Heads up on Ebay shipping
AUandAG
Posts: 24,349 ✭✭✭✭✭
Just sold a silver proof set and went to ship. Ebay offered Small Box Priority at $8.80 which they say is a savings of $1.10. So, for tickles, I went to my USPS account and found the same Small Box shipping for $8.45. Ebay is no deal.
bob 
Registry: CC lowballs (boblindstrom), [email protected]
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Greedy ********* ! Always after that extra buck.
My OmniCoin Collection
My BankNoteBank Collection
Tom, formerly in Albuquerque, NM.
Are you sure the eBay rate you quoted was for a flat rate box? From my eBay account, I see these rates:
USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate Small Box
ON EBAY YOU SAVE 6%
$7.90
USPS Priority Mail
ON EBAY YOU SAVE 11%
$8.80
I've been using Paypal the last few days because ebay has their label layout screwed up again. When is ebay going to learn if it ain't broke don't fix it!
They're famous for that.
Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.
This is not correct. I just sent a bunch of priority through Ebay.
Please double check and correct this before you spread false information
That is exactly what I saw when I listed the coins. However on shipping it had changed to the $8.80 and on the USPS it was now $8.45. I sent with the USPS see pic. I should have gotten a screen shot of the ebay shipping price but did not. It appears from the answers above that Ebay and USPS are NOT consistent across the board.
bob
You're funny!
bob
Not kidding. Why would you spread misinformation? If not for eBay's benefit, then for the benefit of other forum members whom you are guiding to the wrong site.
First off I have no skin in the game. I do not work for ebay or the PO. What I reported is fact and it seems that there must be different rules for different sellers as you can see from the responses....read them.
bob
NOT ONE other poster has claimed to see what you see.
The only other eBay label complaint was the formatting of the label print not the cost.
I shipped 20 priority packages since Friday. All of them were WONDERFULLY LESS EXPENSIVE than either USPS or Paypal.
FACTS MATTER!
So, you made my point exactly. different strokes for different folks.
Fact lie sometimes, one fact to you and another fact to me, both the truth.
bob
I'm sorry, but you are mistaken. You are comparing the PRIORITY MAIL RATE with the FLAT RATE.
$8.45 is the Flat Rate USPS shipping which is $7.90 through eBay.
Your screenshot (note the dimensions) is for Priority mail but NOT the flat rate which is always more expensive.
Please look carefully at this and correct it.
sigh...you are not reading it correctly and you are comparing apples to rubber tires.
Here you see both rates, including the $8.80 rate you referenced.
Here you see both rates on USPS, including the $9.90 rate and the $8.45.
"USPS Priority Mail" and "USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate Small Box" are not the same thing, or the same rate. You might want to go back to eBay and check to see which selection you made.
I offered free shipping via Priority Small Box and that is what the Ebay screenshot is and that is what the USPS screenshot it. Now, I'm getting pissed seeing that others get special pricing that I do not get.
bob
This:
is not "Priority Mail Flat Rate Small Box" shipping.
Well, it sure ain't medium or large. It's what I offered on the listing and that was free shipping via small box priority. I incorrectly assumed that ebay would ship via the method I offered.
bob
It's regular priority not the FLAT RATE SMALL BOX. Notice the dimensions. There is no dimension limits given for FLAT RATE SMALL BOX because you have to use the FLAT RATE SMALL BOX.
It is not. Look at my screenshots of both the eBay prices and the USPS prices right from their respective websites. "Priority Mail" is $9.90 at USPS. "Priority Mail Small flat rate box" is $8.45
You are comparing two different service tiers.
Look at the picture you posted. It says "USPS Priority Mail". There is also an option for "USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate Small Box". They are different. Are you sure you selected the flat rate option in your listing? Can you post a link to the listing in question?
I like getting the eBay special USPS pricing that only some sellers get
You are definitely SPECIAL.
Much love. I miss @coinstartled. I believe eBAy only has 12 months left to exist.
Here are the options eBay gives you for Expedited shipping:
Note that "Small Flat Rate Box" is not the first thing in the list.
333907721739 is the auction number.
bob
Your listing: Expedited Shipping (USPS Priority Mail®)
A different seller offering flat rate shipping: Expedited Shipping (USPS Priority Mail Small Flat Rate Box)
Here's the shipping indicated on your listing - straight Priority Mail
Here's the shipping indicated on one of my listings - notice it indicates FLAT RATE
You like stirring the pot too! 🤣😂
Bottom line: You can get the same discount as others are getting, just be sure the "Flat Rate" option is selected when you print your label.
