eBay Postage ADVICE needed!

[tidoublegger]

Hi, I used to sell frequently on eBay and have just started listing items again. With the postage rate hike from last year, shipping rates can vary so much from one part of the country to another!!

I am wondering how you all decide on your shipping rates: Do you have a postage scale at home to weigh the item; do you have it weighed at the post office after the auctions end; or do you wing it and charge a fixed rate and potentially lose money on shipping? I don't know if I necessarily want to spend the money on a scale, but it's a pain to go to the post office with the package, come home and email the buyer, then wait for payment and then go back to pay for and mail the item. I estimated shipping costs right after the postage hike last year and was off by sometimes as much as $3.00!! HELP! Thanks~ Tracy : )

 

[mcgrawfan]

I estimate. I got a chart from the post office of the different prices for different pounds. They told me I could go to their website and find the zone chart, but I couldn't find it. I have lost a few dollars here and thereon postage, but I am making so much on my items that it hasn't mattered too much yet. I know a lot of people have scales at home. There is a way on ebay to have the buyer figure postage according to their zip code, but as a seller I have yet to figure out how to get that on my page.

 

[ceecee]

I estimate as well. I'm usually really close. It seems like I got less bids when I put buyer to pay exact shipping. I never bid on anything unless I know the shipping in advance, gotten burnt too many times not knowing.

 

[MCazer]

Buy a digital postal scale. You will save in the long with the cost of gas these days, one trip to the post office is enough!

Here is a link to ebay, I suggest at least a 5 lb scale and digital!

http://search.ebay.com/search/searc...perty=MetaEndSort&query=digital+postage+scale

 

[DMRick]

You might want to hop over to the big ebay thread for more ideas and suggestions. eBay has a built in postal calculator now, where you input the weight, and the people just put in their zips to get the correct postage.

Since they changed Priority, it has been a pain, but I did print out the zone charts, which hang on my wall near the scale..makes it a lot easier for those items I don't have a set amount of postage on.

 

[PartyofSix]

I ship all my things using priority mail. I go to the usps site and print out my label without paying postage and guess at the weight so i have a general idea about what my costs are plus by doing it online i get all my supplies FREE and FREE delivery confirmation. Now as so rates i set my rates. I generally sell the same things clothes jackets ect that are our things. I use this money from ebay to fund my trips out of town with the family. Okay back to the rate i set my rate say shirts i do for 4.50 jeans min of 6.50 sometimes 7.00 (my husband had BIG clothes and they weighted more) now shorts and such i do at 4.25. I never want to loose money on shipping and acutually it cost me about 5.05 for jeans or either 6.85 according to mine or his and not to mention 3.85 for things 1 lb and under. I charge shipping and handling. I need some form of comp. for my time to put these things on ebay and to package and cart them to the postal office so on combining shipping i do buy two get one free on shipping if i'm asked. Some people just pay for everything with shipping and never ask. I always pay for the shipping out of my pocket so i have money on my paypal card for vacations.LOL Hope this helps you.

 

[disneychrista]

I package up (without sealing) the items I am selling, weigh and then go to the USPS site and determine postage to a Zone 8. This is what I use as my base for my shipping and handling. To this I add an additional amount for handling (recover ebay fees, for packaging materials, time etc).