eBay

pnc75 · ‎15-01-2026

So much for the save money on ebay postage labels spiel; their 'cheap' postage for a parcel under 1 kg is $18.91! Not real cheap when over the counter at the PO it's $15.25 (and that's without any discount). And no, I didn't have the real dimensions of the box in the ad, I had it reduced to 20 x 20 x 15 and clearly stated the weight as 980g.

I hate to think how 'cheap' their postage label would have been if I'd put the correct dimensions of 28 x 23 x 14! Would have needed a bank loan!

lookwot_igot · ‎11-02-2026

Never used to be like this. I've sent 1,000's of parcels over the years and it is only lately that I have had issues with <500g & <1kilo custom packaging parcels.

The average seller should not be being charged anything above the standard Aust Post costs as Aust Post do NOT cubic measure those items but eBay does!

sandypebbles · ‎11-02-2026

The agents type from a script

What they 'say' is meaningless

pnc75 · ‎11-02-2026

You are 100% correct, but they don't care. They have been contacted numerous times by numerous people.

The problem is even worse for parcels over 1 kg. Calculated postage is a complete mess and (usually) highly exaggerated. It's ok for people who use flat rate, but because of zones, that leaves you open to undercharging. 😞

brickworksmarket · ‎11-02-2026

I am curious who told you Australia Post dont cube parcels under 1kg in weight. If you read their terms and conditions they reserve the right to cube parcels that are much larger in size than expected and can also apply limits in size when negotiating contract pricing. If you are using ebay lables they will have been negotiated with Australia Post and these would appear to be part of the agreement.

Last time I had a parcel cubed that was under 1kg was 20 years ago but luckily never again.

pnc75 · ‎11-02-2026

I'm in my 70s and have never had a parcel under 1 kg cubed. And if you use AP's website to calculate postage, they don't either. And it never ever happened on the old ebay ( AP) calculator before ebay 'fixed' it.

lezned-toycollector · ‎12-02-2026

@pnc75 wrote:
I'm in my 70s and have never had a parcel under 1 kg cubed. And if you use AP's website to calculate postage, they don't either. And it never ever happened on the old ebay ( AP) calculator before ebay 'fixed' it.

...and therein lies your issue. You're comparing apples to oranges.

eBay postage labels are available on the eBay platform - not directly through AP.... and AP labels are available on the AP platform - not directly through eBay. Although they essentially provide the same product, they are two completely different things, purchased from two completely different companies - neither of which is under any obligation to price match the other.

Here's an example of the same type of thing. If you order Red Rooster through DoorDash, the prices are marked up by around 10%, there is a service fee of 12% and a delivery fee of $0.99..... but if you place the same order directly with Red Rooster, the prices are marked up by around 5%, there is no service fee and no delivery fee - and it's still delivered by the exact same DoorDash driver regardless of where you purchased the product. It's the same scenario as purchasing your label from eBay or AP directly - different base rates and different conditions (contracted or otherwise) will always equate to different charges for what is essentially the exact same product.

As you are aware, back in November eBay negotiated a new contract with AP. They sent out emails and made an announcement to this effect. This is exactly what is now reflected in the eBay calculated postage rates... eBay's new contract prices. If part of that contract includes cubing all parcels, then that's what they'll do. Whatever happened under their previous contract is null and void, and totally irrelevant now. Contracts change, prices change, conditions change, etc.. It happens somewhere every day.

I highly doubt eBay will be negotiating a new AP contract when they've only recently done as much. I'm not saying I agree with it (although it doesn't affect me at all either way), but I don't think eBay's calculated postage rates will be changed any time soon - at least not for a price decrease, anyway.

pnc75 · ‎12-02-2026

Well ebay promote their labels as being 'Australia Post' labels, nit ebay labels:

Sellers can now access lower Australia Post rates directly through eBay Labels. These savings are available to all eBay sellers—no minimum volumes required!

^^^^^ from their announcement. And to add, they tell another lie, as the AP rates are not lower at all.

I'll stick with over the counter at AP.

lookwot_igot · ‎25-02-2026

Then perhaps eBay shouldn't be allowed to claim we are saving on costs when we aren't. SO dodgy!

lookwot_igot · ‎25-02-2026

The Post Office and if you google it that is confirmed however, I agree, not for oversized parcels but I'm talking parcels that are acceptable dimensions.

This definitely has changed over the last 3-4 months.

lookwot_igot · ‎25-02-2026

It doesn't depend on the size of the box if I am sending in my own packaging. I should be able to send in any dimension (within the AP limitations) for a flat rate for articles under 1 kilo: