Has $10.99 USPS for even a 6 oz item become standard practice? "Rising costs" only goes so far.
I do not sell on eBay. Of late, with but a f
ew exceptions, listed items, no matter how light, or of standard size to ship, cost $10.99 USPS Ground Advantage. I would rather pay more for the item itself. With some sellers, the packaging and materials may increase their costs - then state that especially good materials are used, or they use gift wrapping, etc. But then just incorporate that into the price of the item.
I would also like to see eBay clamp down on the sellers who increase shipping costs tenfold on items with listing prices under $10.00, for example, as a regular gambit.
I think sellers do a great job. I know I can skip buying if all isn't satisfactory. What is it, with the $10.99 USPS Ground Advantage bit, as well as the tenfold costs though.
stainlessenginecovers
·8 months ago@maxi314 is $10.99 what you are seeing other sellers charging for items? or what you pay to ship out a 6oz package?
shire123
·8 months agoAs many have said, the mentioned rate is probably retail. I use ebay labels and the majority of my mailings are from 1 to 2 pounds in boxes that are less than 1 cubic foot. The postage for USPS GA is generally from $9 to $13 with mailing from Wisconsin.
It's a fact of life. Costs continue and will continue to increase regularly. Complaining won't do anything about that. We need to adjust accordingly or quit selling. It's your choice.
wastingtime101
·8 months agoCurrent Ground Advantage retail rates:
Packing materials, eBay fees, etc. Box bumps 6 oz item to 11 oz.
Sellers may charge a flat rate regardless of qty purchased.
Sellers may charge a flat rate per item because they are under-charging for heavier items and over-charging for lighter items with everything averaging out in the end - easiest way for the seller to keep it simple.
edit to add: Could also be a seller that ships UPS or FedEx exclusively or a seller building a piece of "free return" shipping into outbound shipping or a seller that only ships Priority Flat Rate envelopes for those items because they don't want to buy packing materials. The list is endless.
Lots of factors that can make $10 ship plausible for that item even though it may seem outrageous at first glance. Impossible to say without knowing what factors contribute to the seller's shipping set up.
Bottom line: shop total price. If total price (item+ship) is too high, move on to another seller. If total price (item+ship) is reasonable even though you don't like the way the cost is split between item/ship - who cares? Total price works then focus on that.
martin2001
·8 months agothese seem to be the retail prices, not ebay/pirateship prices, correct?
maxi314
OP8 months agoThat's what I am trying to figure out. I am not certain, but if I were a seller, I think I would incorporate more into the item cost, but it is complicated isn't it.
stainlessenginecovers
·8 months ago@maxi314 It's actually VERY simple. Buyers just need to ask themselves: "what is the total cost of this item if I were to buy it?"
Items you can't get cheaper in person or elsewhere, there is NO question about it, if you want it.
Simply because there are far too many variables. Ship a tire across the country for $40, selling for $1- would make sense (not for a seller, but for a buyer)
maxi314
OP8 months agoOh. I thought it was going so well. No. The total cost with shipping is a factor, but when the shipping cost looks to be extraordinarily high, it is just that, and I wanted to learn.
By the way, I never get email notifications for this forum and they are not turned off, only receiving an eBay Was your issue solved message. There are 20 or so choices in the profile. Even before mobile phones - which I do not have - I think I received but one comment notification. What's the trick, please, if you know. (There are zero blocks on this computer). --- Well, this is interesting - under Additional options below this text block, it has you check there if you want to receive notifications. I thought that was done in Profile. So for each blasted one?
stainlessenginecovers
·8 months ago@maxi314 top of page, right side, little bell; it will have a 'number' there in red. Click it; that is your 'notifications' for this forum; either someone gave you 'thumbs up' or 'mentioned you' as I just did; and you will see that notification there, as well as hitting that 'subscribe to this thread' in the top right drop down arrow on each post.
maxi314
OP8 months agoOP here. Thank you for the complete information. I do look at total cost first, but when shipping is exceptionally high - for weight, size, location, etc., I think I would rather see the item price increased for seller materials, time. At least I think so. Thank you.
christworks
·8 months agoIt could be any number of reasons why a seller might charge a higher shipping charge.
