can anyone explain me why USPS is looting people through shipping label page?

[uniwarehousewares]

package dimension : 12 x1 2 x 12     weight : 1 lb    NY TO CA     charge  8.59$

package dimension : 14 x1 2 x 12     weight : 1 lb    NY TO CA     charge  49.52$

ebay needs to fix this issue, before seller switch to other platform, USPS stealing from sellers!!!!!!

[johnrj1226]

The USPS dimensional rate has been around for some time - it only used to be applied to zones  7 & 8 but more recently applies to all zones.

Personally I don't sell any thing that won't fit into a 1728 cu. in. or less box.  e.g. an adult western style hat.  Got  hit with this rate in 2010 when i shipped a light weight (less than a pound but required a box  larger than 1 cu. ft). from GA to CA.  I ate the difference lost most but not all of my  net profit.

[nobody*s_perfect]

When USPS expanded application of dimensional weight to all zones, they also expanded it to apply to Parcel Select Ground as well as to Priority Mail.  So a significant workaround was lost.  Dimensional weight is not applied to other services such as Media Mail or First Class packages.

[buyselljack2016]

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@uniwarehousewares wrote:

package dimension : 12 x1 2 x 12     weight : 1 lb    NY TO CA     charge  8.59$

package dimension : 14 x1 2 x 12     weight : 1 lb    NY TO CA     charge  49.52$

ebay needs to fix this issue, before seller switch to other platform, USPS stealing from sellers!!!!!!

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As already explained it is not an "eBay thing" other than if you look at it thinking that eBay should work a deal like pirateship where "cubic" rates come into play.

Since the dim-weight charges hit for Priority, followed by Parcel Select, I have stopped sourcing/selling some larger lightweight items.  Being on a "coast", those higher charges, which would be paid by my buyers, severely limits the market.

UPS/FedEx are not viable options due to my rural location, and the "after the fact" up charges/surcharges scare the bejeepers out of me even if I could utilize their services.

[mobley120]

"The USPS dimensional rate has been around for some time; etc. "

Yeah, such is true, and I'm sure if I were to present an argument based on my previous posts, they'd most likely respond with, its the most feasible option to determine payload and overhead, in the apects of seeking financial stability, due to the massive amounts of different size packages they process on any given day.

And I'm sure they'd also imply that the application's principal incorporates the sharing theory concept, like in, the larger packages' cost will not be too excessive, for the system's appreciation allows the cost to be shared throughout all packages: typical reasoning.

Yeah, I have also adjusted my buying habits of re-sellable items, if it won't fit in a shoebox, per sa, I don't bother with it.

I've come to the idea, if the item's shipping cost exceeds the item's value by 2 fold, well, that item might not be easily sold, if ever. 

Long ago, I'd tried to convince myself that the buyers shouldn't consider the shipping cost as part of the item's price, but that's just not the reality in the light of how people shop online. 

I guess it all equals out at the end of the tunnel, for I'd assume "eventually" excessive shopping rate will create a wake of people who will be more likely to patronize the B&M shops.

Good luck with your sales.

[kosmosattik]

As others have noted, that's just the way it is.  That doesn't mean it has to be that way or that it makes much sense, so I'm sympathetic to you complaint.

They could create a gradual scale based on the weight/dimensions and the volumes of the various kinds of shipments rather than have one huge jump into a higher pricing tier over a tiny difference.  The end result would be a higher cost for smaller packages and a lower cost for the bigger ones to yield the same revenue on a gradual scale. 

For whatever reason, the Postal Service wants to give preferential treatment to small packages while discouraging large ones.   What that reason might be escapes me.

[no_zero369]

@kosmosattik 

For whatever reason, the Postal Service wants to give preferential treatment to small packages while discouraging large ones. What that reason might be escapes me.

It is called Dimensional Weight and I wrote a treatise on the subject in Post #7 in this thread.  Might be of some value to understand what is DimWeight ?

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Shipping-Returns/can-anyone-explain-me-why-USPS-is-looting-people-thro...

If you were running a shipping company, I suspect you would implement the Dim Weight stuff too.

[stephenmorgan]

I've studied the Cubic Rates.  Maybe I am wrong, but the Cubic Rates only apply to 1/2 a cubic foot or 864 cubic inches.  Some of the non Flat Rate Boxes from USPS and the Tyvek Envelope will ship within the Cubic Rate.

[kosmosattik]

no_zero - 

I don't have a problem with your explanation but I think you missed my point.

Consider the OP's example.  A 17% increase in volume with no change in weight resulted in a 476% increase in shipping cost because he went over the magical 1 cf threshold.  My point is the threshold has all the characteristics of being arbitrary.

