Advice for setting up a listing that requires 2 packages

[lgonzalez28]

Good morning,

Could anyone offer advice on how to set up my listing and shipping options to calculate 2 SEPERATE Packages.

For reference, I am listing a set of 4 SUNBRELLA pillows. 2 smaller 16" squares and two 19x13" sizes.

Combined weight 7 lbs plus a large box. My concern is the dimensions make shipping pricey.

I can ship in large poly mailers at 3lbs and 4lbs for each set and I believe this may be less for the buyer 

How would I go about that, if it is possible? 

Also, I am assuming I would have to manually upload the second tracking number with the same item #. Am I causing myself a headache?

Thank you in advance 

Lori

[nobody*s_perfect · Accepted solution]

Alas, the eBay shipping calculator is not capable of handling more than one package.  There are various strategies to fudge it. For instance, set up the calculator to charge for the more expensive package and then as  a handling fee add a flat  postage cost to ship the second package.  Most sellers would add the Zone 8 cost, then in the listing mention that the actual shipping cost will be less for most buyers and they should  wait for you to send an invoice.

Other strategies include setting up your own shipping tables in your site preferences, based on the combined costs to each zone. Unfortunately, eBay's shipping tables tool is based on states (or sections of states) rather than on USPS Zones.

Some sellers figure out the actual postage cost for each zone, then enter a weight in the shipping calculator that yields approximately the right total postage for the two packages.

The good news is that it's easy to print more than one label for an order.  After you print the postage for the first label, the next screen will have a link where you can choose to purchase another label for that order. It brings up a fresh label prep screen where you can adjust the package weight, dimensions, etc as needed.  The limit is 5 labels.

Before you commit to shipping in two poly mailers, check that the volume of each package still doesn't go over the threshold for dimensional weight, i.e., 1 cubic foot (1728 cubic inches).

[lgonzalez28]

Thank you so much for this detailed response.
I may have just finished reading a similar response of yours to another user. The tables are so confusing to me.
I will take your advice and check the mailer sizes.
If all else fails, I will just list seperately.
I was hoping not to get stuck with 2 of the 4.
I may also have to squish them down big time in clear packaging for a box and just add that tidbit to the listing.
I receive pillows this way and don't mind, I just prefer not to ship them this way myself.

I will try all suggested above
Thanks

[lgonzalez28]

Goodness, I am sorry for the follow up question, but the poly mailer measures 24x24x6"h

When I enter into usps calculation from South Florida to 90210 (guessing this is the most accurate zip to enter without an actual buyer)

I get Retail Ground for $19.95 plus a few dollars for insurance

The calculation asks for girth as well which is 43".

And comes up with this price. I think it is reasonable to list and ship as seperate listings, but am I missing something?

Am I supposed to manually divide for DIM weight or is the calculation doing this for me with girth added?

I am not really an idiot lol, this is just so much math! 😄

[corvettestainless]

Just curious, before you even try to sell these, with the high expense of shipping due to size; are you going to be competitive in your selling price with the rest of the world after you include your shipping? (and subtracting ebay/paypal fees from the sale)

[lgonzalez28]

Good point.

I have refrained from selling on ebay probably 80% of the items I list elsewhere.

The cost of shipping is insane.

In this instance $22 or so for 2 pillows does not seem exuberant IMO. 

Retail is approx $130 plus shipping for the set, I figure if I list at $71 plus shipping I may be okay.

It is definitely not a steal, but most of my sales are not bargain basement prices.  I pay retail for a majority of my items and just sell what I have no use for or didn't return.

It is often times a dilema, to list or not to list, but eventually everything sells on one platform or another 

I really try my best to offer the lowest shipping options, it is quite difficult to do that on eBay I am discovering.

It makes me appreciate the flat rate pricing strategies on other selling sites for LARGER heavier items only. 

If I am miscalculating and it is more than the estimate, I will chalk it up to yet another item I won't list on eBay. 

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@lgonzalez28 wrote: ... the poly mailer measures 24x24x6"h

When I enter into usps calculation from South Florida to 90210 (guessing this is the most accurate zip to enter without an actual buyer)

I get Retail Ground for $19.95 plus a few dollars for insurance

The calculation asks for girth as well which is 43"....

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The eBay shipping calculator will figure the dimensional weight of a package when applicable.

I have no idea where that 43" came from, but the girth of your package is (24+6+24+6)= 60 inches.  So the length-plus-girth is 84 inches, which is exactly at the limit for shipping by regular weight via Retail Ground rather than at the "balloon rate" which is the same as the price for 20 pounds.  In other words, if the actual package is any larger than that it won't  ship at the weight-based rate.

The volume of your package is 24x24x6 = 3456 cubic inches, so if you ship via Parcel Select Ground or Priority Mail, it will ship at the dimensional weight.  The formula for dimensional weight  is volume divided by 166, so the dimensional weight of your package is 3456/166 = 20.81 and it will ship at the 21-pound rate via those services.

An additional issue here is that Retail Ground is only supposed to be used for Zones 5 - 9.  When shipping to Zones 1 - 4, Retail Ground should only be used for mailing items that must go via ground, such as hazmat and certain live animals. Some Post Office are stricter than others about selling Retail Ground for Zones 1 - 4.

I can't figure out where the shipping cost of $19.95 came from.  The postage cost to mail 7 pounds to Zone 8 via Retail Ground is $29.11, and there isn't any other weight/zone combination for which the postage cost for Retail Ground is $19.95. The only USPS postage that costs $19.95 is the Priority Mail Large flat rate box.

Here are links to eBay's shipping calculator and to the official USPS rates publication, Notice 123.

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

https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/Notice123.htm#_c052

[lgonzalez28]

You rock! This helped me so much.
And the $19.95 was just for the one package at 4 pounds. Sorry to confuse.
I may just say "screw it" and not list. I did not know about the excluded zones.
I guess that is an option better purchased after a buyers confirmed address is known.

That is all of the information anyone could ask for. Xo

[corvettestainless]

Can get 4 pillows from Wayfair for less than $120 shipped- found in 1 minute. 

[lgonzalez28]

Except you are not comparing apples to apples, as the saying goes .

I do not argue your point though. I am also a buyer, I get the logic. 

I can go to Walmart and spend $20 on curtains, or go to the workroom and spend $3000. 

There are a lot of variables in pricing, but I do understand the point you are making. 

[1tuna]

this is a no brainer for me,I do not like to ship anyhting bigger than a base ball

I guess its like selling lampshades.I mean some are the size of a 30 gallon drum

thats another thing.does anyone sell trashcans on ebay.I mean its got to cost a lot to ship a new trashcan

I would see how much the ebay pillow people are really charging for shipping to get a good idea

vintaevixen ftl™

[lgonzalez28]

Agree totally. I do sell a lot of lamps and shades. They can weigh just 2 lbs but the box required is huge.

A baseball sized item would totally eliminate my sales lol.
I may actually remove a few of my listings that I have up for these reasons.

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@1tuna wrote: ... I do not like to ship anyhting bigger than a base ball ... 

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You can actually go up to football size before you'd start to worry about dimensional weight, which applies to packages over 1 cubic foot.

[1tuna]

I never worry about the dim. weight since I use only 1st class shipping

that is another reason I try to avoid selling boxed watches,watch boxes can be heavy and take my package over 16 ounces.Almost everything I sell can be shipped 1st class.I definitely feel an advantage with my lightweight items

[corvettestainless]

Yes, I actually am shopping apples to apples. 19" Square 'Sunbrella' pillows, run $26-$30 each and purchases over $50 get free shipping. I was not comparing 'just outside' pillows, which can be had for $12 at HD or Lowes.