QUESTION FOR EBAY SELLERS

[SandyinMonterey]

My husband starting selling some items on Ebay. Just small collectible things. Some potential buyers have commented that his shipping is too high but the thing is, he is charging less than what the post office charges us. For example: today I took a box to be shipped. Very light, a little larger than a shoe box. Guy at post office said $12.55 for ground/7 day delivery or 50 cents more for 2 day delivery. My husband charged $7.50 on Ebay. What is he doing wrong? Any tips or advice? TIA

 

[Criickette]

If under a pound, check out First Class Parcel.

 

[MommaoffherRocker]

When we started selling on ebay we had the hardest time figuring out shipping. I have found that people are happier to pay a little more more for an item and have free shipping than to pay a cheaper price and then shipping on top. Also look into all your options like flat rate boxes and as PP said First Class Parcel. You can also get a discount if you buy the postage from ebay and it automatically comes with tracking. And beware of scammers, once we had someone tell us they had to pay to get their package from the PO and when we asked for a picture of their receipt we never heard from them again. I hope some of that helps.

 

[mmmagique]

I sell small collectible items on Ebay and offer free shipping with all of it. I keep my packages small (9x7x7) and my weight light. (the one I sent out today was under 9 ounces and cost me $3.30 to send First Class buying my usps postage through paypal.)

 

[ibob52]

as a ebay Buyer I prefer free shipping rather than paying the same price

when (the item plus the price of shipping) is the same as (the item plus free shipping)

For me it is because if there is a reason to return the item the part refunded

is the price of the item (but not the price of shipping)

I do not know if my reasoning is sound but that is what works for me.

 

[BigAlsGal]

Say free shipping and include it in the price. That's what I do!

 

[robinb]

I would invest in a postal scale so you can print your postage at home.

 

[cassie58]

My husband starting selling some items on Ebay. Just small collectible things. Some potential buyers have commented that his shipping is too high but the thing is, he is charging less than what the post office charges us. For example: today I took a box to be shipped. Very light, a little larger than a shoe box. Guy at post office said $12.55 for ground/7 day delivery or 50 cents more for 2 day delivery. My husband charged $7.50 on Ebay. What is he doing wrong? Any tips or advice? TIA

Thanks for posting this question! I had the same question, as I had some things to sell, but had the same worry - I don't want to make no profit if I have to shell out more for shipping than I charge the buyer, but if I offer free shipping and up the sale price, it might seem high. Hopefully more experienced sellers will comment w/advice. I already figured some larger or heavier items I should sell elsewhere, but still trying to decide best option. Craigslist scares me now, although I would meet at police station. I was going to look into Facebook yardsales locally, but similar concerns there. I have my own yardsale yearly, but know I don't get people willing to pay for things worth higher amounts there.

 

[mmmagique]

I would invest in a postal scale so you can print your postage at home.

I use a small, accurate food scale that's always in my kitchen anyway. I think it was around $20. (or less)

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

If under a pound, check out First Class Parcel.

The weight limit for first class packages is 13 ounces, not 16 ounces.

 

[JediBonas]

Get a scale and pay for postage through eBay, you get a slight discount. Also roll the price of shipping into the price of the item, or at least part of it. The weight limit for first class through eBay/paypal is 15.9 ounces, you can only get this online, not at the post office.

 

[gottalovepluto]

It's been a couple years but I'm gonna be going back to selling on ebay in a couple months... I don't remember being dinged for high shipping costs and I charged my whole shipping cost (I used flat rate boxes from the post office). Has something changed? It sounds like people can buy your item knowing full well what it costs to ship and then they turn around and complain in the comments/ratings about how expensive your shipping is?!

 

[Criickette]

The weight limit for first class packages is 13 ounces, not 16 ounces.

See JediBonas post!!

 

[blackpearl77]

I would get a postage scale and buy your postage right through ebay. ebay gives you a discount on the postage if you buy it through them - I noticed it is a little cheaper than if you went to the post office. Also do first class not priority. Like some people said - you can add the postage price into the item price and then advertise it as free shipping. Or you can put a lower shipping price and just put the difference into the item price (if you're afraid it will make the item price look too high).

 

[Moomduck1]

As an ebay seller, I do not offer free shipping for the same reason that people said here they look for free shipping. If for some reason someone returns the item to me, I have to refund the price paid. Which means that I lose out on what I paid to ship. I'd rather receive less for the item and then if it has to be returned, I return what the item cost. For example, if the item sold for $10 with $5 shipping, I'd have to return $10. If it sold for $15 with free shipping and it was returned, I'd have to return the $15. It's only ever happened to me once, but it's something to consider. I also weigh my packages so that the postage is as accurate as possible. I don't set a flat shipping cost unless it's going priority in one of their boxes. Otherwise I input the weight of the package and the measurements and have it depend on the zipcode. I estimate on the high side because if I'm way off, then I refund the extra postage. I wouldn't ask for more if I under estimated.

 

[robinb]

I use a small, accurate food scale that's always in my kitchen anyway. I think it was around $20. (or less)

Yes, but it won't weigh larger, heavier items.

 

[mmmagique]

Yes, but it won't weigh larger, heavier items.

No it won't. The OP said her husband said he sold small collectibles, just as I do.

 

[robinb]

No it won't. The OP said her husband said he sold small collectibles, just as I do.

Right ... but she may want to sell heavier items in the future.

This is the scale I have used for the last 10 years:
http://www.oldwillknottscales.com/my-weigh-ultraship55.html

 

[SandyinMonterey]

I've been relaying these responses to my husband. He did comment that in the past he did raise the price of the item and dropped the price of shipping or gave free shipping but then potential buyers said he was asking too much for the item. If they're not complaining about price of item, they're complaining about cost of shipping. And truly, my husband isn't putting outrageous prices out there. Went to post office (again) today to ship, cost $16. I tried to talk with clerk and ask for help about shipping costs but she was in too much of a hurry. My husband will have larger items in the future and I just can't imagine what that will cost.

 

[starry_solo]

Where the item is one pound or less, shipping costs are the same regardless of where it goes within the US.

When the item weighs more than one pound, then the shipping costs vary dependent on the distance between origin and destination.

Also note that eBay charges a fee on shipping costs as well.

And eBay will make the seller refund all (including shipping) if the item is defective or damaged.