They may falsely believe they are avoiding eBay's selling fees. It used to be a thing to charge .99¢ for the item, then a crazy $25 shipping charge to avoid the selling fee. I have run into years old listings that are still set up like this.
Sellers may be ensuring they have extra padding built in to cover material costs and fees. I build the cost of materials and fees into my shipping cost.
Some sellers are being strategic. If they have TRS status they can withhold the original shipping the buyer paid, should the item be returned. If they are heavy-handed with the shipping, it is possible to recoup the return shipping cost, if they have free returns, and still make a profit.
Some sellers may use closer buyers to subsidize some of the shipping costs for buyers further away. I do this. Most of my buyers are from Zones 1-4. As an example, a Zone 2 buyer will pay a Zone 4 price. It isn't much of a difference. For a 2lb 10x8x6 box, the Zone 2 price is $6.26. The Zone 4 price is $6.84. That same box going to Zone 8 is $10.00. The base price I charge is $6.84 for Zones 1-4. I add $1.00 to that to cover a chunk of materials and fees, so a buyer in Zones 1-4 is paying $7.84 in shipping. There is a varying surcharge on top of that for buyers in Zones 5-8. The surcharge is not enough to cover the the cost of the label, materials and fees. However, I don't need it to be, because overall the "profit" I make off Zone 1–4 buyers subsidizes that shortfall. This approach helps me keep prices reasonable for my closer buyers while not giving buyers who are further away sticker shock at the shipping costs. This approach has worked very well for me. I use good materials and I pack very, very well. If you are going to charge more for shipping, make your buyer feel it was well worth it.
kibble-net
·8 months agoIt doesn't cost $10.99.
Complain all you want about privatization (spoiler alert - that will make it even MORE COSTLY) but it is more likely OP has selected "irregular package" and inflated the cost on their own.
It costs me about $5 to ship a 6 oz package, so I don't know where OP is getting the $11 figure from.
maxi314
OP8 months agoI am not a seller. It was a question. (I did not inflate one thing).
bonanza125
·8 months agoWell for starters if you don't sell on Ebay then you might not be aware that it doesn't cost $10.99 to ship a 6 oz package. I just put together a package which was 6 oz and the cost was $6.43 from coast to coast. It will be cheaper if shipped somewhere on my coast. Now yes increase shipping cost will hurt sales which the items are $6 and under cause yes it will cost the same amount to ship as the item costs. To avoid that I would suggest creating bulk lots of cheaper items to make it worth it. Ebay charges a fee both on item and shipping cost so the seller doesn't really gain anything but a handling charge. If the charging charges are too much ask the seller for a deal. If they don't answer or refuse buy from another seller who is more affordable.
amber_resin_fossils
·8 months agoI understand that you can do this but you cannot do that if you sell one of a kind items like I do. It costs me $8.75 to ship coast to coast for a 1 ounce amber fossil. Shipping prices are absurd especially when one considers gas prices have dropped. I have always combined items to save my buyers on shipping costs.
bdmh-enterprises
·8 months agoThat's weird because I send 2 oz packages with cards for $4.85-5.65 from ME. Are you selecting 'irregular package'?
wastingtime101
·8 months agoThat's what I would have thought if $8.75 didn't exactly match the zone 8 retail cost. Sounds like that seller is averse to online discounts (printing at home or using QR codes) and pays the higher retail rates.
Current 'irregular package' surcharge for USPS Ground Adv labels purchased online is $4.50.
amber_resin_fossils
·8 months agoNot at all. It is a standard cardboard package used to ship delicate items like amber. I have used it for years. Even if I use bubble wrap envelopes they still charge me $8.75 to ship from PA to CA.
bdmh-enterprises
·8 months agoAs @wastingtime101 said, you are paying retail rates. If you bought your labels on eBay, you would be saving over $3 per order.
fern*wood
·8 months agoWhere do you buy your labels?
