Ebay Listing With Low USPS Parcel Select Shipping Rate

There is an eBay listing of stamp albums that I estimate weigh about 15 pounds. The seller has specified shipping by USPS Parcel Select Ground at around $10. The distance between the seller and I is Zone 4 and I read that USPS Parcel Select Ground can only be used for Zones 1-4 if the contents can only be shipped via ground such as hazmat or live animals, none of which apply in this situation.

If eBay knows my zip code and knows the sellers zip code (and based on the city listed in the listing and my zip code it is Zone 4), why would USPS Parcel Select Ground be an option?

I'm estimating these albums will cost $25-$30 to ship Priority Mail.

If I win the listing, will USPS Parcel Select Ground not be an option for the seller? How likely will the seller be to complete the sale and not cancel for a made up reason because she/he has to pay an extra $15-$20 in shipping? What is the likelihood the seller might ship via media mail instead (which is prohibited for this item) and then I am stuck with an extra $15-$20 charge?

Hope some eBay veterans will chime in with comments.

If you're concerned, why not ask the seller now?

Since eBay monitors messages and I have no idea about what buzzwords attract their presumably censor, not going to risk my account by getting into dialogue with seller. I know I risk a plethora of sarcastic comments from people, but I wish to remain strictly transactional vs professorial when dealing with eBay sellers.

If the seller specifies a $10 shipping charge how could you be on the hook for more?

rogdcam: Correct. However, why would eBay's sophisticated program permit a shipping option that is not applicable in my situation? Either the seller will have to come out of pocket for extra shipping or she/he might ship via another method that is not permitted like Media Mail and I could get stuck paying postage due. Seller has 100% positive feedback but I've read that doesn't necessarily mean anything these days.

Clarifying the postal arrangements is hardly likely to trigger the descent of an eBay SWAT team.

You should not hesitate to use the eBay messaging system. A question asked and answered in the system becomes part of the record if there is a future dispute. They don't allow email addresses or phone numbers or offers to buy/sell outside of eBay but other than that you're good.

I just listed and album and I was offered the option of calculated shipping and USPS ground shipping. I don't think they cross reference the content of the auction.

Parcel select is not limited to those parameters. You can ship anything up to 70 lbs.

Phillystamper: Does USPS Parcel Select Ground have different Zone permissibility rules than USPS Retail Ground? If so, then maybe eBay's shipping software program is correct after all.

Assuming Phillystamper and eBay are correct, do most eBay sellers just eat the cost of higher shipping when they underestimate it?

In general the shipping companies have different prices regarding the volume. Could be real cost, who knows the contract of the dealer and shipping company. One things is to send one package ones in while and other thing for 20 and more packages a day.

yeah, you have to eat it. They may already plan on subsidizing some of it. It is zone based pricing and it is only available through online purchase like stamps dot com and eBay etc...You can't walk into a post office and ship with this method. I can't imagine there being different rules between zones. That would be very cumbersome.

Ones, I dropped the price from 15 to 5. The condition was the packages are sorted by big collections site and by routes. PS. I talk about 300 to 500 shipping's a day. Like this the shipping company have to pay les in labor and ease to deliver.

Phillystamper, I totally agreed with you from the point of view of equality and democratic. The reality in business is only one word: "PROFIT". work like this.

Phillystamper: You are correct. I erroneously read on another forum that Parcel Select Ground is unavailable for Zones 1-4. After doing more research, Parcel Select Ground doesn't have zone limitations.

https://faq.usps.com/s/article/Parcel-Select

Seems like a good alternative cost wise vs Priority for the buyer.

At this point all USPS delivery methods have the same delivery time range, between three and one hundred days.