Coming May 12............

[magyar123]

....increase of postal rates. First class stamp will rise from 41 cents to 42 cents.
Still a bargain.

[FLBK7]

I'm probably one of the Post Office's worst customers, for I pay all my bills online.

I no longer write personal checks either, although I still have a supply. The last check I wrote was the $1,000 initial good faith deposit when I made an offer for my condo back in the fall of 2006!!!

[epiphany]

....increase of postal rates. First class stamp will rise from 41 cents to 42 cents.
Still a bargain.

Holy Crap---already????? What else is going up? They already doubled the price of first class parcels. I ship a lot of packages and I really took a hit with the last increase. Grrrrrrrrrr!

EP

[FLBK7]

Holy Crap---already????? What else is going up? They already doubled the price of first class parcels. I ship a lot of packages and I really took a hit with the last increase. Grrrrrrrrrr!

EP

I think the Post Office's best deal is their Priority Mail, and they provide the boxes, envelopes, etc. right there. Most of the stuff I buy on eBay is shipped to me via Priority Mail. I think it's a great deal for eBay sellers since they generally (depending on what they sell, of course) don't have to spend extra on shipping materials. Most of the sellers I deal with don't charge "handling fees" either, since they get all the supplies for free at the Post Office.

Is Priority Mail going up too?

[epiphany]

I think the Post Office's best deal is their Priority Mail, and they provide the boxes, envelopes, etc. right there. Most of the stuff I buy on eBay is shipped to me via Priority Mail. I think it's a great deal for eBay sellers since they generally (depending on what they sell, of course) don't have to spend extra on shipping materials. Most of the sellers I deal with don't charge "handling fees" either, since they get all the supplies for free at the Post Office.

Is Priority Mail going up too?

I dunno but it already went way up with the last price hike. And the method of calculation is sorely convoluted. One price here, one price there, depending on price zone. First price point now only covers up to 13 ounces, used to cover a pound.

Priority doesn't work for me in the vase majority of transactions because most of what I sell are very light weight items. What used to cost me 59 cents to ship, now costs me 1.13 or more, depending on weight. So I charge 2.00 - 2.50 to cover the cost of shipping and materials. My buyers for the most part do not want to pay for priority shipping. I know that when I buy a light weight item, I don't want to pay 4.60 to have it shipped when I could pay 2.00 and it may arrive only one day earlier. Then again it may not. First class is just as fast half the time.

Don't even get me started on International Mail.

Now, I have another thing to do...educate myself on the new pricing scheme. Drat.

EP

[FLBK7]

I understand your point completely. My eBay purchases consist mostly of CDs, DVDs and books. Music, movies and reading are my passion. I very recently purchased a DVD and a CD from the same seller on eBay, because they were hard-to-get and I was thrilled to find them listed. However, the seller refused to combine shipping and charged a whooping $9.95 shipping for EACH. I paid anyway because I really wanted those hard-to-get items, but I'll think twice before buying from this particular seller again.

And I agree that priority mail is not necessarily faster than first class, but the fee is often lower -- depending on weight of course.

You know, EP, it's almost impossible to keep up with the price increases in basically everything. So I understand what you mean about having to educate yourself on the new pricing scheme... it's a drag, and a drain, and just soooooooooo frustrating!

Hang in there. And let's use this forum to rant!

[epiphany]

I understand your point completely. My eBay purchases consist mostly of CDs, DVDs and books. Music, movies and reading are my passion. I very recently purchased a DVD and a CD from the same seller on eBay, because they were hard-to-get and I was thrilled to find them listed. However, the seller refused to combine shipping and charged a whooping $9.95 shipping for EACH. I paid anyway because I really wanted those hard-to-get items, but I'll think twice before buying from this particular seller again.

And I agree that priority mail is not necessarily faster than first class, but the fee is often lower -- depending on weight of course.

You know, EP, it's almost impossible to keep up with the price increases in basically everything. So I understand what you mean about having to educate yourself on the new pricing scheme... it's a drag, and a drain, and just soooooooooo frustrating!

Hang in there. And let's use this forum to rant!

Okay FLB, Let's rant! I'm due for a good rant! Ebay fees are going up too and they were already convoluted!

I do have to correct you on one thing---first class is NEVER as expensive as priority. At over 13 ounces, you aren't allowed to send first class anymore...your only options barring the more expensive ones or the ever so slow media mail if the item qualifies, is to send priority or parcel post. And parcel post is a joke! It is only pennies cheaper than priority and can take forerver to reach its destination.

I abhore sellers who won't combine shipping and the only reason to buy from that slime pool is what you did---if you want the item so badly and can't find it anywhere else. I get a lot of people who buy more than one item and if they are light weight, I will ship them for the same price as one cause it doesn't cost me anything more.

The reason that some sellers sell an item low and then charge a lot for shipping (no joke, I saw an item once that was 1 penny for shipping and 249.99 for shipping) is so they don't have to pay the final value fees. Greedy people suck. IMO.

EP

[FLBK7]

Okay FLB, Let's rant! I'm due for a good rant! Ebay fees are going up too and they were already convoluted!

I do have to correct you on one thing---first class is NEVER as expensive as priority. At over 13 ounces, you aren't allowed to send first class anymore...your only options barring the more expensive ones or the ever so slow media mail if the item qualifies, is to send priority or parcel post. And parcel post is a joke! It is only pennies cheaper than priority and can take forerver to reach its destination.

I abhore sellers who won't combine shipping and the only reason to buy from that slime pool is what you did---if you want the item so badly and can't find it anywhere else. I get a lot of people who buy more than one item and if they are light weight, I will ship them for the same price as one cause it doesn't cost me anything more.

The reason that some sellers sell an item low and then charge a lot for shipping (no joke, I saw an item once that was 1 penny for shipping and 249.99 for shipping) is so they don't have to pay the final value fees. Greedy people suck. IMO.

EP

I stand corrected on the first class vs. priority difference in price. It appears things have changed a lot at the postal service since I last used it with any regularity!

I've never sold anything on eBay, but I am a regular buyer there. And yes, I've heard from favorite sellers that their fees are going up, AGAIN! You have to be really creative to make a profit these days, it would seem.

What do you sell, by the way? Just curious. Not sure if asking this question and getting an answer is allowed in this forum. Some forums consider it "solicitation." If it isn't allowed and the moderators remove this paragraph, I'll understand.

[epiphany]

I stand corrected on the first class vs. priority difference in price. It appears things have changed a lot at the postal service since I last used it with any regularity!

I've never sold anything on eBay, but I am a regular buyer there. And yes, I've heard from favorite sellers that their fees are going up, AGAIN! You have to be really creative to make a profit these days, it would seem.

What do you sell, by the way? Just curious. Not sure if asking this question and getting an answer is allowed in this forum. Some forums consider it "solicitation." If it isn't allowed and the moderators remove this paragraph, I'll understand.

Hmmm, I think I'd rather not say here, but will send you a PM.

EP