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.

[no_zero369]

@nine18 

Label placement is a USPS issue not an eBay issue, but you'd think eBay would provide guidance.  I always go to "the source" when I need the 'right' answer, lol.

[no_zero369]

@nine18 

The "fine print" in the program notes tells how missing mail pieces are to be handled.  No doubt sellers will have to "educate" CS on these aspects when they call in for help.

[comics-scifi-collectibles]

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@nine18 wrote:

Scanning sometimes takes a few days to show up.   It kinda defeats the purpose if the carrier or the counter can't scan it on pickup.  You have no proof you mailed the item.   Eventually most of my items show up as accepted,  in transit and then delivered.  Maybe 9 out of 10?   

I just had my first two complaints.  Both not delivered complaints.   One has no tracking results at all other than I printed the label.  It was never scanned.   So I am worried how that is going to go.    The second shows as delivered but the buys claims they never got it.     definitely some problems to work out

I don't understand why on a 4x6 label a regular barcode that could be scanned at the counter or by the carrier to prove you mailed the item.   

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@nine18   It will show delivered when it's scanned by the sorting equipment at the distribution center closest to the buyer.  After that, it can take a few more days or so to actually be delivered to the buyer's house. 

 If I were to use this shipping method I would explain how the tracking works to the buyer in a message before I ship.  As well as putting in the description of my listings.

It can't be scanned at the counter because it's a different type of tracking bar code.  It is also why it's cheaper than traditional tracking.  

Personally, if I was shipping inexpensive sports cards I would ship them as rigid non-machinable with non tracked 1st class.   I would use a second account to keep from losing the TRS+ on this account.  

[skatersedge14]

Thanks that is very helpful. Funnily enough though, all of my envelopes that I sent out with rigid cardboard were accepted. I think for the future I will use thinner cardboard like cereal boxes like you mentioned. I'm sure eventually my good luck would run out if I continued using the thick cardboard.

[skatersedge14]

I am looking at post #91 and it says the max size of an ebay standard envelope is 11.5 x 6.125 inches and 3oz or less in weight. So how are my dimensions and weight above that?

[nine18]

It doesn't always scan.  I have had a few cards that I know were delivered because the buy left feedback thanking me for the card and the tracking never even showed as accepted.   

[comics-scifi-collectibles]

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@nine18 wrote:

It doesn't always scan.  I have had a few cards that I know were delivered because the buy left feedback thanking me for the card and the tracking never even showed as accepted.   

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@nine18   I know I have seen other reports that its hit and miss.  Not sure why some are not getting scanned.  Tracking placement?  Is the envelope flexible and not rigid?   Those are the two things I can think of that the seller can control, after that it's the whims of the postal system. 

[benssales]

I've been using it for about a month now and can't recommend it. Delays are almost universal and nearly 30% that I have sent have been lost completely. Don't know if others are doing better, but I'm not willing to continue risking my feedback on it.

[herkimermurray]

@jabo-2774 

I print on a Dymo 4XL and use the Paper Size: 1744907 4in x 6in and Scale: Fit to Paper (or Fit to Printable Area).  The labels print well and fit on small envelopes 3 5/8" x 6 1/2".

I do have a problem with the first letter on the left side not printing, no matter how I adjust the scale.  I have to hand-write the first letter of my return address which is time consuming and annoying.  Looking for a fix for that.  (so much for your "printable area" Dymo!)

[herkimermurray]

Thanks for your replies, finally getting back to this.  Oh, I was just thinking that these are too rigid to be acceptable.  I'm uncertain.  I guess if they are 'paper' and not 'cardboard' they may pass?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/254808890842 

I'm sticking with standard small business envelopes 3 5/8" x 6 1/2" with one or two cards in penny sleeves and toploaders and wrapped in a piece of paper.  No issues yet.  Knock on wood.

Now, I do have a situation where a buyer from Puerto Rico opted for eBay Standard Envelope and I find out on the shipping page that you can't send that way to Puerto Rico.  I had to send First Class Mail (over $3.00 to ship, and the buyer paid $0.75).

Does anyone know if there is any way to restrict on the listing from shipping eBay Standard Envelope to Puerto Rico?  I couldn't find any way to specify that.  Would like to see an option where it is to "Contiguous United States" or whatever the appropriate verbiage is.   Or... how about if eBay could restrict buyers from selecting that option if it's not available at their home address.  How about FPO addresses, will it work for them?  

[nkpina2014]

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@richard1rst wrote:

I also sell a lot of things that could go that way.

I have to wonder:

eBay says this is an exclusive to them. But I seem to recall about a year or so ago the post office was experimenting with tracking (for an extra fee) on first class letters. Once this rolls out I intend to bring a sample to my post office and ask if this is one of those things (like Cubic Pricing) that the post office has available to those who know to ask for it.

I find it unlikely that the post office would make a service available to eBay only and not the other mass mailers. Stamps.com, Pirateship, etc. If so then we can use it for anything that fits even if it means buying the postage elsewhere (as long as we upload the tracking).

After all Pirateship has Cubic Pricing and eBay does not yet they accept the tracking numbers.

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USPS once had tracking as an additional fee for First Class Letters. I think at the time it was 31 cents, and then went to 45, plus the standard postage. But that was probably a decade ago, back when they used to charge per ounce on First Class Packages. 

[givenrosal]

Has anyone else with experience using this service been overcharged? I selected the standard envelope service for the first time yesterday and was charged 2.89 to ship within the continental united states. I've gone over it and don't see anything I've input incorrectly (ie dimensions, weight). I even called customer service and was told they have received similar reports. 

Is everyone else who is using this service to destinations within the continental US being charged the correct amounts(.51, .71, .91)  instead of nearly three dollars? Or is it just me?

 

[no_zero369]

@givenrosal 

Right there in the picture you posted of the label appears to be the key - some how Media Mail was selected as the shipping method.

The SE is available only is select narrow categories of trading cards.  Anything NOT listed in those categories will not have the option when buying shipping to purchase SE "label."

Might make some sense to scour the details of the program:

https://pages.ebay.com/seller-center/shipping/ebay-standard-envelope.html#m22_tb_a1__3
https://pages.ebay.com/seller-center/shipping/ebay-standard-envelope.html#what-you-need-to-know
https://pages.ebay.com/sell/standarddelivery/termsofservice.html

Yes, there are A LOT of problems with this program.  Not sure why anyone uses it.  No final 'delivery' scan as proof of delivery can lead to head aches for sellers.

[comics-scifi-collectibles]

@givenrosal   adding to @no_zero369 's answer.... if you have not shipped yet I would void the label and purchase the correct one OR ship with postage stamps if the eBay standard envelope is not available for your item and it's a low price item.

Void on this page:   https://my.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?MyEbayBeta&CurrentPage=LabelManagement

[givenrosal]

The thing is that when I listed the card it displayed the option for SE after I'd entered the dimensions of the envelope and weight.

It even quoted .71 it wasn't until after the item was paid for when I went to print the label that media mail even appeared. Here is a break down of the steps I took.

1.I listed a card

2.Entered dimensions of recommended envelope 8x6x1, it's really .25" but 1 is the lowest it allows! I don't know if that makes a difference.

3.Entered weight. 2oz

4.*Selected eBay standard envelope for trading cards up to $20 as the service (this is new, I think)

Everything up until the card was paid by the buyer showed it could be shipped with this service for under a dollar. 

The card that sold is a three dollar card. Not a problem, just saying. (Three minus ~2.90 for freight)

This is something I'd be interested in figuring out because it makes shipping super inexpensive if I can find out how to use it correctly.