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Understanding and Comparing the USPS shipping charges for small parcels, and giving ebay star feedback for shipping
Questions? Should I give less than five-stars for for a seller that charged me $2.95 for a small package?
Is $2.95 too much for shipping and handling to mail a lightweight coin necklace
Why does a seller charge so much for a lightweight package?
Why write about this?: Many shippers now realize that the Post Office’s old method of ‘weight based’ calculation of charging for mailing changed to a ‘shaped based’ method of shipping this past May 2007. This means that ‘letter packages’ previously able to ship for as low as $0.63 for two ounces, plus handling, now cost almost double that amount.
Many buyers, including me, think sometimes $2.95 (or even more) is a too high of a cost to mail something so light in weight.
But is $2.95,$3.95, $4.95 really too much?
Let’s look closer look here....
Example 1: Comparing Shipping Charges for a small First-Class Mail package/parcel
Let’s look at an example and actually see the postal service charges, and steps sellers must use to properly package and ship a necklace so it arrives safely and comes with tracking/delivery confirmation services. Then we can see if $2.95, $3.95, or even $4.95 is still too high.I do hope this guide will help buyers better understand the total shipping costs, before choosing a less-than-five-star rating when leaving detailed star feedback.
Example product:
• I am shipping a Coin Necklace that weighs over one ounce, and
• Total package weight is under 2 ounces, and
• To properly pack item, I must use bubble wrap to protect the coin, split ring, and necklace (package thickness to over ¼-inch thick as a result), and
• Total package weight is under 2 ounces, and
• To properly pack item, I must use bubble wrap to protect the coin, split ring, and necklace (package thickness to over ¼-inch thick as a result), and
(We know putting a necklace in an normal envelope will likely cog up the Postal Service’s sorting machines equipment, tear the envelope, and compress the necklace ring and chain likely damaging it.)
• Envelope used is an approximate $0.25 6-inch by 9-inch kraft bubble type, and
• Confirmation of Delivery (Retail price is $0.75 to add to a package), is needed to verify it has been delivered safely to you, and
• Label, inner bagging, laser-printing packing slip, PayPal at 3% for s/h fees, tape is about $0.25.
• So about $0.50 material cost, probably a little less, or in total about $1.25 in material/tracking over what ever the required postage is for two ounce parcel (NOT 2 oz letter.)
• Confirmation of Delivery (Retail price is $0.75 to add to a package), is needed to verify it has been delivered safely to you, and
• Label, inner bagging, laser-printing packing slip, PayPal at 3% for s/h fees, tape is about $0.25.
• So about $0.50 material cost, probably a little less, or in total about $1.25 in material/tracking over what ever the required postage is for two ounce parcel (NOT 2 oz letter.)
Shipping Comparisons: (excludes any employee and packing time)
One-ounce letter: $0.41 (no delivery confirmation, under ¼-inch thick)
One-ounce letter: $0.75 (no delivery confirmation, rigid & under ¼-inch thick)
One-ounce parcel: $1.13 (no delivery confirmation, over ¼-inch thick)
One-ounce parcel: $1.88 (with delivery confirmation*, over ¾-inch thick)
TOTAL for a 1 OZ PRODUCT WOULD BE $2.38 (with packing and material, excluding time)
Two-ounce letter: $0.58 (no delivery confirmation, under ¼-inch thick)
Two-ounce parcel: $1.30 (no delivery confirmation, over ¼-inch thick)
Two-ounce parcel: $2.05 (with delivery confirmation*, over ¾-inch thick)
TOTAL for EXAMPLE PRODUCT SHOWN HERE IS $2.55 (with packing and material, excluding time)
Three-ounce letter: $0.75 (no delivery confirmation, under ¼-inch thick)
Three-ounce parcel: $1.47 (no delivery confirmation, over ¼-inch thick)
Three-ounce parcel: $2.22 (with delivery confirmation*, over ¾-inch thick)
TOTAL for a 3 oz PRODUCT WOULD BE $2.72 (with packing and material, excluding time)
One-ounce letter: $0.75 (no delivery confirmation, rigid & under ¼-inch thick)
One-ounce parcel: $1.13 (no delivery confirmation, over ¼-inch thick)
One-ounce parcel: $1.88 (with delivery confirmation*, over ¾-inch thick)
TOTAL for a 1 OZ PRODUCT WOULD BE $2.38 (with packing and material, excluding time)
Two-ounce letter: $0.58 (no delivery confirmation, under ¼-inch thick)
Two-ounce parcel: $1.30 (no delivery confirmation, over ¼-inch thick)
Two-ounce parcel: $2.05 (with delivery confirmation*, over ¾-inch thick)
TOTAL for EXAMPLE PRODUCT SHOWN HERE IS $2.55 (with packing and material, excluding time)
Three-ounce letter: $0.75 (no delivery confirmation, under ¼-inch thick)
Three-ounce parcel: $1.47 (no delivery confirmation, over ¼-inch thick)
Three-ounce parcel: $2.22 (with delivery confirmation*, over ¾-inch thick)
TOTAL for a 3 oz PRODUCT WOULD BE $2.72 (with packing and material, excluding time)
Notes:
1. Each additional ounce: $0.17
2. An item becomes a parcel, and is no longer a normal $0.41 letter when it exceeds 1/4- inch thick, or rigid.
3. * The retail purchase price of delivery confirmation is $0.75 (i.e. barcode), and requires the package to exceed ¾-inch in thickness
4. Electronic delivery confirmation is $0.18
5. No packing or post office time is part of the calculations above.
Guide on How to leave detailed seller 'star' ratings related to s/h charges.
This is a truncated version as you can read on ebay. You can see this complete information here on ebay: Ebay Shipping Star Feedback PageYou can leave detailed seller ratings from the Leave Feedback page. If you choose to leave detailed seller ratings, you must leave them at the same time you leave your overall Feedback rating and comment.
When you’re rating the seller, please keep the following in mind:
- Review the item title and description before evaluating the seller on item as described.
- Consider only business days when evaluating communication. Sellers don’t always check email on weekends and holidays.
- Sellers are not responsible for delays in mail services, and should only be rated on aspects of shipping they can control, including handling time. Some sellers specify their handling time in the item description. Also, many sellers wait for the buyer’s payment to clear before shipping an item. For international transactions, please allow extra time for shipping.
Shipping and handling charges may include charges beyond the actual shipping price for the item. Sellers may charge actual packaging materials costs and a reasonable handling fee to cover the seller’s time and direct costs associated with shipping...
Guide created: 08/14/07 (updated 07/13/08)
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