posted on March 27, 2007 04:58:23 AM
Don't understand what I may have done wrong here. My auction number 120102076898 keeps showing a higher shipping cost for parcel post than priority. Tried several zip codes and it is still the same. ???
posted on March 27, 2007 06:08:11 AM
It works O.K. for 46806, Parcel Post is listed first with Priority Mail listed 2nd, maybe that is what you are seeing?
posted on March 27, 2007 11:17:24 AM
Thank you all for your comments. I just learned that the difference in cost is because of the dimensions of the box. The answer I received was "Parcel Post does come out to be a bit more expensive because of the size of the package. (only that its cheaper to do it priority at that size moreso than it costs more to ship a package that size via Parcel." Learn something everyday!
posted on March 27, 2007 01:06:38 PM
Understood about safe packing, of course. But even with those dimensions, I get 82" total, and large package starts at 84" unless I'm really off here.
posted on March 27, 2007 02:47:18 PM
birgittaw... I went to the USPS site and entered all the dimensions. The rates agree with the shipping calculator. I thought the same as you but apparently we are wrong. The real proof will be when I take it to the post office. Sometimes there are differences. Will post the results here when I send it, hopefully in 15 days.
posted on March 27, 2007 06:33:03 PM
FYI - if you go to the USPS website and choose LARGE PACKAGE instead of package you can enter the actual dimensions of the package and it should tell you the correct postage.
Because of the new DIM WEIGHT it could throw your calculations off.
Dimensional Weight Pricing
One of the major initiatives of the pricing proposal includes the introduction of "dimensional-weight" (or dim weight) pricing. Dim weight pricing is based on the cubic size or dimension of the mailpiece rather than the weight, and is designed to account for packages with a large size-to-weight ratio (in other words, big packages that don't weigh much in relation to their size).
According to the USPS website, "if a light-weight piece is large in size, and takes up a lot of space in transportation, it is possible that the price of mailing does not cover our handling costs. Dim-weighting is a mechanism that converts the cubic size of the piece into a weight. If a large box is very light, it will be charged as a higher-weight piece,..."
The USPS site goes on to state, "This pricing only affects pieces larger than 1 cubic foot, and traveling to destinations within zones 5-8, since it is air transportation costs that are particularly sensitive to size, rather than weight. This costing and pricing approach also leads to lower proposed prices for some heavier-weight parcels."
The dim weight pricing affects Priority Mail packages going to Zones 5-8. The "balloon" (minimum) charge would remain for zones 1-4, but the price for these large pieces would be the 20-pound price, instead of the current 15-pound price. (Balloon rate is the minimum rate charged for Priority Mail and Parcel Post items that measure between 84 and 108 inches in combined length and girth, and (currently) weigh less than 15 pounds, and proposed for parcels weighing less than 20 pounds.)
How To Measure the Cubic Size of Your Package
You can calculate the cubic size of your package by multiplying the height by the length by width (H x W x L). Round each measurement to the nearest whole inch. The resulting total is the cubic size of your package.
Dimensional weighting test: Priority Mail parcels whose length, width, and height, multiplied together, are greater than one cubic foot. Example: Parcel weighing 10 pounds measures 14 inches long, 14 inches wide, and 12 inches high. Dim weight = (14 x 14 x 12) / 194 = 2,352 / 194 = 12.12. Postage would be the appropriate 13-pound rate.
So whereas previously that 10-pound package would have been charged at the 10-pound rate, it is now charged at the 13-pound rate. Another page on the USPS website that explains dimensional weight rates is found here: http://pe.usps.com/DMMAdvisory.asp?Dest=dmmadvisory103006.htm.
posted on March 28, 2007 02:58:40 AM
glassgirl, It's all is clear to me now and thank you for the information. Just like the shippping cost of bubble wrap or styrofoam peanuts! Large but light weight.
posted on March 28, 2007 07:57:06 AM
Understood completely again about dim weight, since I ship a LOT of large items and use size calculations every day (size DOES matter ... sometimes an inch will make a big difference in cost.)
BUT the package does NOT fall over 84", so even though USPS will classify it as a large item if you go the measured route, it shouldn't. The site specifically says 84" or less is considered a regular parcel.
FedEx doesn't dim weight this (and the cost for this approximate weight package from SC to CA is $10, insured, with FedEx or DHL btw). Plus I wish the robot on the post office website would go away ... the most annoying thing I've seen in ages!
