WIll customers complain?
Summary: inhawaii started a discussion about whether customers will complain about being charged $5 for shipping when the cost of the eBay Standard Envelope (ESE) label is $1.36. mam98031 questioned the transparency of rates and the pricing decision. ten_o_nine clarified that eBay does not allow hiding the postage value on ESE labels due to USPS requirements. inhawaii explained the pricing strategy to balance costs and profits, while others shared similar experiences, with most suggesting that although some customers might complain, many understand the seller's need to cover additional expenses. christworks emphasized that the clarity in shipping costs is part of a buyer’s decision-making process, and sellers should not worry too much about discrepancies unless complaints become frequent.
Several items I sell ship in a small manila envelope with a cut manila folder inside for rigidness.
I recently switched them over from GA to ESE.
I now charge my customers $5 instead of $8.40 saving them $3.40.
The ESE label now costs me $1.36 instead of $8.40 saving me $7.04.
Do you think customers will see the $1.36 postage on the ESE label and complain about the $5 that I charged them?
dbmm-media
·2 weeks agoprobably
cityslickercreations2004
·2 weeks agoMany of us have been conditioned to view actual postage as the shipping cost. As sellers, we know there is a tad more than actual postage.
I have chosen to have my shipping costs reflect actual postage and all shipping supplies. I was shocked at how costly my printer ink was actually costing me per label. Thankfully, I don't have much overhead.
fm2000
·2 weeks agoYou are saving both your customers and yourself money. Everyone wins, they are coming out ahead too... whether or not they will appreciate who knows, I am sure some will complain. I'd be inclined to add the shipping FVFs onto the ESE cost (calculated cost + 15% or such), but maybe not all the way to $5. Add a little to the item price to balance it out.
If you want to save even more, and are not too risk adverse, you could explore the world of large envelope/flat shipping. Your Stihl manuals could probably go as a LE, for less than half the cost of GA (they could go Media Mail if you really needed tracking, they are instructional manuals and they are allowed as MM.)
christworks
·2 weeks agoWill someone complain? Do something enough times, yes. Should that cause you to change what you are doing? No.
When a buyer makes a purchase, they clearly see the item cost and the shipping cost you are charging them. Just like it should not matter how much you sourced the item you are selling for, it also should not matter how much it actually cost you to ship it.
I cannot possibly fathom getting angry if I paid $20 for shipping, and I happened to see on the label that it cost the seller $10.
duffy4444
·2 weeks ago · Edited"Do you think customers will see the $1.36 postage on the ESE label and complain about the $5 that I charged them?"
I have sold hundreds of USPS First Cass items with a stamp or two on a letter envelope, or with a FC label showing what I actually paid, which in some cases was much less than what they were charged.
I have never yet had one buyer complain about being overcharged. I believe they realized that for me to be able list inexpensive items for them to buy, they were willing to see me make it up with a profit from postage.
Cheers, Duffy
annadryl
·2 weeks agoRemember the ESE tracking is not as good. Buyers that watch their tracking like a hawk might expect better for five bucks. Also many buyers seem oblivious to how much shipping is skyrocketing and the bind that puts sellers in.
I use free ESE a lot and just add a little into my price. Works well for me.
grann-4629
·2 weeks agoI wouldn't, but there are probably some that would. I doubt if there any of 'those' buyers here ... 😎
nyr134
·2 weeks agoIf they see that they just paid $5 for postage that costs $1.36, they ‘d complain. Wouldn’t you?
adamcartwright
·2 weeks agoWhen you print the label, I would uncheck "Display postage value on label"
ten_o_nine
·2 weeks agoeBay does not give you the option to hide the postage value on eBay Standard Envelope (ESE) labels. Because ESE is processed as metered letter mail rather than a parcel, the USPS requires the exact postage rate to be displayed on the face of the label.
inhawaii
OP2 weeks agoESE labels wont let you do that.
ten_o_nine
·2 weeks agoDo you think customers will see the $1.36 postage on the ESE label and complain about the $5 that I charged them?
**
Yes, some will.
lakefor94
·2 weeks agoWill they know the cost used to be $8.40?
mam98031
·2 weeks agoI didn't know buyers could see such information. They can't see what I pay for Media Mail or for GA, why can they see the rates for ESE? Just curious.
And why would you charge $5 when your cost is $1.36 plus fees and packing supplies, so maybe $2.50 or less. Again, just curious.
sin-n-dex
·2 weeks agoI used to do ESE and I seem to remember it showing the postage which is how I was able to double check I bought enough postage to ship the item. ESE is nothing more than a fancy postage stamp that can be partial tracked with a QR code.
mam98031
·2 weeks agoIs that from a setting you set to allow showing the postage rate? Or is it a rate only you can see and not the buyer?
adamcartwright
·2 weeks agoIt's in the print settings. There's a box to check if you want postage paid displayed on the label. Assume it's there for ESE, just as for GA, etc.
sin-n-dex
·2 weeks agoHow will USPS know enough postage has been paid? Wouldn't everyone buy the cheapest label to ship the maximum weight if it's not showing? With GA the rate paid is tied to the label. USPS has been able to look up a tracking label and tell me how many ounces I shipped. They can't do that with an ESE envelope.
adamcartwright
·2 weeks agoWell I was assuming -- I don't do ESE and have been corrected.
sin-n-dex
·2 weeks agoI only know this since I used to do ESE, but my shipper (Stallion Express) won't accept any more ESE labels with Pitney Bowes postage on them. I have to buy the postage from Stallion directly now.
mam98031
·2 weeks agoIs there a bar code on ESE labels?
ten_o_nine
·2 weeks agoeBay does not give you the option to hide the postage value on eBay Standard Envelope (ESE) labels. Because ESE is processed as metered letter mail rather than a parcel, the USPS requires the exact postage rate to be displayed on the face of the label.
sin-n-dex
·2 weeks agoI can settle this argument...
inhawaii
OP2 weeks ago"And why would you charge $5 when your cost is $1.36 plus fees and packing supplies, so maybe $2.50 or less. Again, just curious."
Fair question and i'll give you an honest answer:
To make more money. Most everything else I sell I charge $8.40 and it cost me more like $10. I did this whole ESE thing not to make more money but so that I could charge my customers less money to ship an inexpensive item. I felt bad selling a $5 or $10 item and charging $8.40 shipping. I felt $5 is a reasonable amount to pay. It saves them money -and- it makes me money. I look at it as a win/win. Unless I get complaints. Then I may have to re-think this.
mam98031
·2 weeks agoBuyers likely won't feel the same way, especially since the rate you are paying will show on the label. And as of today there is another rate increase on GA as well as yet another one coming the first week of next month. It is simply nuts.