Store fee(s) for Shipping?
I've been mentoring a newbie seller since the beginning of the year and things are going pretty well, but the sheer number of listings he's got going now (approaching 300) are making a store subscription a good idea in terms of number of free listings and such.
My own level of sales is never going to approach the need for a store, so at this point I'm a little out of my depth, and am trying to read up on store subscriptions. It looks like a Basic subscription for him should be good, offering 1000 free listings across the board and 10,000 in his particular area of interest, but waaay down at the bottom of their Help page on Store selling fees, I came across this (below):
Other terms and conditions
We always want to make sure we're very clear about the fees we charge, so here are some details you should be aware of:
- If you use supplemental services, such as buying and printing shipping labels on eBay, or if you participate in any of our advertising programs, additional terms may apply and you'll pay any costs or fees associated with those services. Details of the costs or fees will be on your monthly financial statement and we'll charge the payment method you've set up on your seller account
Okay, what "additional terms" and "costs and fees" are associated with buying and printing shipping labels on eBay when you have a Store subscription? This one came out of left field for me; I wasn't expecting to read that.
chapeau-noir
·2 years agoI would also go with month-to-month with Basic store for now. For anyone but a rather desultory seller like myself (these days) the Basic store is the best bargain going IMHO.
eBay does not have stellar comms - I can't imagine who they have to write these things, but any extra services connected with purchasing labels here continue to be extra services.
They will get a small quarterly coupon for eBay shipping supplies, though!
lakefor94
·2 years agoI don't know about your question in the last paragraph.
As far as the store, starter store for 6.95? or 8.95? , that is a no brainer. Get the store and never let off the gas.
nobody*s_perfect
·2 years agoThe starter store doesn't make sense for this seller, since the seller needs more free insertions. The starter store only gets the same 250 as non-stores get. And IMHO a seller should start out with the month-to-month store for a while before committing to the annual subscription.
nobody*s_perfect
·2 years agoeBay writers are so lame! That green text is basically trying to say "If you purchase shipping labels through eBay, you'll have to pay for them." Shipping works the same for Store subscribers as for non-stores. And you're right -- a Basic store would be a good idea if he plans to increase the number of listings.
caldreamer
·2 years agoYes, have a store subscription would be a real plus for you since you sell mainly one thing (bicycle parts). This allows customer to "view all items" that you have for sale and hopefully customer will purchase additional items.
EBAY does NOT charge you to print shipping labels.
If you decide to "promote" (advertising) your listing (you decide what % you want to pay). If you item sells (you are charged % on that item).
a_c_green
OP2 years agoYes, I've looked at store subscriptions for myself in the past, but I don't think my volume of sales would justify the extra costs, so I never signed up. However, the person I'm mentoring is listing in a completely different area and has a vast inventory that he is progressively getting on-line here, so his quantity of listings (and hopefully his volume of sales) will simply be going up and up in the coming months.
dhbookds
·2 years agoI can't think of any "additional fees" that would be incurred in shipping with having a store, other than the ones Mam mentioned......which apply to those without a store also.
Another one of those Ebay vain attempts to be clear.......which only muddy the waters......
a_c_green
OP2 years agoThanks all... yes, it was the specific mention of buying the Shipping labels in conjunction with the other stuff about "additional terms" or "costs and fees" that had me confused.
I have read in the past of other weirdnesses associated with fee differences between Store and non-Store selling, and was wondering if this would be another fee surprise. For example, if I remember right, the option of scheduling a listing start time was free if you did not have a Store, but not free if you did, which made no sense to me. It looks like they have done away with that particular fee now.
richard1rst
·2 years agoReminds me of a quote attributed to Fed chairmen Alan Greenspan.
"I know you think you understand what you thought I said but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant".
I am guessing that what they mean is if you buy your labels through eBay you will be charged for the cost of the label, whereas if you buy your labels somewhere else you will NOT be charged BY EBAY for any shipping costs. So that label cost would be an eBay generated “extra fee†above and beyond your store subscription.
Yes, yes, that is rather convoluted logic. But judging by some of the linguistic skills I have head from some recent graduates the fuzziness of it doesn't really surprise me.
vivabe
·2 years agoPromoting listings would be an additional fee, of course. Anything out of the standard listing method.
mam98031
·2 years agoGood call. A Basic store is an excellent choice. They will get a little discount on their FVFs too.
Other fees in regards to shipping is likely adding a signature or insurance to the shipment. Other tools that can cause additional fees are likely Promoted Listings, listing enhancements like subtitles, multiple categories etc.
Let us know if you still have any other questions. Happy to help.