eBay

geofizz1 · ‎11-24-2019

Hello. I have just started selling again after about a 6-year gap, but so far everything has been fine, shipping-cost wise. The amount the buyer pays for shipping matches the amount shown as the shipping cost when I go to print their label. Until today. It's not a huge difference, but I don't understand what's happening.

I sold a small newsletter that will easily fit in a 9" x 12" manila envelope. It weighs 2.8 oz (including the packing slip and label). Actually, I listed it as 4 oz., but if I remove some of the cardboard, I can get it below 3 oz. But it doesn't make a difference using the Print label feature on ebay or paypal.

When I open the auction by clicking Sell Similar and enter my buyer's zip code, it states $1.45 shipping cost. (Large envelope - First Class package). But ebay and paypal want me to pay $2.84.

What am I doing wrong, if anything. Which leads me to another question. When I created the listing, I first selected Envelope, but when I hit the Calculate Shipping button, it indicated $7.42 to NYC. This did not seem right, so I tried Large Envelope.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

koinonia215 · ‎11-24-2019

There are two types of first class mail. One is for things like a letter- paper, postcards- and are bendable. What you are describing, with placing cardboard inside, is called a first class package and isn't bendable. There is a higher rate for these pieces.

richard1rst · ‎11-24-2019

@geofizz1 wrote:
When I created the listing, I first selected Envelope,

When you do your listing do not select envelope. Select First Class PACKAGE.

An envelope will not get you tracking which is why eBay doesn't offer it, even though the post office does.

If you insist on using an envelope then buy your postage over the counter at the post office. But you will not get tracking so you are open to an Item Not Receioved claim,

I can not teach anybody anything
I can only make them think
Socrates

nobody*s_perfect · ‎11-25-2019

@geofizz1 wrote: ...I sold a small newsletter that will easily fit in a 9" x 12" manila envelope. It weighs 2.8 oz (including the packing slip and label). Actually, I listed it as 4 oz., but if I remove some of the cardboard, I can get it below 3 oz. ... it states $1.45 shipping cost. (Large envelope - First Class package). But ebay and paypal want me to pay $2.84. ...

"Large envelope" is not the same as "package." USPS has 3 categories for First Class mail -- letters, flats (AKA Large envelope) and package. eBay only sells labels for packages, probably because it has tracking and the other 2 don't.

When you set up calculated shipping in your listing, there's a drop-down menu for 'Package type" and if you set that to "Large envelope" then that's what the buyer will be charged for. So $1.45 is the postage cost for a 4-ounce flat, not a 4-ounce package.

Current USPS rates for First Class packages are in 4-ounce increments, so you'd pay the same postage for a 4-ounce package as for a 1-ounce package; so there's no point in trying to shave an ounce off within that range.

geofizz1 · ‎11-25-2019

Okay, let's see if I have this right.

Even though I can select Large Envelope (or Envelope) when I create a listing, ebay/paypal will not allow me to print a label for those categories. So I have to physically go to the P.O. And no tracking or insurance is included for these 2 categories (unless bought separately at the P.O.)
In this case, to the buyer's zip code, 38104, the ebay shipping calculator says $1.45 for large envelope. And that's what they charged the buyer. (FYI, the cardboard (which I could easily just eliminate) is very thin and the envelope is easily bendable). Okay, so I either go to P.O., or or print the label for First Class package and eat the difference. Not a lot of $ this time, but need to keep in mind for the future.

I have more questions:

When selecting Large Envelope when listing, what do you put for thickness of the envelope? It's basically 0, or way less than 1/4"
According to P.O. website, I thought Large Envelope was defined as thickness between 1/4" and 3/4", < 1/4" thickness variation, and must be somewhat flexible. (and dimension limits). So shouldn't a 9" x 12" envelope that basically just has a couple of sheets of paper in it be classified as Envelope? I believe P.O. website said max dimensions for that was 9.5" x 12.5"
When I listed, why did calculated rates for Envelope not list an option for First Class? Just $7.82 Priority/$7.62 Parcel Select. What, exactly, is Envelope category used for then???

Thanks in advance for your time.

nobody*s_perfect · ‎11-25-2019

You don't have to go to the PO to mail a letter or flat (AKA Large envelope). You can just put stamps on and drop into the nearest "Blue box" or in most locations just leave it at your mailbox for your carrier to take. Postage cost for domestic letters and flats is not zoned; it just goes by weight.

1. It doesn't matter what you put for thickness. eBay's shipping calculator only uses dimensions for calculating surcharges on large packages. It won't even take fractions or decimals. If you choose "letter" or "Large envelope" in the menu for package type, then that's the pricing you'll get regardless of dimensions entered.

2. Each piece of First Class mail fits into only one category; they don't overlap. The "flats" category includes items that are too large or too heavy to be mailed as letters, but which are flexible, literally flat (as you noted, variation in thickness can't exceed 1/4 inch) and within specified dimensions which include a maximum thickness of 3/4 inch. If your envelope fits those criteria, then it isn't a package.

Here's the relevant section in the Domestic Mail Manual; the maximum dimensions for a flat are "Not more than 15 inches long, or more than 12 inches high, or more than 3/4 inch thick."

https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/101.htm#ep1002686

As noted, the categories for First Class do not overlap. Putting a label for a Package onto a flat doesn't turn it into a package. If you put a First Class Package label on a piece that's actually a flat, it COULD get bumped up to Priority Mail status (due to the tracking) with consequent Postage Due.

3. The prices that you quote are for a package that weighs over 1 pound. So apparently in this example the weight was entered incorrectly. Perhaps there was a "1" entered leftover in the pounds box.

USPS avoids using the term "envelope" because it is confusing. For all services other than First Class, they go by dimensions not by type of packaging (i.e., box vs envelope); even First Class uses dimensions and flexibility, not packaging, in its category definitions.

koinonia215 · ‎11-25-2019

Saving money on shipping could cost you much more than you save when people start opening item not received cases. Without tracking, you have no proof that you mailed the item and no proof that the buyer received it.