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Wed July 29 2026 23:03:45

USPS Small Box Flat Rate Isn't Flat Rate on eBay?

By: Reader

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Dear Ina,
eBay is not always giving me a discounted USPS shipping rate and refuses to recognize the error. I ship using the small box USPS Flat Rate Priority mail packaging. The normal rate for this is $12.10 and eBay discounts this to $10.59. 

My last 10 transactions, eBay has charged me $12.10 twice. I have called them out about this, but they refuse to recognize an issue, even when escalated to their 2nd level support. They claim that the cost is different, depending on where I ship in the US, which is false. Flat rate shipping is just that, flat to any normal address in the US.

I suspect this is going on elsewhere, but people may not realize it, as they are shipping many different items. I only sell 1 item on eBay, and only ship USPS priority small box flat rate, so I see the difference.
Keith



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Readers Comments

Perminate Link for USPS Small Box Flat Rate Isn't Flat Rate on eBay?   USPS Small Box Flat Rate Isn't Flat Rate on eBay?

by: etectra This user has validated their user name.

Thu Jul 30 11:43:25 2026

"even when escalated to their 2nd level support"

Do not be so naive. There is no second level support. They just pass the call onto someone in the same Indian call center in another cubical to make you believe they are doing something.

eBay's entire so called customer service is there to assist customers in making a purchase so they make more money. If you are a seller you are suppose to just accept whatever happens. They do not want you to contact them as a seller and their entire customer support is designed to get rid of as fast as possible.

So why have you not setup a account with PirateShip and imported your eBay orders there? You also have the benefit of charging labels to your credit card so you can earn a rebate back from your credit card.

eBay is known for being evil and incompetent so interact with their system as little as possible as its unreliable.

Perminate Link for USPS Small Box Flat Rate Isn't Flat Rate on eBay?   USPS Small Box Flat Rate Isn't Flat Rate on eBay?

by: Snapped This user has validated their user name.

Fri Jul 31 06:49:25 2026

Small Flat Rate Box
$12.10 Commercial Pricing
$13.65 at Post Office

Perminate Link for USPS Small Box Flat Rate Isn't Flat Rate on eBay?   USPS Small Box Flat Rate Isn't Flat Rate on eBay?

by: Geetar This user has validated their user name.

Fri Jul 31 16:05:01 2026

Cost on shipstation is $10.59 for a small flat rate box.

This is not a mistake, ebay is doing it purposely. They are grasping at straws to grow revenue. I previously reported about the return labels not being at the commercial price. They then broke the upload your own label option on the return page. This is no mistake, this is not an error. It is being done purposely. They think they are giving people no choice but to buy a label at an inflated price from them.
I now buy a return label on shipststion, convert the label from pdf to jpg (because you cant send pdf's thru the ebay messages). and then goto the return page and select "sent a label already" and enter the tracking number.
They get the labels at a lower price than what they charge you (they are already making money off the labels). Of course they are not happy with that, they want more.

Perminate Link for USPS Small Box Flat Rate Isn't Flat Rate on eBay?   USPS Small Box Flat Rate Isn't Flat Rate on eBay?

This user has validated their user name. by: Rexford

Sat Aug 1 06:53:57 2026

I'm sure the CEO and the beat counters at eBay dance a jig of glee every time postage rates rise.



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