Why doesn't PayPal Shipping include the option for Priority Mail SMALL FLAT-RATE Boxes?

BaileyQuestion
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Contributor

Why doesn't PayPal Shipping include the option for Priority Mail SMALL FLAT-RATE Boxes on the shipping options for USPS?

 

I mail small items and will be almost exclusively using the SMALL Priority Flat-Rate Box.

 

The only current option for a Priority Flat-Rate Box is "Medium" through the PayPal Shipping Center.  So, my only current option is to choose, "Priority  Mail", then choose "Package", then enter the dimensions, and ship, which can end up costing more than the flat rate.

 

THE PROBLEM is that the package is subject to weight and zoning, and can cost more than the Flat-Rate.   I choose to use PayPal for the convenience of it being connected to Ebay, and also for the free Delivery Confirmation.

My 2nd PROBLEM is that if I ship directly through the USPS website, it costs more, because I have to pay for the Del. Confirmation.

 

I'm stuck....please help. 

 

Thanks!!!

 

 

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chippergroup
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**********UPDATE************

I JUST WENT TO PRINT A SHIPPING LABEL & THE OPTIONS FOR SMALL & LARGE FLAT RATE BOXES WERE AVAILABLE FOR PRIORITY SHIPPING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS ARE IN ORDER TO ALL OF US WHO EXPRESSED OUR NEED FOR THIS TO HAPPEN!!!!!!!!! WE MADE IT HAPPEN!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU PAYPAL FOR LISTENING TO US-WE APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

Super-CHIPPER 🙂

 

 

 

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66 REPLIES 66

HoustonShipper
Contributor
Contributor

Here's the response i got from Paypal when I askem them about this very issue; unless they misspoke and are saying that they won't have the feature foer at least another 6 to 11 months, it looks like they simply blew it altogether on getting this done on time...

 

 

Thank you for contacting PayPal.

At this time, PayPal shipping does not offer the USPS smaller Priority
Mail Flat Rate box that is advertised for the same rate as a flat-rate
envelope.  We also do not offer the large Priority Mail Flat Rate box. 

You can choose the medium Flat Rate box for $9.85 when shipping on
PayPal.

However, early this fall, sellers will be able to create labels directly
from their eBay account which will include all 3 Flat Rate Box options.
Some sellers will start to see the new service this summer. It is
scheduled to be available to all sellers by end of November 2009.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us again.

Sincerely,
[name removed]
PayPal Resolution Services
PayPal, an eBay Company

November 2009, eh?  So this was supposed to be available over a month ago...which makes sense, since the small flat-rate box has been available for a lot longer than that.

 

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BaileyQuestion
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Contributor

Dear HoustonShipper,

 

Thank you so much for the reply.   I look forward to the new addition through Ebay when they get it straightened out - hopefully they fulfill what they said.

 

Thanks again for your contribution....~BaileyQuestion

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nadblaster
Contributor
Contributor

I had that problem as well. 

I have since started selecting the flat rate envelope option and sticking that on the small flat rate box since they are the same price.  I've had no problems with the carrier taking it. 

 

I do a lot of non-ebay mailings too and I like using the new multi-package USPS system here.  So going over to ebay to do a non-ebay shipment is not an option.

 

 

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BaileyQuestion
Contributor
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Thank you for your suggestion!   I think I will try this on subsequent shipments until they change things.  Smiley Happy    THANKS!

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BaileyQuestion
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UPDATE:

 

FOLLOWING IS THE TEXT RESPONSE FROM PAYPAL THAT I JUST RECEIVED (1/6/10), AFTER THEY RESPONDED TO MY QUESTION - HOPE IT FILLS IN THE BLANKS FOR OTHERS THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM:

 

Hello my name is *******, I am happy to assist you with your question
regarding PayPal shipping options.

I apologize for the difficulties that you are having with PayPal
shipping.  Small Flat Rate box and Large Flat Rate box are not available
on PayPal shipping but they are available on eBay Shipping.  I apologize
for the inconvenience.

You can purchase a label for a Medium Flat Rate Box for $9.85 when
shipping on PayPal. Here is some further information.

    * Pay one flat rate, up to a 70 lb. maximum, to any U.S.
destination, for any amount of material that will fit in the medium
Priority Mail Flat Rate Box.
    * You must use USPS packaging to ship at the flat rate.
    * The medium size boxes are available at your local Post Office or
you can order online by clicking "Order Supplies" on the USPS home page.
    * You can also order free co-branded shipping boxes for Priority
Mail and Priority Mail Flat Rate Service at
http://eBaySupplies.usps.com.
PayPal does not offer the small or large Flat Rate box at this time.

