Choosing an insane & expensive shipping option to create a profit?
(This was an auction. The shipping was clearly advertised. I full well knowingly bid on this auction, prepared to pay the advertised shipping cost.)
Shipping was FedEx or UPS (buyers choice) and the prices between the two are very similar. It's calculated shipping, I'm about half way across the country, shipping would be $130 to me, I ran the numbers and it appears calculated cost would've ranged from $75 (within the same town) to $160 clear across the continental US. ($325-$350 for Hawaii & Alaska).
Ready for it?... The items are packed within 3 USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate Boxes. 2 Large, 1 Medium. The seller was planning to take these three boxes, place them in one larger box, and ship like that. It costs $62.70 Retail to ship these 3 boxes as they are, anywhere in the country.
Why in the world would someone take 3 Flat Rate Boxes filled of stuff and ship those in one larger box (unless it was ACTUALLY cheaper, there are times where it could be).
History tells me this seller is not opposed to USPS and is not opposed to multiple packages for a single listing/order. I've bought from them before, they shipped me multiple USPS flat rate boxes for a previous single listing purchase.
Only reasons I can come up with are complete ignorance, or an attempt to profit off the shipping. The commercial prices with respect to shipping to my zip code are $45 & $63 lower than the respective retail prices. So seller would net the $45 or $63 depending on carrier.
I did of course point out the difference and politely asked if there is any chance they could just ship the 3 flat rate boxes as they are, and they agreed to do so as well as amend the shipping charges. But, what the heck? I would've been so peeved to have received 3 FR boxes within one larger box.
myangelandmyprincess
·3 years agoShipping multiple boxes is more complicated in my opinion.
I'm not sure how this has the seller making a profit either if seems like using a more expensive option would have them losing money as the buyer would take into account the shipping cost and bid less on the item. Meanwhile the seller still pays the fees on that higher shipping cost used that isn't part of their profit.
kalyoth
·3 years agoNothing to really read into for trying to price out the items.
Many Sellers use the "free" materials provided by the post office to fill in for packing materials in their transactions.
Simple as that.
A good seller packs items before listing to get a true estimate of everything & to see how much additional space is needed to safely ship.
I find it easier to obtain bulk Amazon boxes & packing where I am, from the community via a Facebook page group titled "Buy Nothing".
belah6204
·3 years agoWhy were these items not all shipped in one flat rate box? Trying help but completely confused.