eBay

sincerelycynda · ‎10-26-2022

I use my cell phone to sell on eBay. After I enter the weight and size of the item and it comes to shipping I'm only allowed 2 choices: I usually select the "recommended shipping" which is usually the most expensive Priority Shipping option and then the least expensive choice which is usually Parcel Select... My question is: Do the buyers have a more selective option? Like selecting a Flat Rate priority box/bag rate or are they stuck with what I chose?

I see so many buyers choosing the most expensive rate even when a less expensive rate is available shipping in the same amount of days to arrive.

Can I change to a less expensive shipping option like a "Flat Rate Box/Bay" if they choose the most expensive?? If it has the same arrival days say 2 - 5 as the one they chose...

nobody*s_perfect · ‎10-26-2022

No, buyers cannot select options that you did not choose to offer.

Yes, you can use a flat rate box instead. It is a type of Priority Mail shipping and therefore would be either the same service that the buyer paid for, or an upgrade if the buyer had chosen Parcel Select Ground.

ms.rodriguez* · ‎10-26-2022

Don't give buyers a choice. You decide. This way , you can have the boxes handy too.

onefootflipper · ‎10-26-2022

Don't give your buyers choices in the first place. Giving them choices on roughly equivalent services is just more trouble for you and money lost for you.

I stopped offering multiple shipping tiers years ago. I found that people who selected the more expensive option only did so by accident about 95 percent of the time. While anyone wanting EXPRESS or Overnight was almost certain to be trouble (stolen credit card or very high chance of return).

I list standard shipping for things under 1 pound, which always ends up being First Class mail.

Then for things over 1 pound I list expedited shipping and have it base the calculation on priority mail and then choose priority or UPS on Pirateship when I go to ship based on whichever is cheaper.

For things over 10 pounds I have have a shipping rule I call "Heavy UPS" which bases the calculation on UPS rates instead of priority mail rates.

Look into shipping rules, I have about a half dozen of them that I can apply to various items and it covers basically everything.

onefootflipper · ‎10-26-2022

I also noticed you have books listed. 95 percent of books are not worth listing at all because charity booksellers who don't have to pay ebay fees will have them listed at around $4 shipped, which is a price you would lose 39 cents on the sale at and that is assuming the book is under 1 pound. Sometimes the charity sellers will literally tear that profit margin down to zero and sell at $3.59 and make nothing unless the person buys two books at once.

You have to check books to make sure that isn't your competition before you list them, because if it is then yours will NEVER SELL. That was the case on every one of your books that I saw.

aprilmoviebuf2000 · ‎10-26-2022

Keep in mind too, that even though you will be able to list with Parcel Select Ground as a shipping option, if you print your labels via eBay that label option most likely will not show up for you. PSG has been in the process of being phased out via eBay labels for quite some time. If the buyer selects it, you would need to print the label via another means (ie: Paypal or Pirateship) and upload the tracking into the order.

Also, the estimated delivery dates for Parcel Select Ground may appear on the listing to be the same as Priority, but truly most times they are not. USPS gives Priority shipments just that....priority. With the upcoming busy season for USPS, I would not even offer it as an option.

onefootflipper · ‎10-26-2022

@aprilmoviebuf2000 wrote:
Keep in mind too, that even though you will be able to list with Parcel Select Ground as a shipping option, if you print your labels via eBay that label option most likely will not show up for you. PSG has been in the process of being phased out via eBay labels for quite some time. If the buyer selects it, you would need to print the label via another means (ie: Paypal or Pirateship) and upload the tracking into the order.

Also, the estimated delivery dates for Parcel Select Ground may appear on the listing to be the same as Priority, but truly most times they are not. USPS gives Priority shipments just that....priority. With the upcoming busy season for USPS, I would not even offer it as an option.

Very true here. I ship things from 1 ounce up to about 50 pounds on a regular basis and use pirateship and even then I usually go months without picking parcel select ground for anything. UPS is usually cheaper on the heavier stuff and on the lighter stuff it isn't worth finding my own box to save the 25 cents .

inhawaii · ‎10-26-2022

The answer to your question: No.

I never give my buyers a choice of shipping. I select the best/cheapest/easiest way.
The only exception is for items that can be shipped Media Mail.
I give them a choice: Media Mail -or- Priority Mail.
They almost always choose Media Mail.

Smooth Operator - Sade

kandf_vintage_finds · ‎10-26-2022

I ship everything in my store over 1 lb. parcel select ground. (Except Big Packages they go UPS) Parcel Select is always there when I go to ship on eBay. I have Priority as an option but no-one ever selects it. I think people appreciate the lower shipping fee and a day or 2 later does not matter. Lately the majority of my Parcel Select packages have been traveling with the Priority shipments. Probably due to the price of gas, Empty trucks and empty planes carrying priority. 2 days delivered from VA to CA many times shipped parcel select.