eBay Violates Postal Guidelines For Computing Dimensional & Cubic Rates

[fani_9693]

USPS determines if packages are subject to dimensional rates by rounding package dimensions down or up to the nearest inch.

A 12.4" x 12.4" x 12.4" package, that weighs 5 pounds, that is sent from zip code 50401 to 90001 (zone 7), would incur the following rates:

Ground Advantage Retail $19.60

Priority Mail Retail $29.20

Ground Advantage Commercial $12.73
Priority Mail Commercial $22.37

Although this package is physically larger than a cubic foot, under USPS guidelines this package is not subject to dimensional rates as USPS rounds the dimensions down to 12" x 12" x 12" for computing its volume.

The above rates are confirmed by USPS's Notice 123 Price List as well as eBay's shipping calculator tool, USPS's calculator and PirateShip's calculator - all of which accept decimal values for package dimensions.

eBay's listing form does not accept decimal values and eBay's guidelines state to round up package dimensions to the near inch, in violation of postal regulations.

eBay's software developer guidelines state to round up package dimensions to the nearest inch and only submit whole number package dimensions to eBay, in violation of postal regulations.

Under eBay's false guidelines the package mentioned above would have its dimensions rounded up to 13" x 13" x 13". Now the package is subject to dimensional rates as its volume of 2,197 square inches (13 x 13 x 13) is over a square foot. It would be subject to a dimensional rate for a 14 pound package rather than it actual weight of 5 pounds (2197 / 166 = 13.23 Rounded Up to 14). The package would now incur the higher rates below, with the rates within the brackets representing what the package should be charged using USPS guidelines.

Ground Advantage Commercial $21.11 (12.73)

Priority Mail Commercial $43.22 ($22.37)

Ground Advantage Retail $39.80 ($19.60)

Priority Mail Retail $64.55 ($29.20)

This means many buyers on eBay will be over charged for shipping as packages will be assessed higher dimensional rates when they are not subject to dimensional rates under USPS guidelines. eBay can't claim ignorance in the manner as eBay's own shipping calculator accepts decimal values and computes rates according to rounding the dimensions up or down to the nearest inch.

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On the other hand eBay' shipping calculator tool does not properly calculate Priority Mail Cubic rates. It does not round the dimensions down to the nearest quarter inch to compute the volume of the package.

Since decimal values for package dimensions are not allowed eBay cannot correctly determine if packages are eligible for Cubic rates or calculate those rates.

This means packages will be charged for the next highest Cubic pricing tier or be considered ineligible for Cubic rates altogether as the improperly computed volume exceeds 0.5 square feet.

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This is nothing less than wholesale fraud on eBay's part to overcharge buyers for shipping so eBay makes more FVF on shipping.

[deserdog]

It is not fraud, it is just a bad shipping calculator. Use another shipping service.

[fani_9693]

Yes it is fraud!

Buyers will be over charged for shipping rates when they buy an item.

eBay does not allow decimal values to be entered for packages so eBay can not calculate Dimensional rates and Cubic rate properly for buyers!

eBay is violating postal regulations on its listing form and is telling software developers to violate postal regulations.

[deserdog]

It is not fraud, Ebay is not the post office. So they are not bound by the post office's regulations. Ebay explains in detail how to enter diminsions when using their calculator. If you think itis so bad, refund  your customers the overage. Or simply use another company for the labels. I Use Pirateship. There you can use fractional inches in your diminsions. 

[buyselljack2016]

Good catch.

As there is nothing that I can do about it...............  in such instances I would use Pirateship for those items, and when listing I would enter a size (12 X 12 X12) that would be recognized by Pirateship decimal points when purchasing a label.

 

[deserdog]

Or, since you know how USPS rounds, do the rounding yourself.  

[fani_9693]

Of course they are bound by USPS regulations.

USPS can decide to terminate their commercial rate contract at any time for not following postal regulations.

PirateShip does display the rates to customers so you answer is a lie.

Dimensions placed into eBay's listing form display the rates to customers.

The fact that eBay eBay explains how to falsely enter package dimensions into their calculator does not mean its true or that it follows postal regulations.

You sound 100% confused. The shipping calculator tool and the listing form are two different things!

[fani_9693]

PirateShip does not display rates to customers on eBay!

eBay's listing form displays rates to customers on eBay.

eBay is preventing sellers from entering the proper package dimensions in not only their listing from but third part software used to upload listings to eBay. Further more eBay is telling sellers to round these up, which violated postal regulations.

This is FRAUD!

[fani_9693]

Not my job to put false package dimensions in the listing form to trick trick eBay's system to display a target rate range and then change those dimensions back to print a shipping label. Of course this also means I have to make note of the actual dimensions or remeasure the package once its shipped and remember to change the dimensions once its shipped. Imagine doing that for hundreds of packages at a time.

Its eBay job to follow USPS regulations.

If eBay does not want to follow USPS rules then its time their commercial contract with USPS was terminated.

Just another eBay fraud on its users as usual.

[buyselljack2016]

I did not post that Pirateship would display the rates to customers.

I stated to enter dimensions that would legally (USPS wise) equate to the same results. 

All I posted was that the "work around" to attain the just end for something that I cannot otherwise control😁

[fani_9693]

Its not a workaround.

The problem is not printing a label.

The problem is eBay showing inflated shipping rates to buyers!

That is why eBay has disabled decimal values in the listing form.

That is why eBay has disabled decimal values from being submitted by 3rd part listing software.

Its called a SCAM by eBay to defraud users out of money.

eBay's own shipping calculator tool accepts decimal values and rounds packages down or up according to USPS rules for dimensional rates so eBay can't claim ignorance in the matter. 

[buyselljack2016]

It is a "workaround" to when listing, enter the dimensions that provide the desired results.

You either accept that fact, or you don't accept it🙂

I choose to work around things that I have no other control over.

I see it as less of a "scam" on eBay's part, and more a display of "ineptitude" on the part of eBay. (I know nothing about "coding", so I don't know where eBay's issue with not allowing it when listing lies)

Adjust to charge the buyer the desired rate when listing. Enter the decimals when label purchasing to provide the legally required dimensions.

If you have hundreds, or thousands of listings that fall into the "catch" area I do understand that it could be very annoying, and time consuming🙂   

I make notes on my listings that have to get adjustments. One example is that I list with a lower weight to reduce the price gap between "retail" and what I pay on a listing with calculated shipping. Note is there so that I enter the correct weigh when purchasing a label.

[ryry-jj]

I'm always rounding up.  That extra, if it is there, can go to cover packaging costs & fees on shipping.  As much as I want to give buyers a low cost of shipping, my number one goal is to cover shipping  & packaging costs

[deserdog]

You just do you then, Don Quixote!

[fani_9693]

In my example a the package would be charged a Priority Mail retail rate of $64.55 when it should be charged $29.20.

A clear case of fraud by eBay to overcharge customers $35.35.

Your shipping costs are already covered as you are paying the $22.37 commercial rate while the customer is billed the $29.20 retail rate. You don't also need to slap on another $35.35.

eBay fraud on its users.