eBay Shipping Fiasco Due to USPS Change

by: funkygrrl

I don't exactly understand what is meant by "flats". I am unable to ship First Class International Packages today. I get the error "We had a problem retrieving the label. [Error: 64541-Content type Documents is only supported for First Class Mail International]". The message is confusing, Stamps.com blog is confusing, even your article is confusing!  What the heck is going on?

by: papergoy

Had this problem for an eBay item from both eBay and Paypal (could not ship it either way).  Eventually I went to USPS.com and though it was a few dollars more expensive, I was able to send it out.  Good to see not just a glitch for me but for others as well which means (I hope) it gets fixed at some point.

by: geoffreymason

Since my international sales have become nearly non-existent since foreign countries, in particular UK, changed their customs policies, I want to eliminate overseas shipping. Does anyone know how to delete international without having to change each listing individually? My active inventory is huge. Thanks.

by: Ina

Thanks, Funkygrrl, it does appear there are problems with First Class Package International on eBay as well.

by: pace306

9.0 Limit the Content for First-Class Mail International (FCMI) to
Documents

The USPS is considering changes to the International Mail Manual (IMM) and other system language to clarify that First-Class Mail International (FCMI) content is limited to documents in order to prevent mailers from inducting goods or merchandise into the FCMI stream. This change will exclude goods from the FCMI format P (letters) and format G (flats). This change aligns with the Universal Postal Union (UPU) Integrated Product Plan (IPP) which will require that format P (letters) and format G (flats) may contain only documents, not goods. The requirement to remove goods also applies to International Priority Airmail (IPA) and International Surface Air Lift (ISAL) letter and flat streams as well. The definition of “documents” and “goods” will be updated in the IMM to align with the required UPU changes.

What it seems to mean is that you can no longer use International FCM to ship items in flat envelopes - as apposed to boxes (weight cheating issues?)

I "guess" that e-delcon still works for items (goods) shipped in boxes (using FCM international mail)  ???????

by: Mongoose

I was able to get ebay CS to credit me the difference in ebay pricing and Stamps.com pricing (as I am TRS), for international packages going out today.

by: pace306

https://ribbs.usps.gov/intelligentmail_schedule2018/releases/jan2018/d
ocs/Jan2018ReleaseOverview.pdf

by: Decomidmodern

I was told this morning by Ebay CS (incorrectly I assume)  that First Class International is ONLY FOR DOCUMENTS now.  Not just the envelopes.  It didn't sound right to me.


BUT I can not stomach the overall increase in international rates. Holy Hell.

by: ebayout

Can only imagine what the Boys of Akron would be thinking if they had already been set-up and on line and were attempting a 1st Class shipment to Canada....

by: FeelingFroggy

@decomidmodern

Have to agree with you on the DOCUMENTS ONLY We were at the post office just a few minutes ago and they told us its only for documents, anything else has to go as a first class package. Lucky our envelope had sales reciepts in it.

by: ebayout

Does ebay have a beta site?
Does anyone know where it is?
Does it work?
If I were on the Board of Directors of a "tech" company, I might want to know...

by: Catherine

I had same error...eBay's CS told me to go to the post office.  I used Sendpro and it worked fine.  The cost was the same as what the Buyer paid for 1st Class Mail International through eBay.  Sendpro is only $5 per month and is run by Pitney Bowes.  

by: Valiant

I was told by eBay CS that it is no longer possible to ship merchandise via First Class international mail if the weight is over 13 ounces. This seemed to be confirmed by the clerk at my post office. It would appear that all packages going overseas must be shipped using priority mail if they are merchandise and weigh over 13 ounces. This rule appears to exclude documents, which I assume that is what flats are?

by: arocct

Tried to print Int'l 1st class package label,not working on ebay or paypal.
Spoke to rep, she first said something about 1st class envelope , then read something else, clarifying that no more 1st cl package labels will be allowed to print on ebay, you'll have to go to PO and stand online.
This is a real loss for my business. Many items will no longer be worth selling due to the time involved.  

by: Decomidmodern

Valiant.

That is what I was told and it's completely INSANE!  This will put a lot of companies flat out of business.  My international business will probably be cut by 90% just from the rate increases.

I still can't believe that would be accurate. There HAS to be a lower cost method to ship parcels overseas.

by: Ina

See latest update to this post (above) to learn what eBay had to say.

by: Decomidmodern

I think this is being misinterpreted. Intl parcels can still ship first class from what I can tell. But it appears only documents can go in flats/envelopes now.  I'm not sure how they would know if something else were inside them anyway.

by: dans parts

I imagine a lot of the problems being discussed above, that we are experiencing, and the answers, are due to the unbelievably poorly trained eBay CS reps.  Who only marginally understand spoken English.

Actually had two more from that class today when trying to find the HIDDEN coupon for the free shipping supplies from my store subscription.

I'm glad I decided to skip shipping this weekend's orders today to see if my last slowpoke pays overnight, so I can make only one trip to the PO this week.

by: Frank F

LOL, what USPS needs to do is restrict packages from China! That would fix the BIGGEST problem that ebay and America have. Small American businesses are being destroyed by all the Chinese sellers undercutting everyone and direct retailing to America..

by: ebayout

Whoever signed off on the changeover will likely get promoted.