eBay Standard Envelope

[erwo39]

Earlier this year I received an email from eBay informing me of a new way to ship items up to 3 oz. with integrated tracking and shipping protection: eBay Standard Envelope. As this is much less expensive than USPS First Class Package Service, the appeal should be obvious. However, I continue to get conflicting information about eBay Standard Envelope from eBay's own Customer Support agents!

One told me that any item up to 3 oz. that fits in an envelope that is no smaller than 3.5” x 5”, no larger than 6.125” x 11.5”, and no thicker than .25” is eligible. Another told me that just trading cards, coins and currency, postcards and stamps are eligible. A third told me that only the below categories are eligible (note that the below supposedly complete list does not include any categories pertaining to coins, currency, postcards or stamps):

Sports Mem, Cards & Fan Shop > Sports Trading Cards > Australian Football Cards (166107)
Sports Mem, Cards & Fan Shop > Sports Trading Cards > Auto Racing Cards (666)
Sports Mem, Cards & Fan Shop > Sports Trading Cards > Baseball Cards (213)
Sports Mem, Cards & Fan Shop > Sports Trading Cards > Basketball Cards (214)
Sports Mem, Cards & Fan Shop > Sports Trading Cards > Bowling Cards (170131)
Sports Mem, Cards & Fan Shop > Sports Trading Cards > Boxing Cards (37795)
Sports Mem, Cards & Fan Shop > Sports Trading Cards > College Cards (133072)
Sports Mem, Cards & Fan Shop > Sports Trading Cards > Cricket Cards (25579)
Sports Mem, Cards & Fan Shop > Sports Trading Cards > Cycling Cards (183715)
Sports Mem, Cards & Fan Shop > Sports Trading Cards > Football Cards (215)
Sports Mem, Cards & Fan Shop > Sports Trading Cards > Golf Cards (4240)
Sports Mem, Cards & Fan Shop > Sports Trading Cards > Horse Racing Cards (43363)
Sports Mem, Cards & Fan Shop > Sports Trading Cards > Ice Hockey Cards (216)
Sports Mem, Cards & Fan Shop > Sports Trading Cards > Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Cards (170134)
Sports Mem, Cards & Fan Shop > Sports Trading Cards > Olympics Cards (2956)
Sports Mem, Cards & Fan Shop > Sports Trading Cards > Other Sports Trading Cards (217)
Sports Mem, Cards & Fan Shop > Sports Trading Cards > Rugby League (NRL) Cards (25583)
Sports Mem, Cards & Fan Shop > Sports Trading Cards > Rugby Union Cards (2969)
Sports Mem, Cards & Fan Shop > Sports Trading Cards > Soccer Cards (183444)
Sports Mem, Cards & Fan Shop > Sports Trading Cards > Tennis Cards (43371)
Sports Mem, Cards & Fan Shop > Sports Trading Cards > Wrestling Cards (183435)
Toys & Hobbies > Collectible Card Games > Individual Collectible Card Game Cards (183454)
Toys & Hobbies > Collectible Card Games > Sealed Collectible Card Game Booster Packs (183456)
Toys & Hobbies > Collectible Card Games > CCG Mixed Card Lots (183455)
Collectibles > Non-Sport Trading Cards & Accessories > Trading Card Lots (183051)
Collectibles > Non-Sport Trading Cards & Accessories > Non-Sport Trading Card Singles (183050)
Collectibles > Non-Sport Trading Cards & Accessories > Sealed Trading Card Packs (183053)

As a seller, I would like to be able to select eBay Standard Envelope when shipping *any* item that meets the envelope size, thickness and weight requirements -- but even that is not possible from the eBay "print shipping label" page, in part because it is impossible to enter a decimal point in any of the envelope dimension fields on that page! Not only that, but leaving the envelope dimensions blank when listing (or bulk updating) items causes the "print shipping label" envelope dimension fields to be pre-populated with 1" x 1" x 1".

eBay claims to have developed eBay Standard Envelope with its sellers in mind, allowing them to save on shipping costs and increase their sales with these affordable rates. But that only works when sellers can select eBay Standard Envelope when shipping items!

[calind-88]

It's 100% confusing when you first start. The amount of requirements that needs to fit is insane. The envelope I use is "5” x 7” Paperboard Mailjacket Envelope (No padding) | eBay" and I haven't had any problems since. The measurements you need to input is "7 x 1 x 5". The major problem you will have is tracking info. Most of the time the tracking takes forever to update. For instance, I shipped a card thats worth $5 and I wanted to save money by using the cheaper option. You can't go wrong with .71 cents shipping was my thought, but boy was I wrong. The last update on the tracking was on the 19th and it is now the 24th and I have no idea if it was delivered or not. The expected delivery date was the 22nd. Their are benefits to this option, its a great cheap option for sure, but the constant worrying about the tracking is a big negative.

