Calculated shipping

[coastalbreezeresale]

Hi all, I took a break as a seller but I'm back and reopening my store.  I used to offer free shipping on every listing, but this time around I am going to try calculated.  Is it even possible to do calculated shipping on highest shipping cost item, and then have a flat rate automatically added for additional items?  Since I always did free shipping in the past, the subject of calculated vs flat rate is all new to me.  I appreciate any help...thanks.  

[stainlessenginecovers]

Flat rate means you charge $10 (example) to all buyers anywhere in the US to ship that item.

Calculated means you have to input the weight and dimensions (note that USPS charges more for bigger packages) and then 'that amount' is what is shown. Since USPS now charges more for further zones, it would be a different 'shipping' price shown for those that are 200 miles from you vs. someone that is 2000 miles (as example)

You can add a 'handling' fee to the calculated (not the flat)- you simply put that amount in the 'handling' section of the shipping that you choose. 

So, for instance, a customer 1000 miles from you may see $14.55 shipping, but the label (if you input everything correctly) would show YOU ONLY $12.55 if you input a $2 handling fee.

[ajs_coins_and_alchemy]

@coastalbreezeresale @stainlessenginecovers 

I believe you missed the entire point of the OPs question. OP is asking if they can have a combined shipping policy that automatically charges the calculated shipping on highest priced shipping, and then charges a flat rate shipping on each additional item.

I buy 3 items from OP. $15 shipping, $5 shipping, $5 shipping. OP doesn't want to charge me $25. They want to charge me $15 + $2 ea per additional item.

YES OP THIS IS POSSIBLE. You need to set this up in your account's shipping preferences under the combined shipping rules.

My knowledge ends there as I offer free shipping on 99% of my items so it doesn't apply to me. I have bought from multiple sellers who (for example) charge highest shipping cost on 1st item and add $1 for each additional item. It does it as an auto-combined shipping rule so there is no need for manually sending invoices and buyers are ready to go immediately in the cart.

If you need more assistance in figuring this out, you'll need to ask someone else, but like I said, combined shipping rules in shipping preferences of account settings. (I'm 99.9% sure that is where it is...or just look around a little in there)

[ajs_coins_and_alchemy]

BY THE WAY ... you are not limited to the example you provided. There are several options for combined shipping rules but I will let you navigate and explore those yourself.

[coastalbreezeresale]

Yes, this is exactly what I am trying to accomplish…

I buy 3 items from OP. $15 shipping, $5 shipping, $5 shipping. OP doesn't want to charge me $25. They want to charge me $15 + $2 ea per additional item.

I *thought* I had it figured out but it’s not calculating correctly at checkout.  I’ll just keep working on it.  Thank you for taking the time to respond!

[downrightspecialkids]

For combined shipping with calculated weight, (which is what I do) you can't enter each additional item is a certain amount if you are using calculated, unless they have changed things. For the flat rate, you can charge one fee, and then add each additional item is X amount. Now, ebay may have changed things since I set up my calculated rules, but that is how it was for years.

Now the problem with calculated combined shipping is, if it goes over the 1st class limit, ebay is clueless as to how to combine two, say 10oz items to a 1-2 lb weight bracket and will charge for each one, which is a big problem and ticks off some buyers. 

Ebay needs to re-valuate their combined shipping altogether because it doesn't work the greatest. When I tried the flat rate, my buyers were often given free shipping on the additional items even though I stated each additional item was a certain amount. 

I still just leave mine set up to calculate the weights and combine, and if it doesn't work, buyers often message asking if the shipping total is correct, and you can adjust it for them or refund the difference. It's just a pain. 

[ajs_coins_and_alchemy]

@coastalbreezeresale 

My bad, see what @downrightspecialkids wrote. However... this is TOTAL speculation ... maybe you could do calculated shipping on first item, free shipping on each additional item, but have a FLAT rate handling surcharge on items, thus each additional item has a flat rate addition  but it's handling and not shipping? IDK I'm just trying to be creative

Again, I offer free shipping to avoid this whole mess and 99.999% of my stuff is first class so the variation in rates is so miniscule by zone (especially since I'm in the mid west and not on one of the coasts) that I can afford to do free shipping and average my shipping costs.