posted on February 10, 2009 10:07:53 AM
So as not to spend time twice a year when the USPS updates mailing rates, I switched all mailing options to USPS Flat Rate, calculated shipping.
I selected flat rate envelope, proper dimensions, and weight for each items is set at 2-3 oz. I selected USPS Priority Mail with calculated shipping.
When I tested this for multiple items, everything appeared to be correct. I believe the tests used up to 4 items, and the shipping rate appeared correct at $4.95 + my $1.00 handling.
Other than the problem I previously noted with domestic USPS Express Mail, this method was functioning properly even with shipments to Canada and other International destinations.
Well, as things would have it, there is a problem with over charging for an order of 13 items. This order which should have had a combined calculated shipping cost of $5.95 ($4.95 + $1.00) appears with a shipping cost of $12.95.
The order in question is #2012862402.
Please advise what I should do, or what can /will be done by Vendio. I have changed every store item to USPS Priority Mail, and all new items which are now at ebay, are using the same shipping rate.
Bill K-
[ edited by kozersky on Feb 10, 2009 10:09 AM ]
posted on February 11, 2009 11:45:05 AM
Hello Bill,
When your account is set to combine shipping in one package (as yours is), then the weight is added up, and the dimensions of the package are also increased to account for the additional items. So for this order, the package dimensions become too large for the Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelope. (The weight is still low enough for the flat rate envelope.) To correct this problem for the future, you would need to decrease the dimensions for the items. If you can more-or-less combine an unlimited number of items into the envelope, then you could decrease the dimensions for the individual items to a very low amount.
posted on February 11, 2009 12:56:15 PM
Thanks Nathan. In real life, I can ship 100 sheets of seals in one flat rate envelope.
Further, I could and have sent books in Flat Rate envelopes.
How am I to handle the dimension problem?
Currently, I have the envelope size set at 9x12x0.25 - perhaps I should increase the size to 9x12x1. That is the size which UPS calcualtes at. Perhaps it is the same with the USPS. I'll test that size.
posted on February 11, 2009 12:59:34 PM
Hello Bill,
The reverse is what you will need to do. The size will need to be set at a very small amount. So that when it is multiplied by 13, for example, the new size will not be larger than the Flat Rate envelope.
posted on February 11, 2009 02:02:05 PM
I am just so tired of nothing working correctly. I should'nt have to worry about the size of paper that I am putting into a flat rate envelope.
I am just going to have to check around. I am really tired of having to jump through hoops in order to do business from here.
posted on February 11, 2009 03:48:01 PM
Hello Bill,
I am sorry, but unfortunately that is the way that the combined shipping will work, as it adds the items together to ship in one package. Please note that it is the width field that is combined (so if each item has dimensions of 9in X 12in X 1in it would be the 12in that would be multiplied -- 13 packages with this dimension would add up to 9in X 156in X 1in). So you would need to revise the second field to be low enough if multiple items are combined.
Note that if you are only offering the USPS Priority Flat Rate shipping option (and no additional options), then it is not necessary to include the package dimensions at all. But with the shipping options that you are currently offering, some of them do require the package dimensions.
posted on February 12, 2009 01:17:03 PM
That shipping calculator has incorrect parameters. Flat Rate envelopes do not calculate volume, only weight, which is a maximum of 4 pounds.
The Vendio calculator computes by what appears to be volume, when calculating USPS rates. Strange, the UPS calculations appear to be correct, in that they change at the one pound rate.
I tried your suggestion. I changed the dimensions to 1"x1"x0.25" - same result. Then I did not use any dimensions - same result. This would seem to indicate that the calculator is not computing correctly.
Consider that the first sale I cited #012862402 was comprised of 13 items, with a $12.95 s/h Flat Rate envelope. Since then, I have also had a sale #2013020107, which was comprised of 2 collections with a total of 17 items with a $5.95 s/h by Priority Mail Flat Rate.
I have chosen USPS Priority Mail Calculated w/Flat Rate envelope, so that when the USPS makes changes, I can enjoy my family just like Vendio owners and staff do, rather than slave over postal changes, because Vendio is unable to provide a calculator, that distinguish between flat rate envelopes and standard envelopes, when computing shipping costs. (that was one long sentence)
This is similar to shopping in a store and the cashier cannot correctly checkout a customer with more than 5 items, because the register could only compute 5 items correctly.
The shipping calculator does not compute properly for Priority Mail Flat Rate envelopes, nor does it do so for Express Mail envelopes.
posted on February 12, 2009 01:37:36 PM
I need to correct the statement regarding weight for a USPS Priority Mail envelope. On the envelope the USPS states "Any amount of mailable material may be enclosed, as long as the envelope is not modified ..." However, there is a 4 pound weight limit on International Flat Rate envelopes.
Perhaps there should be an addendum to the statement regarding domestic use of the Flat Rate envelope ... Please note that this statement is not applicable and void if the shipping cost is computed by a calculator provided by Vendio.
posted on February 12, 2009 03:11:41 PM
Hello Bill,
Thank you for the additional information. I do see the problem, and I have escalated this to our engineers. We will let you know as soon as more information is available.
