First Class Shipping Rates

[shellistoys]

I'm offering first class package shipping as an option to give buyers a break on cost, but I notice eBay lists the retail shipping price not the commercial price.  If I print the labels through eBay, will I get the commercial price? If I'm getting the commercial price and want to pass it on to buyers, is there a way to format the listing to show this, or am I better off upping the item price and offering free shipping?

[donsdetour]

You do know all first clase through the USPS is now ground travel and may not get their???

[nobody*s_perfect]

Yes, eBay charges the online (Commercial) rate for First Class packages.

If you want the online rate to show in your listings' calculated shipping, just go to your site preferences, in your shipping preferences there is an option to "share carrier discounts."  But most sellers leave it set to the default, which is retail, and use the savings to cover expenses such as packaging materials and the final value fee on the shipping cost.

[glasser]

Another option is to offer flat rate shipping. I do that now on many items. Sure in some cases it ends up a bit more (over long distances) but I also occasionally use FedEx ground, which can be much cheaper then the PO on longer distances and greater weight. 

[orangehound]

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@donsdetour wrote:

You do know all first clase through the USPS is now ground travel and may not get their???

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Not all packages.  First Class may still use air* when there is sufficient capacity, but if a flight capacity is full of Priority Mail, then First Class can get diverted to ground.

*I'm still noticing that First Class  packages on coast-to-coast routes are going via air.

[shellistoys]

Thanks - I wish there were a way to offer flat shipping for 1st class and calculated for priority. The difference in small first class packages doesn't change much by zone, but priority has huge differences.

[glasser]

@shellistoys Yes, that would be a great feature. You could suggest it at a community chat. Don't know how much they take those recommendations to heart but worth a try. Wed at 1pm PST on these boards