Listing question
I am selling an F1 tire coffee table and due to the way the tire will be shipped the glass table top needs to be shipped separately. I did the usual weight, dimensions, and selected the least expensive service for shipping the tire, however I can not find a way to set up the shipping for the glass table. It seems as if you can only setup shipping for one item per listing or am I missing something? TIA.
30 comments
fm2000
·5 months agoSell it locally. If you do sell it on eBay, make it local pickup only. That table is a great item, but shipping it comes with MAJOR liabilities due to its size, weight, fragility and complexity to ship, especially versus the relative value. Just that glass top would be a major headache, being so fragile and large. That tire could be subject to all kinds of surcharges you may not know about until after the fact.
One UPS or FedEx "adjustment" (real or imagined) and that table may cross into "freight" territory, which they then can do a $1000+ charge to your account, and based on others experience I can tell you would be a living nightmare to try and correct. Just not worth it for a $500 table. It is still a great item, someone out there would definitely be willing to drive a distance to pick it up.
You currently have it set for $40 shipping from your state (IL) to my state (NY). It would cost far more than $40. And that wouldn't even account into things like packing materials and any of those "gotcha" surcharges it may be subject to.
One other thing, it is minor but the description of the table is eBay AI generated and sounds really cringe. You appear to be an expert in racing items, you should spend a few minutes and write the description yourself, including the background you have on the item. I am sure it has an interesting history behind it. That really helps boost buyer confidence. A serious racing fan would really appreciate your knowledge and expertise.
powell-collectibles
·5 months agoUnfortunately you’re getting a lot of the never-have, can’t-do crowd advice. Just take it with a grain of salt.
plenty of folks sell this kind of item online. It’s pretty easy to check out – there’s no shortage of seller and items to look at. Take some time and figure out how they do it. Maybe even ask them how they would ship. Plug in some values for worst case shipping cost.
absolutely, there is a risk with this item. Every single sale on eBay carries with at a certain risk for the seller. That doesn’t mean that we scenario plan as if the worst case is going to happen each and every single time. Only you can figure out if the risk of a return is something that you want to stomach for the potential for a certain profit level.
soh.maryl
·5 months agoThere are some things that work out better being either listed as local pickup only, or listed on some local venue.
bashort
·5 months agoWhat I have done before is come up with a single package size and weight that will cover the cost of the 2 packages. You will have to play around with the size and weight, Check a few zip codes to see how it works.
You could also put part of the shipping cost in the item price and then have the other part covered by calculated shipping on a smaller package size and weight that gives the correct total.
On either of these I would limit to 48 state
I would not do free shipping
christworks
·5 months ago@apex_motorsport_collectables
You are already going to cause buyer confusion. Look at this line from your description:
"Tire and glass top must ship separately. I don't know how to list shipping cost for 2 items in the same listing so if you are the buyer please message me for the cost and I will purchase a label and ship it separately."
What is all this language about the buyer messaging you for the shipping cost of the glass? You appear to be saying that you will have to charge the buyer extra. If that is what you are thinking, you can't do it. If I go buy that tire right now for the price and shipping you have set up, it is 100% on you to ship it however you need to ship it. I don't have to message you for any additional cost. If you try to charge me more, I will report you. If you cancel the sale without my permission, I will report you.
I am trying to show you how this can go sideways before you even get shipping that thing. You already have someone who has it in their cart. Unless you want to be stuck or taking an OOS hit, I would pull the listing down until you figure out what you are doing with regards to shipping. Your listing is set up so that I would pay $34 in shipping. The tire, even with how you are planning to ship it, will cost more than that.
What I would do if I were you is to set up a shipping table and limit the listing to buyers who are within Zones 1-4. Offer local pick-up, and be willing to ship to those zones only. Charge a flat rate for the shipping and base that on Zone 4. By using a flat rate charge, you can combine the cost of both shipments. By limiting how far you are wiling to ship it, you reduce some of the risk.
I do believe you should turn on local pick-up. I am very familiar with the area you are in. I've been to your town many, many times. There are a lot of resellers who come up to the bin store there from St. Louis and Springfield. I bet if you put local pick up on it, someone would take it for $400-$450. There are some stores down in St. Louis that would love to have it.
inhawaii
·5 months agoI would NEVER sell/ship that item.
Too costly to ship.
Too much that can go wrong.
What if the buyer wants a return?
You are stuck paying for return shipping.
What if the glass breaks?
You are responsible for the insurance claim.
I would sell it locally for cash and never see the buyer again.
redmodelt
·5 months agoThink about the return shipping it they open a not as described return!
apex_motorsport_collectables
OP5 months agoWith the amount of photo and description documentation they would have a tough time claiming not as described and I only except returns for that reason. Besides I don’t think most collectors which this buyer would be would want to shell out 4-500.00 plus 150.00 in shipping and want to return it. You never know though. That’s why I extensively photo every angle describe in detail every listing.
jonathanbrightlight
·5 months agoThey wouldn’t have a tough time. They just click that option and eBay accepts it, 99.9% of the time at least.
apex_motorsport_collectables
OP5 months agoReally? That sucks.
bonanza125
·5 months agoYes you would be on the hook for the shipping cost up and return back as a seller if it's not what the buyer was expecting and files an "item not described" case. So understand you are taking a risk listing this item. Everything could go fine without any problems at all. Majority of the time it does go right just sometimes things can go not as expected and lands up costing you.
redmodelt
·5 months agoAll they have to do is open a not as described return and you pay return shipping not them, plus get a full refund including shipping THEY paid in the first place. Refunds don't come out of pending funds, they come out of your payment source that you have setup.
soh.maryl
·5 months agoAny buyer can open an item not as described case. And YOU, the seller, not the buyer would be the one to "shell out" the return shipping cost.
