USPS Ends Support For FedEx Ground Economy Drop Offs July 14, 2024
USPS is ending support for drop offs of FedEx Ground Economy shipments, effective July 14, 2024, according to an announcement posted in the eBay community forums.
FedEx Ground Economy (previously called FedEx SmartPost) is a cost-efficient shipping option for low-weight, low-value, and nonurgent shipments that leverages the USPS network for last mile delivery in some areas.
While USPS may still be handling some packages in transit or some parts of delivery for this service, they're making it clear that shippers are no longer welcome to drop FedEx Ground Economy package off at USPS locations - warning any packages left will be seized and not forwarded to the intended recipient or a FedEx facility.
Starting July 14, 2024, USPS will no longer support receipt of any FedEx Ground Economy shipments. If you drop off your FedEx shipment to a USPS location, they will not forward it and the package will be seized.
It's important to always use the correct label, packaging and drop off location for each carrier. Find your closest FedEx location.
How will this change impact your online business? Let us know in the comments below!
much too complicated now for a few pounds a year in sales
They just "killed the golden goose". I imported my 1500+ eBay items to there since it was free. Turned out just to be a lot of work for (maybe) 3 sales a month.
The total fees were higher there before this new $20 a month cost structure, even though they claimed otherwise. When one factors in the 3.49% + 49 cent PayPal processing fees so one can get paid, there went a good chunk of profit.
Now they have boosted their commission to 11%, and still claim that the cost to sell there is less than eBay's. And remember that this does not include payment processing. WHY?? Makes no sense at all.
On eBay, for $27.95 a month, I sell over 100 items there every 30-31 days. Makes ZERO SENSE to pay a site $20 to make just a couple of sales. Since they now allow 50 "free listings", I have trimmed my offerings back to just below that amount. Also had to raise all my prices accordingly to absorb the extra selling costs.
The people who run the show here obviously didn't realize that eBay sellers who imported their listings gave the site a great depth of product, which would attract more buyers. Now that will be gone, because NO ONE will pay them $20 monthly for little to no sales.
The site also has technical issues that they refuse to fix. It was a decent resource to enable the occasional sale, but they will soon be stacked onto the eCommerce trash heap of companies that THOUGHT they could compete with Amazon and eBay. Etsy may also suffer the same fate soon, as many sellers are also leaving their site due to high fees, website issues, and poor management.
Basic eComm rule here: When you do not carry any inventory, and sellers are solely responsible for supplying your site with the goods offered, DON'T BITE THE HAND WHICH FEEDS YOU!!!