Someone tell me what I'm doing wrong with shipping costs.

[Trigue]

Alright so I've been selling some stuff on ebay to make some extra money to cover Joecon. The bad thing is that I'm lossing my butt with the shipping. I got a few flat rate boxes from the post office, used ebay's print a shipping label option and dang if it isn't taking half or in one case all the money I made on an auction just to pay the shipping.

I've been using the small flat rate boxes and medium flat rate boxes, I was going to use a large flat rate box but it would of cost 15 dollars to ship an item that only went for 13 dollars.

Some one please tell me what I am doing wrong. I have no idea how most of the sellers on ebay can charge 5 or 6 dollars shipping. I don't want to have to charge 14 dollars shipping for stuff that barely even weighs one pound.

[Python Viper]

Dont use priority flat rate. You can get the same size boxes at walmart for about 50 cents each and ship them parcel for less.

And try charging what the shipping is actually costing you. Its hard and I feel bad too but it costs what it costs. I get surprised once in awhile when a box is $10 to ship instead of $6. Try using the shipping calculator on www.usps.com (http://www.usps.com) when you are quoting shipping, it does help.

[spiderpumpkin]

Alright so I've been selling some stuff on ebay to make some extra money to cover Joecon. The bad thing is that I'm lossing my butt with the shipping. I got a few flat rate boxes from the post office, used ebay's print a shipping label option and dang if it isn't taking half or in one case all the money I made on an auction just to pay the shipping.

I've been using the small flat rate boxes and medium flat rate boxes, I was going to use a large flat rate box but it would of cost 15 dollars to ship an item that only went for 13 dollars.

Some one please tell me what I am doing wrong. I have no idea how most of the sellers on ebay can charge 5 or 6 dollars shipping. I don't want to have to charge 14 dollars shipping for stuff that barely even weighs one pound.

Looks like the Flat Rate TV commercials are working.

Yeah, Priority flat rate is expensive. You can order Priority boxes that aren't flat rate but the post offices seem to only have flat rate readily available in the lobby.

[Indiana Joe]

Alright so I've been selling some stuff on ebay to make some extra money to cover Joecon. The bad thing is that I'm lossing my butt with the shipping. I got a few flat rate boxes from the post office, used ebay's print a shipping label option and dang if it isn't taking half or in one case all the money I made on an auction just to pay the shipping.

I've been using the small flat rate boxes and medium flat rate boxes, I was going to use a large flat rate box but it would of cost 15 dollars to ship an item that only went for 13 dollars.

Some one please tell me what I am doing wrong. I have no idea how most of the sellers on ebay can charge 5 or 6 dollars shipping. I don't want to have to charge 14 dollars shipping for stuff that barely even weighs one pound.

for eBay just add these three words:


SHIPPING NOT INCLUDED

or these three:

BUYER PAYS SHIPPING

[VideoViper]

Also if the buyer wants faster shipping then they have to ask for it. otherwise ship what is cheapest.

One word of advice, always include some form of tracking even if the buyer didn't ask for it. That way you know if they got it in case of issues.

[bigvig]

Shipping cost is shipping cost. If youre shipping for free or just charging a flat rate without KNOWING how much its going to cost, then yeah, youre losing money.

I ship ALL my stuff Priority flat rate for a few reasons:

1: They deliver boxes to my house for free.

2: They pick up boxes at my house for free.

3: I know EXACTLY how much its going to cost.

4: Its a HAIR cheaper to buy shipping online which gives me a little of my money back for shipping labels, printer ink, packing peanuts and tape.

5: Its all online at any time of day and SUPER simple to use.

6: I get free delivery confirmation when printing online, and it automatically adds it to the ebay item AND emails the buyer letting them know.

I get people who ask about the shipping fees all the time. Guess what, I dont make up the prices. If you have a problem with the shipping fees, dont buy from me. Its that simple. Im NOT making money on shipping fees. If anything, Im losing a hair every time I ship something. I just packaged a medium flat rate box that I charged $11.35 for, which is the cost if you go to the PO and ship it. My cost online was $10.85, which means I pocket exactly 50 cents towards my materials that I had to purchase (tape, labels, peanuts, printer ink) so really, Im probably losing a few cents every time I ship.

However, I WILL NOT go to the store to buy boxes and then try to skimp out on the cheapest shipping available. Its too much of a hassle number one, and number two parcel can take forever to arrive, leaving impatient buyers pissed and leaving neutral & negative feedback. MUCH easier dealing with priority, printing and shipping same or next day and having it arrive 3 days later.

[Trigue]

Thanks for all the advice guys, I really do appreciate it. I'm certainly going to have to change how I'm doing this. I just didn't want to come off like I'm trying to make a profit off the shipping. I've had to actually send people a screen shot of the shipping page on ebay to prove to them it costs that much.

[Dolemite]

I always sell stuff via Buy It Now (no auctions) and always give free shipping. I just add the shipping cost to the price of the item, and they always sell because the free shipping notice reels 'em in every time. People are stupid.

And yeah, NEVER buy your supplies at the post office. Walmart or Target are where it's at.

[bigvig]

Since the Post Office GIVES you free boxes, dont ever buy boxes, period!

[mister-x]

and........

THANK YOU COME AGAIN :)

[Deceptichage]

If your item falls under the 13oz or less, you can ship first class packages up to $3.65. Usually it's as fast as Priority shipping.

https://www.usps.com/ship/first-class.htm


If it's over 13oz, use Parcel Post or Priority mail. Sometime it's about a dollar or so difference depending on location. Flat rate boxes are great if you are mailing items over 5lbs that are small. Buying cheap boxes from Walmart helps a lot too.