ebay Shipping Interface error problem.

[ricks3]

I still have the shipping page open, where I was charged $10.24 for a  FedEx Smart Post shipping label. 

I don't normally ship that way, I ship USPS, but the "USPS Parcel" option was missing from the list, despite that being what the customer had selected. 

so I printed the label as FedEx SmartPost, but what I got was a USPS label!

Damned weird. So I tried to cancel the label, but was told that (because FexEx) I wouldn't be charged until the label was used, so no need to cancel. I don't see a USPS charge for the label in Paypal. But I have a USPS label, bar code and everything.  I don't know if the label is free, what weight is assigned to it, is it valid, etc. 

The tracking number on the label doesn't match the FedEx tracking number on the invoice from ebay.

So what I have is an explicit page from printing the label that says it's FedEx, and charged as FedEx, but a physical label that's USPS that I wasn't charged for.

If I go back to the ebay page that still says I was billed for FedEx Smart Post, and select "Print Label" again, I get another USPS label. 

[nobody*s_perfect]

SmartPost is handed off from FedEx to USPS for the "last mile."  You would not be charged for the lable if it's not scanned into the FedEx system.

There is a glitch in the label purchase form: For the past TWO MONTHS many sellers have not been shown the Parcel Select Ground option for purchasing postage through eBay. But other sellers still see it!

Anyway, the workarounds that are better than SmartPost are: (1) purchase Parcel Select Ground label through another online postage service, such as PayPal at www.PayPal.com/shipnow  ; or (2) purchase Priority Mail postage which is not much more expensive.

For packages going to Zones 1 - 4, the difference is literally 10 cents.  Even if you're shipping 10 pounds to Zone 8, the extra cost for Priority Mail is just 65 cents. And you get free insurance and maybe a box. Top Rated Sellers get a 3% discount off of Priority Mail rates, whih makes it cheaper than Parcel Select Ground. Frankly I don't see why any seller would offer it for any item that is not required to ship via Ground (e.g., hazmat).

[ricks3]

As further verification, if I go to the Reprint options under Manage Shipping Labels, I get another USPS label, even though it's a FedEx Smartpost: 

[nobody*s_perfect]

"Reprint" will just print out a duplicate of the original label. You need to use the drop-down menu for "More options" if you want to purchase USPS postage through eBay (e.g., an upgrade to Priority Mail). How much does your package weigh?

[ricks3]

Yes, I know Reprint will print a duplicate. My grasp of English is fairly good 🙂

I was using Reprint to confirm that I 
a) had indeed picked FedEx, and 
b) was instead getting a USPS label. 

It's validation that everything on my side is correct.   As you said, eBay's functionality is BROKEN - that's what I needed to report and confirm. 

My package was about 4 pounds.

[nobody*s_perfect]

You weren't getting a USPS label instead. You re getting a label which reflects the collaboration between FedEx and USPS.  It has a USPS tracking code because USPS will actually deliver it and do the delivery scan. Yes, everything on your side was correct.  I thought you wanted to purchase a label which was entirely with a USPS service.

Since our earlier exchange, I have learned that the absence of USPS Parcel Select Ground on the label purchase page is not a glitch, it's a deliberate action by eBay to gradually remove access to purchasing Parcel Select Ground labels.  Fortunately, we have fallbacks including PayPal for situations that require ground shipping.