Finding a cheaper way to ship

[sb_dog_creations]

Hello--I'm a seasoned buyer on here but new to selling. I have sold about 5 things so far, small items, and have found shipping to be my highest expense.  Some of my items I ship are so small they would fit inside a regular postal envelope; however, I have always print eBays shipping label with tracking. Is this protocol to do this or can I ship in the US without a tracking#? Is there another way to ship without going to the USPS? I've always included shipping with my charges but have recently found that I'm making very little profit, if any at all, once all fees are deducted. 

Any advice from you seasoned sellers out there would be very helpful. I'm trying to keep costs down to a bare minimum, whenever possible. Thanks!

[garmentvarmint2004]

SB.DOG...

Well  how expensive are your item prices?   Can you  afford  to lose  SOME Disputes  because you have not  paid for Tracking???  If your  items only cost  a  few  dollars  apiece---then it might be more  profitable for you  to  send them without Tracking. 

I have seen some sellers  with low cost items  who do not  use  Tracking---and   they are  able to make  money  that  way.    (because most of  their  buyers  don't pay  attention   to  whether they have   or have not,  gotten   Post OFFICE  on-line proof of  delivery.  )

[zmoz · Accepted solution]

You simply need to charge buyers actual shipping cost. This isn't your cost to bear. No, do not ever ship anything on ebay without a tracking number - in ebay's eys that just means you didn't send it.

Generally USPS is cheapest for smaller items.

[myescape]

Without tracking you lose all not received cases buyers might open.Just up your prices to cover postage,ebay/pp and other fees or expenses,cost to acquire and desired profit

[duchess-at-speakeasy]

My buyers pay all of my expenses via the selling price, the s&h price or both. (In some cases, I may liquidate merchandise below cost but that is my choice.

USPS is the least expensive means of sending small items. You pay by the ounce, not by the pound. You are not required to use First Class Package Service (which includes tracking). If a non-machinable letter works better for you, then do it. No tracking, no insurance, no recourse if the envelope goes missing or the buyer claims "not received."

Personally, I try to limit my inexpensive items to those in which I have little to no investment. But whatever amount the buyer pays, it always exceeds my mailing cost and eBay and Paypal fees. In other words, don't pay out MORE than you receive!

I do send postcard orders via non-machinable letter if the weight does not exceed 3.5 oz. (Usually, it's 2 oz. for up to 3 cards.) But I also offer First Class Package Service and Priority Mail so buyers can choose the service they prefer. When I send NM letters, I affix a stamp -- USPS has a 3 oz. Forever stamp that covers 2 oz. plus the surcharge. No eBay label, no tracking. Just a simple #11 or 6x9 paper envelope lined with light cardboard and addressed by hand. In more than 30 years of online selling (long before eBay), I haven't lost one yet and the buyers have no complaints.

Bottom line: UPS and FedEx charge by the pound, probably a minimum of about $6-$8 dollars, for slow service via truck. USPS First Class (letter or package) travels by air except to very nearby destinations.

~~C~~

[sb_dog_creations]

Thank you. This has been very helpful.
SB Dog

[sb_dog_creations]

To answer your question:
Currently I'm just selling items listed no more than ~ $11 including expedited shipping. Dog toys, dog stuff in general. I was trying to comply with eBays "free shipping" policy they encourage sellers to have. They have indicated your sales rate generally is around 11% higher. Have you or anyone else found this to be an accurate statement??

[zmoz]

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@sb_dog_creations wrote:
I was trying to comply with eBays "free shipping" policy they encourage sellers to have. They have indicated your sales rate generally is around 11% higher. Have you or anyone else found this to be an accurate statement??

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No, not at all. Most buyers look at the total price including shipping, whether shipping was free or not. Generally "advice" from ebay should not be followed, it's meant for their best interest, not yours.

[ripcityresell]

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@zmoz wrote:

You simply need to charge buyers actual shipping cost. This isn't your cost to bear. No, do not ever ship anything on ebay without a tracking number - in ebay's eys that just means you didn't send it.

Generally USPS is cheapest for smaller items.

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And yet, some of us are able to do just fine without tracking. I have had less than 5 INR claims in several hundred shipments. Yes, I have to refund them, but they have been very insignificant. Just depends on your items and how well you know the customer base.

[savwillsell09]

nobody can say thats an accurate statement,.,i have side stepped the free and start stuff at one cent.........try that and see if you go belly-up.

[zmoz]

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@ripcityresell wrote:

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Just depends on your items and how well you know the customer base.

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LOL. There is "know your customer base" on ebay. You have no control over who buys or where your item is advertised. Customers are always a completely mixed bag from all walks of life. For some reason people think certain categories have different customers...this could not be more wrong.

[sb_dog_creations]

Thanks for the info. It was helpful! 🙂

[sb_dog_creations]

Thanks. I've noted this. 🙂

[garmentvarmint2004]

SB..What an interesting  Thread you  started. Many  posterswho responded,  said no tracking on low-cost itrms works  for  them  just fine.   They said they  rarely have  to refund their  customers   for nonreceipt.   But others  say the exact opposite.   They say you MUST always  include Tracking.

One poster went  reallly  far.    He or she said without Tracking Ebay  assumes the seller did  not ship.  That is  certainly not  true.   Ebay assumes  everything  went fine UNLESS  they get  a  complaint by  the buyer. 

So maybe you  should  try both ways  for  a  while--and  see what works best  with your customer base. 

[ripcityresell]

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@zmoz wrote:

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@ripcityresell wrote:

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Just depends on your items and how well you know the customer base.

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LOL. There is "know your customer base" on ebay. You have no control over who buys or where your item is advertised. Customers are always a completely mixed bag from all walks of life. For some reason people think certain categories have different customers...this could not be more wrong.

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I assume you meant there is 'no' know your customer base and you couldn't be further from the truth. Yes, you are always going to get the bad apple that is going to scam you, no matter what category you sell in, but there are trustworthy groups of customers that allow you to estimate the number of claims you might have and work those into your overall costs. I sold stamps (and ran the eBay business for a stamp shop) for a couple of years. It is a very very trustworthy customer base. I've found DVDs and CDs are fairly trustworthy too. I guess I can't convince you no matter what, buy my refund for INR numbers don't lie.

Now, electronics, Yugi-Oh and Strawberry Shortcake customers... I hear they are some of the worst.