UGGGH!
You should probably put him on ignore.
Okay, I admit defeat. Not intentional to distribute false information. I guess when you guys hit your mid 70's you'll look back and say,,,,,oh shit I see where Bob was coming from. Hope you do hit your mid 70's for sure.
be well, stay safe.
bob
come on man, drop down menus are so confusing. and they supply the box for free?
are they charging different for zones yet? I have noticed it on my first class mailings.
It's understandable how it happens. I almost did the same thing a couple of months ago when I went to change shipping from first class to priority. The price looked wrong, so I went back and checked and found that the priority option at the top was not the same thing as the flat rate option lower down on the page.
Actually, there is a regional rate box for priority mail but I'm not going to try to explain it. You're on your own there.
The shipping method that I put into a listing is not what always comes up when I click 'purchase and print shipping label'. I always have to look at what popped up there and re-click where necessary.
I've never fully understood the regional rate box...
Regardless of what the seller says about shipping in the listing, the actual (final) choice is made by the seller when he prints the shipping label.
Choice of shipping provided by the seller in the listing is informational only and is used by the buyer on how fast to expect the item and it is used by the ebay algorithm to provide an "estimated delivery" or "guaranteed delivery" date. The method of shipping chosen when buying the label is then used by USPS tracking to provide an estimated delivery date.
Best to just say priority in the listing and then at time of shipping choose which priority method you will use. This leaves you the option of choosing any priority method including the sometimes cheaper regional flat rate that is dependent on the buyer's zip code, something that is not known until the item sells.
FWIW I find the priority flat rate padded envelope (no weight limit for domestic use) is only pennies more than the small flat rate box yet it provides me the added security of putting a sealed box inside the tough, sealed envelope. It also enables me to use the non-flat rate 1096L box that is slightly larger than the small flat rate box that I then put inside the flat rate padded evelope. The 1096L is not a flat rate box (used to be called a VCR tape box in the old days) when used alone but once inside a flat rate padded envelope it ships at the flat rate padded envelope fee. The 1096L is available (free) only at the USPS on line store as are the free flat rate padded envelopes. Not a bad idea to print an extra copy of the shipping label and attach it to the box as well as to the outer padded envelope.
It will happen suddenly
Something to do with weight and distance, but it seems to be just one more thing to use to confuse the clerks.
@AUandAG , you might want to redact your address from public view in the first photo you posted. I know I would!
Regular priority shipping fee is based on zones, yours and the recipients. Closer the recipient, cheaper the regular priority fee. Priority flat rate is one fee for anywhere in the country based on flat rate shipping container. Regional flat rate gives you the best of both worlds: ability to ship weight cheaply and ability to save when the recipient is in a closer postal zone.
Priority regional flat rate saves money when shipping flat rate priority to closer destinations. Fee is based on how many postal zones the recipient is from the sender. You can ship up to 15 lbs with one of two sizes of Box A, or you can ship up to 20 lbs with one of two sizes of Box B. Boxes are free and have to be ordered from USPS website.
There is a method of determining actual regional cost but it involves postal zone charts and calculations of how many zones away your recipient is. Easiest thing to do is when printing an online label compare the calculated cost of shipping priority flat rate or priority regional rate and choose the cheapest. Only takes a minute.
I always keep a couple of all four boxes on hand and when purchasing a label through ebay I compare regional price with regular flat rate price. With the label already on the regional package there is no hassle dealing with a rooking postal clerk.
It will happen suddenly
Yes they are. Regular 3 pounds to Hawaii is around 30-40% higher than say Texas.
I know basically how it works but it is just such a nuisance. I never even bother to get quotes. Of course, I rarely have things that don't fit in a small flat rate, and even fewer things that don't fit in a medium flat rate.
He wants us to stop by for a drink.
Interesting treatise. Is it based off their new policies on coins, automobiles etc.?
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/u-s-coins/quarters/PCGS-2020-quarter-quest/album/247091
Thanks but would love to have someone drop by for a chat. I'll wear a mask.
bob
Don't want to beat a dead horse. But, why doesn't ebay allow three methods of shipping: Media, Regular, and Priority. Then let the seller pick from those three. Then when time to ship let the seller define further what they want and the cost.
bob
They do. My listings are set up for first class and I change the shipping to priority when it's appropriate. You're not stuck with the shipping option you chose when you listed the item. You can change it when you go to ship.