2019 postage increases

[llama_lady]

Venting here.  O.K. I realize that I have no control over the new postage rates, but they are a killer.  A lot of my business is first class. Using the ebay calculator, sending something that weighs 8 ounces in a 9x12 envelope under one inch in height from FL to Washington state will cost almost $8.00.   It is less expensive to send flat rate even with the increase in flat rate prices.  I can't even raise my item prices enough so that it will cover that as I  currently charge $3.30 for up to 8 - 10 ounces. ( It all depends how many items are in the poly envelope. )    I haven't changed my postage prices in over two years and this year I have to as my margin is pretty slim as it is.  If I don't, I  will be paying my customers to buy my listings.  geesch.   I don't  understand why they don't put the squeeze on 3rd world county shipping such as China and let us have a break.  China gets subsidized by the U.S. postal and therefore the reason their shipping is minimal. Anyway, I will have to suck it up and figure out how to do this.  

Any suggestions are certainly appreciated.  Thanks

[buyselljack2016]

online label pricing for:

8 ounces to zone 8 will be $3.63

9-12 ounces to zone 8 will be $4.33

[nobody*s_perfect]

Even if you're looking at the retail price, that's just $4.81 for 5 - 8 ounces.  To get $8, you must have been looking at Priority Mail. 

What calculator are you using?  The regular eBay calculator shows whatever is the current price ($3.18 online for 8 ounces). Did you look at the very first line of the calculator, which is $7.75 for Parcel Select?

https://www.ebay.com/shp/Calculator

[atikovi]

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@llama_lady wrote:

I haven't changed my postage prices in over two years and this year I have to as my margin is pretty slim as it is.  If I don't, I  will be paying my customers to buy my listings. 

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How about not selling stuff that won't sell for a reasonable profit? Some items are just not worth selling online.

[coffeebean832]

Others already advised on the shipping rates you're seeing. This is a link to the upcoming rates: https://pe.usps.com/resources/PriceChange/January%202019%20-%20Notice123.pdf

Your profit margins are too slim so increase your item prices. $3.70 per yard is much less than JoAnn's prices- you have plenty of room to hike your prices. You're selling your inventory short.

You have an eBay store and access to Promotions Manager- use it. Create a shipping promotion- flat rate shipping if a buyer purchases a quantity of X or more.

[flyinhawaiiangirl]

If it makes you feel any better, I would GLADLY pay for US shipping rather than $4 for shipping from China. I want my item this week ish. Not in a month. I want my item to be what I expect, not some weird sorta version of what I thought I purchased. So even if China can send me something for $5-10 less because of shipping, first I wouldn't know, I tick the US locations only first, and the ones that get by that, I wouldn't purchase from anyway, and I ASSUME anything with a brand name attached coming from China is fake anyway.

I more concerned that what you're selling offers such little profit already, that if these postal increases put you in the red, you many need to reconsider your inventory.

[quackyone]

For fabric I Increased my lowest price to $10 per yard (including shipping) as of January 1st.    Only way to cover increased postage and promotion fees.    Anything that doesn't sell after 6 months, gets put into a flat rate lot or donated.     Try multi quantity promotion, like buy 2 get 1 free.  That will reduce your postage costs per yard.  Good luck.  

[yuzuha]

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@quackyone wrote:

For fabric I Increased my lowest price to $10 per yard (including shipping) as of January 1st.    Only way to cover increased postage and promotion fees.    Anything that doesn't sell after 6 months, gets put into a flat rate lot or donated.     Try multi quantity promotion, like buy 2 get 1 free.  That will reduce your postage costs per yard.  Good luck.  

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As someone who sews (when I have time), I agree that $10 per yard including shipping is a very reasonable price for anything that isn't just a plain solid-colored cotton.  OP shouldn't be afraid to raise their prices on their fabric.

[drusalina]

I struggled with this too, since most of my items are first class.  I decided to forget the Free Shipping I had been doing.  It is just easier to do the Calculated Shipping and you don't have to worry about if the customer is in Zone 1 or 9.  It is covered.  I still have a few free shipping items and I will eat the extra cost.  As sellers raise their prices or use calculated shipping customers will realize that items have gotten a bit more expensive.  

I also found that when I switched to calculated shipping I seem to have more views.  I think buyers are finally realizing that Free Shipping isn't really free.  

[pvcliff]

I started using calculated First Class about two weeks ago as I was adding some new items, and I've revised some but not all of my FC listings to change from free to calculated. I'll be darned if people aren't actually paying for shipping! I'd got so entrenched into the "free shipping mindset" that I was sure nothing would sell without it. That being said, because I don't share my discount with the buyer I do feel like the retail shipping price is enriching me (made an extra $2 before fees today on a sale) more than it needs to on FC (I'm ok with the extra dollars on Priority), so when we are back from vacation and have a chance to think about it I'll probably do something like charge a flat $4 on everything but the heaviest FC -- saves me from having to weigh little stuff before listing, too.

[pek34sdw]

I agree. 2019 shipping increase really hurt. It feels like postal service is making more money than me and I'm doing all the work. I use calculated shipping. I buy/sell as a hobby. Used to enjoy it, not anymore.   Ebay needs to negotiate lower prices.