I am fully aware that eBay does not and never has sold postage labels for flats or letters. eBay's not providing tracking numbers on "flats" is not what this post is about.
I apologize in advance for the length of this post. I find it best to give examples of what eBay used to do compared to what they're doing now when it comes to postage quotes to both buyers and sellers.
This post is about -- seemingly suddenly -- eBay's quote to the buyer of the price of First Class Postage is much less than eBay's quote to the seller of First Class Postage, for the same thing, the same listing, the same transaction.
Many items I have sold (under my selling ID) that were, in true fact, "flats" -- like today's item, in a bubble-padded 7" x 9" envelope, maybe 1/4" thick at the most. A Flat, by definition. With the exception of a few things I list with "free shipping," I always choose calculated shipping with USPS First Class Postage -- for the purpose of and the convenience of eBay allowing me to purchase a mailing label with a tracking number.
eBay wants buyer and sellers to have proof of mailing and proof of delivery, which the USPS does not do when an item is mailed with stamps only. A tracking number is (in theory) one of the best ways to prove mailing and delivery. "Flats" with postage stamps don't get tracking numbers, as you have pointed out. So, a lot of things I have sold have been listed as "packages" and therefor entitled to First Class Postage charges. And a tracking number.
In the postage section of the listing, eBay calculated the First Class Postage based on the dimensions I entered. I am in Southern California. Obviously, a buyer in Boston, Massachusetts, would pay more for the postage than a buyer in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Way back about a year ago, in 2021: eBay quoted First Class Postage to buyers, buyers paid that amount, and that amount is the same amount I have paid to the USPS for First Class Postage. In both April and August of 2021, a buyer in Texas and another buyer in Pennsylvania bought a single sewing pattern from me in California. Each pattern packaged for mailing could not have weighed more than 4 ounces. I listed each pattern to include USPS First Class Postage -- so that the items would be mailed with tracking numbers.
The Texan buyer was quoted $3.12 postage; she paid $3.12; I paid $3.12 postage to the USPS.
The Pennsylvania buyer was quoted $3.49 First Class Postage; she paid $3.49; I paid $3.49 to the USPS.
Both the buyers and the sellers could trust that the amount of postage was accurate and correct -- on both sides of the transaction.
NOW -- with the same specs in my current listings, that is, "calculated" and "First Class Postage", buyers are being quoted a lower First Class Postage amount than I, the seller, have to pay the USPS.
On April 19, 2022, a buyer in Florida bought a cross-stitch chart from me (California). That chart was maybe 6" x 8" in size and maybe 1/4" thick in its bubble-padded envelope. The "calculated" & "First Class Postage" that eBay quoted to my buyer was $1.56. Which she paid.
After eBay confirmed to me that the payment had been made, I went to purchase USPS First Class Postage through eBay, which eBay quoted to me, the seller, $3.86. That is $2.30 more than eBay quoted to the buyer. On this transaction with a Final Value of $16.11, I netted $8.82. When I could have netted $11.12 if the buyer had paid the full cost of the USPS First Class Postage.
THAT is what this post, started by the OP is about. Assuming the OP is a man ("ron"), on some of his sales as well, eBay quoted a lower First Class Postage amount to the buyer than eBay quoted to the seller, to allow him to print a label with a tracking number.
I sure hope that eBay fixes this fast.
albertabrightalberta
