eBay

namtrag1 · ‎12-29-2021

We are all in this to make money. (most of us anyways)

Assuming Shipping and Higher price are the same value....and you can't do both.

If given the Choice which option would you chose?

A) Free Shipping and Higher price

B) Shipping Fee Charged and Lower Price

What choice do you believe is best

I know it's like the Chicken and the Egg deal but just looking for opinions.

collectfest · ‎12-29-2021

On the items reflective in your store, I would use free shipping/and free returns. New items or items with lots of competition I would use free shipping.

I sell vintage item's; I do not offer free shipping but do offer returns. I research my items before listing them. I try not to list items that cannot compete in the marketplace.

alcoforever · ‎12-29-2021

I only ever used the auction format and for that format, I believe shipping should be a separate charge.

There is plenty of anecdotal evidence that buyers don't look at the shipping charge (on auctions at least) so a seller would likely get a better price for his item with separate shipping.

Were I using the BIN format, free shipping would depend on the size and weight of the item. Those items that can go in a flat rate box would go free shipping. All others, calculated shipping.

Free shipping has the advantage when a buyer is likely to buy multiple items. Those you ship together and, hopefully, realize a greater profit on the lot.

evry1nositswindy · ‎12-29-2021

Some buyers are math challenged and would choose free shipping because they can't add the 2 numbers together. That is why, as a seller, I offer free shipping. I can add the numbers together and get a total for my selling price. As a buyer, I would choose C. distance nearest first!

evry1nositswindy • seller since 2013
Volunteer Community Mentor

coolections · ‎12-29-2021

Pretty simple actually. If the item is heavy charge shipping. If the item is light give free shipping and raise the price the amount of the actual ship cost.

bashort · ‎12-29-2021

Calculated shipping is the only way to go on items that weigh over 1 lb.

If I use "Free Shipping" the amount that has to be rolled in to cover zone 8 in many cases makes the item uncompetitive.

If you use calculated shipping the cost + shipping total looks really good to buyers in local zones and you do not have to worry about unstable shipping costs.

There are buyers that are so determined to get "free shipping" that they are willing to pay more for it, I am fine with someone else selling to these buyers.

nobody*s_perfect · ‎12-29-2021

I looked at a few of your listings, and it seems that you are charging a flat price for shipping, rather than using calculated shipping. In that case, IMHO you should add that amount to your opening bid and offer Free shipping.

u_cant_take_it_with_u · ‎12-29-2021

As ebay buyers have become so bloody che---, I mean, discerning... I find that first impression impact figure of price, is what they see. They either like it, and want to learn more, or it's too much money, and they move on to the next listing. One can only charge so much extra on a listing, to cover free shipping, before they shoot themselves in the foot. I may offer a reduced shipping rate some times. I, personally, feel that subliminally, they go for the lower price of the listing [initially] and no free ship, rather than a higher price listing, and free shipping ...That's just my opinion. Now, the big boys, and heavy hitters can offer free shipping on what-ever, no problem... But that's because they ARE the big boys, and the heavy hitters.

tdrake · ‎12-29-2021

I do calculated shipping on 95% of my items and they sell just fine in the upper end of like comps. The other 5% or so get listed with carefully thought out, so-called "Free Shipping" to compete with similar listings/items.

Aside from the obvious reasons to do calculated shipping, I like to be able to run a sale on 1 or more item without having to deal with what the shipping will do to me if someone on the west coast buys it. Although I don't put items up with "make an offer" I do receive offers and again wouldn't want to have to deal with shipping killing my margin if i choose to accept, which I often do.

I deal with collectables, etc so i don't have to worry about competing with millions of similar items out there. YMMV

buyologist-3 · ‎12-29-2021

People like free shipping, so I pick A!

luckythewinner · ‎12-29-2021

@namtrag1 wrote:
What choice do you believe is best

I don't think there is a single answer to that question, except perhaps on a seller by seller and item by item basis.

It's a bit like asking whether a dump truck is better than a bicycle.

femmefan1946 · ‎12-29-2021

Different customers react differently.

Some like knowing all their costs immediately - and go for Free Shipping.

Some like the low cost of the item- and ignore the shipping cost.

Another thought- no one likes paying more for shipping than for the item itself. For those items, Free Shipping would be the way to go.

And, only use Free Shipping when your shipping costs would be a Flat Rate anyway.

I can offer FS on most of my shipments because they go letter rate, which is manageable.

But on items that require parcel rates, I go for separated Calculated Shipping.

hawkwind5454 · ‎12-29-2021

I will occasionally use free shipping; In the summer months, most of my listings are F/S. Do I feel it gives a boost to sales? No, not really.

redmodelt · ‎12-29-2021

If a 2 pound package with free shipping has enough built in to ship from Zone 1 to Zone 8, the buyers in the other zones are increasing your profit because they are over paying for shipping. 🙂