@amber_resin_fossils
amber_resin_fossils
·8 months agoThese are the rates my post office charges. I do not buy/print labels from home as it is difficult for me to do so in my circumstances.
stainlessenginecovers
·8 months ago@amber_resin_fossils 386 items sold past 90 days means you've spent approx $1,158 MORE than you needed to.
You can buy a laptop, a printer and paper for about $300. So, unless your circumstances is that you don't have electricity or a roof to keep these things out of the rain, you should look into buying those things.
fern*wood
·8 months agoObviously I don't know your circumstances, but if you could find a way to buy the label online you would save a lot of money. Some use the QR codes and have the label printed at the post office.
bonanza125
·8 months agoSo what you are saying is Ebay doesn't give you a shipping discount on fossils?
cityslickercreations2004
·8 months agoWhen I am shopping online, my main concern is the total acquisition cost.
E.g. I have seen identical items at $14.00 + $6.00 shipping or $16.00 + $4.00 shipping and $20.00 with free shipping.
How a seller splits those costs is very rarely of concern to me.
tinsoldierunderground
·8 months ago@maxi314
I haven't as of yet experienced that. Two larger items I bought were $12.00 and $10.00 shipping respectively.
This particular seller used an awful lot of materials from ULine and USPS, and packed very well.
Another recent purchase, smaller but heavier was only $7.00 and change, again very well packed.
All 3 items were purchased from Dec. 19th to Jan. 14th. As far as exorbitant shipping charges, unless it's a one-of-kind item and a once-in-a-lifetime chance, I just move on.
frugalmarketplace
·8 months ago@tinsoldierunderground
All I have to say is the increased cost of postage and the poor service I am getting from the post office it just a joke.
They can privatize it..I don’t care..Some conglomerate would do a better job. I called our local, small post office..got this overpaid clerk who is paid $84,000 per the government website on wages..who said when I called to ask about a package that was not scanned for two days..ask nicely..rarely ever call.
â€If you ever call again I will see that you will not have mail delivery anymore†That jerk was reported to the district office.
tinsoldierunderground
·8 months ago@frugalmarketplace
Wow, that's certainly an asinine response on the part of a USPS employee. Not that I haven't had my share of rough patches with USPS over the years, but lately it's been smooth. One of the most irritating situations years back, was when my prescription eye meds were constantly misdelivered to a house at the end of my block, and me getting their mail as well. I complained to the local PO supervisor, no explanation, she just gave me a, "what do you want from me?" look.
frugalmarketplace
·8 months ago@tinsoldierunderground
A month before I had my personal Louis Vuitton purse that I sold on eBay that was lost in transit. It was my own bag and very nice. It finally showed up two weeks later ..the customer was more than gracious, but that post office was no help. I stressed about that for two weeks.
I reminded them that they work for me, and at this point they can all go down with a sinking ship. they are overpaid and lazy.
The wise mouthed employees is 39…and is just living off the system.
BTW they cannot refuse to deliver your mail unless safety is an issue like a dog or something like that.
tobaccocardyahoo
·8 months agoThey can require you pick up all packages at the PO if there are too many insurance claims for missing on items delivered to you.
frugalmarketplace
·8 months ago@tobaccocardyahoo
I rarely have a package come to my home. Actually I have never had anything missing….I even get packages delivered from Amazon that are left out all night, and never has there been an issue. We live in an extremely safe area.
The guy at the post office has an attitude. I will not go any further. people make assumptions about who you are and where you live. This post office gets an overall rating of about 2.0 on Google reviews. they don’t answer the phone, are rude, etc.
soh.maryl
·8 months agoWow! I don't consider myself a chronic complainer, but if I ever got that as a response, I would really let loose. "It should be pretty obvious what I want from you, but, just in case you missed it somehow, the first thing I want from you, and hope this isn't asking too much, is for you to do your dang job, you know, the one that you are presumably being paid for."
maxi314
OP8 months agocorrection - "$10.99" is the most common shipping charge I'm finding. Could be $10.50 for a 5 oz item - point is still the same.