CALCULATED SHIPPING:COSTS VARIES BY BUYER LOCATION

[bardaryo]

I WANT TO SELL HEAVY  SETS OF DISHES. BOXED SIZE 24 INCH CUBE WEIGHT ABOUT 20 POUNDS PACKED. UNDER THE SUBJECT "USING OUR SHIPPING CALCULATOR" YOU ARE INSTRUCTED TO SELECT  THE HEADING "SELECT CALCULATED: COST VARIES BY BUYER LOCATION".  THEN YOU ARE TOLD TO SELECT  NEXT TO THE WORDS "NET TO SERVICES, SELECT CALCULATED SHIPPING".  FURTHER IINSTRUCTIONS FOLLOW TO ENTER WEIGHT AND SIZE OF BOX AND SELLER'S ZIP CODE, AND THEN LISTER IS TOLD TO ENTER "CALCULATED SHIPPING" AGAIN. NOW YOU ARE TOLD TO SELECT THE SHIPPING SERVICE YOU WANT TO USE AND THEN  SELECT "OFFFER SHIPPING SERVICES."

NONE OF THE ABOVE SELECTIONS ARE AVAILABLE WHEN THE ITEM MUST BE SENT BY FREIGHT.

WHEN SELLER FIRST TRIED THIS PROCESS ON A REVISED LISTING FORMAT, THE WORD "CALCULATE" APPEARED IN THE SHIPPING COST SECTION BUT IT NO LONGER APPEARS. INSTEAD THE WORDS "CONTACT SELLER" APPAEAR.  THE INSTRUCTIONS UNDER THE SUBJECT ABOVE FURTHER STATE THAT WHEN THE BUYER SEES THE LISTING, EBAY WILL AUTOMATICALLY CALCULATE THE SHIPPING TO THE BUYER'S LOCATION BEFORE THE BUYER HAS MADE AN OFFER TO PURCHASE.

PLEASE EXPLAIN THE PROCEDURE FOR THE LISTING TO CALCULATE THE BUYER'S SHIPPING COST BASED ON THE BUYER'S LOCATON AS THIS MAKES THE MOST SENSE WHEN ITEMS WILL NOT FIT IN USPS FLAT RATE SHIPPING BOXES. MAYBE EBAY ONLY CALCULATES THE SHIPPING TO THE BUYER'S LOCATION IF THE PACKAGE IS SMALL????

THANKS FOR SOME HELP.

[shipscript]

@bardaryo 

First, I would recommend becoming acquainted with oversize charges and dimensional weight.

A 24" cube will equate to dimensional weight of 84-100 pounds. On the USPS site, cross-country shipping for that cube would be over $250.

Combined length and girth would be 120".

Maximum for most USPS services is 108", although USPS Retail Ground allows 130". FedEx Economy is 130" and FedEx Ground is 165".  UPS is 130".

If the package were a 15" cube, dimensional weight would be about 21 pounds (pretty close to actual) , with cross-country USPS shipping under $70.

It might be worthwhile to explore shipping in two boxes, both for better protection of the contents and for better rates. Bear in mind that packages are dumped from trucks into bins through coal chutes at some centers. Think rough and tumble, with a drop-kick here and there; so double-boxing, with a shock-absorbing layer between, is also important.

eBay won't calculate freight services. The listing will instruct the buyer to contact the seller for a quote. However, eBay does have a list of freight companies whose tracking can display on eBay.

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/shipping-items/setting-shipping-options?id=4089

Bottom line: bulky china will need double boxing and plenty of dividers. I recommend posting for assistance on the Shipping forum where sellers may have more experience shipping this type of item.  Also post a link to your freight listing so they can see the problem.

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Shipping/bd-p/shipping-returns-db

Some may simply suggest local pickup only.