problem shipping item priority box not big enough

[warren689]

Hi guys...

Sold my very first ebay item and am having an issue shipping it. It's a large sized bag that won't fit in the largest priority size box  so I purchased a larger box at my own expense thinking it wouldn't be a big deal....it was. The post office wanted to charge me $50 to ship it (within the US btw). I couldn't possibly ship it at that price so now I don't know what to do.  Is there another shipping method? As it is I am a couple days behind sending it out. It was supposed to go out Friday, now it won't ship till Monday as I can't get to the PO today and they are closed tomorrow.  I am a newb here so please advise. Thanks!

[deep-garnet-red]

My guess is your box is too big. You should be able to cut it down to less than one cubic foot for that bag.

[warren689]

The largest size priority box is too small. It's a structured bag that can't be pushed down. I don't want to damage it. Is there another method?

[lintbrush*]

You don't have to use a USPS Priority branded box to ship Priority mail.  It can be a plain brown box, a clean recycled box with markings, etc.

It sounds like you're being charged dimensional weight - which takes size in account for distance shipping - because it's over 1 cu foot in size.    A cu foot is 1728 cu in.  Take the LxWxH - if it's more than 1728 divide by 194.  That's the dimensional weight charge (for Zones 5 and up)

Looks like you would need a box about 16x12x8.  That wouldnt incur dimensional weight charges as it's less than a cubic foot.

If you know the weight and actual dimensions of the shipment, you'll save a couple of box by purchasing your postage online.

[plumbingspecials]

Shipping method should be figured out before the listing is active. 

You can put it in an unmarked box and ship it by weight throught the post office or from a UPS or FedEx store.

[duchess-at-speakeasy]

Priority Mail is zoned -- weight, dimensions and distance all matter. To Zones 5-8, dimensional weight kicks in for any box over 1 cubic foot. For reference, 12x12x12 is 1 cubic foot (1728 cubic inches).

If you use a larger box, you pay for dimensional weight. For example, a 14x14x14 box means you pay for a minimum of 15 lbs. to a destination more than about 600 miles away.

The boxes provided by USPS are all less than 1 cubic foot. You are not restricted to those boxes. You can find or buy any plain box that accommodates your item.

You don't say what kind of "bag" you are mailing, but will a shallow box work? Maybe 6 inches deep? For example, a 16x12x6 box is well under 1728 cubic inches.

~~C~~

[partial*eclipse]

Here are your options:

1. Ship the item anyway and absorb the cost.  This counts as tuition in the eBay school of hard knocks.

2. Find a box that is not over 1 cubic foot.  If it's the handbag that measures 13x7x7 inches, you could use a box that's 16x10x10 and be OK.  Just stay below a volume of 1728 cubic inches.

3. Ship the item in the box you already have, but use Retail Ground postage, which doesn't have that awful "dimensional weight." I'm surprised that the PO clerk didn't mention this option.  Technically it's a violation of eBay policy to use a slower shipping method, but it's not as bad as

4. Cancel the transaction, citing "item unavailable/out of stock."  This will put a defect point on your account, and just a few of those can get you permanently disqualified from selling on eBay.  But just one won't do any permanent harm.   Take some time to learn about shipping options so this doesn't happen again.

[warren689]

Thanks for the replies...

The bag is a structured handbag. Because it's structured it can't be smooshed into a small box.  I purchased a plain brown box at my own expense but it was a pound over the 3lbs the shipping label allows and it's going across the country so they said the charge was $50.  Ebay determined shipping amount and already charged the customer so I don't know what to do now.  I have to get this thing in the mail by Monday or my poor customer will think I'm scamming them if they don't see the package moving.  Is there some kind of shipping bag I could use? Maybe wrapping it thoroughly in bubble wrap to protect it? Urg.... I feel like I want to cry.  This is so much more complicated then I anticipated.

[partial*eclipse]

The buyer paid for the weight, but not for the Priority Mail dimensional weight, which is at least 12 pounds. The reason for the high shipping cost compared to the buyer's payment is not because of 3 vs 4 pounds, nor is it because it's going to a specific location.   This is due to setting up the shipping without entering the dimensions of the actual box you will ship in.  

There is no "shipping bag" that would be appropriate for shipping that handbag.  You need to find a different box, or cut down the one that you have so it's not quite as deep. Nobody is suggesting that you smoosh the bag in any way.

[partial*eclipse]

What are the dimensions of the box that you bought?

