Putting this under “Selling on Amazon” because it’s true for Veeqo, but same exact situation applies ShipStation and probably for Amazon Buy Shipping (haven’t played around w/ that).
So … if I UP a package weight from 1.5 lbs. to 2.5 lbs., the USPS Ground Advantage shipping rate goes DOWN! This seems incredibly counterintuitive. I’ve shipped some moderately heavy (say 4+ lbs). packages for what I consider to be BARGAIN rates cross-country using Veeqo, whereas a 1.5 lb. package costs MUCH more to ship.
Any idea what gives? Seems crazy. Been chatting for awhile w/ a ShipStation support agent, he too seems amazed, wasn’t aware of this.
I mean, IF this is the case, can we just INCREASE the weight to get the better rates? Without stuffing the package w/ something random to add weight (although could do that, the savings are that big).
With the July 12, 2026 price change, USPS had a notice that went out about lowering certain Ground Advantage packages to make them more competitive with UPS and FedEx for the same basic size. We think we got that in an email from USPS but didn’t keep it as we do not normally ship in that range.
Commercial shipping platforms like eBay experienced temporary and updated pricing structures that noticeably lowered USPS Ground Advantage rates for 3–5 lb packages in non-rural zones.
Rate and Structure Details
Cost Drops: Online commercial labels for 3 lb packages dropped significantly in price for many domestic zones, temporarily running $2 to $3 cheaper than expected or beating cubic rates.
Zone/Location Exceptions: While non-rural areas saw decreases for 3-5 lb packages, rural addresses or specific distant zones experienced different adjustments or corrections.
Platform Specifics: These unexpected fluctuations caused confusion among online marketplace sellers utilizing integrated label systems like eBay.
USPS® Ground Advantage rate update effective July 25, 2026
Summary: The eBay Shipping Team announced that USPS is implementing a rate increase for Ground Advantage shipments ranging from 3-5 lbs, effective July 25, 2026. The increase will be $0.10 across all shipping zones. The eBay shipping calculator will automatically reflect these updated rates, and eBay is committed to keeping sellers informed and providing competitive shipping options.
We recognize that USPS has made more frequent rate changes this year, and we understand how important it is for sellers to stay ahead of these updates. We’re working closely with USPS to help sellers navigate these changes and provide timely updates as they happen. Today, we have another update to share.
Effective Saturday, July 25, 2026, USPS is increasing Ground Advantage rates. As a result, eBay Labels rates for Ground Advantage shipments weighing 3–5 lbs. will increase by $0.10 across shipping zones 1 - 8.
This is the only USPS rate update at this time. Updated rates will automatically be reflected in the eBay shipping calculator when they take effect.
We’re continuing to work with our carrier partners to provide sellers with the most competitive shipping rates available. We’ll keep our seller community informed as quickly as possible whenever new information becomes available.
As always, thank you for selling on eBay.
The eBay Shipping Team
If and when Amazon will be implementing this change remains to be seen. They lagged on collecting the rural surcharges.
Thanks. That seems to be what’s happening exactly. I had no idea about the new policy. It’s amazing that those rates are LOWER than the 2 lb. rates.
Can I just claim a 1 lb. 8 oz. package is OVER 2 lbs. while printing postage to qualify for these lower rates, or do I need so stuff something extra in (like a worthless book) to FORCE the weight above 2 lbs.?
Obviously, most of our packages go bound printed matter (or occasionally media mail for non-book media), but we ship enough other “stuff” that this is VERY useful!
I haven’t checked eBay shipping, should do that just for curiosity’s sake, but almost never use that even though we have quite a few eBay sales since we use mostly Veeqo and occasionally ShipStation. I do see the rate reductions in the 3-5 pound range that @Lost_My_Marbles mentioned w/ Veeqo and ShipStation.
If you use 3lb 0oz for a 1lb 8oz package, USPS doesn’t penalize you. However, as we all know, if you use 1lb 8oz for a 3lb 0oz, then USPS cares because in the past that meant under payment and loss revenue. We would just make a note on the orders that we did as 3lb 0oz in case USPS does a sudden reversal because it was not their intent. That way we wouldn’t waste time later on if we did get some “adjustment” costs.
But that is not much different than using a USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelope or Box when the weight puts the Ground Advantage price higher than the USPS PM Flat Rate Envelope or Box. USPS has encouraged that in the past.
The ShipStation agent had similar thoughts. To avoid future “reverse-weight adjustments”, for now I’m going to throw in a book or similar to push the weight over 2 lbs; that qualifies for the cheaper 3 lb. rates.
Just did that for the first time a moment ago in fact.
You would think the USPS wouldn’t have such bizarre pricing cells, even if they did lower prices below 5 lbs., why not charge the same for 2 lbs. as 3 lbs.? But it’s the USPS so I suppose a silly question.
Keep in mind that a good number of the people put in charge at USPS were put there with the purpose of making the USPS look so bad that there would be an excuse for politicians to abolish it, and force all traffic to the private companies that contribute to their campaign funds…
I saw a Instagram post from an independent online store about how they were dealing with this by including bags of rocks in their orders to get it to the right weight to get the shipping discount, and they had labels on the bags of rocks explaining why they were there.
At least rocks are pretty innocuous. I remember years back people talking about putting “presents” in their shipments, as a thank-you token.
One who defended it was miffed that he got a 1 star review from a buyer who didn’t notice the lollypop in the package; but her diabetic kid did. Seller somehow still thought this was a good idea, and not his fault that the kid got sick.
We use eco-friendly rocks to pack our boxes to protect against accidental damage do to dropping by the shipper. Please feel free to recycle the rocks in your alley.
So I just had a call with one of USPS’s small business advisors, and this issue came up. According to him, this is part of the new dynamic pricing that USPS has been moving too. Apparently most packages shipped with USPS are between 3-5 pounds in weight, so they are currently discounting the rates for those packages. However, with it being dynamic pricing, he says that can change at any moment. He was aware of people making their packages heavier to get them into that weight range and said he understands people having to do what they need to do for their bottom line. He said when he first saw the pricing, he double-checked it with his boss because it seemed to backwards to him.
Isn’t this the same thing fast food places were trying out? Charging higher prices during peek times on the same day?
Look out holiday time! Holiday up charge and dynamic pricing … add in Amazon coding … what a dumpster fire in the making. It won’t be just rural surcharge … imagine the pricing going up because so many packages are going into the large cities creating a “dynamic price”.
It might just be easier to plan for and charge for Priority Mail Flat Rate envelopes and/or boxes to avoid Amazon “other” charges for USPS “dynamic pricing” adjustments during the Holiday season.
Yeah, I discussed w/ the ShipStation folks (even though we mostly use Veeqo), but not my small business advisor at the USPS, didn’t think of asking her. For now will add a book to get the weight above 2 lbs. if needed. Right now, it’s so tough because I like to code all the USPS rates into our database but how can you do that when they seem to change so often, plus now there’s the horrible “rural zip code” pricing that is incredibly high, even on flat-rate envelopes (or at least it was today). LOST money on a package shipped w/ free shipping today; going to stop offering that on eBay and have every non-media item use variable shipping (actual + a markup) instead of $5.99, $6.99, etc. even for lightweight items.
Very frustrating, want to spend time on cataloging new inventory, NOT redoing all the shipping templates on every platform and mucking with our code. Gross incompetence, but I’m not surprised in the least.
IDK why I find this so funny. It’s stupidity that caused stupidity…