Managing Shipping Costs in a Variation Listing

[ajc9725]

I'm struggling to figure out the best way to manage shipping costs in a variation listing of a few hundred sports cards that range from $0.99 to $40 in value.  In my listing I have two shipping options at checkout...eBay Standard Envelope ($0.95) and First Class ($3.99).  A couple issues I'm trying to figure out:

1)  Since it's a Buy-It-Now listing, the buyer has to pay immediately, so they can't wait for me to invoice them.  If they buy 10 cards, they are paying $9.50 in shipping.  I have no problem refunding them, but it's just an extra step it would be nice to avoid if I could.  I realize that there's an option for me to list a price for "each additional" card purchased, but that doesn't quite work either, as they can buy 15-20 cards that I can stick in a First Class bubble mailer for $3.99 and I'll end up refunding them money anyways.

2) I include a note in the listing description that cards >$10 will ship First Class.  But due to there being two options for shipping, the order defaults to the $0.95 Standard Envelope option, or the buyer will select the cheaper of the two if given the choice.  This leaves me on the hook to make up for the extra cost of mailing First Class.  After a buyer has paid, is there an option to request more money?  Either way, this seems like bad business and I probably wouldn't ask for more money anyways.  Is there a way to make a buyer pay for First Class shipping if the order is above a certain value?  

Thanks for your help.

[caldreamer]

EBAY does NOT have way to automatically "select different shipping method" when customer purchases higher value cards.   You could put higher value cards in separate listing with correct "shipping method".

Or you "add shipping costs" into the price of all your cards and then show "free shipping".    That way when customer purchases item..it would it would cover shipping costs. 

Once customer purchases cards...you cannot ask for additional money if they purchase multiple item that cost more shipping.  

[kensgiftshop]

@ajc9725 

Variation listings are not to be used like that.

They are for the same item with different colors and sizes, not different items.

It's better they have their own listings.

[wastingtime101]

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@ajc9725 wrote:

I'm struggling to figure out the best way to manage shipping costs in a variation listing of a few hundred sports cards that range from $0.99 to $40 in value.

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That spread is an issue. The 99 cent cards can go on the same listing if they're from the same pack (different card numbers). The $40 cards need to be on a different listing.

I read something recently where someone from eBay said there shouldn't be more than a 40% price difference between the most expensive and least expensive item on a variation listing, but I can't find the link right now.

Fix that issue first, then if you still run into shipping problems, let us know. You definitely cannot ask a buyer for more shipping money after a sale. Set up the listings the right way to begin with, and this shouldn't be an issue, @ajc9725.

[gundy]

Test

[gundy]

I'm not sure of eBay's "range of values" rule for multi-item listings, but I have seen many listings with a wide range of values. These listings have to be set up with the drop-down menu so a particular item can be selected. Once it is selected, the price assigned to that particular item shows up. (here's another possible solution to the shipping issue). If the buyer wants to buy the item, they should then "add to cart" and continue on this way until they are ALL DONE adding items to their cart. Then, they should go to their cart and select "request total from seller" (I believe you have to have more than one item from the same seller in your cart in order to do this). Then the seller will get a request to send an invoice to the buyer where you can adjust the shipping amount accordingly. THIS PROCESS MUST BE DESCRIBED CLEARLY AND BOLDLY IN YOUR LISTING OR BUYERS WILL SCREW IT UP. 

Also, you can't have BOTH eBay standard envelope and USPS first class as a shipping method for a single listing (regardless if it's a single item or multiple items available from a drop-down menu). It is either one or the other (or any other of the many shipping methods available) that has to be selected from the "shipping method" drop-down menu in the shipping section when you create your listing. Good luck. 

[artcanthurtu]

I cant believe that eBay still don't have an option where I can choose how much to charge for shipping in variations. I have the same items in 3 different sizes. The first 2 sizes can be Free First Class mail, the 3rd one has to go Priority Mail bc of changes a few months ago and that will cost me $12 and before the changes it costs me around $5. 

I really need to be able to have free shipping for the small and medium and charge for the largest size but there is no option for that......it cant take a genius to program that in to the listing template but obviously eBay does not want us to charge shipping at all...

I know I can increase the price of my items but it is just a bad "fix" to a problem that eBay decided not to make a solution to. 

[seadon_ua]

Well, what about rolls? Shipping of roll 36" is much cheaper than shipping 72" width roll