shipping an envelope

[rocketfamily]

i have an envelope to ship. the dimensions are 6" x 8" and less than 1/4" thick and it weighs 4 ounces, these are all the qualifications needed to ship usps first class. at ebay shipping it does not give me any options for an envelope, it makes the assumption that all things are a minimum of 1" thick. at usps.com it will ship for $1.60. on ebay it allows me to ship it for $2.80 [media mail] or first class for $3.09. i spoke with an agent at ebay who could not help me, but had the audacity to say" isn't $2.80 a good enough price" maybe in india, but i am willing to pay less if i can in the usa. this is not the first time  i have encountered this problem. how do i resolve. thanks,rocketfamily

[southern*sweet*tea]

On Ebay, you can only print postage that has tracking - postage for packages.

You have a large letter. You can use stamps, or use Paypal or Pirateship to print a label. I think you can print letter rate postage there, but I am not sure. Just be advised that there will be no tracking, so if a buyer says they didn't get it you'll have to refund.

If you want to ship that as a package to get tracking, it would have to be rigid - I ship paper items and sandwich them between heavy cardboard. Those get shipped as First Class Packages.

[fab_finds4u]

eBay labels only support tracked methods, thus you are going to be charged for a First Class Parcel. The method you want to use doesn't have tracking which mean you will be forced to refund if the buyer files a claim.  Are you sure you want to mail it without tracking?

Packages or envelopes need to be a minimum of 3/4"  thick to track. 

[nobody*s_perfect]

USPS has 3 categories of First Class mail: Letters, flats (AKA Large envelopes), and packages. An envelope could fall into any of those 3 categories, depending on factors like weight, dimensions (including thickness) and flexibility.

The maximum weight for a letter is 3.5 ounces; if your item weighs no more than that, it can go as a letter.  If it's actually 4 ounces (anything over 3.5 ounces) then you cannot mail it as a letter.  

Whether it goes as a flat (which is the $1.60 that you quoted) depends on whether it is flexible.  If it doesn't meet the USPS definition of flexible then it must be mailed as a package. If it qualifies to be mailed as a flat, you will not be able to purchase psoage for it through eBay. You can just use stamps, or take it to the PO.  eBay doesn't sell postage for letters or flats, probably because they feel so strongly that "buyers want tracking."

An piece that's over 3/4 inch thick must be mailed as a package, but there is no minimum thickness. As noted, if your 1/4 inch piece is over 3.5 ounces and is rigid then it can't be mailed as a letter or flat and the USPS says it must be mailed as a package.  

Here is the DMM section which explains USPS criteria for flexibility, complete with amusing illustrations:

https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/201.htm#ep1096318