First class rate for 15 oz showing as $6.45?

[val2525]

I honestly don't think you're going to get a rapid response from eBay. To show that rate would require specific programming to the site, rather than the current industry norm of pulling posted rates from the shipping sources. IMO.

[zoesam]

Feb 11, 2016 19:05:55 GMT val2525 said:

I honestly don't think you're going to get a rapid response from eBay. To show that rate would require specific programming to the site, rather than the current industry norm of pulling posted rates from the shipping sources. IMO.

I haven't heard a word yet from Ina.

IMO & my years of experience with it, it's pretty SOP to have a custom interface to your 3rd party software. I would consider it the standard for large corps, as I've done tons of work on customer's custom interfaces, so I think a method likely already exists.  However, I have not worked specifically with postal rate software.  

I think you're right though that if we don't hear from them, they have no method to do it :-) & if we do, they probably have an interface already.   I just hope that Ina's people ask the questions.  Even if the answer is no, they won't do anything about it, then we can know for sure & plan accordingly.

In the meantime, I am switching them all to Kloset's 13oz solution & if we don't get any response, then I'll probably just leave them that way. 

[Pantlandia]

Feb 11, 2016 19:05:55 GMT val2525 said:

I honestly don't think you're going to get a rapid response from eBay. To show that rate would require specific programming to the site, rather than the current industry norm of pulling posted rates from the shipping sources. IMO.

But there is no rate to show, even if they could show it...

[val2525]

Which is what we've been saying. eBay, bonanza, ecrater, assorted retailer sites - they pull their data for shipping quotes from the shipper source rate tables. if the rate isn't available on the shipper site, the ecommerce/retailer site won't be able to show it. I'm not an expert by a long shot, but to show the 14-15.99 FC rate, it seems like eBay would have to program a custom interface. Just a guess though.

[Pantlandia]

Feb 11, 2016 21:06:36 GMT val2525 said:

Which is what we've been saying. eBay, bonanza, ecrater, assorted retailer sites - they pull their data for shipping quotes from the shipper source rate tables. if the rate isn't available on the shipper site, the ecommerce/retailer site won't be able to show it. I'm not an expert by a long shot, but to show the 14-15.99 FC rate, it seems like eBay would have to program a custom interface. Just a guess though.

I absolutely get what you're saying, but what price are they going to show even with a custom interface?

All of the prices that are charged to the customers come from the Retail counter rates that the USPS charges. There are no retail counter rates for 13.01 to 15.99 ounces, so it doesn't matter if it's a custom interface or one that automatically pulls the data, the data isn't there for those rates.

In order to charge less than $6.45, eBay would have to make up what they think postage should be, which they cannot (I mean, I suppose they can). The problem lies with the USPS for creating rates for commercial customers and not having those rates apply to non-commercial customers.

So, I completely get what everyone is saying about this being a big issue, but eBay can only pass along rates that exist, no matter what type of interface is created. 

That's what I'm getting at. 

[zoesam]

I understand what you're both saying :-)

ITA with you Val, that they would have to have a customization to their interface. I think they already do. I base that on 25 years of corporate software experience, the last 10 spent going into fortune 500 companies & helping them to debug their interfaces (among other things), that most co's already have those interfaces in place. I've also personally worked on large 3rd party vendor pkgs & interfaces. Granted I've been out of the biz for awhile, but DH is still in it & is still dealing in interfaces so heavily customized, that they are virtually unrecognizable. That's the norm among big organizations (which is all I'm familiar with). Also, the more unique the business, typically the more customized it is. Airlines & telephone providers - super custom. Ebay is a pretty unique business, compared to other industries.

Could Ebay operate differently, without an interface? Sure, anything is possible, but my experience tells me that's highly unlikely. I do think it will hinge on that whether they do this or not. Though, even if they don't have an interface, they could easily write a quick & dirty, to do just this.

Jeremy they could simply make them, the amts they are charging us. Which I believe are a nickel apart for the 3 weights. That would make the most sense (to me). They wouldn't have to make anything up, they could just use what we're being charged, which are the next 3 increments up from 13oz. Of course they could make something up too, but there really isn't any need to. If they 'make something up', I think the starting point would still be the 3 increments they are charging us. They might add a percentage to it, that is analogous to the percentage increase over other counter rates. I don't personally think that's necessary though.

I just hope we can get an answer. Even if the answer is no way in hell are we ever going to do anything about it, then we will know & can plan our decisions accordingly.

I wonder how Etsy does it? IDK enough about Etsy to know how they operate in regards to postage.

[zoesam]

Update of sorts.

Ina just sent me the following reply from EBay. I have not looked into it AT ALL, as it just came in & I have to go rest from my knee work. I have no idea if this is a valid answer or not, but it's what EBay told her. This is going to take more brainpower to review, than what I have right now, but please feel free to take a look, try it, whatever & post your findings.



FROM INA:

Hi Zoe,

Here is eBay's response - apparently you can adjust your preferences:


The first issue you mention has been resolved. You can find updated info at the below AB post.





announcements.ebay.com/2016/01/information-on-the-january-17-usps-rate-change/



As for the second piece, 14-15.99oz first class package at commercial pricing is only offered through online printing tools like eBay labels, and is not available at retail locations of the USPS for purchase. We allow sellers to specify in their shipping preferences if they want to charge retail or online/discounted rates. If a seller specifies retail rates in their preferences, then we display a price which is available for Priority Mail at retail in the 14-15.99 weight range (6.45) to help seller cover their retail shipping cost at the USPS store. If the seller sets their shipping preference to charge online/discounted USPS pricing, the buyer will be charged the same rate as Ebay labels charges for 14-15.99 (3.55-3.65). Detailed chart is also show in the same AB post above.


Thanks,
Ina

[val2525]

It's not complicated. It's what several of us have said all along.

EBay pulls the online rates from USPS. There is no online (or counter) rate for FC above 13 oz. Therefore PM rate is pulled for 14-15 oz FC.

eBay says solution is to change settings to pass your shipping discount to the buyer (which has been an option for a couple of years). That's the one thing none of us thought of - I use flat rate on my listings so I totally forgot that one could do that. Anyway, buyer will then see discounted rate (or discount+handling if you charge handling) in the calculated shipping cost.