Venting Post: Buyers who ask for free shipping

[parkersparrow]

So I usually try to respond to these requests politely & professionally, but I woke up to this one and I just can't...lol

BUYER:

Can I have it for free shipping?

parkersparrow:

You want free shipping on a 5.99 item?????

BUYER:

Can we make it $6.5 free shipping?

parkersparrow:

Sorry, I'm in the U.S. not China. I can't afford to ship for free on an already low priced item.

BUYER:

That’s bit pricey with the shipping

parkersparrow:

Sorry, I can't control the price of shipping. That's up to the USPS.

BUYER:

Thanks tho...

[18704d]

All my items are free shipping.

Most buyers seek free shipping, here and elsewhere.

I believe somewhere around 40% of all eCommerce sales are free shipping.

Most of us, as buyers, also look for free shipping when we buy.

Like it or not, it's a fact (not a trend) and it's growing.

I saw an Amazon commercial last night on tv, and they stated they have free shipping, even on furntiture.

It's a fact many of us sellers can't avoid.

Sometimes it's best to figure a way to use free shipping expectations to our advantage.

Best of luck,

Lynn

[this*old*attic]

I tried free shipping, myself, and stopped.

potential buyers don’t take it into consideration when they make offers.

[parkersparrow]

@this*old*attic  Me too, I used to work the shipping into my prices. I stopped for that same reason.  Now I have a shipping discount in place for sales of more than one item. 

[tsme35]

I offer combined shipping, if you buy more then one item from a seller "free shipping"  your losing money. Shipping is added to "free shipping" you just don't see it

[18704d]

"I offer combined shipping, if you buy more then one item from a seller "free shipping" your losing money."

Perhaps.  Perhaps not.

Free shipping can also be absorbed by the seller taking less of a net profit on their items.

"Shipping is added to "free shipping" you just don't see it."

Virtually all buyers know that.  Perhaps in the past, they didn't.

It literally isn't a factor for them.

They can always find other sellers who have better adapted to offering FS,

either by economies of scale, sourcing their stock at a lower price than you can, or other better effeciencies.

For those who can't ship a 5.99 item for free, and feel they have to add 3 dollars shipping .. buyers will be able to find sellers offering that item for 5.99 and free shipping.  

Lynn

[lex-talon]

I receive messages from buyers asking for free shipping from time to time. It makes me chuckle every time.

As a buyer, I've never asked a seller for free shipping. 

[kathieskorner]

Before the Jan. 27th postal increase I used to offer free shipping on media mail and first class items.  My minimum price with "free shipping" was $8.99.   I stopped offering "free shipping" and expected a decline in sales especially in books.     My new minimum  price is $5.50 plus $3.25 shipping for 1 lb or $3.75 for 1-2 lbs for books - higher shipping for first class.  

The expected decline didn't happen for books, but my west coast sales for items shipping first class have all but dried up.    Zoned first class has been a real sales killer.  

Since I'm not a "best offer" seller - I simply ignore any request for "free shipping".   

[nmemoryof · Accepted solution]

I don't care about the technicality of free shipping because I'm not stupid.  It's not free.  I do search according to prices that include shipping.  I sell with the technicality of "free" shipping, but that is because it is better when something is damaged in shipping to have included it in the price.

What has happened is that buyers are greedy and big companies have just found a way to trick them into thinking they get something for free.  It is like buying a mattress.  If you don't get "50% off" then you've paid too much.  They just mark them up to mark them down.  When consumer laws forbid a real mark up before a "sale," retailers just keep the phony high price and nearly always have those items on sale.  It works.  I am quite sure it frequently works on me unless I really think about it.  We're being duped.  In fact, buyers are demanding to be duped.

So it is all perception and manipulation to trick buyers into thinking they are getting something for nothing, or some extra special price or something.  I refuse to add in "free returns" because I don't have the volume sales to do it.  That one is just a way for big sellers to run off little sellers and claim they are doing it for the buyer.

[parkersparrow]

@18704d  I could ship a $5.99 item for free and absorb the cost. I decided to add a few inexpensive item to my store to try and boost exposure & add to my items per transaction. I just find it rude for someone to ask for free shipping on a 2 oz. item that's not even up for best offer. Then when declined they then came back with and additional .50 cents.

[partsman330]

$20 item to Australia "CAN I HAVE FREE SHIPPING"

No. The cost of shipping would be more than the $20 you would pay.

Buyer replies "#### YOU"

:{

[nmemoryof]

I think it is true that many buyers only consider the price attacked to the item.  If I do not sort according to price plus shipping, I'll see a price and thing WOW.  Then I look at the shipping and it is crazy high.  It's manipulation with various seller motives.

It used to be the smart buyers demanded itemized bills.  Now dumb buyers demand one price.  It may not be long until you go to a restaurant and get bill for "meal" or go to the grocery store and get charged for "cart full of food."  All itemized costs will be hidden.  That makes about as much sense.

[mr_lincoln]

@parkersparrow   GREAT Post, thanks for sharing that.  I don't use Best Offer and rarely use Free shipping unless its a light weight item and I am ready to get rid of it ... I give it one cycle then it's off the box lot auction!

However, I do get messaged offers and to your point, need to reply politely but at times you want to fire a broadside! Here's one approach I use for less then stellar offers:

" First and foremost, thank you for the message on the item for sale on eBay.  I appreciate the offer but at that price I would be selling for a loss which does not fit my business model, but again, thank you for the interest."

I had one a few weeks ago where a day after I sent that type message the Buyer messaged back on the $ 59.95 item PLUS shipping and asked "what's your bottom line price?" (they had graciously offered me $ 25 shipped in their original message btw).  I replied, " the listing price, $ 59.95".  I thought about and had their first offer been reasonable I might have entertained a counter but to sell for less then half price and include shipping was simply ridiculous ... they earned a spot on the BBL for that one ...

[nmemoryof]

Large retailers can negotiate lower shipping fees.  They can adjust the cost higher on items where there is not fierce competition, compensating for the "free" stuff in other categories.  Lots of things that small sellers can't do no matter how much you blame their inability to adapt.  This is why a Walmart will open in a small town and often put other stores out of business.

Or there is the trick of offering some items at a loss so that you can sell other items at a large markup (the same thing looked at from another angle).  Anything that is manipulation and not clear and honest pricing is not good for buyers in the long run.  That doesn't stop them from enjoying the game of being price fooled.  Like I said earlier, I'm quite sure it works on me at times, too.  However, I was not born yesterday so I do know about the various tricks retailers pull.

[tsme35]

For one item yea, but the $5.99 free shipping, I would do $2.99 and $3 shipping still equals $5.99 but if the buyer wants a 2nd or 3rd item, its $2.99 and .50 combine shipping for the items. Free shipping would be $17.97, my price $12.97