eBay Standard Envelope Test Mailing

[Raleigh504]

So I opened my mail today and saw I have a eBay standard mailer but didn't remember buying a card recently. They are testing the shipping service. Anyone else get this?

[Raleigh504]

added pics

[ctcardexchange]

Yes, they are sending test mailings to areas where they are having problems. Some Post Offices are returning envelopes despite fitting the parameters for them

Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk

[gregr2]

I got one the other day as well.

[bustsomewax]

I ship about 100 cards per week using this service.

I usually get 1 or 2 buyers that will contact me saying their post office required additional postage.

I use the smallest envelope size possible and place a toploaded card into a team bag and that's it. Basically well within the size limits.

There are quite a few uneducated post offices on this service and it's making sellers looks pretty crummy when a buyer has to pony up an additional .50 cents to a dollar to get their mail.

[griffan15]

I received one, but noticed they used 1st class postage and it was only $1.43. This might be a new service coming out shortly.

[Swipe79]

I received one - I think a lot of ESE sellers are or will receive them as they test the system. I would guess they might be trying to figure out how to improve the tracking and/or weed out the USPS areas that are unaware or unsure about how to handle these.

[JeffG1954]

I received one last week.....$1.24 postage on a #10 envelope and they used the absolute flimsiest and most flexible top loader I have ever seen. The card savers I use provide more protection than that top loader would.

[KhalDrogo]

Originally Posted by ctcardexchange

Yes, they are sending test mailings to areas where they are having problems. Some Post Offices are returning envelopes despite fitting the parameters for them

Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk

Wow. eBay troubleshooting a problem? I am impressed!

[DaBears1985]

The common theme for my eBay standard envelopes experience is that the post office will either scan them half way to their destination and not deliver them or not scan them at all, and not deliver them.

[Eric1285]

I hope they're not tacking on some sort of additional fee. I can't even figure out how they're getting to $1.24 or $1.43.

[bustsomewax]

Aren't stamp prices going up? Wouldn't ESE price likely increase as well?

[The Accountant]

Got one in here

[rwperu34]

Originally Posted by bustsomewax

I ship about 100 cards per week using this service.

I usually get 1 or 2 buyers that will contact me saying their post office required additional postage.

I use the smallest envelope size possible and place a toploaded card into a team bag and that's it. Basically well within the size limits.

There are quite a few uneducated post offices on this service and it's making sellers looks pretty crummy when a buyer has to pony up an additional .50 cents to a dollar to get their mail.

Try using Card Savers instead. My postage due issue has been completely eliminated since I started this. My INR was cut in half, although I did trade that for a couple of damaged cards.

[NYBBFAN]

Originally Posted by DaBears1985

The common theme for my eBay standard envelopes experience is that the post office will either scan them half way to their destination and not deliver them or not scan them at all, and not deliver them.

What’s so strange to me is the “accidental” delivered update. Like how does a scan of this envelope accidentally mark it as delivered in a zip code in a different area of the country?

[chilly55]

Originally Posted by rwperu34

Try using Card Savers instead. My postage due issue has been completely eliminated since I started this. My INR was cut in half, although I did trade that for a couple of damaged cards.

This. Using a top loader makes the letter "Non-Machinable". Right now, a standard letter is $.63 for under 1 ounce. Any letter that is rigid, is classified as Non-Machinable. The Non-Machinable surcharge is $.40. So the total cost of a 1 ounce and under letter that is rigid (can't bend easily) is $1.03. By using a Card Saver, this allows some bending of the letter as it moves through machinery, especially the DPS machines. Since the Card Saver allows bending, it does not classify as Non Machinable.

If the letter weighs between 1-2 ounces, and is rigid, then the total postage costs is $1.27.

I'm not sure if Ebay really did get the standard envelope, with top loader, for just $.60 or so cents. That's a $.40 loss for the USPS on each letter. I can see a savings of a few cents, similar to business mail discounts, but not $.40. I'd like to see the contract between the USPS and Ebay and see what is actually in there.

As far as tracking, carriers do not scan Ebay standard envelopes when they deliver them. They do get scanned going through the network, but not at delivery. Unless things have changed, any delivery scan showing delivered is automatically generated based on a arrival at unit scan or arrival at distribution center. So, for Northern Va, if a EBay envelope gets a scan at Merrfiield at 2:00 am, then that letter will be sent to the local post office that day and get delivered. Unit and delivery scans would be automatic.

I'm recently retired, but our office never once scanned, nor was ever told by management, to scan Ebay standard envelopes.

[JeffG1954]

Originally Posted by chilly55

This. Using a top loader makes the letter "Non-Machinable". Right now, a standard letter is $.63 for under 1 ounce. Any letter that is rigid, is classified as Non-Machinable. The Non-Machinable surcharge is $.40. So the total cost of a 1 ounce and under letter that is rigid (can't bend easily) is $1.03. By using a Card Saver, this allows some bending of the letter as it moves through machinery, especially the DPS machines. Since the Card Saver allows bending, it does not classify as Non Machinable.

If the letter weighs between 1-2 ounces, and is rigid, then the total postage costs is $1.27.

I'm not sure if Ebay really did get the standard envelope, with top loader, for just $.60 or so cents. That's a $.40 loss for the USPS on each letter. I can see a savings of a few cents, similar to business mail discounts, but not $.40. I'd like to see the contract between the USPS and Ebay and see what is actually in there.

