Issue with First Class shipping Jan 21, 2108

[Sharyn]

There appears to be an issue with Ebay’s USPS first class shipping right now. I have an item with a weight of 14 oz. Someone messaged me asking for a price on shipping. I wasn’t sure about the new price since USPS just changed their costs, so I went to the shipping calculator to find out. The price was basically zeroed out for first class. I was able to get a cost for 13 oz, so my workaround (for now) is to reduce the weight on the item to 13 oz knowing that I add in extra weight for packaging. I might be out a dollar or so, but I don’t want to miss out on a sale.

I checked downdetector for Ebay, and others are reporting issues with shipping. It might not just be first class USPS:
http://downdetector.com/status/ebay

I’m wondering if anyone else has noticed this issue. I’m hoping it is fixed by tomorrow morning. It could be affecting sales today.

[So Cal Joe]

$4.38.. is my cost. Don’t know retail..

• This reply was modified 8 years, 4 months ago by So Cal Joe.

[AdventureE]

Yes, you are right. I just checked using a draft and then the ebay calculator itself. First class is zeroed out in both spots.

[Losingitagain]

I think they are updating their shipping since last night…they have had a “we are having trouble” notice since late last night

[PDX_Cyndy]

Same thing just happened to me with a 14 oz item. I went to the USPS site and tried to calculate there and wasn’t given a 1st class option, so I pulled up the new rate chart. Seems 1st class only goes up to 13 ounces now. https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/Notice123.htm#_c037

[PDX_Cyndy]

Which makes me wonder, do I have to update all listings for 14 oz and 15 oz items? Is there a way to search for them?

[Sharyn]

For regular USPS through the post office, yes, first class only goes to 13 oz. However, through Ebay, we can ship first class through 16 oz. Ebay didn’t say anything about discontinuing that discount, so I assume this is just a software issue going to the new USPS rates.

[Ryanne]

i shipped some 15 oz 1st class items tonight with the new rates with no issues.

[Sharyn]

I just had someone buy a jacket, but not able to pay because it was over 13 oz. I just sent an invoice at the 13 oz price assuming that our discount will cover it. Maybe you can buy postage, but it isn’t coming up right for buyers? I don’t know.

[annabel52]

The commercial rate, which is what we pay thru ebay is still up to 15.999oz

First-Class Package Service
Commercial­—Parcels

Weight Not Over–Single Piece

1oz $2.66

2oz 2.66

3oz 2.66

4oz 2.66

5oz 2.79

6oz 2.92

7oz 3.05

8oz 3.18

9oz 3.34

10oz 3.50

11oz 3.66

12oz 3.82

13oz 4.10

14oz 4.38

15oz 4.66

15.999oz 4.94

[Theresa]

USPS Update has effected the ability of a customer to purchase an item that ships First Class and weighs between 14-16 oz. I discovered this when a customer let me know that when he went to buy an item it said I didn’t ship to Detroit MI. So to test this out, I just tried to buy and item from my other store that is shipped First Class and has a shipping weight of 15 oz and I get this response when I go to checkout :
This item does not ship to IA, United States. Here is what you can do:
Change address
Pick a different item that ships to you
On the listing itself, the shipping portion is strange too and looks like this with no cost for the shipping is given.

Shipping:
Calculate
 
Item location:
Sherrill, Iowa, United States
 
Ships to:
United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Australia, Greece, Portugal, Japan, Sweden, France, Hong Kong, Spain, Italy, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, Saint Kitts-Nevis, Guernsey, Jersey

So, I have put a call in the eBay and am waiting to see what they do.
Theresa

[Theresa]

Still getting the same response to purchasing an item that weighs between 14-16 oz. and ships First Class. Ebay when I called, said they were looking into it but so far not so good.

[Boocha]

Hey all,

Long time lurker here but just had to chime in on this. I’ve gone through the same deal as Theresa. Same error message but for Moorsville, NC. I am waiting on a call back from Ebay as of now and the buyer is understandable thankfully.

Ricky

[Sharyn]

So far, I received two messages from buyers asking for shipping costs. I modified both listings to 13 oz. I figure the 13 oz rate will cover up to 16 oz cost with Ebay’s discount, but I won’t make much money on the shipping. Neither potential buyer has purchased anything yet, so I might have lost a few sales because of this bug. Not too big of a deal since they were not big ticket items.

[Sharyn]

I should mention that I didn’t have an issue buying a label for a 16 oz item.

[Ryanne]

the good thing (sorta) is that it must be site-wide, not just a few of our alls listings. so hopefully ebay will sort it out!

[Boocha]

I’ve never been one for free shipping for the same reasons as explained in the podcast but I’m on the verge of just sending the buyer an offer through messages with the cost of the item and approximate shipping. How many people have tried to buy something and have given up without sending a message, that’s the real stinker here. Or the fact that someone could swoop in and buy this item even though this guy was the first to try.

[Sharyn]

If you send someone an offer and say that it includes shipping, they have to accept the offer, you have to send them an invoice zeroing out the shipping, and then they can pay. It seems like too many steps.

You could tell them the cost and ask them to buy it without the shipping showing up. They won’t be able to pay until you invoice them. It would take out one step from the above.

Or, you could modify the listing like I did.

I just don’t think that there is a good workaround. Like Ryanne said, it’s not like just a few of us are having the issue. Ebay will lose lots of money if they don’t fix it quickly, so the priority has to be much higher than if just one of us calls with a problem.

[Boocha]

True, modifying the listing seems quite a bit easier. I thought you could specify free shipping in the offer sent through messages but like I said I’ve never offered it. I also noticed that the “send offer” disappears after you reply to a message. I learned two new things today that’s gotta be a plus ha.

