Do the shipping rate tables even work?

[rimtrim]

I want to start listing some larger items that exceed the cubic foot threshold for dimensional weight on Priority Mail. Also, I'm considering the possibility of moving all my Priority Mail stuff over to Fed Ex, because the USPS has been very unreliable lately. As an initial test, I wanted to create one listing for a larger item, and offer both services at varying prices. Here is what I was trying to set up:

Fed-Ex Ground/Home Delivery

All lower 48 states: $18.00 flat charge

AK/HI/PR: service not available

Priority Mail

Eastern region: $18.00 flat charge

Midwest and Southern regions: $28.00 flat charge

Western region and AK/HI/PR: $44.00 flat charge

This doesn't seem like it should be rocket science, but after messing around for several hours last night, I ultimately canceled the listing because I couldn't get it to show reliable shipping information. Most ZIP codes were showing only one service available, even though my rate table had two services available. When I viewed the listing in a "private" window (not logged in), before entering a ZIP code it showed the shipping as "Fast and Free", which is misleading at best. Also, I couldn't get the listing to display the actual names of the services, even though I was selecting them when creating the listing. It would only show "Standard Shipping" and "Expedited Shipping". I wanted the customers to see that they were choosing between USPS and Fed Ex.

I'll probably end up running this listing with Fed Ex only, flat shipping charge, with AK/HI/PR blocked. At least that will give me a trial run of the Fed Ex process when it sells. But I was wondering if anyone has had success setting up the shipping rate tables, or if this is just a crusty old broken feature that nobody uses.

[corvettestainless]

1.) you cannot block any of the 50 states or PR

2.) When looking at your listings, you have to NOT be logged in and change your 'location' to really see if they are showing correctly

3.) Ebay does not show multiple shipping options when the lowest price option gets it to the customer in generally the same time (again, must look at your listings not logged in and using 'from' different zip codes. 

Note- personally I like Free Shipping, just include the cost. To see a listing for $110 and a shipping cost of $55 does NOT make me want to purchase. Figure worst location, don't pick any shipping format that does not cover all 50 states, and your done. 

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@corvettestainless wrote:

1.) you cannot block any of the 50 states or PR .... 

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?!  You can block Alaska, Hawaii and PR.

[nobody*s_perfect]

eBay has an official policy: If you offer more than one shipping option, they might not show them all.  They will  show a more expensive only if  it's also faster.

Not clear why you're trying to use tables rather than just setting up calculated shipping.

[rimtrim]

Thanks, I didn't know that about shipping options being hidden. Since eBay considers Fed Ex to be "Standard" and Priority to be "Expedited" (not lately, in my experience!), I figured they would show both. If they're going to hide Priority, then I might as well just offer Fed Ex only on these larger items.

I wasn't using calculated shipping because I want more control over the number the customer sees. As a buyer I've seen the calculator spit out too many weird things. A lot of that is probably seller error (wrong weight/dimensions) but I don't want to take any chances on a buyer potentially seeing an $80 shipping quote on an item that costs $20 to ship, or vice versa. With Fed Ex Ground, the rates are consistent enough that I can just do the whole lower 48 with a flat rate and block AK/HI/PR. Priority with dim weight has huge variations based on distance.

[rimtrim]

In case anyone is curious, here's what I ended up doing that appears to be working. I stuck with the rate table, but I narrowed it down to just one displayed shipping option (generic "Standard Shipping"), with two flat rates: one for the entire lower 48 and the other (higher) for AK/HI/PR. I specifically wanted to accommodate PR somehow, because I get a lot of buyers from there. In the listing itself, I chose "Standard Shipping" as the only available service, and entered the lower of the two rates in the shipping cost box. I believe that should prevent anyone from seeing "Free Shipping" even if the rate table misfires for some reason. I also blocked PO boxes, but didn't block anything else.

My plan is that buyers in the lower 48 will get Fed Ex Ground, and AK/HI/PR buyers will get Priority Mail. Displaying the generic "Standard Shipping" service should be satisfactory for everyone, and eliminates the question of whether people are seeing the correct service name for their region.

[cosmo2tan]

Watch out with FedEx Ground. Last month they upped there fees on home delivery.  The post office is kinda the same. The past few year USPS has been mostly "one rate" on their flat rate packages until this year and its now done by zones. So for us we are located in OH and if im shipping a package to FL that is 10x10x12 and weighs 12lbs it costs $14-15 but if i send it to CA it jumps to $20-25

[nobody*s_perfect]

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The past few year USPS has been mostly "one rate" on their flat rate packages until this year and its now done by zones.

USPS has not changed their policy on the postage cost for flat rate boxes.

USPS has free Priority Mail boxes and envelopes that ship at a flat rate to any ZIP Code, and other free boxes that are not flat rate.  If you use their non-flat-rate boxes or your own box, then the postage price is by weight, size, and zone.  But the price for the flat rate boxes is still based on box size.

A box that is 10x10x12 is not one of the flat rate boxes, so the postage cost will be based on weight and distance.  For a 12-pound package, the online postage cost  would be $12 to $44, depending on distance.

USPS raises their rates every year in January. But this basic difference between flat rate packaging and regular packages has been in place for over 10 years..

[orangehound]

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@cosmo2tan wrote:

The past few year USPS has been mostly "one rate" on their flat rate packages until this year and its now done by zones.

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Ummm ... no.

Flat rate Priority Mail is still one price to any zip code in the USA.

You may be thinking of First Class packages ... but those are not called "flat rate".

[dtexley3]

I offer multiple services on all my listings over 1lb, eBay will pick and choose what to show, don't like it but have to live with it.  I use calculated shipping, enter the correct weight and dimensions.  99% of the time the shipping charged to the buyer is correct.   Depending on who answers you'll get the horror stories about all the carriers, so be aware.

There's a sweet spot with FedEx 2day for heavier items under 12x12x10 that would be a real bonus expect eBay doesn't show the correct rate to the buyer right now.  Been broken for months.

Free shipping doesn't really work with heavier items because you are above the average price for buyers near you or you are losing money for the buyers in zone 4-7.  Calculated shipping is the way to go.