USPS Flat Rate Shipping being OVERCHARGED!

[#1]

As I am trying to purchase my USPS Flat Rate Shipping labels this morning I am noticing that prices are as much as .81 more on some labels and not others! Happening on more than one label! My shipping profiles are set for flat rate. Etsy please take a peek as I want to ship today but certainly DO NOT am not willing to pay this overage!!! This is WHY I choose Flat Rate so there are no surprises in shipping!!!

[cindylouwho2]

@NaturalBodyComfort It applies to priority flat-rate shipping. 

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Announcements/USPS-Rate-Changes-Effective-September-16-2024/ba-p/34661... "The increase is for weight-based and cubic packages up to 20 lbs. for Priority Mail, Priority Mail Flat Rate, and Ground Advantage delivery to these zip codes." [my emphasis]

[QuirkyAntiquesStore]

I cannot for the life of me even find flat rate boxes in shipping profiles. All I see is priority with no boxes options. 

[TBQSC]

You can add them as custom sizes to your package preferences (shipping settings, tab #3).  

Or when you go to purchase a label, you can select "package type" and scroll down to the PM Flat Services and choose which option you want to use (envelope, box, etc.).

[NaturalBodyComfort]

@cindylouwho2 I don't know what to say other than it may be a typo from Ebay as rates have not increased and remain the same for Flat Rate according to USPS themself. Def very confusing subject. Taken from USPS site... On Sept 5th, 2024 the United States Postal Service® filed notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) regarding a temporary price change for some package services for the 2024 peak holiday season. This temporary price adjustment is to help cover extra handling
costs to ensure a successful peak season. 

The planned peak-season pricing, which was approved by the governors of the Postal Service on August 8th, 2024, would affect prices on the following commercial and retail domestic competitive parcels:

Priority Mail Express® (PME)

Priority Mail® (PM)

USPS Ground Advantage®

No other products or services would be affected. Pending favorable review by the PRC, the temporary rates would go into effect at midnight Central on October 6th, 2024 and remain in place until midnight Central on January 19th, 2025.

In other words... USPS Flat Rate is not mentioned in the increase. The confusion also lies in the post from Ebay that states: The increase is for weight-based and cubic packages blah blah..... Flat Rate shipping is not based on weight. So again, color me confused. 

[cindylouwho2]

@NaturalBodyComfort It's not a typo from eBay; other companies posted about this as well. https://www.valueaddedresource.net/usps-zip-code-rate-increase-rural-surcharge/ 

It's different than the October 6 changes, which may be the source of your confusion.

[Adorabilities]

@NaturalBodyComfort 

The price hike you're referring to is yet another one. There are increases several times a year now, some temporary, some permanent.

Did you try calculating the rates on PirateShip or Shipstation, etc. to see if they match Etsy's prices?

[BagmakerSupply]

@NaturalBodyComfort: The information you are quoting is for retail rates - the September 16 surcharge only applies to commercial rates such as those through Etsy and then only to specific zip codes.

[MyPrimitiveBoutique]

and today November 6, 2024, it's STILL happening! I use legal flat rate envelopes and was just charged again 9.30....I printed out 3 other legal flat rate envelope shipping labels and they were all 8.97. How long has this been going on and why has it yet been corrected. Ridiculous!!

[ArtDollsbyJD]

@MyPrimitiveBoutique   Legal flat rate envelope is $9.30.  Check notice 123.

This is the current pricing.   There were announcements a few months back about increases and that includes flat rate.  Also recently the holiday cost kicked in.

Though are you saying you just did one and then another and there was a price difference?  In that case contact Etsy and ask about the discrepancy.  I have not experienced such a discrepancy in my years on Etsy. 

[CottageintheCove]

I noticed this with priority padded flat rate envelope price was a dollar more than previous label I printed?

[CottageintheCove]

I think it is a glitch with Etsy as the padded flat rate envelope I mailed was normally $8.95 now it is $9.95. I think it is charging regular priority mail not flat rate even though I clicked flat rate. How do I get the overage refunded back? 

[CottageintheCove]

Can you post back if you see it corrected or if you are refunded by Etsy.

[MyPrimitiveBoutique]

I noticed I am being charged 9.20 or 9.30 periodically for a 'Legal Flat Rate Envelope'. Normally the fee is 8.97. I did notice the last time I was charge 9.30 the customers address was 'Unverified'. Not sure if that has anything to do with it. I see that NaturalBodyComfort mentioned Etsy called the 'Overprice' a 'Glitch' and she was refunded the overcharge...do we seriously need to contact Etsy about this Glitch? Are they only sending refunds to the ones who call? Are they hoping the rest of us don't notice? I went back as far as July 2024 and according to my Etsy statements, it's been going on awhile. How long does it take to fix the glitch. The .33 cent overcharge is interesting! This is Ludacris! 9 million sellers x .33 = 2,970,000.00...What a great side hussle! or is this what Racketeering looks like??

[MimmStudio]

I contacted Etsy for this exact same reason. They're telling me that my "ship from" address is causing the discrepancy as in, different locations are going to change FLAT RATE shipping costs? My address hasn't changed in the 12 years I've been selling on Etsy and I'm certainly not changing it randomly here and there. While they did refund me for the overages, they told me I need to take it up with USPS.