[deep-garnet-red]

---

@warren689 wrote:

The largest size priority box is too small. It's a structured bag that can't be pushed down. I don't want to damage it. Is there another method?

---

I don't understand your reply. You already said the large priority box won't work. You said you bought another box. I'm saying that the box you bought is probably too big. What size is it?

Like lintbrush* said, the problem is most likely that your box is larger than one cubic foot. That bag will fit in a box that is smaller than one cubic foot. Either you need to get a proper sized box or make one out of a larger box. Like she said, the dimensions should be around  16x12x8. 

[duchess-at-speakeasy]

No, a soft  sided "shipping bag" is not the answer.  Several people have already told you to use a box that measures no more than 1728 cubic inches.  If you already have a too-large box, then cut it down and construct a box from the cardboard and plenty of sealing tape.  Or raid a neighborhood recycling bin or hit up the manager of a local grocery store or dollar store for a suitable box that they are tossing. Really, this is NOT rocket science!  As long as your box does not exceed 1 cubic foot, the published USPS rate for 3 lbs. (or whatever actual weight) is what you'll pay, regardless of where the buyer lives.  If your item measures 13x7x7 and is not breakable, just get a box that is slightly larger.  15x10x10 is way smaller than 1 cubic foot and will fit your item just fine.   Bottom line:  Get a smaller box that fits your item but does not incur dimensional weight! https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/Notice123.htm https://postcalc.usps.com/DomesticZoneChart ~~C~~

[pingpong517]

did you price what FEDEX would be?... sometimes they are good for heavy  boxes...

[partial*eclipse]

The listing offers Priority Mail, so the OP shouldn't change the carrier unless he has a very good reason AND gets the buyer's OK.  That shouldn't be necessary in this case, since the  item in question can almost certainly fit into a box that won't incur the Priority Mail dimensional rate.  The package isn't heavy; the weight is 4 pounds.  FedEx has dimensional rates, too.

[berserkerplanet]

Others have explained (or tried to explain) dimensional weight - that is what is getting you here. Large packages take up more room on planes and trucks and are charged accordingly.

I'm going to assume the item in question is the Brahmin Handbag. It shows calculated shipping for $7.80 to a buyer in Z1&2 where you are up to $17.15 to a buyer in zone 8 (here where I am in California)

Those amounts are the amount for zoned Priority Mail for a 3 pound package at retail counter rates, and I assume the buyer was charged $17.15 (which would be 100% correct for the numbers you entered)

Those numbers assume that, and are only valid if the package volume (LxWxH) is under 1 cu-ft (1728 sq-in). That is why it is absolutely critical to enter accurate final package dimension in the shippigng section of a listing before it goes live.

(All of my items are 100% figured out and packaged before I ever even decide if they are going to be listed - I am never surprised after a sale. Helps when they sell too - just grab it, label it, and ship it)

At this point all you can try to do is some monetary damage control. There are no other less expensive services you can choose that will not violate the expedited shipping choice you specified in the listing. FedEx Smartpost, FedEx Home Delivery, or USPS Parcel Select are less expensive, but at this point basically a "breech of contract" with the buyer if used - UNLESS you communicate with the buyer and they are ok with slower shipping (but in the event of an issue with the buyer wanting to return, claiming damage,  claiming not as described could cause complications)

Problem with communicating with the buyer is that you are running out of time if it must be shipped Monday. At least for me, buyers rarely respond in a timely fashion (or at all) even when messaged through eBay messaging and emailed directly.

One thing you can do that would help slightly (10% ish)  is to use eBay online shipping labels and get the online commercial rates instead of retail rates at the post office counter. (That $50 retail quote would be approx $46 if purchased online. $20.36 for USPS Parcel Select, $45.37 for FedEx Home Delivery*, and $13.63 for SmartPost)  *my FedEx discount makes that $23.78 instead of $45.37

Use the eBay calculator to see pricing:  http://www.ebay.com/shp/Calculator

The way to minimize the damage here is going to be for you to do one of

• buy the smallest box the bag can fit in safely
• cut down and staple/tape/glue a box to be the smallest that fits
• get the buyer to agree to an economy service like Parcel Select of Fedex Smartpost

and then purchase the label online using eBay labels to get commercial pricing.

Take some measurements, and provide the minimum dimensions of a box that would fit the handbag, and someone here can help you with the calculations (weight and destination zip are pretty much not in play here with dimensional weight being the overwhelming issue)