New to free shipping thoughts
Summary: lbsjoyfulnoise3 expressed concerns about incurring a loss on eBay due to shipping costs exceeding the sale price of a coin and sought advice on using eBay's shipping options. tobaccocardyahoo advised reading about the eBay Standard Envelope and its usage, emphasizing it is not a special envelope but a label for qualifying shipments. 1786davycrockett and others recommended using regular envelopes with specific stamps for better cost management, noting the risks of shipping coins in envelopes due to potential tearing. fm2000 provided detailed advice on differentiating shipping methods, such as using ESE for low-value coins and Ground Advantage for more valuable ones, advising against offering "free" shipping due to complexities in cost management. Several participants highlighted the importance of understanding postal requirements to minimize losses.
Hi, I sold a coin on eBay it could easily fit in a regular sized envelope with stamps. I realize I won鈥檛 get the same protections. It sold for less than the shipping cost. I took a loss lesson learned. It鈥檚 ok but how could I fix this is the future. What does a eBay envelope look like? Never seen one. Thanks. 馃檹馃徏
fm2000
路3 weeks ago 路 EditedYour store shipping is a mess. Forget about "free" shipping, it isn't free and coin collectors tend to be the kind of people that can do basic math in their head to get the total price. Non-letter shipping can now go up literally anytime, not just twice a year, keeping up with changing prices on all your items just to maintain the same margins with "free" shipping is a nightmare.
Your low value small coins should go ESE, your larger low value coins (to rigid/large/thick) should go non-machineable letter. More valuable coins should go Ground Advantage, not Priority; Priority is barely faster, if faster at all, and even more outrageously expensive than GA in most circumstances. Use calculated GA; rural/non-lower 48 state shipping is dramatically more for items under 1lb, and will kill your profit on some of your items with free shipping. Calculated GA gives the better rate to most US addresses, and charges full cost for the zip codes we are "punished" for shipping to.
Non-machineable letters are a literal small fraction of GA for 1-3.5oz. It doesn't have any tracking, but you should come out way ahead even if a small number are lost of people do false INRs.
ESE is just metered letter mail with usually-works-but-not-very-reliable tracking and $20 in insurance. Unreliable tracking aside, it is 4 cents cheaper than using a stamp, so you should use it for coins that don't make the envelope too rigid. You buy an ESE label just like a regular shipping label on eBay. Too rigid, you have to use a "butterfly" non-machineable stamp (and additional ounce stamps for over 1oz), no discount, no tracking, but it works.
If you are unsure about how to properly prepare letter mail (ESE and non-machineable), be sure to ask a postal clerk for help. You must make sure envelopes are the right size and 3oz or less for ESE (non-ESE letter size mail can go to 3.5oz.)
fullers_uk
路3 weeks agoBe careful with free shipping, you have to get it delivered real fast, see this:
https://www.ebay.com/help/buying/shipping-delivery/expected-delivery-dates-buyers?id=4025
janet9988
路3 weeks agoYou need to list it for more money.
simba6
路3 weeks agoCoins will often tear out of envelopes in postal machines. Not a good way to ship them.
bdmh-enterprises
路3 weeks agoRaw coins can be sent using an 'eBay standard envelope' label or a stamp by attaching them to a piece of paper or cardstock in the envelope (never send loose coins).
Coins in any kind of case however will be thick enough violate 'uniform thickness' standards for envelopes, even if under the 1/4" and are not eligible for either.
Whether ESE or a stamp, the envelope must be flexible, flat and firm (nothing soft or squishy). If not it has to go 'non-machinable' which is still under $2, but untracked and slow.
1786davycrockett
路3 weeks ago@lbsjoyfulnoise3 "What does a eBay envelope look like? Never seen one."
Sure you have -- an eBay Standard Envelope is just a regular #6 or #10 plain white envelope, which has the eBay Standard Envelope (ESE) label attached to it.
Although several eBay sellers have indicated that the ESE is not trustworthy enough to use when shipping coins.
You might be better off just sending off your coin in a plain white envelope, attached safely inside so that the coin doesn't move around, and mail with a USPS non-machinable stamp (only available at the post office counter -- not for sale on eBay).
Cost is $1.31, and has no tracking.
tobaccocardyahoo
路3 weeks agoYou haven't bothered to read about Ebay Standard Envelope either.
Read NOW
https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/shipping-items/setting-shipping-options/ebay-standard-envelope?id=5308&st=3&pos=1&query=eBay%20standard%20envelope&intent=ebay%20standard%20envelope&lucenceai=lucenceai&docId=HELP1689
It is an inferior tracked service which works for some sellers and not others. It is dependent on how the seller packs.
It is not a special envelope, but it is available in some categories and must meet size and flexibility requirements. Many of your competitors use it.
soh.maryl
路3 weeks agoThe last two items you've sold on eBay have sold for less than $10. How much did you expect to net from those sales when offering free shipping?