I sell on ebay. Most things I sell I put into envelopes and mail cheap. Very rarely do I buy postage through ebay's system. Today I wanted to send something, 1 oz large envelope. I made a label through ebay, postage 1.58 plus 19c for tracking. At the USPS website it says that postage for a 1 oz large envelope is 88c. Why the difference? Is ebay making money on postage too? Have I been paying a huge premium every time? I would be willing to pay a small premium because of the convenience of paying and mailing from home, but not that much.
If I only have the one package going out, it is going to cost more than gas usage to go ship this item. So yes Ebay will get the extra fee. If I have several packages it is worth my $ to go to the post office. Small flat 1 ounce envelope $.88 yes.
As far as I know ebay gets no extra fee. USPS first class package is different from first class mail. An envelope that will bend and go through their sorter will be .88 , but if it is rigid or more than a certain thickness the rate is higher. You cannot purchase postage for first class regular mail through ebay only first class packages.
I got it, thanks. When you look at the USPS website and enter a 1 oz package, then the price is 1.71. Why can't you buy simple postage through ebay?
They must have their reasons... here's what's available: What shipping services are available with eBay labels? The following U.S. Postal Service options are available: Domestic Services: Priority Mail, Express Mail, First Class Mail Parcel, Media Mail, Parcel Post. International Services: Express Mail International, Priority Mail International.
If you use regular first class mail to send coins your taking the chance the mechanical sorters will damage the coins or the envelope will have the coin ripped out of it and lost. Regular mail is not a good idea for any type of shipping other than regular letter mail. The PayPal and eBay sites both are for package mail, that is bubble pack or large envelopes and boxes that go with hand sorting and or the bar code readers in the regional hubs of the mail system.
I think every one who do trade on Ebay, They keep margin for postal charges and that may be big amount or less.
The advantage to eBay shipping is that you pay the same USPS rates you would at the post office. You need a scale if you aren't shipping flat-rate. You and the buyer get instant shipping info and tracking, and you can also choose to add insurance. The only time I do not use eBay, is when I am shipping cois in the thousands of dollars as I prefer to mail thsose registered and have the post office stamp verify receipt of the parcel with their own stamp.
mailing if you place the coin in between two pieces of thin card board it will go at low rates without any problem but we all know the reason for higher shipping is we don't have to pay ebay it goes in our pocket.
I have sold a few items on eBay and every time I shipped through the post office by buying my postage at the counter it has cost me more than it would have had I printed my own postage through the eBay link. ie: tracking costs 19c on eBay and 85c at the Post Office. There is also a 14% discount in pricing for buying on-line and printing your own. That's been consistent with both books and coins using Media Mail, First Class and Priority mail services.
