Actual Shipping Cost Higher than what eBay charges Buyer!

[docstill299n]

This has been happening for over 6 months, but when I call eBay, they act like they have no idea.  It usually happens with heavy items, going long distances.

Today, I sold an item listed at 149#, 28" x 21" x 21" going from 32608 to 97305.  Buyer only paid $148, but it would cost me $176 to ship by FedEx Ground.

It happens often!  eBay offers no solution other than telling me to ask Buyer for more money by PayPal.

I have posted here about this problem several times.  Why can't eBay fix this problem?

[stainlessenginecovers]

Do you have the correct weight and size inputted into the listing before clicking 'List It'?

Although, it doesn't appear anything was inputted until AFTER the buyer purchased as that listing only shows 'local pickup' so there would have been no dimensions/weight inputted.

Also note; many of your listings show 'local pickup' only; then some have 'free USPS Priority Shipping' etc. 

[powell-collectibles]

Curious – the rate looks correct, if I back out the stated discount to what FedEx would charge retail. But, the discount percentage on your purchase is lower than on the shipping calculator.

[train_slide_central]

I never charge what eBay suggests, nor do I use rates based on location. I check on PirateShip for the farthest distance from my house.. Then I charge above that and I charge a flat rate to make up for the percent of final value fee that eBay charges for selling an item.  PirateShip is going to be equal or less than eBay rates every time. just my 2 cents.

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@stainlessenginecovers wrote: ... it doesn't appear anything was inputted until AFTER the buyer purchased as that listing only shows 'local pickup' so there would have been no dimensions/weight inputted..... 

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The listing shows FedEx shipping as well as local pickup:

[wastingtime101]

I've seen this come up over and over @docstill299n where the buyer pays the FedEx Ground rate, but the seller is charged the FedEx Home Delivery rate (Ground service with residential surcharge).

eBay is supposed to charge the correct rate based on the buyer's address, but that's clearly not happening. My best guess is there's a bug eBay needs to work out and no, it's not fair to the seller to have to deal with this.

The only sellers affected are the ones offering FedEx Ground that pass carrier discount on to the buyer.

Typically it's about a $5 difference - this one is about an $18 difference due to the size of the package.

I don't have any great advice other than suck up the difference on this transaction, then update your listings or settings to either:

- Don't offer buyers FedEx Ground until eBay fixes this

- Offer FedEx Ground but don't pass carrier discounts on to buyers

- Offer FedEx Ground carrier discounted rate but add a handling fee to cover this inevitable scenario - handling fee can probably be lower for smaller items and higher for larger items like this one.

More info on carrier discounts:

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The question is whether you want to charge buyers retail rates or discounted rates. Keep in mind that you have access to discounted rates when you purchase labels on eBay regardless of how much you charge the buyer.

The setting to offer buyers discounted rates can be found on your shipping preferences page under the carrier specific discounts setting: https://www.ebay.com/ship/prf

Since eBay charges a fee on total cost buyer pays (item + ship + tax), by charging discounted rates you are losing money on every single package. If you want to make up for that you can add a handling fee or increase your item costs - or simply charge retail rates for a built in cushion instead of passing on the discounts.

[docstill299n]

???  I have ONLY 1 out of 1,000 that are Local Pickup Only.

[wastingtime101]

Adding to my above post @docstill299n , and you probably know this already:

The buyer paid $148.26 for shipping

With your store subscription, you paid eBay final value fees of 12.35% on that amount = $18.31 fee just on the ship cost. And of course if the buyer paid sales tax you paid fees on those taxes, also.

[ryry-jj]

It is really a FedEx problem that becomes an ebay problem that ultimately becomes our problem.  I have a commercial Fedex account and they never tell you if it is residential, you have to know it and check the box, otherwise you get hit with the residential charge and a surcharge for FedEx to correct it.   You would think their system would be up to knowing if it is residential or business address, but it's not.