wooden_flower Volunteer Community Mentor.
Regards,
The shipping calculator can not handle multiple packages, so you have to work around it.
Using the calculator, find the cost for each of the 4 packages - being in IL is an advantage here, since the cost to either coast will be about the same and enough to cover everything in between. https://www.ebay.com/shp/Calculator
Then find the cost for a single package of that same weight. Enter that weight in your listing for calculated shipping. Enter the difference between 4 packages and 1 package as a handling cost. Add a little extra, just in case someone in WA buys. If this is a significant amount of shipping, you might consider excluding AK & HI from your shipping locations.
This is going to take a bit of experimentation. We'll assume you would like to use calculated shipping. Normally, if you knew the destination, you could get the shipping cost for each of the four packages.
To plan ahead of the sale, you will need to get the near and far spread for each of your packages. Since you are somewhat centrally located, you can get the cost to Chicago and to Seattle WA for your near and far for each of your four packages. Add them together, take the dimensions of the largest box, and start playing with the weight until you can find a delivery cost for that one item that covers the cost of your four boxes. Use that dimension and weight when listing your item. Of course, Alaska and Hawaii are outliers that may need to be blocked in this scenario unless you want to experiment with them in the formula as well.
If you would like to err on the high side, you can add a note to your listing that the shipping is estimated and, if lower, you will refund the overcharge.
Hi @maddogja
If it were me I would list it as Local Pick up only ... and the main reason for this is to eliminate a potential huge loss on a return claim. I see you use the No returns accepted setting which to me is a big mistake in retail sales AND especially on eBay. eBay has two return claims that bypass your No returns accepted setting AND forces YOU to pay for the cost of a return shipping label. Those return claims are 1) Arrived damaged and 2) Not as described - does not match pictures or description.
If the item is above average desirable then I would suspect someone within a 50 mile driving area would want it and be willing to drive 100 miles round trip to pick it up. That way you can get it listed immediately.
Don’t combine the dimensions, just the weight.
I would not offer international shipping on an item requiring 4 boxes.
@maddogja wrote:Thank you for your input. I don't use Local Pickup. I also sell international using eBay International. I want to make sure that the potential buyer correctly estimates his cost of shipping (before actually buying). Even with domestic shipping costs, once you get beyond a certain size, you cannot (for example) use regular Ground Advantage costs and have to ship using more expensive surcharges or you may get involved in what USPS call DIM (dimensional weight) costs beyond the normal cost. I would gladly accept returns in certain circumstances after I interact with the buyer and determine that I made an error or that the item was truly damaged in shipping. However, if I say I accept returns for those two reasons, eBay establishes an automatic refund and return without my prior approval or input. So I say no returns and add a statement in the item description about returns.
@maddogja Sadly, any statements you make in your Description are meaningless for eBay returns AND the two type returns I mentioned require your acceptance or if you decline them eBay will close the claim in the Buyer's favor and they will keep the item and the money. However, if a return were to happen I sincerely hope your customer is willing to work with you on that part. It's just that the eBay return process ONLY issues one label, not multiple labels for multiple packages ... truly a deficiency with the venue in my view but that is how it works.
Not sure where you learned eBay sets up an automatic refund on a return??? I offer Free returns on everything I sell and I execute the refund when items are returned within the time allotted ... eBay has NEVER automatically refunded any of my returns.
Yes, I am aware of Dimensional weight, have been shipping around the world since the early 80s long before involvement with eBay or the existence of eBay. I understand you do not want to use Local pick up, certainly your choice but your risks will be as explained ... in the end it is your choice.
I would concur with @wooden_flower. In this instance, you may want to block international buyers. EIS has weight and dimensional limits that may automatically preclude one giant box, and for a multi-box shipment, we have already seen one instance of a shipment through EIS where only one box arrived. The buyer is waiting for box 2 of 2.
Because of the complexity of the problem, just eliminate those worst case scenarios and limit your sale to the contiguous 48.
