Suggestion, calculated "free" shipping?
I don't know if it would help compete with amazon or even be possible. But what if sellers could offer "free" shipping but buyers would just see a calculated total cost?
I.e. I list a large item for $40. Frank next door sees the price at $40 but Sally sue in random city 1000 miles away sees the price as $50 with free shipping.
13 comments
reallynicestamps
·3 years agoLarge sellers can do it because they pay discounted shipping rates, lower than the discounts eBay can offer sellers because the shipper is picking up large numbers (pallets full) at a single location, that are already sorted to make the carrier's job easier.
When I sell a book on AZ there is a shipping charge $6.49 if I ship myself.
And they charge everyone the same amount (whether Free or $6.49) because their average shipping cost is that much.
There is an advantage to using Calculated Shipping.
First, the buyer sees their exact cost for shipping.
Second, it can "feel" like a more precise, and therefore honest, price.
And third, the buyer who can figure out that a doohickey that costs $15 +$5 shipping is exactly the same as $20 +Free Shipping, is more intelligent and less emotional, than the guy who chooses the latter because it is 'free'. These are easier customers to deal with.
There are also drawbacks in returns and refunds for having shipping as a line item, but frankly, if you have more than one percent Claims, that's the least of your worries.
I should note that I ship almost everything using Free Shipping and without tracking because my buyers tend to be older, calmer, and actually read the descriptions and follow directions. YMMV.
ms.rodriguez*
·3 years agoNo. No. No. What you are really suggesting is calculated pricing. Impossible on Ebay. Do what I do, assume that the item is going to the farthest state from you and use that as your flat fee price. If you want to do free shipping, then add that shipping rate to the starting price. Don't worry about making a few cents if you sell the item in a nearby state. Things usually average out. Remember, postal rates go up next week so start editing if necessary.
gemarakop_trading
·3 years agoThat is a brilliant idea
coolections
·3 years agoThat would not make any sense. Just use calculated shipping and everyone sees " their" cost from where they live.
djvp53
·3 years agoUnless there really are buyers who are persuaded that "free" shipping is better. And eBay, for one, certainly thinks many buyers prefer nominally free shipping even if that just means the shipping price is baked into the listing price.
coolections
·3 years ago@djvp53 Sold something today for $45 and shipping cost the buyer $41.90. That person did not seem to care as the TOTAL was cheaper than other sellers selling the same thing. I suppose everyone does it different. The downfall of offering free shipping is those who live far away are the ones who will buy the item if you offer free shipping as "their" cost is cheaper than those living in the same state as the seller. Calculated is the way to go regardless of what Ebay says.
onlinecentral
·3 years agoThe 'Free Shipping' that sellers currently offer has the shipping cost 'baked' into the price. Sellers are figuring in a dollar amount based upon current rates.
That works okay until there is a rate increase. Then it takes a lot of time to revise the prices. This proposal for a calculated 'free shipping' would theoretically adjust the sell price upward when rate increases occur, saving sellers countless hours of unpaid labor.
You should submit your suggestion at the next Monthly Chat With eBay Staff.
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Monthly-Chat-with-eBay-Staff/bd-p/weekly-chat
nobody*s_perfect
·3 years agoThis isn't possible, because a buyer can change their shipping address when they're paying for the item. What if Frank is visiting Sally when he pays for his item? Should he be charged the $40 that he saw in the listing, or the $50 that is attached to Sally's address? You can see how Frank would object to being charged an extra $10 that he never saw in the listing.
hartungcards
·3 years agoIt's Sally that's getting stiffed for the extra $10, not Frank. Unless Sally is visiting Frank, in which case I think the shipping charge triples.
hartungcards
·3 years agoSounds to me like Frank is getting free shipping, and Sally ain't.
lakefor94
·3 years agoIf Dave is 500 miles away, he gets 1/2 price free shipping. I think the OP should run with this.
hartungcards
·3 years agoI love getting stuff for free at half price.
dbfolks166mt
·3 years agoFirst there is no such thing as free shipping, somebody is paying. Second what you propose is not unlike calculated shipping based on the buyers location. If it was free shipping the shipping cost would be baked into the price or shown as the same rate for all buyers regardless of their location.