Why does large flat rate box price vary depending on location?

[cat31302]

I thought flat rate was flat rate - why does the price vary depending on the buyer?  See snip below from listing setup.

[wastingtime101]

$19.51 is the rate eBay is charging for the Large Flat Rate Box.

I expect $20.15 is for the Military Flat Rate Box.

https://store.usps.com/store/product/shipping-supplies/priority-mail-flat-rate-large-box-P_LARGE_FRB

https://store.usps.com/store/product/shipping-supplies/priority-mail-flat-rate-apofpo-box-P_MILI_FRB

[deserdog]

Even on Pirate ship there is a difference in price for large flat rate.

Zone 1 -8(excluding AK and HI) $19.51 

AK and HI $21.85

Retail is $24.75 in all cases.

[gator08041971]

It looks to me as if you are offering the buyer a discount on the label cost.  You may want to check your settings.

I typically only offer the retail rate to buyers, that way I have a cushion in case of final cost discrepancies.

[classictoyspaper]

folks have no clue when they respond. flat rate envelope for me varies from $8.40 and $8.75. for the exact same flat rate envelope. the padded also varies. from $9.20 to $9.85. for THE EXACT SAME FLAT RATE PACKAGE!!!! so yes, i fully understand what you are asking. and no, i have no clue why ebay does this. i just think its another ebay glitch that they have never fixed! 

[wastingtime101]

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@classictoyspaper wrote:

folks have no clue when they respond. flat rate envelope for me varies from $8.40 and $8.75. for the exact same flat rate envelope. the padded also varies. from $9.20 to $9.85. for THE EXACT SAME FLAT RATE PACKAGE!!!! so yes, i fully understand what you are asking. and no, i have no clue why ebay does this. i just think its another ebay glitch that they have never fixed! 

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My above response was accurate for March 2024. Of course the response is different today as shipping has changed in the last year @classictoyspaper . There is still a difference in price for the Large Flat Rate Box and the Military Large Flat Rate Box.

But you're asking about Flat Rate Envelopes.

$8.75 and $9.55 are the commercial rates for those flat rates which you pay when the buyer is in a more rural zip code.

$8.40 and $9.20 are the more deeply discounted eBay rates for those flat rates which you pay when the buyer is in a more populated area.

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Announcements/USPS-Rate-Changes-Effective-September-16-2024/ba-p/34661...

[kh-stanley1]

Hi everyone,

Due to the age of this thread, it has been closed to further replies. Please feel free to start a new thread HERE if you wish to continue to discuss this topic.

Thank you for understanding.