Shipping fees

[gravycart]

Hi! I just started here on ebay. I have a coworker who else sells on ebay, does everything the same way I do with measurements, printing out at home. 

Whenever I sell something it seems that the buyer buys the shipping label, and I pay the same amount for the shipping label. 

Whenever she purchases her shipping label it’s always cheaper and she’s making a profit off the buyer paying shipping (whether it’s pennies or even a few bucks) 

Am I doing something wrong to where I am paying the same price as the shipper? We both ship via USPS ground advantage. 

Is it because she has been selling on ebay for a long time? Maybe over a year if not longer 

Thanks in advance! 

[soh.maryl]

The buyer pays you for the shipping along with the item price and state sales tax, if applicable.

You use what the buyer pays you for shipping to buy the shipping label.

As for the difference between you and your fellow seller, exactly the same item? shipping to the exact same destination? using the same class of shipping?  

There is no lowering in shipping fees based on how long a seller has been selling on eBay.  

[gravycart]

No none of it is the same. For example, the buyer pays her 9.00 for shipping but then she is only paying 8.50 for shipping so she is making 50 cents from them paying their shipping. 

We are doing measurements, not flat rate. We are using USPS ground advantage. It’s just when she gets her order summary she is paying less for shipping as the buyer is paying more. 

[nobody*s_perfect · Accepted solution]

Buyers do not purchase shipping labels. Sellers purchase shipping labels, using funds paid by their buyers.

Listings can be set up with Free shipping; with shipping that charges a flat price to everyone; or with calculated shipping in which the listing automatically figures the cost from the seller's ZIP Code to that of any member who looks at the listing.

The calculated option for shipping can be set up to show (and charge) buyers either (1) the full retail price for postage, OR (2) the online discounted price that the sellers pay for the shipping labels that they purchase from eBay.    It sounds like your listings are charging buyers the online rate, and your friend's buyers care paying the retail rate.  You can change this in your site preferences:

https://www.ebay.com/ship/prf

[dy60609]

in "shipping preferences" ebay has selected for you to pass along discounts.

you can uncheck that box

@gravycart 

[adamcartwright]

@gravycart 

In your Settings, select Shipping Preferences. 

Under Rates and Exclusions, Carrier Rate Settings, set yours as below.

Now, the buyer will pay you the USPS rate for shipping, but you will buy the shipping label at the discounted eBay rate. This raises the shipping cost for buyers, but enables you to make a bit on shipping to cover your costs.

[dhbookds]

check this page in site preferences:

https://www.ebay.com/ship/prf/carrier

That gives a choice as to whether to bill a buyer the full retail rate or a discounted rate.

A seller gets a cut rate on shipping (using ebay shipping).......meaning they don't pay full retail rate.  

If you offer the buyer the full discounted rate (what the seller pays), both seller and buyer pay the same amount.  If you choose standard rate to offer buyers, they will pay the retail rate, you will pay the discounted rate.  

[soh.maryl]

OK, now I am confused.

In your original message: ". . . does everything the same way I do . . ."

In your followup to me: "No none of it is the same . . ." 

[gravycart]

You’re looking too deep into it. See the comment I marked most helpful. 

[soh.maryl]

Nah, not really.  Was just asking for clarification on those two contradictory statements.

I'm good.