eBay

keepsakesandcurios · ‎03-20-2023

Hi all - First post so please be kind. 🙂 It's been 15 years since I actively sold on eBay but I'm back at it. I spent a lot of time (maybe not enough!) calculating shipping costs. I ran estimates in eBay's shipping calculator for various weights and package sizes then created shipping policies for 1 lb, 2 lbs, 3 lbs, etc. I recently sold a lightweight, 3 lb, but large item (required a box 16x12x12) and the buyer is in CA and I'm in MI. The cheapest rate I can find is through Pirateship for $27 and I only charged $9. The issue is the "billable weight" (found an article on the UPS site) and the long distance. I'll have to eat the cost but how can I prevent this in the future? I went to many of my listings, changed the policy to "calculated shipping" and entered the assumed package size and weight. Does anyone have other suggestions? Thanks much in advance.

nobody*s_perfect · ‎03-20-2023

Which listing is it? I checked a couple of your recent sold listings, and they didn't use UPS or calculated shipping. Maybe the problem is that you didn't set up your shipping policies accurately. Calculated shipping in listings is usually quite accurate for USPS postage.

keepsakesandcurios · ‎03-20-2023

Hi, and thank you. The basket. At the time I listed it, I did NOT have that item as calculated shipping.

I haven't changed all of my current listings, but did try and update the ones that are large and or heavy that may cause the same situation. This one, https://www.ebay.com/itm/134496872054, now says expedited shipping, see details, and when I select zip code 91911 it reflects the rate for CA. US $29.30 Expedited Shipping. See details.

Is this the best way?

nobody*s_perfect · ‎03-20-2023

I think that calculated shipping is the way to go, BUT the weight and dimensions must be accurate in the listing setup.

That listing is showing calculated shipping for a 6-pound package. Are you sure that you entered accurate package dimensions? A 14-inch glass vase would probably not ship in a box that's less than a cubic foot, and the "dimensional weight" would be more than 10 pounds.