The new pricing rules apply to packages weighing less than one pound that are shipped to certain rural zip codes, Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Instead of calculating the price by weight per ounce, USPS has introduced a flat fee structure for these shipments.
The change does not affect all USPS services. Priority Mail and Priority Express Mail rates remain unchanged, and the new pricing system is only being introduced through some platforms that provide USPS shipping labels.
Online sellers have raised concerns because shipping costs can now vary based on the destination rather than only the package weight. A package sent to a rural location may cost more than an identical package sent to an urban area, even if both destinations are located in the same state.
eBay Sellers Adjust to New Ground Advantage Pricing
eBay informed sellers that the updated USPS Ground Advantage rates would take effect on Monday for shipments under one pound going to rural zip codes, Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
The platform had previously confirmed in June that rates would remain the same, before announcing the implementation of the new pricing rules. The change has caused uncertainty among some sellers because the final shipping cost can now depend on the destination zip code.
USPS first introduced zip-code based pricing in 2024, and the rollout has continued to create questions among online merchants using postal service shipping labels.
New Rates Only Apply to Selected Destinations and Platforms
The updated pricing system is limited to areas outside the contiguous United States and zip codes identified by USPS as rural. Not every e-commerce platform using USPS Ground Advantage shipping labels has adopted the new rates.
According to The U.S. Sun, sellers reported that other platforms offering USPS Ground shipping labels, including Pirate Ship, had not implemented the new pricing rules.
The limited rollout has added another layer of uncertainty for businesses that rely on different online marketplaces and shipping services to calculate package costs.
Shipping Costs Now Vary Depending on Package Destination
Under the previous system, USPS Ground Advantage shipments under one pound were priced according to weight per ounce. The new approach replaces that method with a flat fee for eligible packages sent to specific destinations.
USPS had not immediately responded to a request for comment about the pricing changes.
For sellers, the main adjustment is that package location can now influence the shipping fee. A shipment with the same weight and dimensions may receive a different price depending on the zip code where it is delivered.
