I have been an eBay seller for 10+ years and USPS wins 99% of the time on price no matter the zone. Usually USPS Priority is cheaper than UPS and Fedex ground. If you don't know, ebay lets you compare all shipping services when you buy a shipping label thru ebay. Now I suppose that is for ebay rates and not USPS retail rates regular people get at the counter. I know retail rates are substantially higher than ebay rates because I do these shops. So maybe UPS and Fedex would be cheaper than USPS retail rates. But I still think that is unlikely. I actually hate when things I order are shipped by UPS or Fedex because it takes FOREVER!

I have never used ebay shipping or Pirate Shipping because I thought I had to have some kind of special paper to print the postage. Can you just print it on regular paper and tape it to the package? I'll have to do it if that's the case.

@MsJudi wrote:

I have never used ebay shipping or Pirate Shipping because I thought I had to have some kind of special paper to print the postage. Can you just print it on regular paper and tape it to the package? I'll have to do it if that's the case.

That's what I've always done. I don't have a label printer either.

@cal1st0 wrote:

I have been an eBay seller for 10+ years and USPS wins 99% of the time on price no matter the zone. Usually USPS Priority is cheaper than UPS and Fedex ground. If you don't know, ebay lets you compare all shipping services when you buy a shipping label thru ebay. Now I suppose that is for ebay rates and not USPS retail rates regular people get at the counter. I know retail rates are substantially higher than ebay rates because I do these shops. So maybe UPS and Fedex would be cheaper than USPS retail rates. But I still think that is unlikely. I actually hate when things I order are shipped by UPS or Fedex because it takes FOREVER!

It really depends
When it comes to postage, if I remember correctly

1 - 13 oz definitely go USPS first class
13oz - 2 lbs are still within USPS Pirority range
3 - 4 lb you start getting into the area sometime USPS wins, sometime Fedex/UPS win.
Anything 4 lbs up you are generally cheaper going with UPS/Fedex

Of course for anything above 4 lbs, if you can fit it into the Flat rate box, USPS still wins there

I think the only time it could be different is when dimentional weight kicks in, that stirs the pod quite a bit

If you ship to AK, PR, VI, HI, GU you always want to ship USPS, UPS/Fedex will charge you international rate for those states.

Military base USPS as well, Militay won't let UPS/fedex going into the base

You can ship PO Box with Fedex/ UPS, what they will do is to deliver the package to the Post office, then post office will put the package to your PO Box, and charge receiver extra fee for "putting the package into the box"

Another factor to consider between USPS and Fedex/UPS is their insurance policy

By default Fedex/UPs cover up to $100 with their basic postage, while USPS only covers up to $50, on top of that if something does happen to your shipment, the claiming process is way harder for USPS compare to UPS/Fedex (For USPS good luck anyone picking up the phone at all)

Corp discount is also a factor when it comes to postage difference....of course tat also depends on your shipping volumne

Lastly, the biggest difference between USPS and Fedex/UPS would be the billing system. If you are a company, Fedex/UPS allow you to to be pay your shipping monthly (in billing format), while USPS require you to deposit shipping fee upfront before you print any shipping label at all.

Oh, you also get tons of free thermal label from UPS.Fedex or even thermal machine, and computers if your shipping volume is huge enough while you don't get any of them from USPS

Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 05/06/2024 12:01AM by kisekinecro.

First Class isn't a thing any more except for letters. It was replaced with Ground Advantage for packages up to 70 pounds. Insurance is included and shipping time is usually 1 day longer than Priority, but pricing is about 40% less. If I buy Ground Advantage through Ebay, its about $5.00 to ship a one pound package to zones 1-4. Works great!

@MsJudi wrote:

I have never used ebay shipping or Pirate Shipping because I thought I had to have some kind of special paper to print the postage. Can you just print it on regular paper and tape it to the package? I'll have to do it if that's the case.

QR code and have the post office print it if you have time.

@Capurato wrote:

@MsJudi wrote:

I have never used ebay shipping or Pirate Shipping because I thought I had to have some kind of special paper to print the postage. Can you just print it on regular paper and tape it to the package? I'll have to do it if that's the case.

QR code and have the post office print it if you have time.

QR code for eBay, not Pirate Ship

Are these new USPS shops ever going to actually be listed again? I thought they were going to be listed by the end of April.

