Why can’t eBay update my listings with First Class to Ground Advantage?

[wastingtime101]

eBay responded to this question by adding to the FAQs on Ground Advantage.

https://www.ebay.com/sellercenter/shipping/choosing-a-carrier-and-service/usps-and-ebay-labels

Why can’t eBay update my listings with First Class to Ground Advantage?

The USPS has separated their First-Class service by moving First-Class Package to Ground Advantage and maintaining First Class Mail for letters, envelopes and flats. The “First-Class” service will continue to be available on eBay for listings where sellers are shipping with these methods. For this reason, eBay is unable to update seller’s listings with First-Class to Ground Advantage.

To all the sellers hoping eBay would reverse their decision on updating First Class to Ground Advantage automatically, it's not going to happen for the reason posted above. First Class is going to be used for First Class Mail (untracked letters/flats) at some point in the future.

eBay said in their last announcement that they'd give more than 30 days for sellers to update their First Class Package listings to Ground Advantage. No hard timeline was provided.

Links in my signature below offer help to sellers that want to update listings using the bulk edit tool or switching to business policies.

[wastingtime101]

Adding more context:

First Class on eBay at the service level never distinguished between Package and Mail.

It's the "package type" that made the distinction.

Package Type was removed from the listing form when the current unified lister rolled out, however older listings and templates along with listings created using sell similar from those older listings still carry package type on the backend.

If eBay converted First Class to Ground Advantage automatically, it would mess up the rates for all the sellers relying on the letter/flat rates dictated by their package type.

So First Class is going to stick around in the only way USPS is offering it: First Class Mail for letters/flats

My guess is any seller that refuses to update their listings from First Class to Ground Advantage will eventually see the rates for First Class Mail on their listings when eBay finishes making updates. That will grossly undercharge buyers on shipping and sellers will have to foot the bill when they ship with Ground Advantage package service.

[stainlessenginecovers]

But, it is quite easy to bulk edit, up to 2000 listings at a time, from 1st Class to GA.

In fact, all listings (or some if you choose) shipping Priority could also be changed to GA (if you don't use Priority Boxes). 

[martin2001]

---

@wastingtime101 wrote:

Adding more context:

First Class on eBay at the service level never distinguished between Package and Mail.

---

That's the problem, right there. Because of constant "improvements' by ebay simple matter got complicated. All my listings were always  1st class package, if ebay just followed the USPS's services structure, there would be no problem to change that for the sellers (if they wanted to)

[martin2001]

---

@stainlessenginecovers wrote:

But, it is quite easy to bulk edit, up to 2000 listings at a time, from 1st Class to GA.

In fact, all listings (or some if you choose) shipping Priority could also be changed to GA (if you don't use Priority Boxes). 

---

It's not the question of how easy it is. It's the question of wasting time on a matter that a company like ebay should be able to do in a second. BTW, why is there a 2000 items limit. Even a nobody like Bonanza, has an option to  apply changes to ALL selected items (be it 1,000 or 10,000 listings)

[wastingtime101]

If you use business policies then the 2,000 item limit in the bulk editor is a non-issue. If a single shipping policy applies to all of your listings, you can update all those listings with just a couple clicks to edit the policy. Takes a minute or two tops. That's eBay's way to let you apply changes to  all listings at once. With approx 10k listings I can't believe a seller wouldn't already be using biz policies.

[dhbookds]

---

@stainlessenginecovers wrote:

But, it is quite easy to bulk edit, up to 2000 listings at a time, from 1st Class to GA.

In fact, all listings (or some if you choose) shipping Priority could also be changed to GA (if you don't use Priority Boxes). 

---

Not a problem to do the bulk edit............problem involved in separating the first class package listings..and only editing those.  As stated within the first class, some sellers have "letter" first class.....for stickers, stamps etc.....which they need to stay letter instead of being changed to GA.

if you have a mix of media and first class......plus the ground advantage........you can't simply do a single bulk edit in stages of all your listings...because that screws up media and "letter" first class.......... some sellers have specific shipping for specific listings which would also be in the mix......UPS, Fedex......  FINDING those in 1000's of listings is the problem.......

[shipscript]

@dhbookds 

I just downloaded a report of your 191 listings that use USPS First Class.  Because they show calculated shipping, with a shipping cost over $6, I can tell that they are all packages. They are also all FixedPrice listings. They can all be converted to USPS Ground Advantage (USPSParcel).  Almost all of them have a secondary shipping method (flat rate env, priority mail, ground advantage, etc), which must be included in a bulk edit. I can send you the spreadsheet if you wish.

