Measurements required for Priority Mail?

nah they are smokin sumfin... you don't need to submit measurements with a USPS box. Just print your shipping out on your computer and do a carrier pickup request... you won't have to set foot in the post office again

Nope, not for any USPS-branded boxes. If you're using your own boxes, and get into very large sizes, then you'll need to measure to see if there's a oversize package surcharge. Otherwise, nope.

Thanks, montanaoregon and kbalona. That's what I thought, but then I started second-guessing myself. So, if I use calculated shipping with priority mail, it sounds like I don't need to do anything differnt for relists or for my new auctions. Right?

2purrcats

quote:

If you're using your own boxes, and get into very large sizes, then you'll need to measure to see if there's a oversize package surcharge.

Well, not necessarily "very large sizes." Anything over 1 cubic foot going to zones 5-8 now will go via the dimensional weight, which can be substantially more with pretty much medium-sized boxes. But if the height x width x length = 1728 inches or greater, than you need to divide the number by 194 to find out the DIM weight. Then, you use the greater of either the actual weight or Dim weight to calculate the cost (again, this is only for zones 5-8).

And as mentioned, no USPS branded boxes are subject to Dim weight.

An easy option may be just too use the USPS site's postage calculator. If you're not sure about the box size you can just check: "oversized package", enter the dimensions and let the calculator determine if there is a surcharge, and give you the right postage. Saves having to do any of your own calculations.

well now.....

i just went to print a label earlier today via paypal and i had to put in dimensions for an thick ENVELOPE/package via priority mail....it wouldn't let me go any further without entering them! when i chose parcel post, no dimensions were needed! just an extra hoop to jump through!

....and i'd be careful with choosing the "over sized package" option as you can hork yourself on unnecessary postage fees if you're not careful....just a thought.

cheers,
kathleen

I'm was just going according to the USPS instructions for using the calculator, which I read today. They said to check the oversized box option if you weren't sure so that you could enter the dimensions. The implication was that there would be no extra charge unless it went over the specified size. Your admonition is worth heeding however; just in case, I will do a test the next time I use the calculator just to make sure they aren't lying.

quote:

dimensions. The implication was that there would be no extra charge unless it went over the specified size. Your admonition is worth heeding however; just in case, I will do a test the next time I use the calculator just to make sure they aren't lying.

Nope - they're not lying. No extra charge by checking the "over sized package" -- particularly given the fact that it now refers to boxs over 1 cubic foot. But even before, even if you checked it because you weren't sure, it would serve up the correct amount after you entered the dimensions. And I did test this today repeatedly, btw.

But the big query is, when, if ever, will Mr. Poster incorporate the dimensions? And particularly given the increases, for lighter stuff, will you be able to do calculated shipping for more than one option? And if you can already do this, some give me a tip, as I don't see it, but then again, haven't been using Auctiva's Mr. Poster for all *that* long, and haven't had to worry too much about calculated postage previous to the new increases, particularly with what we sell...

Just left the post office asking a question regarding sizing. It used to be that if a box wasn't over 84" total it wasn't considered a 'large package'. Well, I have a package that is 50" x 8" x 7" [long and narrow] that only weighs 3 pounds. Because the one side goes over their magical 12" side rule, it's now considered a large package and will cost $28.25 to get from Florida to Washington. So make sure you put your measurements in when calculating shipping from now on.

Just to be clear, there is no 12" side rule. You can have a box that is 14x12x10 (which is 1680 inches) and still stay under the max of 1720. That long, narrow, flat box you referenced is 2800 inches, so it would go at the 15 pound rate, assuming it doesn't actually weigh more than 15 pounds (if it did, it would go at the actual weight rate). Yeah, confusing.

Well, just got off the phone with USPS and what is considered machineable is H 17" L 34" W 17" and weighs up to 35 pounds. Anything over those measurements and weigh is considered nonmachineable and has an extra fee associated with it.

