New USPS rates 1/17/16- rate increases for most first class options.

[MaineMule]

Old news but "D" day is approaching.......

http://blog.stamps.com/2015/10/22/usps-announces-postage-rate-increase-starts-january-17-2016/

http://www.ecommercebytes.com/cab/abn/y16/m01/i12/s01

Most significantly, this impacts sending a bubble mailer weighing 1-3 ounces through Paypal with DC. Rate increases from $2.04 to $2.60.

 

[bcubs]

Watch for shipping rates to go up. With Ebay taking a cut of the shipping fees as part of the total price most shipping will probably go up to $3 or $3.50.

 

[mrdallas]

Watch for shipping rates to go up. With Ebay taking a cut of the shipping fees as part of the total price most shipping will probably go up to $3 or $3.50.

As a seller on eBay I just do calculated shipping... I just hope buyers don't start hitting people's feedback for shipping charges when it isn't the seller's fault.

 

[CollectorsCorner]

That's quite the jump

 

[olerud363]

Canada Post is raising rates later this month too. I recently bought a 100-stamp roll of "permanent" stamps at Costco. They are always worth the current rate, and Costco sells them for a couple of cents less per stamp. Small savings but every little bit helps.

With the new USPS rates plus the extremely low Canadian dollar (now worth about 69 cents US), I have to put a definite stop to all online buying. I'll focus on trading via Zistle.

Sent from my Android using the Freedom Cardboard app.

 

[Rabs]

I wasn't aware it was going up that much, over $0.50 extra to ship each card sold will add up quickly. Shipping prices will definitely go up but as a seller you understand why.

 

[rsmath]

That's quite the jump

It's almost like the USPS says they can raise rates because they can (rather than have the inconvenience or other reasons of processing bubble mailers to give a reason why they "have" to increase the prices).

I wonder how much longer it's going to be before someone gives USPS competition in the small package delivery business (then again, maybe noone will because if UPS or FedEx can't do it for 2.60'ish, there isn't a way to do so that makes economic sense). I suppose you could deliver stuff to cluster boxes to save a lot of the expenses of house to house delivery and the customer ventures a few thousand feet or a mile or two to pick up their mail from the cluster box).

 

[MaineMule]

The last few rate increases were 11-24 cents for a 1-3 ounce small package/envelope.

I can track that the rate was $1.69 as of late 2013, went to $1.93 in Jan 2014, then was raised to $2.04 last May (2015).

This rate increase of $.56 is so absurd.

Is it worth the risk to send a low dollar card with regular stamp and no delivery confirmation? It would save us all lots of money but a few dick buyers would eff it up for most of us.

Sent from my LG-D415 using Freedom Card Board mobile app

 

[ChasHawk]

I don't see a media mail increase, which is good.

 

[chippercards.com]

Exactly where I am at, Maine.

My S&H policy for years has been as follows: flat and under $50 sales price, PWE inside folded computer paper and a forever stamp. Have done approx 3,000-4,000 of these and only 5-10 indicated they never received with 2 buyers being sketchy and I suspected funny business.

Under $50 and thick card or game used gets a padded mailer with approx 95 cents of postage. Lots more of these have gone missing as % of sent vs PWE.

Once it gets too thick or over $50 will do the tracking first class ship.

The question to ask yourself is how many sales will you lose out on when you have a high shipping cost? My guess is way more than the losses from a few jerk buyers. I usually offer 120% credit to buyers I trust on the off chance a package is never received. Have been seeing an uptick in forced refunds via PayPal though. PayPal will virtually NEVER support the seller over the buyer and definitely not if you don't have tracking. I really hate that about PP and ebay's mandated usage.

 

[ChasHawk]

^^^I don't get that at all.

For several years now, I expect $3 shipping when I buy almost any card on eBay.

If it is less, I am pleasantly surprised.

 

[Therion]

I think this will also cause a huge decrease in listings of the guys I collect. Nobody is going to list Eric Bruntlett low-end inserts if they'll have to charge even more for shipping.

 

[sportscardtheory]

It's as if the PO wants to destroy small online sellers.

 

[ChasHawk]

It's as if the PO wants to destroy small online sellers.

Or, ya know, stay solvent.

 

[sportscardtheory]

Or, ya know, stay solvent.

Punishing small online sellers for their own ineptitude seems like a logical solution. Can't wait 'till it's $3 to track the smallest item. We are almost there.

Funny how ebay forces sellers to track shipments to be eligible for discounts. At an increase of more than $.50 per sale, that's an insane jump for many small sellers who deal in lower end. That's $500+ dollars per-1,000 sales. That's almost a mortgage payment for some. That's crazy.

PWE is an option, but ebay certainly wants everything tracked.

 

[ChasHawk]

Punishing small online sellers for their own ineptitude seems like a logical solution. Can't wait 'till it's $3 to track the smallest item. We are almost there.

Funny how ebay forces sellers to track shipments to be eligible for discounts. At an increase of more than $.50 per sale, that's an insane jump for many small sellers who deal in lower end. That's $500+ dollars per-1,000 sales. That's almost a mortgage payment for some. That's crazy.

PWE is an option, but ebay certainly wants everything tracked.

Use fedex or UPS.

 

[Hendersonfan]

It's as if the PO wants to destroy small online sellers.

You guys do realize that any rate increases are controlled by Congress right?

 

[ChasHawk]

You guys do realize that any rate increases are controlled by Congress right?

No...


http://m.govexec.com/management/201...122896/?oref=ge-android-interstitial-continue

 

[ChasHawk]

The USPS recorded a $5 billion loss last year, and it's pension system is underfunded by $54 billion.

 

[Hendersonfan]

The USPS recorded a $5 billion loss last year, and it's pension system is underfunded by $54 billion.

Prefunding is a joke. A ploy to make us look like we're losing money for the sake of privitization.