Ebay labels overcharging?

[peterkat2020]

Hello, 

On Feb 20 I purchased a shipping label from eBay for $14.81 Regular Parcel.  I owed 78cents since I did not have enough funds in my eBay account but now I see on Feb 24 they added $1.03 to amount I owed for a total of $1.81.  The package was delivered on Feb 23 so a day later they decide to charge me extra?  All I can see is they increased the weight of the package for the additional charge, from 0.68 kg to 0.76kg.  There is no clear explaination for the extra charge other than the weight change.  I always add a little extra in the weight of the package when I create the label to avoid underpaying on shipping costs so I don't understand why now they are adding more weight after it was delivered.

[ypdc_dennis]

Since 0.75kg is a weight step, a weight adjustment to 0.76kg would push the parcel into the next cost zone.

Canada Post's automatic equipment weighs and measures parcels, so if a difference is detected Canada Post charges (in this case eBay labels) for any shortage.   And then eBay gets around to charging you. With time delays this can be after the parcel is delivered.

[brettjet38]

Not sure of the size of the package, but maybe it was a "Volumetric" thing whereby the size of the package pushed it into the next weight category, hence the charge. 

It's not just about the weight when shipping parcels post, it's also the "Volume" of the package that decides the shipping costs.

[recped]

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@peterkat2020 wrote:

Hello, 

On Feb 20 I purchased a shipping label from eBay for $14.81 Regular Parcel.  I owed 78cents since I did not have enough funds in my eBay account but now I see on Feb 24 they added $1.03 to amount I owed for a total of $1.81.  The package was delivered on Feb 23 so a day later they decide to charge me extra?  All I can see is they increased the weight of the package for the additional charge, from 0.68 kg to 0.76kg.  There is no clear explaination for the extra charge other than the weight change.  I always add a little extra in the weight of the package when I create the label to avoid underpaying on shipping costs so I don't understand why now they are adding more weight after it was delivered.

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What were the dimensions of the package? Perhaps you got bumped up by "dimensional weight".

[peterkat2020]

The package was a bubble envelope 34cm x 24cm x 5cm and 680 grams.  It was a woman's nightgown packed in a clear plastic bag inside the paper bubble envelope and then added some tape and the shipping label on the package. The package went from Montreal, QC to Oakville, ON.  I always add extra on the weight to be sure I am not under.  I chatted with customer service through the chat they told me it was Canada Post that measures things differently and they are charging the extra amount.  I haven't used eBay labels in a while and so I find it odd that suddenly my package is  underweight.  I usually print my labels with Paypal, so I think I will stick them them instead.  

[msmaggie060]

Check your tape measure or ruler against a really accurate measure. Recently I discovered that my tape measure (a good one) and a dollar store measure were out by 1/4 inch. That can make quite a difference.

[alacar-8]

I have sold thousands of items and have never used ebay shipping labels.  My items go straight to the post office and they create a label for me.  I think that when canada post puts a label on, you are pretty well set.  I have looked at ebay shipping and they always seem to want way more than I charge.  My methods may seem to be archaic, but they seem to work.  Things are getting shifty out there, I hope that as sellers we can find the odd comfort zone.  And by the way bots,  that word was shifty!

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

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@alacar-8 wrote:

I have sold thousands of items and have never used ebay shipping labels.  My items go straight to the post office and they create a label for me.  I think that when canada post puts a label on, you are pretty well set.  I have looked at ebay shipping and they always seem to want way more than I charge.  My methods may seem to be archaic, but they seem to work.  Things are getting shifty out there, I hope that as sellers we can find the odd comfort zone.  And by the way bots,  that word was shifty!

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Not sure of your volume but if you process from home either with CP/Credit Card or Shippo using a small business account your savings are slightly greater than at the depot using your account.

-Lotz

[recped]

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@peterkat2020 wrote:

The package was a bubble envelope 34cm x 24cm x 5cm and 680 grams.  It was a woman's nightgown packed in a clear plastic bag inside the paper bubble envelope and then added some tape and the shipping label on the package. The package went from Montreal, QC to Oakville, ON.  I always add extra on the weight to be sure I am not under.  I chatted with customer service through the chat they told me it was Canada Post that measures things differently and they are charging the extra amount.  I haven't used eBay labels in a while and so I find it odd that suddenly my package is  underweight.  I usually print my labels with Paypal, so I think I will stick them them instead.  

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I think it's volumetric weight

34 x 24 x 5 = volumetric weight of .68kg

BUT

You are VERY close to needing to use volumetric weight as in this example

34 x 24 x 6 = volumetric weight of .816 kg

Just adding 1 cm to the thickness is enough. If the item enclosed had moved around and "collected" in one end of the bubble envelope it could increase the thickness when measures by CP.

Canada Post use scanning equipment to measure your packages during the sorting process. If volumetric weight applies they will bill eBay  (or PayPal or ???) a supplemental fee which will be passed on to you.

Either your measurements were very slightly off or Canada Post did an incorrect scan (it can happen)

This additional billing can happen no matter what postage provider you used but it is most common when you have large dimensions (Over 30cm on any of the 3 measurements) and the weight is relatively low. it's especially likely when you are very close to one of the weight tranches (680g is close to the 750g minimum charge).

You would not have had this charge if your dimensions where 32 x 24 x 5 (Volumetric weight = .64kg)

[peterkat2020]

Thanks for the explanation, this makes more sense.