From what I understand, the dimensions have more to do with transportation than with whether they are machinable - although being non-machinable does carry an extra fee. My local post office clerks told me that the airlines were complaining about odd-sized packages taking up too much room, making it difficult to pack a lot of packages for the trip, so now everything (except USPS-branded boxes apprently) must be measured. I did notice, however, that when I went to update my shipping on some relists, eBay only asked for dimensions on the Priority Mail boxes, not the First Class or Media Mail packages. Since I use calculated shipping and USPS-branded boxes, I just left the measurement boxes blank.

2purrcats

This is a different issue from the one you ran into which is packages exceeding 1 cubic foot shipping via Priority Mail to zones 5, 6, 7, 8 now go by dim weight or actual weight, whichever is greater (and it's often going to be dim weight).

Here is some more info on this.
http://pe.usps.com/RateCase2007/QSG_HTML/Q120.htm

Actually, it sounds like you were being told about what qualifies as machinable for discount parcels. And I don't think this applies to Priority Mail at all.

Thanks so much for that website. I'm beginning to believe the postal employees have no idea what is going on. And I'm totally confused but the web page link you sent is very helpful. I will just start putting sizes on my auction listing and pray ebay knows how to calculate the correct postage. Thanks again for the assistance.

I am really confused over all this, to me its a big mess. I was shipping last night and I was using a priority t-vek bag and I had to put in the measurements. This is insane! If using the priority boxes from USPS, why the ---- measurements?

Also, I am sure we don't always know the size of box we are going to use BEFORE shipping, especially if the buyer purchases more than (1) item. Maybe I am making it harder on myself, but I am very confused right now. I think the USPS has been smokin' something funny.
Any good advice out there?

California Girl,

If you're using USPS branded Priority Mail boxes, skip the measurements. They're not needed. Use them only if you're shipping a regular box that doesn't have Priority Mail printed on it. I think the only ones that will cost you more are the ones over 1 cubic foot going to zones 5, 6, 7, and 8 (see lurch-deeann's post above).

Don't worry about the fact that buyers purchasing multiple items don't have the correct postage before they bid. They know that it will either be the same (if sending in separate boxes, which is unlikelu, or go down, if combining shipping to one box). When you send them the invoice for multiple items, you can figure the measurements then. Use USPS.com to calculate postage at that point.

Hope this helps!

2purrcats

I think the new dimensional structure is the worst mistake in postal history. Nobody will be able to figure out. It will lead to mass frustration and confusion. And they think it's the greatest invention since the spoon. What's worse, USPS doesn't make its requirements clear. They make the requirements available (barely, in some cases). But available and clear are two different things. I for one can see that I'm not going to get any answers to my questions. I've tried. I've dug through the DMM and mined the USPS site for info and nothing is explained. The standards are scattered all over the site. They are simply saying we now have a dimensional standard and it's up to you to stumble upon the requirements. Like I said, the information is there. It's just not easy to grasp. I'm a Trading Assistant on eBay with some pretty substantial experience in shipping. In some cases, I'm more on top of things than the local post office. I'm confident I will be able to figure this new system out in the long run, but I feel even more sorry for the average customer who has no shipping experience and is in for a giant headache. USPS should have a dedicated guide to help people understand the new system. But they don't. Making a good and successful product more complicated and confusing is the biggest step backward a company can possibly take. They have an 11-step process for figuring out dim. weight--11 steps!!!!!! They've got you dividing and multiplying sizes. Since when did mailing a package require a degree in advanced math? That's an exaggeration. But I'd slam USPS with a big negative feedback for this one. This new system is completely unnecessary for the customer.

Now, here is my advice for anyone struggling with this and selling on eBay. 1) Always use calculated shipping so eBay does most of the work for you. 2) For USPS supplied boxes, never worry about size. 3) For any non-USPS supplied boxes, always measure the dimensions, and enter them into the dimension fields when setting up your shipping auctions. 4) eBay will calculate everything for you; no worrying about zones. 5) If you have a package that you know is non-machinable, select the "irregular package" box. 6) Always use free carrier pickup when applicable. At the very worst, USPS will return your package to you and you'll have to take some steps to make sure it is ready to send.

EXCELLENT ADVICE!

(I'd give you a 5-star rating if you were selling the advice on eBay.)

Like they say - Work smart, not hard!

2purrcats