    * Please note that you can purchase labels for only the medium Flat
Rate Box for $9.85 (A discount rate compared to $10.35 at the P.O.).
    * The Large Flat Rate Box that sells for $13.95 is not available
when using PayPal shipping.
If you print a label for a standard flat Rate Box at $9.85, and post it
to a Large Flat Rate Box, the package will be returned to you.

For international shipments:

Priority Mail International flat rate parcel has two rate categories:
         1. Canada and Mexico
         2. Rest of the World
There is a 20 lb. weight limit to preserve packaging during overseas
shipments. The packaging is designed to protect contents up to a
specific weight and is free of charge from the Postal Service.

You can now create a USPS shipping label right from your eBay account.

The main steps are:
   1. Opt-in to ship on eBay (Required during the eBay shipping beta
only)
   2. Create your label
   3. Pay and Print your label
Let's get started:

Before you can create your label, you must opt-in to ship on eBay:
   1. Log in to your eBay account and click "Account."
   2. Click "Site Preferences" and locate the "Selling preferences"
section.
   3. Under Shipping preferences click "Show."
   4. Check the "Yes" box next to "Pay for shipping and print USPS
labels on eBay."
   5. Click "Apply."
2. Create your label:
   1. Now click "Activity" and then click "Sold" on the left side of the
page.
   2. Select the check box next to each item you want to ship.
   3. Click the "Print Shipping Label button." The "Pay for shipping and
print your label" page appears.
   4. Fill out the information on the shipping label.
   5. Review your label information on the Print Label Review page. If
needed, click the Change button and make any changes. If you're shipping
internationally, follow the steps to fill those out.
3. Pay and print your label:
   1. Click the "Pay and Print button."
   2. Click "OK" in your Print box pop-up, and your shipping label will
print.
   3. On the confirmation page:
a. If you don’t have a PayPal billing agreement, you'll be asked to log
in to PayPal. If you don't have a PayPal account, you'll need to create
one.
b. If you have a PayPal billing agreement, you won't be asked to log in
to PayPal and will be billed automatically.

Your tracking information automatically gets posted to your transaction
details. An email is automatically sent to you and the buyer including
details on how to track the package.

Visit this eBay page http://pages.ebay.com/help/pay/printing-labels.html
for more information on creating labels on eBay.

Don't forget, we're always around if you need us. Just click "Help" in
the top right corner of any PayPal page to visit our improved Help
Center.

Sincerely,
Consumer Support
PayPal, an eBay Company

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HoustonShipper
Contributor
Contributor

Two things to keep in mind:

 

First, the flat-rate EMVELOPE and the SMALL FLAT RATE BOX are not the same price anymore, and due to USPS having detected that people were printing labels with too little value applied, they're starting to check for this more often; you risk not only getting the package back, but having USPS scrutinize a lot more than just that one item.

 

Second, being able to print labels direct from the eBay interface does you not one bit of good if your primary need for shipping is due to sales on your own website, as mine are. 

 

In other words, PayPal has dropped the ball badly on this, and was supposed to have the needed changes in place BEFORE the january 4th postage rate changes...but they didn't, and now we don't really have any idea when - or even if, really - those changes may be made.

 

I'm just using Endicia for my postage until they get this straightened out.  I get a better rate there on certain things anyway, and it will handle ANY kind of mail, including international, properly.

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BaileyQuestion
Contributor
Contributor

Thanks HoustonShipper!  I wasn't aware yet of the price differentiation.  Now that I know, I won't be trying that. 

 

Hopefully, PayPal will get enough pressure from their users and will offer the small flat-rate box one of these days.

 

I'm not a daily shipper (yet!!), so my problem is not as extensive as yours it seems, but it's still an inconvenience and that extra 30(+) cents or so will start adding up the more I ship.

 

I will familiarize myself with "Endicia"....thanks. 

 

Thanks again for the heads-up!

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divefun04
Contributor
Contributor

Why they do not offer the small & large box is a kick in the pants. Thank you for the advice to use Endicia. I just started selling again and find that not being able to use PayPal for the postage makes it much harder to ship quickly. I would hope that with all there people that someone will walk down the hall and change things. There are other ways to sell I may look.

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hickory_2
Member
Member

I am losing money each time I ship something in the small flat rate box!  I put in the size of the small rate box and it still cost me $.15 cents more than I would have paid if I used USPS.com to ship with flat rate.  We need to boycott using Paypal to ship items until they include all flat rate box rates in our choices.  I submitted this complaint to Paypal and they came back with a stock answer that had nothing to do with this problem.   You can print the same labels using USPS.com for less money but must input your seller's name and address yourself. 

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