Zones

[iamalwaysright]

With the upcoming changes with postage services, I really wish that these postage channels would tell you off the bat what USPS zone the order is going to. Either that or USPS should overlap their zone boundaries with state boundaries to make it easier to compare zone sensitive services. I'm in west coast and Texas is split in half between zones 5 and 6, which can be a 4-5 dollar difference in postage.

Seeing the zones upfront would be a huge benefit.

[nobody*s_perfect]

USPS Zones are based on distance from the sender; it's like  a bullseye with the sender in the middle. This doesn't match up at all with state boundaries.  From my location, Texas is in Zones 6, 7, and 8.    You can generate a personal Zone map here; just enter your ZIP Code in the "From" box:

https://www.pirateship.com/usps/zone-map

If you'd prefer to see that information in a numerical chart of ZIP Codes, you can generate your own handy 1-page reference here by entering the first 3 digits of your ZIP Code:

https://postcalc.usps.com/DomesticZoneChart

You can easily compare zone-sensitive services using eBay's shipping calculator. Note that you can choose to see either the retail ("in store") or eBay rates.

http://www.ebay.com/shp/Calculator

[iamalwaysright]

Yes I have a zone map. I'm saying it's impossible to know the geography of all the cities to commit to memory what zone each city is in for you. I'm all for automation and efficiency and spending time to look things up for each order adds up. These postage label channels already know in their back end what zone for you these orders are in since they know the corresponding shipping price for the service. I'm saying I wish they display that zone information upfront to make it quicker and simpler for you to choose your service. 

Then again, "quicker" doesn't usually go hand in hand with these companies.

[wastingtime101]

The numerical zone chart (second link above) might be a good option for you. All you have to do is quickly look at the first 3 digits of the buyer's zip and see where it falls on the chart.

It lists zips in numerical order like 100-124 (random numbers not real example) then shows the zone next to it. So any zip starting with 3 numbers falling in that range will correspond with the zone number shown.

Print out the chart and keep it in your work area.

[tsme35]

I do flat rate for my 1st class mail, fun part come Sunday is zone's 1-4 will go up a little bit and zone's 5-9 will go down a little bit because USPS did a split zone rate increase back in Oct. As far as priority mail, its all calculated because of the $4-5 difference.

[stainlessenginecovers]

If you used Calculated- why would it matter? 

If you used 'Flat Rate' (you choose the pricing)- why would it matter as you've already chosen the price??

[slippinjimmy]

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@iamalwaysright wrote:

Yes I have a zone map. I'm saying it's impossible to know the geography of all the cities to commit to memory what zone each city is in for you. I'm all for automation and efficiency and spending time to look things up for each order adds up. These postage label channels already know in their back end what zone for you these orders are in since they know the corresponding shipping price for the service. I'm saying I wish they display that zone information upfront to make it quicker and simpler for you to choose your service. 

Then again, "quicker" doesn't usually go hand in hand with these companies.

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I don't understand......you don't know the zone a particular shipment is going to until AFTER it's paid for.

Under what circumstances would knowing the zones help you? Seems to me if it was that critical you would use Calculated shipping.

[nobody*s_perfect]

I think they offer free or fixed price shipping and are now trying to purchase postage from whichever carrier (USPS, FedEx, UPS) offers the best rate to the buyer's shipping address, after the item has been paid for.  

For instance, if a seller offers free or flat rate shipping for generic "Expedited" shipping, then when purchasing the label they can choose between Priority Mail, UPS 3-day Select, FedEx 2-day , etc.

[iamalwaysright]

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@nobody*s_perfect wrote:

I think they offer free or fixed price shipping and are now trying to purchase postage from whichever carrier (USPS, FedEx, UPS) offers the best rate to the buyer's shipping address, after the item has been paid for.  

For instance, if a seller offers free or flat rate shipping for generic "Expedited" shipping, then when purchasing the label they can choose between Priority Mail, UPS 3-day Select, FedEx 2-day , etc.

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Yes pretty much this, but limited to just USPS for now. Knowing the zone can initially rule out certain services without having to input numbers and clicking around to check the prices, thus saving time. Sounds like right now creating a chart like wastingtime said is probably the way to go.

[wastingtime101]

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@iamalwaysright wrote:

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@nobody*s_perfect wrote:

I think they offer free or fixed price shipping and are now trying to purchase postage from whichever carrier (USPS, FedEx, UPS) offers the best rate to the buyer's shipping address, after the item has been paid for.  

For instance, if a seller offers free or flat rate shipping for generic "Expedited" shipping, then when purchasing the label they can choose between Priority Mail, UPS 3-day Select, FedEx 2-day , etc.

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Yes pretty much this, but limited to just USPS for now. Knowing the zone can initially rule out certain services without having to input numbers and clicking around to check the prices, thus saving time. Sounds like right now creating a chart like wastingtime said is probably the way to go.

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Yep and even sticking with the one carrier it can dictate whether one uses a weighted, flat rate or another option. When sellers offer a generic "economy" service on the listing it gives them the flexibility to use ground to further zones and priority for closer zones. Zone does matter.

I've always relied on the numerical zone chart for a quick reference.

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@iamalwaysright wrote:

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@nobody*s_perfect wrote:

I think they offer free or fixed price shipping and are now trying to purchase postage from whichever carrier (USPS, FedEx, UPS) offers the best rate to the buyer's shipping address, after the item has been paid for.  

For instance, if a seller offers free or flat rate shipping for generic "Expedited" shipping, then when purchasing the label they can choose between Priority Mail, UPS 3-day Select, FedEx 2-day , etc.

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Yes pretty much this, but limited to just USPS for now. Knowing the zone can initially rule out certain services ....

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If you're only using USPS, then the issue is very simple: Media Mail will always be the cheapest service regardless of zone (though of course only for eligible items). then First Class will always be cheaper than any other service, Parcel Select Ground will be the next-cheapest, and Priority will cost more than any of those with occasionally a flat rate box being cheaper than Parcel Select.  

I used to print out the page of current Priority Rates, from Notice 123, and then draw little color-coded lines under the weight threshold for each Zone where the Medium and Large flat-rate boxes became cheaper than weight based (e.g., 17 and 23 pounds respectively for Zone 1/2, but just 2 and 3 pounds for Zone 8).

[wastingtime101]

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@nobody*s_perfect wrote:

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If you're only using USPS, then the issue is very simple:  Parcel Select Ground will be the next-cheapest, and Priority will cost more than any of those with occasionally a flat rate box being cheaper than Parcel Select.  

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Yes, but for closer zones (1-4) the difference between parcel & priority can be minimal and cost isn't the only factor. It gets more complex when you bring cubic pricing into the equation. Cubic pricing may bring down the price for some zones and not others and could influence whether you spend time cutting down height on the box or leave it the way it is because weight based is cheaper.

[rudy2828]

You should be able to get a zone map from most carriers. I know UPS has it online.

[johnrj1226]

https://postcalc.usps.com/domesticzonechart

[autoprimeflorida]

Guys, hi, we also have a question about zones. We placed an order for our client and noticed this. The goods from NY to FL were freeship, but from NY to TX the shipping cost changed and became $20
How do they do it? We would also like to apply a fixed fee for shipping, but only to distant states..