USPS Postage Due slips are never a welcome sight for eBay buyers.
Your eBay and Bricklink buyers don’t want to get stuck with the dreaded “Postage Due” slip. Trust me. A “Postage Due” slip not only means the package will not be delivered (unless the buyer happens to be home to pay the fee), but also requires your buyer to shlep over to the post office, making a special trip just to pay the “Postage Due” fee and pick up the package. Not cool.
How does “Postage Due” happen?
Postage due means the seller didn’t pay enough money for shipping. For example, a seller pays for a USPS First Class 13oz package. The USPS discovers that the package actually weighs 13.2oz (which rounds up to 14oz and the more expensive USPS Priority Mail). Then the USPS requires the addressee pay the additional shipping money, holding the package hostage until the addressee pays the fee.
How to fix “Postage Due”
Sellers should always reimburse buyers for postage due–no if, ands or buts about it. “Postage Due” is a seller’s mistake. Even if the buyer only paid for USPS First Class shipping and “Postage Due” bumps up the price to USPS Priority, sellers should pay for the upgrade. It’s the seller’s responsibility to make sure that the shipping price is correct before invoicing buyers.
Sellers should consider reimbursing the buyer beyond the “Postage Due” fee. A seller could reimburse an extra dollar or two or provide a generous coupon for a future purchase. Remember, “Postage Due” is an extra hassle to the buyer. The buyer will likely be required to go to the post office, stand in line, and pay the “Postage Due” fee. Without “Postage Due”, the package may have otherwise been delivered to their mailbox or at their doorstep.
How to prevent “Postage Due”
Preventing “Postage Due” occurrences is very easy. Make sure you properly weigh your shipments before mailing them. Only use scales on hard, flat surfaces (carpeting and uneven surfaces will skew the weight).
Hate using scales? USPS Flat Rate boxes and envelopes take the scale out of the equation–you pay the same shipping rate regardless of the weight of the contents. “If it fits, it ships,” as the USPS ads say.