Does eBay use USPS? (all you must know)
When eBay popped up, the world of e-commerce opened up like never before. It’s like an international garage sale at your fingertips. That means shipping items to the furthest corners of the country for sellers to use, but with that comes the daunting prospect of postage.
Does eBay use USPS for postage or another shipper? How does pricing work? I have the answers you are looking for below!
Is eBay using USPS in 2022?
E-commerce platform eBay has partnered with the USPS and others to make postage simple, convenient and affordable for its sellers in 2022. Top sellers and sellers that achieve a certain amount of sales each month may receive discounted shipping under USPS’ Commercial Plus pricing. Sellers can access USPS labels from their eBay account through eBay Online Postage.
To learn more about what postage you can buy from USPS through eBay, how it works and how to print labels, and other shipping options eBay offers sellers, read on!
How does eBay USPS shipping work?
As the USPS will attest, shipping from your eBay account using the US Postal Service has never been easier.
According to the USPS, “Sellers on eBay can complete all U.S. Postal Service shipping from the auction site,” the page reads.
Additionally, the page goes on to read, “eBay has launched Online Postage, allowing sellers to print shipping labels and pay for postage from their PayPal account.”
Using Online Postage, sellers can access these domestic USPS mailing categories:
First Class Mail and First Class Parcels
This is the cheapest and slowest mail category and is ideal for business-sized envelopes or light packages less than 13 ounces.
Priority Mail
Priority Mail and Priority Mail Flat Rate delivery within one to three days, up to 70 lbs, and affordable prices.
Plus, you can get Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes and envelopes for free from USPS.com and the Post Office.
Priority Mail Express
Postal Service’s fastest domestic mail service, Express, arrives in next or two days, and is also the most expensive.
Also, there are no flat rate boxes, only envelopes.
USPS Retail Store
Retail Ground is another slow-but-affordable shipping option that starts right where your first-class package leaves.
Additionally, this class is best for packages that weigh more than 13 ounces (up to 70 pounds), are not in a hurry to reach the buyer, and can be tubular (like a poster).
media mail
Also known as Book Rate, this economical mailing category applies to books, videotapes, CDs, DVDs, and other media types of items.
Plus, packages up to 70 pounds start at just $3.19 with a delivery window of two to eight days.
Additionally, sellers can use international postage rates, including Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express International, and First-Class Package International.
Thanks to Online Postage, customers can enter their zip code on the product page they view and learn about shipping costs.
When they buy, they pay for shipping no matter what the buyer decides.
Buyers then use Online Postage to select the shipping method they will use, create and print labels, and pay for postage.
Also, the latter is done through their connected PayPal account. Remember, when USPS sets the actual shipping rate for the seller, the seller is setting the shipping rate for the buyer.
Therefore, it is up to the seller to decide how much to charge for shipping.
Sellers can even arrange for pickup if the package was shipped with Priority Mail or Priority Mail Express.
This way, the postman will pick up the package from your residence without you having to search for a mailbox or post office.
Additionally, sellers can add insurance for Priority Mail/Express, USPS Retail Ground, Media Mail, and First-Class Package when using online postage on eBay.
Lastly, USPS is competitively priced and generally the most affordable way to ship packages.
However, top eBay sellers and sellers who ship at least 300 packages per month can get the Commercial Plus price.
That said, these specials can save sellers up to 30% off USPS’ already competitive prices.
Is eBay’s standard shipping USPS?
eBay sellers can offer standard USPS shipping in the form of first and first class packages, retail ground, and media mail.
That said, these might be considered “standard” because they’re the slowest shipping options, have a two- to eight-day window, and the USPS isn’t in a hurry.
However, eBay sellers can choose a faster shipping method such as Priority Mail (including flat rate) or Priority Mail Express.
Additionally, these mail classes ship within 1 to 3 days and next/two days, respectively.
Ultimately, it’s up to the seller to decide how much shipping they want to charge, not how much actual postage they want to pay.
Can you print eBay shipping labels at USPS?
Rather than printing eBay shipping labels at USPS, invite sellers to print their USPS labels from their eBay account using Online Postage.
That said, Online Postage is like having a mini USPS website on eBay, so sellers don’t have to leave the eBay website or open a new browser window.
Does eBay use UPS or USPS?
While eBay partners with USPS, which handles more than three-quarters of shipments to e-commerce sites, it also partners with UPS and FedEx.
For example, UPS offers domestic ground, 2nd Day Air, Next Day Air, and Next Day Air Saver shipping, and like USPS, it delivers on Saturdays.
In contrast, FedEx has Ground, Home Delivery, SmartPost, 2-Day, Standard Overnight and Priority Overnight, and residential delivery 7 days a week — yes, even Sunday.
Also, UPS and FedEx are better for heavier (70+lbs) shipments and more and faster shipping.
To learn more, you can also read our posts on whether Etsy uses USPS, Poshmark uses USPS, and Sendle uses USPS.
in conclusion
E-commerce marketplace eBay encourages its sellers to ship through its partner USPS, which provides labeling and printing services through the eBay website.
In addition to the many USPS mail classes available to sellers, including Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, and First-Class, sellers can also ship via UPS and FedEx.