As far as tracking, carriers do not scan Ebay standard envelopes when they deliver them. They do get scanned going through the network, but not at delivery. Unless things have changed, any delivery scan showing delivered is automatically generated based on a arrival at unit scan or arrival at distribution center. So, for Northern Va, if a EBay envelope gets a scan at Merrfiield at 2:00 am, then that letter will be sent to the local post office that day and get delivered. Unit and delivery scans would be automatic.

I'm recently retired, but our office never once scanned, nor was ever told by management, to scan Ebay standard envelopes.

100% all of ^^^^this^^^^. I think that the majority of scanning problems occur because the envelope is too rigid or the top loader used for protection is too rigid. These envelopes are only supposed to be scanned as they pass thru sorting machines which is where the bar codes are read. If the envelope or its contents are too rigid, they shouldn't pass thru the sorting machine and will get no scan. The scanning can stop at anywhere along the route it takes, one post office might let the too rigid envelope pass thru their sorting machine, the next might not, which is why scanning can be spotty. 99.8% still get where they are going....another .1% arrive but scamming buyers abuse the system and lie about non-receipt, and the final .1% do actually get lost or damaged enroute which is where the PIP insurance comes in.

[Swipe79]

The postage due amounts on the few I've had have been random numbers it seems like - on one occasion it was like they completely ignored the fact that I had paid for the envelope. I got one back yesterday that they didn't even write how much postage was due on it...

All of my envelopes meet the guidelines and some of the ones that have gotten through to me lately are packaged pretty ridiculously, so it really seems hit or miss...when it shouldn't be.

[dbackschamp2001]

Anytime there's a top loader for an ESE, my post office does postage due for it being too stiff. Glad to see ebay testing things out.

[Jolten Joe]

I've been shipping in a regular size envelope for over a year now. Card in penny sleeve and top loader. Mark it as 1 oz as I have a scale and rarely does a single top loaded card weigh more than that and it comes out to $.60. Never had a problem that I'm aware of.

[atomic619jd]

I've shipped hundreds over the last few months. I've had 5-10 go MIA with no tracking updates, not even the initial scan and I've had one sent back saying I needed an non-machinable stamp.

[JeffG1954]

Originally Posted by atomic619jd

I've shipped hundreds over the last few months. I've had 5-10 go MIA with no tracking updates, not even the initial scan and I've had one sent back saying I needed an non-machinable stamp.

How many buyers of those 5-10 with no tracking updates have contacted you?

[RandAlThor]

I would guess I have shipped around 500-600 cards using the ESE and have had exactly one buyer say they didn't receive their card. I ship out each card in a top loader and I sandwich the card between two pieces of thin(cereal box) cardboard with no issues so far. I also charge $1.08 for shipping and usually put down 2oz as the weight, even though the envelope weighs less than 1oz. So far this is working for me and I will continue to use this method until it becomes an issue with USPS.

[hotcalsun]

Received a test that I thought was good. Hard cardboard envelope with a top loader inside.

I'm guessing I've shipped >2500 of these since they started, I think I end up with about 1/100 that either gets lost or some sort of indentation damage. Which, because they are insured is no big deal -- just file as part of the return and everyone is whole.

Early on, I did have an experience where a handful of small post offices would return or put postage due, but that seems to have subsided.

[mrchipz]

Originally Posted by chilly55

This. Using a top loader makes the letter "Non-Machinable". Right now, a standard letter is $.63 for under 1 ounce. Any letter that is rigid, is classified as Non-Machinable. The Non-Machinable surcharge is $.40. So the total cost of a 1 ounce and under letter that is rigid (can't bend easily) is $1.03. By using a Card Saver, this allows some bending of the letter as it moves through machinery, especially the DPS machines. Since the Card Saver allows bending, it does not classify as Non Machinable.

If the letter weighs between 1-2 ounces, and is rigid, then the total postage costs is $1.27.

I'm not sure if Ebay really did get the standard envelope, with top loader, for just $.60 or so cents. That's a $.40 loss for the USPS on each letter. I can see a savings of a few cents, similar to business mail discounts, but not $.40. I'd like to see the contract between the USPS and Ebay and see what is actually in there.

As far as tracking, carriers do not scan Ebay standard envelopes when they deliver them. They do get scanned going through the network, but not at delivery. Unless things have changed, any delivery scan showing delivered is automatically generated based on a arrival at unit scan or arrival at distribution center. So, for Northern Va, if a EBay envelope gets a scan at Merrfiield at 2:00 am, then that letter will be sent to the local post office that day and get delivered. Unit and delivery scans would be automatic.

I'm recently retired, but our office never once scanned, nor was ever told by management, to scan Ebay standard envelopes.

As a seller-
I Have sold over 2,000 cards on ebay in the past year through the standard envelope program and i ship every card over $5 in a team bag and top loader. Not once in over 2000 sales have i ever had a single one that was labeled non machinable or postage due to buyer. I have only ever had 3 buyers say they havent got the card and it wasnt shown as delivered.

As a buyer-
I have bought over 500 cards in the past year about 20 in the past month alone that were shipped in the standard envelope in a top loader and never once have i ever had to pay any postage due or have anything marked as non machinable.

I have also had a delivery scan on them the moment my mail carrier puts them in my inbox.

Guess im just lucky.