NEW USPS Postal Increases Are Damaging Sales of Small Items One Pound and Under?
Summary: A participant shared insights on managing costs with USPS postal increases when selling small items on eBay. They analyze income from each listing to determine if tracked shipping is viable, given that shipping costs often cut into profits. They mentioned occasionally having to refund customers when items aren't received, but noted that some customers eventually pay or return items, which they account for as part of their business cost strategy.
Dear eBay community please advise what impact the new USPS Postal Rates are having on your business. Especially items that weigh one pound and under shipping via USPS Ground Advantage. Thank you for your input in advance.
10 comments
carterk37681
·2 weeks agoi just listed and item and used Ebays calculator for shipping. i entered the dimensions and weight.
ebay calculated the shipping to be 10.31. How can it do that if i do not know where this item will be shipped. i went to the USPS site and just for kicks i calculated the same dimensions and weight going from my zip to Lansing Michigan (just pulled that outa hat) the shipping cost was 31.00. Thats more then my item cost. can someone explain
cherrygon
·8 months agoThis is the worst thing that I've been through in 25 years. The only exception to this one thing is when eBay destroyed all my photos arguing them and not being able to. I had to tear my store down completely with over 5000 items still have not recovered to this. I doubt I'll recover from this postal increase either. eBay should consider Adding more acceptable categories To their standard trackable
kinemaman
·8 months agoThis is the worst thing that I've been through in 25 years. The only exception to this one thing is when eBay destroyed all my photos arguing them and not being able to. I had to tear my store down completely with over 5000 items still have not recovered to this. I doubt I'll recover from this postal increase either. eBay should consider Adding more acceptable categories To their standard trackable shipping for small items under a certain dollar amount Along with lowering the fees per items that are less than $10. This is really destroyed a lot of us, especially in the beads and finding categories, etc., and notion.
annadryl
·9 months agoThis isn't new. I used to do the $5 DVD thing with free shipping, and I made money! Postal inflation is way higher than base inflation. It is what it is...
stainlessenginecovers
·9 months agoImpact = ZERO.
I raised shipping from FREE to $5 Flat Price to $7 Flat Price. Biggest Saturday I've had in months.
tobaccocardyahoo
·9 months agoMy sales went up when the USPS surcharge went into effect. Since price increases are bad and my sales were better, I assume they are unrelated events.
Simultaneous observations do not show causation most of the time.
cityslickercreations2004
·9 months agoAny increase in price has a detrimental effect on my business.
That also includes cost of goods, shipping/ printing/ packing supplies.
hotwheelsbum
·9 months agoANY increase price has a detrimental effect on your business?
It's not the Postal Rate increases that are Detrimental to your Business, your ebay sales. It's all those $5-$6-$8 Listings you have up with FREE SHIPPING that is turning out to being Detrimental to your Business.
Your profit margins are already slim as it is, but yet you still offer FREE SHIPPING on just about 60% of everything you have listed. Why Sellers offer Free Shipping on $5.98 listings is unfathomable.
USPS Ground Advantage Postal Rate increases from $6.97 to $7.12 for that $24 Hard Rock Cafe T I have up, Buyer PAYS for shipping, that might increase my fees ebay charges up .02 cents. Far far far from being Detrimental.
cityslickercreations2004
·9 months ago"It's not the Postal Rate increases that are Detrimental to your Business, your ebay sales. It's all those $5-$6-$8 Listings you have up with FREE SHIPPING that is turning out to being Detrimental to your Business."
>> I double checked 25 of my lowest priced listings ($5.95- $6.95) and they do not have free shipping. Could you help me out with an example? Perhaps, I have missed some and would like to make corrections.
"Your profit margins are already slim as it is, but yet you still offer FREE SHIPPING on just about 60% of everything you have listed."
>> As you pointed out my margins are razor thin. I calculate my total costs (COG, supplies, fees, postage) and then compare that to my competitors. Sometimes I need to make an adjustment. I am not sure what else I can do.
"Why Sellers offer Free Shipping on $5.98 listings is unfathomable."
>> I know I can't.
terrafirmatx
·2 weeks agoI've found it very helpful to look at the actual income from each listing (Order details) and look at the breakdown on how much Ebay actually is paying me. If I subtract the approx. $6 or more in tracked shipping, and it doesn't leave me enough to even pay for the item I bought to sell, then I can't do tracked shipping and/or sell it for that low price.
I do a lot of small items in letter envelopes. I do get a few losses in the "I didn't receive it" category where I have to send a refund. About 1/3 of those folks actually either send the product back when it finally gets there, or message me about paying me back for it and buy another and leave feedback saying they got it. It's all calculated into my cost of doing business, and I'm doing ok.