Postal Rates (OT)

[JerseyHarold]

For those that are interested, USPS rates are scheduled to increase May 12. Which means if you're sending any packages try to get them out before that date, and watch for S&H fees on eBay items to climb even higher.

FWIW, I've noticed that S&H charges seem to have ratcheted up recently in response to the increase in eBay seller fees.

[Norm's Coupe]

Well, you can't blame the sellers for raising their prices to cover costs one way or another. When ever I list something there I've always added a little to the start price to cover the approximate ebay fees. Guess it really doesn't matter if its added onto the item price or the shipping charges.

Thats one reason I stopped selling on ebay a long time ago. The other one was I got tired of being a shipping clerk and wrapping the packages, and then lugging them to the Post Office, UPS or FedEx.

[BobT-47P15]

I've also noticed higher shipping costs.

Last night I sent a message to a seller thru ebay stating that I thought

the

$25 cost he listed for shipping a fairly small item was excessive,

therefore I would not be bidding on his item. He wrote

me back saying it was a "typo" and reduced shipping to $7.50. He did have

an item just before the one in question that had a $25 shipping cost....and

was probably correct.

I also wrote to another person selling a repair manual who had something

like a $15 shipping cost......suggested they might consider checking

with the post office about their lower rate for sending "printed matter."

Did not get a response there last nite.

edit......checked my ebay messages

just now.....seller replied that he actually had

that lower rate listed as an

option......so I owned up to him that

I evidently did not see it....thanked

him for his reply.

[Norm's Coupe]

I did say a seller should be able to raise his prices to cover his shipping and listing fees. With Bob's post it did remind me of some sellers who do not mistakes with out of sight shipping charges. I've seen listings for new tools etc. on ebay with a "Buy It Now" offering $30 items for sale at maybe $5.00. Then the shipping charges are about $30 or $35. Which means they are charging you the regular price for the item, plus shipping. When I see that once on someone's selling list I don't look at anything they have.

[Plymouthy Adams]

well..at least we are getting a bigger priority flat rate box that will help with costs...should be at the post office about now...

[JerseyHarold]

I asked about larger Flat Rate boxes at my local Post Office a couple of weeks ago, after reading about it on this forum. The clerk said "you people know more about it than we do"!

Sooooo....when is the intro date?

[Plymouthy Adams]

I only know that the flat rate envelopes, small box, large box and now the larger box is the only way to ship bulk items..the only drawback is fitting it in the box...flat rate box has no limit on weight in US...I have never understood the shipping charges on some items when the flat rate box would have done the job..I also know the PO does not really push these for some reason..go figure eh!

[Norm's Coupe]

Hey guys,

I now know the reason for the Postal Rate Increase. It's to pay for all their handling and transportation cost involved in delivering the mail. Here's an example of the extra cost of handling and transportation cost. Yesterday we received a letter in our mail box here in Milwaukee addressed to some woman in Arizona City, AZ, mailed from Oxnard, CA. She has a completely different name than ours and the letter was also addressed correctly (typed) with the correct zip code for Arizona City, and it was a "Presorted First Class" letter. :D So.....it went back in our mail box for the post office to handle the second time and ship it half way back across the country for proper delivery. Somebody has to pay for that mistake, and that be you and me through higher rates. :D

P.S. Even the street name was far off, along with the house number. She has a 5 digit house number and we have a 4 digit house number.