eBay

mitchellstradingpost · ‎08-09-2022

If a buyer pays for shipping through eBay, can the seller purchase shipping at the PO or Pirate Ship and upload the tracking information? I sold a Bible through eBay. The buyer chose media mail. For some reason, eBay will not let me purchase the label (Media mail) due to the category. EBay is making me chose a different shipping method which much higher than Media. thank you

nobody*s_perfect · ‎08-09-2022

Yes, you can purchase postage anywhere and then enter the tracking number in the eBay transaction. Media Mail costs the same at the Post Office as it does through online postage sellers (eBay, PayPal, pirateship etc.).

eBay is trying to reduce the abuse of Media Mail for ineligible items, but their system is crudely based on the main category that an item is listed in. If you list an item in Collectibles or some other category where most items are not eligible, then eBay won't show you the option to purchase a label for Media Mail -- even if your individual item (such as a Bible) is clearly eligible.

2013grotz · ‎08-09-2022

@mitchellstradingpost wrote:
I sold a Bible through eBay. The buyer chose media mail. For some reason, eBay will not let me purchase the label (Media mail) due to the category. EBay is making me chose a different shipping method which much higher than Media. thank you

Ebay restricts purchase of Media Mail postage to specific categories, which what you listed to ("Christian Collectibles") does not fit. Specifically you should have listed it as a book ("Antiquarian & Collectible Books").

That said, eBay offers no discounts for Media Mail by purchasing postage from them, so you could just take it to the post office, ship it that way, and then enter the Tracking Number into the system if you haven't already purchased and shipped via another method.

lesegouts · ‎08-09-2022

I don't understand why ebay would care about Media Mail misuse. They are not liable for it. Only the seller.

stainlessenginecovers · ‎08-09-2022

@lesegouts wrote:
I don't understand why ebay would care about Media Mail misuse. They are not liable for it. Only the seller.

They probably are/were being held responsible and/or USPS asked them to do something about ebay sellers mis-using....

ms.rodriguez* · ‎08-09-2022

Every tax payer in the USA is being screwed everytime a seller mis-uses Media mail. The post office is losing millions of dollars because of mis-use. Loss of income for the post office will lead to more price increases, further screwing the American public. So the post office has asked Ebay to help curb this fraud.

Anyway, if the bible and the packaging weigh 15.9 ounces or less, the seller can ship first class mail. Another good option is if the bible will fit into a flat rate priority mail envelop. Here it doesn't matter if the book weighs 1 or 3 lbs. , the price will be the same.