[Boocha]

I just went to check the first class rates on the USPS site and they are not listing prices for anything over 13oz now. I don’t remember hearing that they were going to reduce the limit from 16oz but could that be it?

[Ryanne]

hm
but on ebay you’re still allowed to purchase labels for First Class items 14-16 oz. so it seems they have not discontinued it?

[Boocha]

Yeah it still says 15.999oz everywhere I look except for here:

https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/Notice123.htm#_c037

[sonia]

you’re looking at retail pricing, which has always had the 13 oz limit.
On ebay we get commercial pricing. If you look in that same document under First Class Commercial – Parcels, you’ll see pricing for 14, 15, 15.999.

[Ryanne]

sonia is correct. commercial 1st class pricing includes 14-16 oz still–

https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/Notice123.htm#_c104

[Ryanne]

just scroll down to First Class Packages in the Commercial section.

[Boocha]

Good to know. I didn’t know that retail had different weight limits. Thanks.

[Theresa]

My issue right now is not that of purchasing the First Class shipping label for items that weigh between 14-16 oz but, the fact that eBay’s system is still sending the message telling customers that I do not ship to whatever address they are at or pick another item that does ship to you ie buy from someone else.
Just checked again and the issue has not been fixed.

[T-Satt]

Is everyone with this error using calculated shipping? Is anyone seeing the error using Free Shipping or Flat Rate Shipping? Wondering if the shipping type is part of the issue.

We have not heard anything today, but all our First Class has been Flat Rate ($4) and nothing over 13oz.

[Sharyn]

Yes, calculated shipping. I don’t think there is any problem with paying for the postage, only the buyer is having issues.

[Theresa]

I am using calculated shipping only and it is only on First class items 14-16oz. Items that are 13 oz. do not have the same problem.

[Ryanne]

but if we have a second shipping option like Priority, the 14-16 oz items should show up with that as shipping right?

[T-Satt]

We are thinking the same Ryanne! The question would be, if the item was 14-16oz, can they still pay the FC rate? Or does it kick them to the Priority Rate?

So for us, would the $4 FC flat rate we use get kicked to $6.99 PFR if the item was 14-16oz?

I’m sure they are working it…just hope it doesn’t take long. The Puerto Rico issue we had (where all our Puerto Rico sales were assumed to be international by eBay) wasn’t fixed for months…

[Boocha]

Ebay CS finally called me back and the rep is insisting that the limit was changed yesterday down to 13oz. I still don’t think that is right as it doesn’t say anything about that in any of the “postal rate changes” lists.

I did a test and tried listing something that was 17oz for first class and the error message even states that the limit is 16oz.

[Ryanne]

has anyone seen any documentation on ebay that this was going to happen?

[Sharyn]

There was notice that the rates were changing. There wasn’t any notice that the software was going to bug out!! That we had to figure out on our own.

If Ebay had the commercial FC rates before Saturday night and all they had to do was change those rates, then how did the software screw up on the 14 to 16 oz items? They must have had some software “updates” that they tried to squeeze in as if it was no big deal.

[Boocha]

The rep just called me back to apologize that she was misinformed. They figured out that while updating the new rates they weight limit got set back to 13oz. She said it was put on an “urgent” fix schedule and should be fixed as soon as possible. Phew! What an Ebay technology ride today has been ha.

[sonia]

Thanks for the updates on this issue, Boocha.

[Losingitagain]

Some reps are still telling sellers that first-class shipping is no longer available for 13-15.999 ounces. Facebook groups are burning up the fiber optic lines on this one! I haven’t sold a thing since the rate change on Sunday…I guess it may be a good thing with these uncertainties!

[T-Satt]

We had a few sales last night on first class items, but definitely a slow day for us. We also do flat rate pricing, so I should not have impacted us.

[Boocha]

It looks like Ebay is putting updates out on their facebook about this and have stated that the limit will continue to be 15.99 domestically. https://www.facebook.com/eBayForBusiness/posts/1592081120869478

Also: Is it me or did they tweak the wording on the drop down menu when selecting shipping options? I think it used to say priority package or large envelope and now it just says priority package.

[Theresa]

Update this morning, I just tried to purchase an item in my other store that has a First Class shipping weight of 16 oz and the listing does not show the shipping cost as it did before, but I can now purchase it without seeing “Does not ship to your address” and the shipping cost shows up when it is my cart. It seems that they have fixed this part of the issue with the USPS change …. Whoo Hooo !!

[Sharyn]

Good thing that they are making progress!

Now I have an issue with something completely different. I negotiated a cost for an item that included shipping. Using the shipping calculator, I found a $10.33 cost to ship a 17x17x7″, 3 pound item from NJ to CA using FedEx Smartpost. When I actually went to pay for the label, the price was over $30. Thankfully, I was able to ship it with Parcel for a bit over $15, but that takes $5 out of my pocket. I’m not so pissed off to call Ebay and waste time on the phone, but it’s an annoyance.

• This reply was modified 8 years, 4 months ago by Sharyn.

[Boocha]

Nice, it looks like the calculated shipping works on the item I was having trouble with so it should be good. Hopefully the buyer isn’t discouraged too much to still buy it ha.

I saw a couple posts about that Sharyn. Both using FedEx Smart post and getting a wildly inflated number when going to print the label.

[Sharyn]

I guess you saw the post on a forum somewhere? I’m glad then that other people have reported it. It was a big sale, so $5 wasn’t a huge difference in the grand scheme of things. At least not enough to call.

[Boocha]

One post was on the dreaded Ebay forums and one on their facebook post that I linked earlier in this post. I don’t usually deal with Smartpost so I don’t have much to offer other than that.

[T-Satt]

Sharyn: I wish I had some answers for you, but I have none. We shipped two items via SmartPost yesterday, and they went through just fine, no issues with the price.

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