USPS Priority Mail Express flat rate envelopes can be ordered free from USPS.com and cost around $20 to ship (as of Aug. 2016)
If you’re an eBay seller capable of shipping an order the same day or next day, then USPS Priority Mail Express may be a valuable rush shipping option your buyers. But offering rush shipping does increase strain on both the buyer and seller in several ways, some obvious and some less so. Let’s look at five downsides of offering USPS Priority Mail Express to your eBay buyers.
1. Increased eBay Final Value Fees
Since eBay charges the full final value fee of 10% (or 9% for eBay stores) on shipping charges, a USPS Priority Mail Express shipping upgrade will cost sellers at least an additional $1.58 in final value fees (the cheapest USPS Priority Mail Express shipping costs about $20). Even if you’re a Top Rated seller, the 20% final value fee discount only applies to the cost of the item and not the cost of any shipping charges passed on to the buyer.
2. Sellers need to mail the item SUPER FAST for rush shipping to matter
USPS Priority Mail and USPS First Class packages typically arrive in a zippy 2-3 business days. USPS Priority Mail Express arrives in 1-2 days, so shipping the package even one day late defeats the purpose of the buyer purchasing the shipping upgrade. Think of a USPS Priority Mail Express package as a hot potato–you’d like to the package out of your hands as soon as possible.
3. Sellers should take the package to the counter at the post office
Even though USPS Priority Mail Express qualifies for free carrier pickup and can also be mailed in any regular blue mailbox, both methods could delay the package by a day. USPS Priority Mail Express packages must reach the post office by no later than 5pm in order to get cycled into the day’s mail. Unfortunately, sometimes mail carriers do not return to the post office until AFTER 5pm. Also, some smaller markets have earlier cut off times than 5pm, so contact your local post office to find out its cut off time in advance.
Waiting in line at the post office, requesting that the package gets scanned into the system, and receiving a receipt gives a seller proof of mailing and ensures that the package gets cycled into the day’s mail.
4. Money Back Guarantee: Restrictions, Headaches and “Strings Attached”
Unlike most other USPS service offerings, USPS Priority Mail Express offers a Money Back Guarantee for late delivery. Unfortunately getting a refund can be a highly stressful process, if it’s even possible at all. During the holiday season in November and December, USPS doesn’t honor the money back guarantee. Also, all late delivery claims must be handled in person at the post office (no eFiling available as of the posting of this article). Many post offices will also refuse to refund you, even if you have a valid late delivery claim. Sometimes the refusal to refund is due to poor knowledge of the USPS Priority Mail Express service and its guarantee–it’s not a common request that postal clerks receive. Be prepared to ask to speak to the manager to explain your case.
5. Increased stress level for both the buyer and seller due to higher stakes
The cloud of urgency surrounding any USPS Priority Mail Express package increases the stress level of both the buyer and seller. There is zero margin for error, which is why some eBay and Bricklink sellers refuse offer rush delivery and rush handling. A package that is a day late will likely disappoint the buyer, even if the USPS honors the money back guarantee.
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A few final thoughts
USPS Priority Mail Express service gives your buyers an extra, uncommonly used, but occasionally useful shipping option. If you do choose to offer rush shipping, be prepared for the extra responsibility. In fact, you may choose to add a higher handling fee than usual in order to account for the increased hassle and increased final value fees. For example, if USPS Priority Mail Express cost $20.05, then you may decide to charge the $25.00.
If you can handle all five of these downsides and appreciate the added the value of rush shipping for you buyers, then adding USPS Priority Mail Express might work out well for you. If not, then just stick USPS First Class and USPS Priority Mail. You might miss out on few rush orders here and there, but realistically most buyers are content receiving their orders within a few days.