It will probably take me another day or so to work out the feasibility of uploading a shipping spreadsheet to Seller Hub. If I can make that work with the available data, that would be a solution for those not using Shipping Policies.

[dhbookds]

Thanks @shipscript  got the list and will wait to see about SH.............Thanks so much!!!!

[monica-sells]

@wastingtime101 

I have a related question.

When the "grace period" expires, will listings that offer "Free Shipping" that utilize (First Class) as the method be included in the "No Shipping Service Available" scenario?

I only ask because I have updated all calculated listing and realized that some "Free Shipping" listings utilize this class of service that 'technically' does not exist.

Trying to 'avoid' having to check all the 'Free Shipping' listing for the class of service that is displayed

example:

2000-S Silver Proof Mint Set 10 coins W/ State Quarters | OGP | eBay

Free shipping via (First Class)...

Thanks for looking

[wastingtime101]

If you set it up with flat ship then checked the free box you should be fine, though you'll want to update eventually just to make sure buyers are getting accurate info on what shipping service to expect.

If you set it up with calculated ship then checked free box (not sure why eBay offers that option) then I don't know what will happen @monica-sells .

[monica-sells]

---

@wastingtime101 wrote:

If you set it up with flat ship then checked the free box you should be fine, though you'll want to update eventually just to make sure buyers are getting accurate info on what shipping service to expect.

If you set it up with calculated ship then checked free box (not sure why eBay offers that option) then I don't know what will happen @monica-sells .

---

THANKS........They are all calculated, because the listings also offer shipping upgrades that are calculated.....

important point: what service the customer expects even though it is "free" is relevant......

looks like I am going to check all those too....

[wastingtime101]

---

@monica-sells wrote:

---

the listings also offer shipping upgrades that are calculated.....

---

Duh, the obvious reason. 🙃

The listing you posted above lists first class so you'll want to change it @monica-sells.

The only reason to leave First Class is if the item is going to ship untracked First Class Mail (not Package).

[monster-deals]

---

@wastingtime101 wrote:

For this reason, eBay is unable to update seller’s listings with First-Class to Ground Advantage.

---

...well they have been updating mine without any problem.

[shipscript]

@monica-sells 

Here are your 12 listings that still include First Class. Notice that the calculated price for your First Class Package matches the calculated price for your Ground Advantage (about the middle of the chart).

ItemID	Title	Current-Price	Shipping Type	ShippingService1:	Cost1	ShippingService2:	Cost2	ShippingService3:	Cost3
314252807453	1996 Revell | Rusty Wallace #2 Miller 25	9.95	Flat	USPS First Class	2.99	USPS Priority Mail	7.91
314252827006	1996 Revell Collection | 1:64 Scale |	9.95	Flat	USPS First Class	4.19	USPS Priority Mail	7.91
314509703664	1999 S Proof Set U.S. Mint OGP  W/COA	19.99	Calculated	USPS First Class	4.2	USPS Ground Advantage	4.2	USPS Priority Mail	7.96
314544939726	2000-S Silver Proof Mint Set 10 coins W/	59	Calculated	USPS First Class	0
314544979416	2001-S Silver Proof Mint Set 10 coins W/	59	Calculated	USPS First Class	4.2	USPS Ground Advantage	4.2	USPS Priority Mail	7.96
314544985765	2002-S Silver Proof Mint Set 10 coins W/	59	Calculated	USPS First Class	4.2	USPS Ground Advantage	4.2	USPS Priority Mail	7.96
314544994367	2003-S Silver Proof Mint Set 10 coins W/	54	Calculated	USPS First Class	4.2	USPS Ground Advantage	4.2	USPS Priority Mail	7.96
314562701764	Lot of 4 Basic Indoor Timers | 544068 |	22.95	Calculated	USPS First Class	6.22	USPS Priority Mail	7.96
314590262901	Men's Fleece Sweatpants | Light Grey	13	Calculated	USPS First Class	6.22
314599125329	Lot of 3 Basic Indoor Timers | 544068 |	14.95	Calculated	USPS First Class	13.47	USPS Priority Mail	19.65
314599179591	Genuine Westinghouse | Solid White	9.95	Calculated	USPS First Class	0	USPS Priority Mail	7.96
314599228612	24-Hour Outlet Timer | Plug in	12.95	Calculated	USPS First Class	4.2	USPS Priority Mail	7.96