Why isn't the volume/weight combo on a smooth scale where there isn't some enormous jump at one arbitrary point?   You can't tell me the POs cost to ship 5.76 packages that are exactly 1 cf is the same as that single 1.17 cf item.

To make matters worse, those 1 cf packages have 5.76 distinct costs for "last mile" delivery among other things.  While the transportation freight cost may be the same, the semi getting from point A to B, there's some incremental increase in handling costs all along the chain with 5.76 packages relative to that single one.

Without some plausible explanation of WHY the PO has that leap in cost at that one point, it looks like it's because the PO runs on Brawndo and it's electrolytes, if you get that reference.

[buyselljack2016]

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@stephenmorgan wrote:

I've studied the Cubic Rates.  Maybe I am wrong, but the Cubic Rates only apply to 1/2 a cubic foot or 864 cubic inches.  Some of the non Flat Rate Boxes from USPS and the Tyvek Envelope will ship within the Cubic Rate.

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OK, don't really know about "cubic rates". Just see them mentioned about how they are such a great deal, and thought that may be an avenue.

[stephenmorgan]

Yes the Cubic Rates are a good choice for many packages.   If it is a small packaged and weighs over 3 pounds it be a very good price as compared to Priority Mail.  I wish eBay would offer it so I could just use one shipping company.

[kosmosattik]

@stephenmorgan

I dummied up a listing , not exactly what the OP did (different and unknown zip codes) , but for a 1 lb. package with the dimensions stated in the OP, there is a massive leap in cost when crossing the 1 cf threshold for USPS Parcel Select Ground. 

Nothing we say here is going to change it.  But it would be interesting to know why.

Why isn't this like unit pricing?  If you buy one widget the price is $x.  If you buy 25 widgets the unit price is $x - some incremental y.  If you buy a case of a 1,000 the unit price is $x - y - some incremental z.

For some reason, they have placed a high pricing priority on keeping package prices low for 1 cf or less and a large disincentive if you cross that threshold.  Inquiring minds want to know.

[uniwarehousewares]

Thank you for your explanation, no offense but its seems you are USPS employee, my concern is for 1 lb i pay around 9$ from NY TO CA but when its come to 2 LB or same weight if you just add 2 inch then they charge 50$  its looting, 40 dollars seller pay just for 2 inches, its legal way to do illegal way this is what USPS is doing ,  UPS rates are much better when its comes to dimensions and weight. i am using now 80% UPS and i am going to make a contract with UPS for less weight packages, i have attached another bluff from USPS how they are looting sellers on ebay, in attached picture the item ( set of strainers) cannot be in flat rate box but they charge me flat rate box . i have tons of examples where USPS is try steal money from sellers since they are out of funds.

[uniwarehousewares]

just for 2 inch difference in package and markup is 400% ? its make no sense at all, its a legal way to do illegal things ! this is price gouging !!! in name of dimensions .

[mobley120]

"Brawndo and it's electrolytes, if you get that reference."

Well, including you and the original op, it'd appear as there are also a few others who'll step out of line, even if it's just for a moment, although "in most cases" we are bound by the holders of the line.

And, as of you, I have no probs with any posters explaining the prompting logistics of the matter.

And just to mention, I read the op's post fairly early on, but I waited to add my opinion, until the logistic's formula had been thoroughly explained.

And my opinionated blah blah blah, is based on the idea that the original op, is well aware of the matter and "most likely" they're just voicing the bizarreness of it. But regardless, the logistic's explanations are "indeed" good for the community's viewership.  

You know, I'm gonna go out on a limb here and make some assuming, formulated guesses, in the light of a perfect environment; using the op's examples and applying those examples by means of ground-shipping.

 First truck's payload, the cu ft packages, my assuming, estimated, raw shipping total value based on the op's figures: 20k. Weight distribution, no where close to the truck's carry weight (CW) capability.

Second truck's payload, the 12" x 12" x 14" packages, assuming, estimated, raw shipping total value based on the op's figures, 100k. Weight distribution, no where close to the truck's CW capability; in fact, the second truck's CW is less than the first truck's CW.

And just a note: even assuming that the 14" x 12" x 12" packages weighed 12 lbs each, the truck would still not be at its full CW capability.

I don't know if bizarre is the best word, maybe "gouge" would be better suited?

I like your post, it's very telling : )

[powell-memorabilia]

Your strainer set is 10" diameter, and it looks like the height is below half of the diameter.  Are you sure that you didn't use a 12x12x6 large flat rate box to ship?  The regional priority boxes look very similar to the flat rate boxes - easy to mix them up.