ebay Standard Envelope

[olympiclinic]

Hey fellow ebay sellers, will we be able to use the "ebay Standard Envelope" to ship other things like Event Ticket Stubs, Sports Patches, Pins, Photographs or Postcards and stuff like that.  Stuff that is just an ounce or so and are inexpensive.   If they will not allow this I will be increasing my minimum shipping charge from $3.50 to $4.00.

[skatersedge14]

try changing the dimension to 1x6x8 or something and the weight less than 3oz

[nobody*s_perfect]

All 3 of your suggested dimensions are larger than the size limit shown in the image in post #91.

[skatersedge14]

I've been selling Pokemon cards and using this service. The lady at the post office wouldn't take one of my envelopes this time though. She said it was too "rigid." she may have been right. I put two pieces of cardboard around the card to protect it. So, I gave it to my mailman the next day and hopefully they accept it. We'll see if it gets returned to me or not. This is going to be a trial and error. If they don't accept the envelope with cardboard I'll try it with the top loader. If they don't accept the top loader then oh well, cards will be shipped naked.

[shipscript]

@skatersedge14 

If your letter is non-machinable, it probably won't get scanned, and may incur postage due.

I use one or two pieces of lightweight cereal box cardboard. Catalog cover stock also works well. My test? The envelope must be able to smoothly bend part way around my coffee mug.

See the flippers at the bottom of this image? That is one of the high speed bends required in the sorting machines. The letter has to be flexible enough to do that easily, or it will likely jam the machine.

Postal Sorting

[jrsnakes]

Duuuh

[jrsnakes]

But remember, if I'm correct, there is still a .30 cent charge to print the label.  Someone tell me If I'm wrong

[jrsnakes]

Hahaha! I tried to mail a card using this option and was told it would cost about 2 ot 3 dollars.  I said well why did I pay for a label if ur gonna charge me more.  Btw, I go there almost every day, so the weekday and weekend ladies r very familiar with me, so they r already accustomed to me smarting off to them.  She said it wont scan then when she tried it read invalid scan.  She said u can drop it off but to track it will cost more cause its rigid. 

So I guess I should have told her yes, but it's not too rigid.

[jrsnakes]

I agree.  I've mailed many cheap cards using stamps.  The only reason I'm considering this is because over the last month I've have 3 buyers tell me they didnt get the cards, I believe one of them, a maybe on a another, but 1 I know is lying (he's a lawyer).  Some post offices agents will take it (rigid or not) as long as it's not too thick and the weight is an ounce or two, but others will say "oh that's too rigid, that'll cost more", (then when I walk off they'll say "u dont wanna mail it".  I say no, but I'm really thinkin, yea, but i just dont wanna give it to u), but I'm with revenue-collector, if there's no way to track or at least show delivery, then what's the purpose.  

So like mancavesportscards did, I guess I'll just drop it in and wait to see if it shows up

[jrsnakes]

My thought is, they only reason for this service for me is to mail inexpensive cards as cheap as possible as to not get ripped off by the person on the other end or in the middle (by the middle I mean postal employees) by obtaining some sort of tracking AND getting a paper or emailed receipt showing u mailed it.  Now, if there is no tangible receipt to show u actually dropped this thing off, then WHAT'S THE PURPOSE! 

As it has been described in previous posts, it pops up at the sorting machine scan and not the drop off scan.  That is only partially helpful, because now we have to cross our fingers and just hope that the envelope makes it to a sorting machine and the machine picks it up, otherwise we, as sellers, have ABSOLUTELY NO PROOF that it was even dropped off.

What doesnt make sense is why is it only the sorting machines that allow the scan and not every device where a scan is given.  Makes no sense.  All post office scanning equipment should b able to scan these items.  I hope this gets addressed 

[www.locomodem.com]

I REALLY look forward to eBay adding this shipping option to the BOOKS category. 

Media mail is cheap but SLOW and does not permit advertising/marketing to be included. 

I know not many books would qualify, but I was testing some books and ~30 pages, 6x9, and they weighed 2.4 oz.

I'll keep experimenting with page counts and envelope sizes to find the max sizes that meet the size and weigh requirements. 

Shipping short books that weigh less than 3 oz. for under $1 will change the game. 

[no_zero369]

@www.locomodem.com 

Perhaps what one could be aware of about this program is that scans are erratic and there is no final "delivered" scan with GPS coordinates.  Therefore, all sellers are at risk when a buyer claims INR as there is no proof.   Best you can do is refund and appeal to eBay's "self insurance" for lost cards.  Looks like buyers are starting to figure out the loophole and get free cards.   Not a risk I'd be willing to take.  just saying

[impala6_9]

I shipped a card with this method on 2/1/21. All the tracking has ever said was "label created". I opened a case with the USPS to see if they could tell me anything. In the meantime, I messaged the buyer, hoping to get an honest answer, and he said yes, he had received it. Now today, finally got a reply from the USPS saying sorry, but they couldn't help me because it was not a valid tracking number. (**bleep**?!) Luckily, I had made a copy of the shipping label that clearly shows the tracking number and that it is USPS paid postage, so I sent that back to them this afternoon...we'll see what they say. I appreciate that this new service is available, but wow...seems like a disaster for most people so far. 

[khwtwo]

avoid  at all cost........  disaster   68 strikes today for tracking not scanned in on time, on a  service you cant get a scan on

[comics-scifi-collectibles]

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@impala6_9 wrote:

I shipped a card with this method on 2/1/21. All the tracking has ever said was "label created". I opened a case with the USPS to see if they could tell me anything. In the meantime, I messaged the buyer, hoping to get an honest answer, and he said yes, he had received it. Now today, finally got a reply from the USPS saying sorry, but they couldn't help me because it was not a valid tracking number. (**bleep**?!) Luckily, I had made a copy of the shipping label that clearly shows the tracking number and that it is USPS paid postage, so I sent that back to them this afternoon...we'll see what they say. I appreciate that this new service is available, but wow...seems like a disaster for most people so far. 

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@impala6_9   I think that this shipping service is "not ready for prime time"

I hope that they don't roll it out to other categories very soon unless they can get these kinks worked out.

Does your tracking number show anything using this tool:

https://www.trackmyshipment.co/shipment-tracking

[herkimermurray]

I have been getting reports from my buyers that the tracking info is saying "Item Delivered" when it has not.  This has happened in at least 6 cases so far.  They are reporting that it's taking anywhere from 1-4 additional days until the item actually arrives.

If the USPS is only scanning these at the sorting machine -- why are they recording the tracking as "delivered"?  I hope they fix that glitch.  It's causing unnecessary email traffic and panic from the buyers wondering and asking for refunds prematurely.  I have buyers wanting me to file a "missing package" claim or give them a refund.  No, the USPS has to stop marking tracking as "delivered" before it's actually delivered.  Simple, right?

I'm going to ask why was this rolled out without adequate testing?

Like any new service, there will be problems.  But how about some communication to the community about the issues and what is being done to address them?

Another point, about the rigid/semi-rigid thing.  Why would eBay advertise mailers that are inappropriate to use with this new service?  Again.  testing and vetting, please.  Or at least please send out a communication redacting your recommendation on the mailers to use.  I'm using plain white envelopes with a card in a top loader wrapped in a piece of plain paper.  No issue with damage (yet).  I'd like to protect it with more cardboard (but not go over that .25 inch limit), but I'm afraid it will be "too rigid" to pass for this service.

Can we have a service that will provide tracking for non-machineable envelopes?  That may solve this problem and protect trading cards from damage in mail sorters.  I would pay the extra .20 for this.

If eBay is reading these Community threads, please provide some updates.  Thank you.