How can they possibly suggest I make my money from the shipping?

[sin-n-dex]

I get a message from a would-be buyer about the shipping cost of an 8 oz item. He accuses me of "making my money from the shipping".

I let him know from NY to his state would be 4.15, plus the carrier in Canada takes $1 per package to transport it to NY. Shipping on the package was $5.25. eBay is taking around 15% of that shipping (I think it's around 9% or so in coins, plus the added promoted fee if it applies), so I don't even get to keep enough to cover shipping. I didn't say anything about the eBay fees, just that my cost is $5.15.

I did inform him though that as per the combined shipping promo on almost everything my store, if he chooses to buy 20 different coins (or stamps, or banknotes, etc), the shipping is capped at $5.80, no matter how much it weighs, how big a priority box I need to use, or what not... since the minimum shipping over 1 lb is $8.30 on eBay, how can someone possibly do the math and come up with "I make my money on shipping" when I charged $5.80 and paid $8.30 (plus that dollar) to ship?

The whole point of the $5.80 shipping is to encourage people to put tons of stuff in their cart and buy all at once. It's subsidized shipping to save the buyer money if they want several things. If they buy one thing, then the cost is significantly closer to what I pay (but I don't make any money from it, not with eBay taking a cut of what I receive). If a buyer chooses to not take advantage of the combined shipping discount when I have 13,000 things to offer, well kinda can't help him there.

C.

[albertabrightalberta]

That's a buyer who would go straight to my BBL. 

[sin-n-dex]

---

@albertabrightalberta wrote:

That's a buyer who would go straight to my BBL. 

---

I didn't bother, I figured he wasn't buying anything anyway and just wanted to whine at someone.

There are actually people out there who troll listings and send messages to sellers to complain about their listings. I get those every now and again, but probably half the time it turns out the buyer misunderstood something and all is OK with my response.

I answered his message (with the shipping to his state and the comment on the 5.80 shipping discount) hours ago and never heard back... probably just a troll. I doubt he'll be back to buy anything.

C.

[1786davycrockett]

@sin-n-dex 

But -- just in case -- add them to your BBL.

A few years ago, I also had a potential buyer complaining about my shipping charges, which I also explained, point by point, to the them.

So the buyer bought the item -- and then gave me a negative for excess shipping charges.

Fortunately, I was able to have a CS agent remove the feedback, since I was able to share the previous email messages with the buyer.

The point is -- I had to waste time with CS, when I could have just BBLd the whiner in the first place.

So go ahead -- give the whiner the gift that says you care -- block 'em.

[mam98031]

This is something I never let get to me.  If I respond to the question I may tell them what the retail shipping is on the item and explain that there are costs beyond actual shipping that cost real money too, like Ebay fees and shipping supplies.

But I really don't let these questions get to me.  Especially when we are coming up on a time of year when USPS always raises their rates so we have to raise ours.

[chapeau-noir]

Reminds me of the guy who purchased a pair of shoes and then said (no doubt in an exasperated voice) - forget the fancy packing, just throw them into an envelope for a couple of dollars.

You can't ship a pack of gum for a couple of dollars, little dude. 🙄

[moondogblues]

Two things on the menu:
Mac n’ Cheese or Ground Glass. Choose wisely.

Waterford or Baccarat.  Your choice.  But if I pick mac n cheese please make it Brie.

[duncanvr]

Your probably losing money at $5.80 on the shipping. Some buyers just don't get it the fact that stuff is more expensive now to ship than ever. It now costs from Australia $30 to send a small packet of philatelic covers to EU or UK. Quiet pricey and going up every year here without fail. Buyers have to appreciate this and eat the shipping cost.

[gooseislandcollectibles]

I had a similar question and issue a few weeks ago.  My buyer accused me of overcharging on shipping by 25 cents which of course I refunded him and placed them on my BBL. 

[laststopgeneralstore]

I have about 1, maybe 2 buyers per year tell me that and I always respond with yes, absolutely I do. Then proceed to explain all of the reason why not only I do but the majority of all companies that sell online do. They typically still don't agree then call me a greedy monster because 90%+ of the extra $1-$2 I make(sometimes a little more) on shipping gets eaten up via all back end costs.

If you're not making money on the shipping and you're charging the exact amount that it costs you to ship the item then you are effectively losing money on every single transaction you have.

Next time your looking at your sales reports, take the amount of money that you received in shipping and calculate 12.35% on that then compare on how much you spend on labels and if you're one of the ones that charges the exact amount or less, you'll realize how much money you're actually losing.

[lonebuck-books]

I would have never even replied to them.  Any buyer who comes at you in that sort of an accusatory manner has "problem buyer" written all over it.  That person would have hit my BBL so fast their head would still be spinning.

[dirk12955]

My philosophy has always been,  "Don't apologize,  Don't explain"

That potential buyer can hit the back button while he gets blocked.   

[kath.layn]

I get those messages, too, once in a while.  I sell a lot of dishes, which are heavy, and so are expensive to ship.  I have a standard reply. “Yes, I know shipping these days is very expensive.  As you know the charges are set by the carrier, and they are based on size, weight and distance traveled.  If you let me know exactly which carrier and method you would like me to use I will see if I can accommodate you.”  I NEVER hear back from these people.

[rugerskick]

It is safer to block trollish people like this.  Denies them the chance to harm your metrics as its incredibly easy to do.

[toomuchstuffagain35]

I love it when sellers are so proud they "only charge exact shipping".

Hey you want to lose money every time you ship something, knock yourself out.

Or the buyers who whine because the cost to ship is more than the item price.

Cost of shipping has NOTHING to do with item price people.