The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and eBay Inc. are making it easier to sell goods at eBay's auction site by offering online access to postal products, services and shipping tools.
The offerings will let eBay sellers print shipping labels, pay postage and check the delivery status of their items from the eBay Web site, according to a USPS statement yesterday.
A USPS spokeswoman said letter carriers will pick up the packages, which have a weight limit of 70 lb., at the seller's home and take them to a processing center.
"Fast, affordable and reliable shipping services are essential to eBay buyers and sellers alike," eBay President and CEO Meg Whitman said in the statement. "We are very excited about this relationship because the Postal Service is committed to working with us to deliver more value to the eBay community."
EBay also plans to include Express Mail rates in its shipping calculator by late fall, according to the statement.
"The U.S. Postal Service provides customers convenient access to postal products nationwide at post offices, grocery stores, ATMs and other commercial agents," Postmaster General John Potter said in the statement. "It only makes sense that we provide the same level of convenient access online."
The Postal Service and eBay said they are continuing to explore ways of enhancing shipping on eBay, including finding easier ways to ship internationally.