[rfmtm]

The standard envelope has item/category restrictions.  They currently are adding more categories  every few months so you have to keep checking.

https://pages.ebay.com/seller-center/shipping/ebay-standard-envelope.html

[diamondsells]

I've been trying out Standard Envelope shipping for the last few weeks. The problem is that there is actually no bar code to scan. I've spoken to my mail carrier as well as the postmaster at my local PO and both have said they have no idea how these envelopes are being processed as there is NO barcode. I shipped a Standard Envelope (with 2 postcards) to a buyer about 45 minutes from my location and it was received the next day. Ebay put 2 defects on my account saying "Uploaded on time but no carrier scan".  Well the carrier does NOT scan these envelopes so what's the deal with that. Now, today I had a "return to sender" envelope that my records show was delivered on June 12. Sure, the price is great for a postcard or a trading card but it's starting to cause problems so I'm not sure if I'll stay with it. 

[beautifulbeauty2012]

You will know it for sure once printing a label on ebay - if the option for the envelope is there, then the category is eligible.

Using this method is either hit or miss. Those envelopes get processed at large facilities while neither mail carriers, nor postal clerks can scan them with their scanning devices. If an addressee lives in a large city, then most likely the envelope gets Delivery scan.

[beautifulbeauty2012]

From my experience, only large facilities (distribution centers) have machines to scan these envelopes. Looks like your envelope din`t stop there and went directly to that 45 min away from you location.

[erwo39]

> They currently are adding more categories every few months

Is there a way to request specific categories for consideration (specifically, everything under "Collectibles > Historical Memorabilia > Fraternal Organizations > Boy Scouts > Badges & Patches")?

[geniusboy91]

I'd also like to see the "Tickets" and "Gift Cards & Coupons" category added as well.

[falconsys]

From the looks of things, the tracking is accomplished by scanning the postage stamp code. You know, that fuzzy gobbledy **bleep** in the upper-right corner of the label/envelope? Yeah! That contains tons of data you can't read - likely including the address, sender, and a tracking code - to prove payment of postage and increase sortability, among other things.

So, somehow eBay tapped into that, with an agreement with USPS I'm sure, to drive down the cost of shipping things while still providing rough tracking and verification! This is an awesome thing in my book.

I sell bumper stickers and magnets that are marginally popular - about one a day, maybe, as a total back burner passion project of sorts (if I looked into the financials, I'd probably want to stop, lol). I had to jack up prices when I had to move from "letter and stamp" to flat mailer & First Class Package postage, to avoid taking a loss on every sale... but unfortunately, my items aren't in a supported category. So I can't use it!

I really hope eBay expands the access to this service to other categories. It also looks like the label prints on an ugly preformatted PDF without regard for the size of a #10 envelope or positioning in the printer. I hope they will do some work on producing a PDF that can print directly onto a #10 envelope using the "envelope" setting of a printer. It wouldn't be hard to do this, technically. Just need to size the PDF the same as an envelope, and let the browser/OS/print driver/printer handle the rest (as long as the user provides the correct printer options - which we definitely can).

[rfmtm]

@falconsys 

Unfortunately, when ebay set this up they did not include the label printer formats, although it will shrink to fit a 4"x6" label.  This will also print on a small manila envelope, but not a #10, like a label printer 2.4"x7.5" format would.  So if ebay would just add the label printer formats, everyone would be happy. 

[hotcofee]

what is integrated tracking? who tracks the shipments in progress? where do i look up the shipments progress? who confirms delivery, the buyer? If I am relying on the buyer to confirm delivery aren't i better off paying 0.58 cents for first class? or is the onerous claims process over a 2.00 item  worth the nickle i saved. will i still get a transaction defect recorded on my account if the buyer says the item wasn't received? I dunno this thing sounds sketchy and glitchy at best. Ebay sure has been focusing on trading card stuff a lot lately...this is the latest,  I wonder what's up? oh how i long for the platform of yesteryear.

[hotcofee]

prediction: this phony tracking concoction will be gone entirely a year from now. its not tracking at all, its insurance perhaps but not tracking. if a buyer doesn't confirm delivery  there is no way of ever knowing whether the item was delivered or not. integrated tracking, yeah right.

[hotcofee]

Says here" From the looks of things, the tracking is accomplished by scanning the postage stamp code. You know, that fuzzy gobbledy **bleep** in the upper-right corner of the label/envelope?"

nobody scans these, not ebay, not the post office, not the buyer, nobody... in this program  the buyer is the only party that can confirm or deny that the item was delivered. just like first class mail only  a nickle cheaper. and you get  $20.00 insurance  after more than a month waiting period. insurance only covers the cost of the item, no indemnity against transaction defect being recorded on your account if the buyers address is wrong or if for nay reason they say the item wasn't delivered.   if its worth it to you go for it. 

[hotcofee]

nobody scans these so that they can be tracked, not the post office, not ebay, not the seller, not the buyer. nobody. system relies on the buyer to confirm or deny receipt. just like first class only a nickle cheaper.

[rsc_sportscards]

Wondering if it is still working well for you? Just gonna start trying it out. Found out about this method cuz someone sent me a card this way and bought the same 7x5 jacket as well thinking it must be fine but saw a video where they are using plain letter envelopes. Also if you are using still has tracking gotten better? Thanks.