Read this carefully: No matter how many photos you took, no matter how dedicated your buyer appears to be, they can open an INR case and you, the seller, will be forced to accept the return and to pay for the return postage. I cannot emphasize the importance of that information enough.
luckythewinner
·5 months agoWith the amount of photo and description documentation they would have a tough time claiming not as described
You are clearly not familiar with how eBay works.
Generally speaking, any buyer can return (or steal) any item from any seller at any time by filing a fraudulent dispute.
apex_motorsport_collectables
OP5 months agoYou are clearly not familiar with how eBay works
You are correct. I just created my seller account about 45 days ago. But given what you correctly point out that any unscrupulous buyer can easily and without consequence screw a seller over it would seem the only safe route would be to not sell on eBay yet, I assume everyone who replied to this post has been doing so for years, and I frequently see items listed for far more than this tire table and just as risky to ship. I would think if it were “that” bad on here there would be no sellers. Does eBay do nothing to protect their sellers?
soh.maryl
·5 months agoYou have absolutely made some good points; however, since you're relatively new to the platform, many of those who replied felt it important to warn you of the pitfalls of such a sale and the shipping issues.
For example, you feel that a buyer would have a hard time saying an item is NAD given the amount of description, photos and documentation. What we were trying to point out is that that will make no difference at all if the buyer opens an NAD case. Buyers aren't required to prove that an item is NAD.
Best of luck with your sale.
Also, to answer your question: "Does eBay do nothing to protect their sellers?"
Relatively speaking, sellers don't have as much protection as buyers.
jonathanbrightlight
·5 months agoSellers have to simply manage their own risk. Most buyers are honest, and then you have to build in some margin to cover losses, sometimes known as “cookie jar insurance”. This is true of any type of selling, really, whether online or in a physical space. At least with online selling people don’t just walk out the door with product that you don’t discover is missing until some time later.
powell-collectibles
·5 months agoYou have to take advice on these boards with a grain of salt - consider what people write, sure, but don't assume that it is sound advice. Some that have never sold or sold 1-2 items twenty years ago might heap on a can't-do message to you. I see it all the time on these boards - people that have never really sold dissuading sellers from listing anything, telling them that it is the road to run, even though plenty of sellers are successful with those items.
You are doing all the right stuff - doing your research, asking questions. The can-do sellers will tell you to reflect a certain level of risk in your items. That's what successful sellers do. Some items have a higher level of risk, which is reflected in the price.
momtoabeautifuldaughter
·5 months agoNot tough at all. Just click item not as described and claim any little thing and eBay will expect you to accept and pay return shipping.
bonanza125
·5 months agoI would suggest maybe selling that locally for pick up.
apex_motorsport_collectables
OP5 months agoNaa I live in a very small town, all dirt track fans. They would never pay that much for a race used Ferrari F1 tire from 1992
ryry-jj
·5 months agoYou can only set up one shipping element. What is the total weight of that item?
apex_motorsport_collectables
OP5 months agoThe tire or the glass top?
ryry-jj
·5 months agoThe entire item, glass top and table. Dimensional weight will be billed at about 66 lbs. Does it weigh more than that? Your listing says $66 shipping to me in California...I think it will be more, especially the extra charge for being over 50#.
apex_motorsport_collectables
OP5 months agoThe tire (no wheel) is 28lbs 24x16x24 I read that single tires can be shipped fedex ground without boxing by stretch wrapping the entire tire with heavy duty stretch wrap and placing the ship label directly on the tread area.,saves on dimensional weight.
the glass top is round 14x14x1/8th and weighs 3lbs 4oz and will definitely need properly packed and boxed.
ryry-jj
·5 months agoThere will be a surcharge applied to that type of packaging if it is shipped without a box, so account for that. eBay calculation doesn't pick that up. I believe dimensional weight still will apply
redmodelt
·5 months agoTires would be the exception; they don't require a box. They can be shipped wrapped with stretch wrap with the label attached.
adamcartwright
·5 months ago@apex_motorsport_collectables
That table is a very cool piece.
Have you ever run into trouble with that display figurine you're using? Seems like some buyers would think it's included in the listing.
apex_motorsport_collectables
OP5 months agoActually no. I think they got the joke. A barista figurine showing off cappuccino sets. I am out of china now so I should probably retire here.
luckythewinner
·5 months agoIt seems as if you can only setup shipping for one item per listing
Correct.
You may need to figure the actual cost to the furhtest destination, and charge a fixed amount.