.pdf

[jayjaspersgarage]

No social media here but I've been cutting weight out of packaging since 2011 when I started selling here.  It's good to get the total weight below the next tier level.  For me the sweetest victory is figuring out how to keep an item below 16 ounces when other sellers don't try to on the same exact item and end up charging eight to ten dollars for shipping when I can charge $4.85, for instance.

[soh.maryl]

"Discussion on Facebook".

Unless the USPS is the source of the discussions, ignore that information.

Weights are rounded UP, not down.  

[fern*wood]

Facebook is notorious for bad, misleading, and flat out wrong information...on about any topic you choose. 

[Anonymous]

---

@99centhousefund wrote:

If its 8.2 & you are rounding up go to 12 OZ!

9-12 oz is the same price on ebay First Class.

If you are anywhere in a class go to the Highest amount possible!

If mailing a 1 lb 2 oz Media Mail item List it as 2 Lbs! You pay the same for 1 lb 1 oz as you do for 2 lbs so why take any chance on a wonky scale etc!

---

No. I put the weight rounded up to the nearest ounce, period, on 1st class...nearest lb on anything over 16

ounces.

If you're putting 12 oz for a 9 oz package, that is not the correct weight of the package.

[pvcliff]

Well I'm glad to hear I haven't been pulling my hair out and taking an extra five minutes at least once a week to finagle a package below the weight threshold for no reason! The FB group moderator says she regularly goes over and has for years and has never had a problem. I was reading the comments thinking "that is NOT true" yet multiple people seemed to think it was. As mentioned up thread, I've only seen rounding down mentioned before in discussion of dimensions. 

[eaux-de-vie]

Always round up, it says so right on the USPS site. The heavier stuff goes by the pound so 1lb 3 oz ships at 2 lbs. First class by the oz and although it does not change on EVERY ounce, seems to go by 3 or 4 oz differences, I plug in the next oz so say if something is 4.2 oz I put in 5 (which by the way, is in the next weight price category). 

[jayjaspersgarage]

"If you're putting 12 oz for a 9 oz package, that is not the correct weight of the package."

Why not add an ounce or two in the same four ounce range?  If enough sellers do that the plane won't get overloaded and might show up a little quicker.  (smirk)  I often input 4oz. when it is under 3 oz. because on a whim I add bonus items that might take the weight up above three ounces.  

[Anonymous]

If the intent of what you are stating was universally accepted, then when I put 9 oz, it would print out 12 oz, which it doesn't.

I get the logic but I don't have the time nor inclination to change the way I compute things every time the USPS changes one of their guidelines or tiers.

[nobody*s_perfect]

---

@pvcliff wrote:

Well I'm glad to hear I haven't been pulling my hair out and taking an extra five minutes at least once a week to finagle a package below the weight threshold for no reason! The FB group moderator says she regularly goes over and has for years and has never had a problem. I was reading the comments thinking "that is NOT true" yet multiple people seemed to think it was. As mentioned up thread, I've only seen rounding down mentioned before in discussion of dimensions. 

---

Perhaps she just hasn't been caught. Perhaps her account has been billed for the postage due through the USPS APV system and she just hasn't noticed. Or maybe she's trying to get you in trouble.

https://link.usps.com/2017/10/05/what-is-apv/

http://pages.ebay.com/sellerinformation/ship-smart/ebay-shipping-partners/avoid-extra-postage-costs....

[chapeau-noir]

And as well, I'd rather take the USPS word on it than some moderator on Fakebook who I don't even know and might be ego posting.  I would take the risk myself, but not for my customer.

[gracieallen01]

---

@pvcliff wrote:

Well I'm glad to hear I haven't been pulling my hair out and taking an extra five minutes at least once a week to finagle a package below the weight threshold for no reason! The FB group moderator says she regularly goes over and has for years and has never had a problem. I was reading the comments thinking "that is NOT true" yet multiple people seemed to think it was. As mentioned up thread, I've only seen rounding down mentioned before in discussion of dimensions. 

---

People never have a problem with fudging things - until they do.