Automated Package Verification at USPS

[T-Satt]

In case people didn’t see this on the eBay News feed. If you haven’t been notified, you are OK. Good to see them do this…

As of August 1, USPS has implemented their new Automated Package Verification (APV) system, which changes how they handle shipments with under- and overpaid postage. This change may impact eBay sellers, and there are steps sellers can take to ensure they are paying shipping charges accurately.

Sellers are responsible for ensuring that the postage paid for a shipment is sufficient to cover the service requested and that the dimensional information provided by sellers matches the physical shipment itself. Find complete information on how eBay sellers can ensure accurate postage and avoid extra shipping charges here.

Previously, USPS packages with underpaid postage were either rejected of help for the recipient by USPS who required the recipient to pay the difference. This caused non-delivery, late delivery, and bad customer experience. Now, APV identifies underpaid packages, notifies the sender, and automatically deducts the amount of underpaid postage to ensure prompt delivery and better customer service for all parties.

With APV, overpaid postage is automatically credited back to senders’ balance, meaning sellers will not overpay for postage.

USPS identified sellers with significant postage discrepancies, and since May, eBay has been notifying them of the issue. If you received such a notification, please review the weights, dimensions, and services used for the shipment and make sure they match the physical shipment itself. While USPS is only deducting or refunding postage adjustments for shipments beginning August 1, reviewing past discrepancies may help you ensure more accurate postage in the future.

If you have not received such a notification from eBay, your postage paid has matched the physical shipment. No immediate action is needed on your part, but all sellers should check their shipping processes and continually ensure they are paying shipping charges accurately.

USPS has established its own resolution process for customers who dispute charges billed through APV.

We encourage sellers to use the eBay Community Shipping & Returns Board as a resource in adapting to this change.

As always, thank you for selling on eBay.

[Anonymous]

Good!
I am tired of dis honest sellers

[So Cal Joe]

I think it’s about time for the Post Office to come up with an automated drop off point that scans your prepaid package at the same time. It seems really silly and unproductive to get in line, just to get a package scanned.

When I drop off at Fedex, I just drop it at the counter, wave to the employee and leave. There are no lines or unnecessary interaction. Just drop and go and it’s gets scanned every time.

Unfortunately having the Postal carrier pickup the package and scan it, doesn’t work for everybody in every situation.

[Retro Treasures WV]

What you do at Fed-ex is exactly what I do at all 3 post offices I do drop offs at. They always have a window open for prepaid drop offs. They scan them at the first opportunity if there is a line.

[Jay]

I hope that USPS or eBay will send a note when they deduct or credit. currently FedEx will deduct money but no way to tell unless you check your invoice. Transparency is important.

[T-Satt]

It may be a separate item on your eBay billing for the month. I download the .csv for mine now, I’ll have to look….

[northernpinesgallery]

Will the underage or overage be credited to or deducted from our eBay accounts if we print eBay labels? I didn’t see where that was clearly explained.

[T-Satt]

The only place I see it discussed is:

“Now, APV identifies underpaid packages, notifies the sender, and automatically deducts the amount of underpaid postage to ensure prompt delivery and better customer service for all parties.”

Jay, to your point, it says “notifies the sender”, so we should get a notice.

Northern, my guess would be that since many sellers use many different shipping solutions (eBay, Stamps.com, their own commercial account, etc.), I would suspect that it would be an additional charge based on how the original charge was processed.

[Gompers]

I am trying to get some info from my contacts at the USPS. On the surface, I do not see how this program is enforceable. Mostly for the reason that packages are not weighted during their journey in the USPS system. Packages are only weighed at acceptance.

[Author]

Posts