Need Help in the correct way to fill out form on listing for shipping of merchandise.

[leroy1898]

I'm a long time user of ebay. Had my first sale back in the late 1990's.  After many years of only making purchases, I'm now back hoping to sell. I'm totally thrown for a loop with all the drop down menus and the lack of freedom to fill out my own information. But the biggest problem is that I want to charge shipping. Most of my actions are low $ items) Why is that a problem? Because it never turns out to be correct. I measure and weigh each package before listing. I fill out the little boxes, and I end up charging the seller more than necessary, or more often than not, I end up paying a lot for shipping. Several of my recently sold items, I have made no money at all. There must be a trick, something this old fart is missing.

Please, can anyone direct me how to find help and or answers?

Thank you!

[gurlcat]

First of all, "I want to charge shipping" -that is a good instinct.  Some sellers believe "free shipping" attracts more buyers and that may be somewhat true, but it can also result in tactical problems like when you want to run a discount sale or if you get a return.  

But as for creating listings with the weights and dimensions that end up costing more or less when you go to buy the label, we need more information to advise you.  

So to start, are you buying your labels through eBay, through another online venue, or in-person at your post office? 

[mtgraves7984]

Welcome back to the jungle. I sold for several years but stopped a year(+) ago. I've said that I'd not want to be a returning seller here now for anything. Godspeed.

[itsjustasprain]

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@leroy1898 wrote:

Several of my recently sold items, I have made no money at all.

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I believe you. What happened here?

But for shipping in general you need to measure the box you will be using and weigh it in packed form (but it does not need to be sealed before shipping time - you just need to know what the package weight will be). Enter that as your shipping details and choose what shipment method(s) you want to offer. Select Calculated Shipping rather than fixed price shipping and then buyers will only be charged what is needed to get the package to their address regardless of how close or far away they may be.

If you buy your shipping label on line through Ebay you will be paying the reduced on-line price. You can charge your buyer the on-line price or the retail price (which is higher and might be what you are seeing now depending on your settings). Go to this page to choose whether you want to show on-line shipping discounts to your buyers: https://www.ebay.com/ship/prf/carrier

[youn2240]

@itsjustasprain has the best answer. The other thing about making no money is you gotta stop with the auctions until you understand the items category better. If you use itsjustasprain's method of how to ship and you set your price knowing you'll lose approximately 10% of the stated price that will get you pretty close to whatever the value you put on the item is... Best way to figure where to price an item would be looking at previous sale prices and what the lowest listed price of a similar condition item is and the value is somewhere in between those numbers for a decent turnover vs listing time. Or just put whatever you want on it if you're in the ballpark the market should meet up with you at some point. 

[albertabrightalberta]

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@itsjustasprain wrote:

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@leroy1898 wrote:

Several of my recently sold items, I have made no money at all.

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I believe you. What happened here?

But for shipping in general you need to measure the box you will be using and weigh it in packed form (but it does not need to be sealed before shipping time - you just need to know what the package weight will be). Enter that as your shipping details and choose what shipment method(s) you want to offer. Select Calculated Shipping rather than fixed price shipping and then buyers will only be charged what is needed to get the package to their address regardless of how close or far away they may be.

If you buy your shipping label on line through Ebay you will be paying the reduced on-line price. You can charge your buyer the on-line price or the retail price (which is higher and might be what you are seeing now depending on your settings). Go to this page to choose whether you want to show on-line shipping discounts to your buyers: https://www.ebay.com/ship/prf/carrier

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I saw that too but it looks like it sold for $45. 

[leroy1898]

Thank you, for pointing this out, "Select Calculated Shipping rather than fixed price shipping and then buyers will only be charged what is needed".  I do not recall seeing that option, but that is certainly the one I would choose. In the past I was able to use a postage scale at home for weighing, measure the package and go to USPS.com to find shipping cost once I had the buyers zip code.  The new system seems so much more complicated. The whole listing process. I'm hoping next time I list an item I will be able to find that " Calculated Shipping option.

thanks again!

[le-5262]

My shipping is more often than not incorrect too...

it's ridiculous

and you are not always forced to use the drop down menus.

at the top there is usually a spot to put your own

just have to remember to click on the information you want

simply hitting enter doesn't always work

[gurlcat]

If you have trouble finding it, just say so; one of us will give a screenshot.

[reallynicestamps]

The new system seems so much more complicated.

It's simpler actually.

You are still weighing and measuring

• as mentioned measure the shipping box
• and if you are not sure go up. if you think it is 1.5cm call it 2cm.

But now instead of waiting for the buyer's zipcode, the programme works out the shipping for the shopper's zipcode and shows it to them before they buy. 

You are told the amount when there is an actual purchase, and the buyer does not have to wait for your invoice.

Then you can buy a discounted label through eBay.

And print it at home.

If you know how to put a QR code on your phone, you can have the counter clerk print it for you. But if you know how to do that, you likely have a printer.

Note that you can show your customer the counter price OR the discount price. 
Most experienced sellers know that the counter price is better because it helps cover their costs for packaging, insurance*, failed transactions, etc.

*Including Cookie Jar Insurance.