Shipping costs are out of control
Summary: llama_lady expresses frustration with rising shipping costs on eBay, noting a significant price increase for sending a package to Pennsylvania. They plan on adjusting their shipping charges to avoid losses. kensgiftshop mentions that many sellers are switching to calculated shipping, but llama_lady and shire123 prefer flat rates due to concerns about underpayments. Others, like moretreasures4you and monroe67, share their experiences with calculated shipping, citing few issues. thriftyfiftyfifty questions the accuracy of the shipping cost claims, prompting llama_lady to explain price differences based on location. yeswayrecords notes the decline in traditional mail as a reason for increasing rates, affecting both buyers and sellers.
Venting here. I realize ebay doesn't control shipping costs. I just sent a package that weighs 7 ounces to PA and the cost was $7.69 in zone 8. Tomorrow to send the same package it will be $10.20. I will have to sit up late tonight to change my shipping costs because I can't afford to eat almost $4 in shipping costs on every order - and that is just the 8 ounce packages. I currently charge $6.10 and I sometimes make 10 cents but nine our of 10 times eat a lot of postage. Thinking about it, it will be less expensive to send priority mail than ground advantage. I have been on ebay for 30 years and there have been a few times where I had to think whether I wanted to continue, but this is really sitting on my mind at this point in time - and if you all believe the rates will go down after the holidays? They have never, ever gone done. Thank you. I need a cup of coffee.
yeswayrecords
·2 days agoSince very few send letters anymore to pay their monthly bills, USPS has to make up for that loss of revenue. This is probably one of the reasons why shipping rates are exploding.
Shipping is understood as a cost of doing business. The buyer agrees to pay for the convenience of receiving the item directly at their door.
That said, the rates have been steadily increasing over the past few years, making it harder on both buyer and seller.
thriftyfiftyfifty
·2 days ago · Edited@llama_lady For clarity I don't know if you are exaggerating the pricing or you have the wrong Zone or what. Zone 8 to a Rural Zipcode is 8.40 and just over $6.00 for that Weight Non-Rural (7 Ounces). It surely ain't going up over $10.00 for seasonal rates either. Please explain.
llama_lady
OP2 days agoI can upload the receipt if you like. The person probably lives in an area that the USPS deems the boonies, and therefore the vast increase. You haven't noticed that even flat rate envelopes have two costs? For instance, a flat rate envelope costs $9.62. If the person is deemed to be in the boonies, the cost is $11.66. I have been around long enough to pay attention to shipping costs. - and yes even flat rate envelopes are going up about 75 cents .
I am going to raise the cost for some of my items and if the buyer thinks it is too much, and I have gotten a few messages telling me my shipping costs are too high, I shall see.
thriftyfiftyfifty
·2 days agoYes, I know I addressed that and said THAT in my Comment: "Rural" vs. "Non-Rural". But your costs are way off based on you saying "Zone 8" (which in fact it would have actually cost you $8.40 NOT $7.69 if it was in fact sent to the "boonies"). Also "$10.20" is not accurate for your cost come "Tomorrow" because of seasonal rates. I just asked you to clarify from your Original Post so you don't lead anybody astray, but you still seem to be talking around it.
kensgiftshop
·2 days agoA lot of sellers are switching to calculated shipping.
shire123
·2 days agoGiven the "logistics" of using calculated shipping regarding knowing weight and size of packages before selling I just don't see myself using it given the vast number of different weights and sizes of the items I sell.
I am sticking with flat rates. I have 8 different flat rates in my business policies. I just choose the one that would be most appropriate for the item that is sold.
llama_lady
OP2 days agoNo, I won't do that. I am on a lot of different resellers/ebay boards on FB and those that have issues having to pay underpayments is more than my liking. I would never allow ebay to calculate shipping for me, and I did opt out.
moretreasures4you
·2 days agoI have been using calculated shipping for over 25 years. (Flat rate on very small or paper items. I have had underpayments twice in 25 years.
monroe67
·2 days agoMy selling ID has always used calculated shipping.
I have very rarely had situations where I had to pay a lot more for shipping than my buyer did.
But the OP's experience on eBay is apparently quite different from my own.