UPS, eBay and PayPal changes

I got an email from UPS this morning and you will have too if you use direct UPS label printing through eBay/PayPal.

Basically they are saying that won't be available (in its present form) starting May, 2013.  Details are in a link in that email. If you opt for the new approach they will give you a 3 year free contract with the new software supplier which is valued at $360.  At the end of that time (after you are used to using it) I guess they will start charging you $120 a year or whatever it will cost in 2016.

Here's a copy of the email followed by a link to the actual ups web page describing the program.

*******
Dear UPS Customer,

As a valued customer who has used UPS label printing through PayPal® with UPS Account Number xxxxxx, you should be aware that starting in May 2013, you will no longer be able to purchase and print UPS labels through PayPal. However, eBay® sellers will continue to be able to select UPS services from the list of available shipping options when listing items for sale. For information on how to continue to ship with your UPS Account Number when selling on eBay, please click here.

Thank you for choosing UPS.  


http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/bussol/browse/iabol4commerce.html

Edit:

As I look at this again I'm thinking I might have gotten this email because I also have a personal UPS account, so if that is the case I don't know if ups shippers JUST through eBay/PayPal will get that email. We'll know soon enough.

This doesn't affect me because I only ship USPS. I find that USPS is faster and cheaper than UPS, so I'm amazed that anyone uses them, let alone be willing to pay an annual subscription.

This doesn't affect me because I only ship USPS. I find that USPS is faster and cheaper than UPS, so I'm amazed that anyone uses them, let alone be willing to pay an annual subscription.

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See section in red above.  When I have a question about which one is cheaper for a given item, I check both. Sometimes (sorry, didn't tally the # of times) UPS is cheaper than usps.

Also, UPS automatically insures items up to $100 in value. USPS doesn't do that. You have to buy insurance from them if you are concerned that something might happen during the shipment process.

I try to use at much USPS flat rate, media mail, and priority mail when I can.  But, once you get into some of the bigger items, a lot of times UPS will be significantly cheaper.  For me, post office and UPS store are about 600 yards apart, so I'm going with cheaper!

That's strange, I didn't get anything about UPS changes. Wonder what gives?

I have only used UPS for very large items, like framed posters. They are significantly cheaper than USPS when it gets to be an oversized item (over 84 inches in the length plus girth calculation). Thankfully, I don't have to send those often. USPS is definitely cheaper for me and especially now that I'm a Top Seller on eBay, it comes out to a buck or two cheaper to ship Priority than Parcel if the item is 2 lbs or less.

I'd be curious to know why UPS is doing this.

Staci

That's strange, I didn't get anything about UPS changes. Wonder what gives?

Here's a cut and paste of the first paragraph from the ups link I provided above.

iabol for Commerce
Starting May 2013, purchasing and printing UPS labels through PayPal® will no longer be offered. However, UPS shipping services will continue to be available to eBay® sellers when listing items for sale.

It looks to me like they are addressing shippers who have actual ups accounts and who printed labels through PayPal.
That covers the first line of the paragraph quoted above.

The second line seems to say that if any individual lists items for sale on eBay that the ability to print labels through paypal will still be available.

When I ship an eBay sale through ups I start at eBay, go with the item just sold and press ship button from there. It automatically takes me to PayPal and pops up the shipping slip for the item.

Looking like this won't impact ebay sellers who do the shipping through eBay/PayPal and NOT their personal ups account. If that's the case, it is good news and there is no reason to go through the hoops on their other offer.

Well I won't be using UPS ever again. I use USPS, Fedex, and UPS however the only real reason I offered UPS was because printing labels thru paypal was so seemless and easy. Othre than that they are expensive, not as good as fedex, and its a pain having to log into an entirely diff site an plug in all your info...maybe not for one package but when your doing 15-20 a night it becomes a pain. Really surprised they are donig this.