How to price w/free shipping or flat fee

[keeper_mom]

How do I price an item so I do not lose money when the shipping costs to me range from $40 to $250 depending on their location (even if just the US)? In addition, what if the cost for the packaging to protect the item(s) is $50? I see similar items as mine being listed with very low flat shipping rates. I don't understand how they can do it without overpricing the product.

[jonathanbrightlight]

Use Calculated Shipping with accurate size and weight measurements, and you can charge the correct amount to customers no matter where you're shipping.  As for the packaging material, I don't know if your handling charge can be $50, but if not, you should probably just include that in the cost of the item if customers will pay it.

As for others, they may not be shipping the same way, or they may be absorbing some of the costs.