I’ve been shipping at the 3lb rate when applicable since the change and have yet to see an adjustment through eBay. And while I don’t use them much aside from an occasional oddity, I’ve read PirateShip will default you to 3lbs if it’s cheaper. Can’t imagine they would encourage this if it was breaking some sort of rule.
The rural zip code pricing was the main issue I brought up with him and the fact that those zip codes are not published anywhere. The majority of our packages are under a pound with some being just an ounce or two, and the fact that a package that small and light costs $8.40 to a “rural” zip code is really frustrating. He said he understood my frustration but that there is pretty much nothing he can do about it but pass the feedback along. I’m very much not looking forward to the holiday price increase.
A simple solution for the rural zip codes would be to create a Zone 10 and dump all of the rural status zip codes into that.
We shipped a rural Zone 4 today (about 300 miles away in state) that cost $7.46. A Zone 5 that was 1,200 miles away shipped for $5.48.
We are thinking USPS PM Flat Rate for holiday time so we will have a set price to work with.
There’s an old link from 2024 that claims to have a list of the “exception” zip codes (downloadable, in Excel format). Shipstation says “no change in the list w/ the July 2026 updates” but no idea if it actually is accurate today for our purposes.
We checked the zip we sent to this morning with the rural charge and it was on there. Also, our own zip code is on there (which we were pretty sure we would be).
For others who want the excel file … here is the direct download link from @svbooks post above to get the excel file …
delivery to these zip codes
This will be handy … thanks!
I’m finding that when purchased on Amazon, these are the rates being charged for Rural Zips.
But if you purchase at USPS.com with a business account, this jacked up rural price is not charged.
Today’s Example - Zone 7 to rural zip 72744 - 10x7x2 envelope - 5oz on Amazon $8.07
But if purchased on USPS Business account - $ 6.02
So I guess it would behoove one to connect their USPS business account to Amazon and outside of the time to create a label, the only other con would be another entity to add to your accounting process.
Agreed, although I suspect that Zone 11 might be a better choice for a designator, as USPS has been toying with Zone 10 for some time, albeit for non-domestic destinations:
Zone Chart and Exceptions Test Files for Zone 10 | PostalPro
The problem is that rural shipping DOES vary by zone. Each zone has it’s normal rates & rural rates it seems.
Right now, I’m trying to fill out the rural Ground Advantage rates in our coded-in postal tables. Pain in the !#. Thanks to @wadeorcas for posting that for <1 lbs. packages, appreciated. I’ll see if I can post a full chart for 1 lbs. and up once I get all the USPS direct, USPS discounted (Veeqo, Amazon, Shipstation, etc.) and USPS rural rates into that chart.
Addendum: Actually, never mind, I forgot that rural rates are simply the normal USPS published commercial rates, so easy enough to figure out w/o having to alter our charts. Just use the 12-15.999 oz published commercial rates under 1 lb. and the published commercial rates above that, versus the discounted rates you otherwise would get on Veeqo, Pirateship, Amazon, eBay, Shipstation, etc.) for non-rural zips.
Now I just need to write code to see if the zip is in the list of rural zip codes I alluded to before and viola.
Posted today on Ebay
USPS® rate update effective August 22, 2026
Summary: A participant informs about upcoming USPS rate changes effective August 22, 2026, which will lower shipping costs for certain Ground Advantage and Priority Mail shipments. These adjustments do not apply to rural ZIP Codes. The eBay shipping calculator will automatically update with the new rates, and sellers will be kept informed of any future changes.
We want to keep you informed about upcoming USPS® rate changes. Effective August 22, 2026, USPS is making rate adjustments that will mean lower shipping costs for select Ground Advantage and Priority Mail shipments. These changes do not apply to [u]rural ZIP Codes[/u].
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Ground Advantage: Rates will decrease for 2lb packages across Zones 1–8
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Priority Mail: Rates will decrease for packages weighing up to 10lbs shipping to Zone 8
There’s nothing you need to do, the eBay shipping calculator will automatically update with the new rates when they take effect on August 22, 2026.
We’ll continue to keep you updated as shipping rates change so you have the latest information as quickly as possible.
As always, thank you for selling on eBay.
Oh, seriously? I am going to try this.
I’m curious if the new 1-2 lbs. GA rates will be lower than the <1 lb. rates ever. Hopefully they will be lower than the 3 lb. rates so we won’t have to add any more junk books to qualify for that rate. I guess we’ll see.
Rural rates are a killer though for those non-book, non-media items that go Ground Advantage (or even Priority occasionally); hate to up our rates to cover the relatively small amount of times this will affect us but likely will do so a bit and/or end free and fixed-price shipping on eBay for said items.
I had two of those monsters today. One must be REALLY in the woods or swamp. It was almost $8.00 for a standard 4 ounce padded envelope but UPS would have been over $23.00!
I don’t recall ever seeing that much difference in over 20 years of shipping things.
I live in a rural zip and even though we have a sizeable post office and I pick up mail there, I’m on the rural zip list. Returns for seller faulted returns (usually lies) are gonna hurt.
So it does appear that as of TODAY (8/22), the 2 lb. GA rates now exactly match the discounted 3 lb. GA rates (for non-rural) – at least for Zones 7 & 8, guessing for the other zones too. So no need to stick extra weight in the box any more! Hurrah!