They listed a few of them on iSS last Friday as a soft launch. There is another thread on this, but the quick take aways:

1. Shop is the same + an exterior picture and name of the clerk now required.
2. Shop pays a flat fee of $15 no reimbursement, so a drastic reduction that doesn't have anyone too excited.

Apparently they'll list more when they fully launch but unclear when that is.

@EnglishMorning wrote:

Are these new USPS shops ever going to actually be listed again? I thought they were going to be listed by the end of April.

@Cassiespark wrote:

2. Shop pays a flat fee of $15 no reimbursement, so a drastic reduction that doesn't have anyone too excited.

Dammit ! Mystery shopping and writing seem to be two areas where the pay NEVER gets better!

Wow that is a drastic reduction and I don't think they'll get as many takers. Why the name as well as the clerk number? I always feel creepy taking a peek as the name as they always put near their breasts.

@EnglishMorning wrote:

Wow that is a drastic reduction and I don't think they'll get as many takers. Why the name as well as the clerk number? I always feel creepy taking a peek as the name as they always put near their breasts.

Half the clerks don’t wear name badges smh. And they can’t even be held accountable for the shop scores, it has to be generally addressed. So who cares?

I hope this program fails miserably and they are forced to make changes.

I’m curious to see the contract via the FOIA request as all that is public info. Unless someone from the MSC wants to get ahead of it and share details (we all know they are lurking).

I SINCERELY hope they go back to the previous MSP. Not crazy about nude company and their minimalist shop fees.

Back in the day when it was Parcel Post and 1st class, one would have to affix the first class letter to the outside of the package and pay both first class and parcel post postage.

So, unless you need to ship a package that just so happens to fall within the MSC's stated parameters, there is zero benefit to doing these shops now.

Epic. Fail.

Can anyone who has seen these jobs listed tell me what drop down category these are under on the website now having them? I have yet to find them in my market but scrolling down I have to go thru a forest full of 6c a piece inventory scans. Would it be listed under the category of Government?

Sandy, they didn't post any more locations. Jason put in another forum that they would be listed as "Retail" but the few locations that were listed as test sites were actually "Shipping/Freight". The project seems to be either permanently shelved or the client can't seem to make it work with the new MSC. They aren't even answering questions about it any longer.

@Cassiespark wrote:

Sandy, they didn't post any more locations. Jason put in another forum that they would be listed as "Retail" but the few locations that were listed as test sites were actually "Shipping/Freight". The project seems to be either permanently shelved or the client can't seem to make it work with the new MSC. They aren't even answering questions about it any longer.

The MSC that has it now is super shady and while “reputable” I don’t do business with them.

As stated Jason shared some info about the shops but he’s about as reliable and trustworthy as CNN is.

My advice is that you shouldn’t hold your breath regarding these shops and if/when they come out we all boycott them.

I thought these were on that aggregate site that does not have drop down menus, just available assignments and didn't see any on nude site either. Don't understand why previous MSC didn't just tell where to find the shops since they're possibly outsourcing them.

The old MSC isn't outsourcing these, they lost the contract.

There are no shops posted anywhere, and haven't been for months so not sure that the old MSC has anywhere to point people to. They were going to be posted to ISS, never to the naked site. But its been so long...who knows if they will ever come back.

I haven't seen these either. It seems like a very limited number were listed. I wonder if the USPS is doing a limited test with the new company before giving them the full portfolio?

I'm optimistic. Not sure why. They'll be back in some form or fashion. As with any initiative; there will be winners and losers (aka folks who will benefit and folks who will not). Since I was making a very nice chunk of change on the old system, I doubt I will be among the winners.

It is rather surprising though...if they were so terrible; they certainly did disappear very rapidly. They must not have been that terrible.

no such shops in my area

@metro25782 wrote:

I'm optimistic. Not sure why. They'll be back in some form or fashion. As with any initiative; there will be winners and losers (aka folks who will benefit and folks who will not). Since I was making a very nice chunk of change on the old system, I doubt I will be among the winners.

It is rather surprising though...if they were so terrible; they certainly did disappear very rapidly. They must not have been that terrible.

They disappeared because they got pulled. USPS is apparently revamping their requirement.