Free Shipping?

[booksbytiffany]

What are the benefits of offering free shipping? Is it considered a business expense that can be written off at tax time? Also, is there a better way to ship rather than directly through eBay?

TIA

[coolections]

There is no benefit to free shipping. Actually you lose out because you cannot charge a small handling charge on your ship cost. I always add 30 cents to pay the processing fee.

[atlasesattic]

Most buyers, before searching on ebay, click on the free shipping, so if that happens anything you are charging shipping for, won't come up in there search.

[hartungcards]

One of the biggest benefits of offering free shipping is that the buyer thinks you're not charging them for shipping.

[kensgiftshop]

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@susanb1872 wrote:

Since you sell books and use Media Mail, free shipping is a good option since there isn't a large swing in price from east coast to west coast. Sellers who use First Class or Priority could see a large difference depending on the weight of the item and where it is being shipped to which can make the free shipping option a little tricky.

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That's why I use the Flat Rate packages from USPS, I know exactly what the shipping is going to be no matter where it goes in the US.

But you're right, it can be a little tricky to balance it out, not knowing where the package will be shipped.

[cardxcraft]

True, but for the sake of discussion, it's safe to use that phrase.  

[brightlightbookseller]

To clarify, there's actually zero difference in cost based on region for Media Mail, even to Hawaii/Alaska/APOs.  Huge benefit for book sellers.  That said, we haven't built in free shipping on most items because book buyers don't seem to expect it (except ironically on the cheapest books, which we just don't sell on eBay), so our stuff sells just fine with standard shipping costs and even a built in handling charge.  We have tested free shipping vs customer-paid shipping costs a few times and seen negligible changes in sales.

[coolections]

That is a fallacy and untrue.  Every buyer in the world knows that the ship cost is added to the total. Ebay has you fooled if you believe it.

[dbfolks166mt]

     Since I am on the east coast shipping cost can vary depending on the buyers location. The exception is when I know because of the size and weight of an item(s) that I can identify one shipping method that is the cheapest regardless of the buyers location or because I want shipping insurance coverate on the package.

     Generally this involves using a USPS priority mail envelope or box or using USPS Priority Mail Cubic (which I purchase off of Pirate Ship). As an example I have shipped 50-60 pounds of casting lead in a USPS medium flat rate box at a cost of about $14. I have shipped some heavy tools in both flat rate envelopes and padded flat rate envelopes both of which have a 70 pound weight limit and cost about $8 to ship. 

     I shipped an expensive pen which could have gone first class due to the weight but for insurance purposes I shipped it in a box inside a flat rate envelope for about $7.60. I shipped some expensive Lego mini-figures using a USPS priority mail small flat rate box when they could have gone first class package but I wanted the insurance coverage. 

     Others have already mentioned the tax deduction. As for other ways to purchase shipping other than through eBay I utilize Pirate Ship for Priority Mail Cubic, which eBay does not offer, and for anything I ship UPS or FedEx since Pirate Ship offers coverage against any unilateral upcharges that both UPS and FedEx are infamous for when you purchase UPS or FedEx labels through eBay. 

[redlinear]

Handling cost 😂

[monroe67]

hartungcards' post:  "One of the biggest benefits of offering free shipping is that the buyer thinks you're not charging them for shipping."

coolections' response:  "That is a fallacy and untrue.  Every buyer in the world knows that the ship cost is added to the total. Ebay has you fooled if you believe it."

I disagree that "Every buyer in the world knows that the ship cost is added to the total."  

I am pretty sure "hartungcards" is a person who is well aware that "Free Shipping" does include postage/shipping costs.  
What he/she was saying is that, when some buyers see Free Shipping, they think they are not being charged for shipping.  There will always be some people who think Free Shipping means . . . .
                                                         !! *#^ F R E E ^# *!!
. . . .  whether they're buying from eBay or QVC or any other online or catalog retailer.  

I have read these eBay community boards for years and I have seen posts from buyers who were surprised to receive a postage-due notice on a "free shipping" purchase and also from (new) sellers who were shocked that they actually had to pay the US Postal Service.  (Come to think of it, those buyers might have purchased from those new sellers!)