Shipping Price Gouging
I started out listing more inventory for sale an notice that 1-4oz shipping went from 5.25 to 6.80., 1.55 increase...may be time to use the collective whole of ebay to begin using it as a power to negotiate with USPS back down to a still to high price of 5.25. Otherwise you are going to see a HUGE DROP across the entire spectrum of ebay sales....I feel sorry for you who got sucked into free shipping, better start revising now or lose buckets of money due to shipping costs...
7 comments
richard1rst
·1 year agoI am reminded of a line my lawyer has used on many occasions: “You are assuming facts not in evidenceâ€. And shipping has never cost me anything
I was NOT “sucked†into free shipping. After years of price plus shipping I gradually and willingly changed ALL my listings over to free domestic shipping. Even the big heavy over sized boxes. And I have never regretted it.
And as far as your $6.80 is concerned?
It would take way to long to spell it out here, But I challenge you to quietly sit and contemplate exactly HOW MANY people handle that package as it gets from you to your buyer. I once estimated about 20 people. And 4-5 jeeps, and 2-3 physical sorting facilities, and an airplane.
And all of those people, machinery and building overhead is paid for out of my/your paltry $6.80. Sorry - but I see it as an unbelievable bargain.
stainlessenginecovers
·1 year agoI don't know what the 'Before' price was, but retail for a 4 ounce GA package going from NV to CT (far west to far east) is only $7.90; but can be purchased online at USPS for $4.85 and on ebay for $4.80 (so a slight 'more' discount).
But, none of what you say about 'HUGE DROP' in sales in hogwash.
1st- buyers have no clue what shipping 'used to cost' vs 'now' and
2nd- you can simply STOP using 'retail', use 'actual' and then 'add a handling fee' to cover some portion or all of 15% FVF, packing materials etc.
ryry-jj
·1 year agoebay has already done that with the "eBay rate" rather than all of us using the retail rate. And yes, when costs go up, they impact all rates.
One thing we all need to remember...you need to have your costs in line, doesn't matter if you think volume will override cost increase, if you don't cover costs, the more you sell, the more you will lose
lesegouts
·1 year agoMarx Brothers: We lose money on every sale, but we'll make it up in volume.
powell-collectibles
·1 year agoeBay doesn’t have a lot of power with the USPS. Rough estimate is that eBay is roughly 5% of USPS revenue. And, if they give eBay a discount, they’ll have others (rightfully) expecting the same. And for much of what is sold on eBay, USPS is the only reasonable choice, even with a rate increase.
kalyoth
·1 year agoOr, buyers can see the true cost of buying their goods w/o discount & understand a deal is not a deal anymore?
quicksilverdiecast
OP1 year agoBuyers see the true cost of shipping as the calculated shipping reflects retail just as if you went to a USPS counter....seller's get shipping discounts which usually helps absorb the cost of everything involved in shipping parcel...from ink paper tape etc...none of which are free. When it comes to free shipping....NO ONE thinks shipping is free and knows it is padded into the item cost...UPS USPS FEDEX etc none offer free shipping....not even Amazon...the only time you get real free shipping is when you get in your car and go to brick and mortar and pick it up, if you write off all expenses related to the vehicle.