eBay Labels for Canada Post Expedited Parcels Upsized and Over Charged if Under 23x20cm Minimum?
Summary: The discussion revolves around an issue with eBay labels for Canada Post's Expedited Parcels. flipistics shares an experience where an item sent to eIS using eBay labels was resized, leading to potential overcharges, and points out this might be an eBay-related issue. They reference Canada Post's guidelines effective from July 2nd, 2025, suggesting that smaller packages might be mishandled, being processed as parcels instead of packets. The problem is alerted to eBay representatives, seeking clarification on whether eBay is submitting smaller packages incorrectly to Canada Post's system.
It looks like eBay.ca or Canada Post is modifying label dimensions when the length/width is smaller than Canada Post’s minimum size for Expedited Parcels (23cm x 20cm).
For example, I had a package with dimensions 19 x 15 x 12 cm. eBay calculated shipping for those dimensions, but the actual label printed through ebay had 23 x 20 x 12 cm, resulting in a higher rate being charged later by Canada Post:
- Original rate estimate (15 x 19 x 12 cm): $16.53
- Final charge (23 x 20 x 12 cm): $21.06
$21.06 matches the ebay label estimate for a 23 x 20 x 12 label, so the higher charge is not a Canada Post audit adjustment or surcharges being added, but from larger dimensions on the label.
I suspect this is due to the minimum of 23 x 20 cm for Expedited Parcel service, and eBay or Canada Post is automatically adjusting dimensions to the minumum without notifying sellers when dimensions would be changed.
eBay’s shipping label details still showed the original 15 x 19 x 12 dimensions for the label (when switching to .com to view dimensions), so it was not clear why there was a price increase until I checked the label itself. Support suggested I test another label with dimensions 16 x 16 x 11 cm, and again, the label was changed to 23 x 20 x 11 cm. I suppose entering 23 x 20 and then a height that matches the lower calculated shipping rate might be a work around to avoid over charges using ebay labels?
Labels created through Shippo don’t seem to have this issue. I used the same box size earlier this month with Shippo and there was no size change on the label or additional charges.
I went back through some of my older eBay Expedited labels, and found dimensions like:
28 x 19 x 16 cm
25 x 19 x 14 cm
36 x 16 x 13 cm
22 x 22 x 5 cm
In each of these, either the length or width was under the L 23cm or W 20cm so I’m not sure when or how consistently eBay applies this change.
flipistics
·9 months agoAlso of note, pay particular attention to the 3220 cubic cm maximum for packets. Look familiar? Expedited Lite items are packets, which explains the size restrictions because they match the packet size restrictions, but with a 200g cutoff instead of 1.36kg. If eBay is submitting them as parcels instead of packets (or if Canada Post is mistakenly considering them parcels), they probably wouldn't trigger the negotiated rates of Expedited Lite.
I mean, I could be mistaken, but this is making WAY too much sense.
jtg204
OP9 months agoAhh, that's where 3,220 comes from regarding Expedited Lite limits!
flipistics
·9 months agoI had it do this on an item sent to eIS, which I used eBay labels for since I was afraid of a UPS address correction fee. I think the item was 24x18x4 and it changed it to 24x20x4. Given that there doesn't seem to be an issue with any other providers doing this, I have to assume it's an eBay problem.
As far as I know, 23x20x2.5 is supposed to be for any PARCELS that exceed the maximum dimension or weight of a PACKET. It's hard to find the packet part, but it's available on Canada Post's ABCs of shipping document, effective starting July 2nd, 2025. This could definitely be the Expedited Lite problem. I wonder if eBay is submitting smaller packages to Canada Post as a parcel instead of a packet?
@devon@ebay
@luke@ebay
an_709184
·9 months agoWhen you say "CP changes the dimensions entered from 19x15x12 to 23x20x12", was 23x20x12 the original size you input in the listing, like prior to the item being sold? I've had that a lot, where I usually put the guess dimensions and later adjust them before I buy the label, and it would show the original dimensions. It never affected the pricing. I believed it was a visual error and that the dimensions were actually saved properly in the barcode.
I think the recent upcharge in Canada Post labels is due to an error on eBay's side, where they displayed a higher discount % than what their deal with CP gave (can see my latest reply in my own post).
jtg204
OP9 months agoIt's been with original dimensions, and altered but 23x20 is not in the listing's size.
Another example would be using ebay branded boxes (6 x 4 3/4 x4 3/4) that are 16x14x13cm, I would expect to get labels generated for 23x20x13 instead, which has a cost increase compared to what shipping is calculated as.
jtg204
OP11 months agoHave now had a chance to try a couple more labels on different orders...
Once again on a combined order, ebay/CP changes the dimensions entered from 19x15x12 to 23x20x12, in this case it changes the rate to $4.75 more with the increase. I did not use the label, and got a label from Shippo instead with correct dimensions.
Today I had a box that's 26x21x12, and if I enter wrong measurements of 22x19x12 as a test it came to the same rate as the actual size, so I created a label for 22x19x12 instead as a test, and the dimensions on the label generated are also increased to 23x20x12. In this case the change does not effect the rate.
So watch out when using smaller boxes and eBay labels for Expedited Parcels where the dimensions being increased to 23x20xH would result in a higher rate. If calculated shipping is based on smaller dimensions, you'll lose some $ on the transaction.
flipistics
·11 months agoThinking about this, I wonder if this is what's happening with Expedited Lite behind the scenes? That would explain a lot.
jtg204
OP11 months agoI think with Exp Lite because it applies 5x5x5, when it's audited/measured by Canada Post it will use the actual measurements/EV Canada Post makes for the rate charged in the end. The final charges on my attempts to get Lite rates that end up full cost match what the ebay estimates would be for the smaller size.
flipistics
·11 months agoThat's definitely weird. The smallest size should be 10cm x 7cm x 1.5cm though (and 50g). Who knows whether it's an eBay bug or a Canada Post bug with their new system.
jtg204
OP9 months agoAt some point ebay updated the minimum size to match Canada Post's 23x20x2.5 minimum size #s.
ypdc_dennis
·11 months agoThat should work. Because if Canada Post does remeasure, the volumetric size will not change when the correct sizes are used for the recalculation.
This eBay label issue will only be a problem if the adjusted minimums move the package into the next higher weight range (500g, 750g, 1kg, 1.5kg), only then will you need to fudge the dimensions for eBay use.