Fixed price listing with multiple items -- how to list with multiple shipping weights?

[jdbtwo]

I'm working on a fixed price listing of multiple identical items. The buyer can buy one or up to four items. The problem I'm having is that it seems eBay only allows me to enter one shipping weight, but, of course, the more items the buyer purchases, the heavier the package. Also, I have to use different box dimensions depending on what shipping service the buyer picks. How do I go about doing this? I apologize if this is a stupid question.

Thanks,

jdbtwo

[pjcdn2005]

If you are using calculated shipping you can set up a calculated shipping rule on your shipping preferences page so that the weights combine but that won't change the dimensions of the package. 

Or if you are using a flat rate you are given the option to add a second rate for each additional item.

I know that I've seen other suggestions on the boards about this so I'm sure someone else will chime in.

[jdbtwo]

Maybe I'm missing something obvious or something that's hiding in plain site but here's the problem :

The only option I'm given is to create or edit a shipping policy -- I see no "shipping preferences page" and there's no way for me to set up a custom calculated shipping rule. I can add different shipping services but that's about it. I'm still left with the problem that the eBay listing page only allows me to enter one package weight and one set of package dimensions. I *have* seen other sellers who offer shipping with "x dollars for each additional item" added by the eBay listing tool but I can't seem to figure out how to do that.

Any help would be appreciated,

Thanks,

jdbtwo

[pjcdn2005]

On your ebay summary click on your account page and you will see a shipping preferences link under 'selling'

https://www.ebay.com/ship/prf

I don't use business/shipping policies so I'm not sure if you would still use that page to set up a combined shipping rule or if it is done separately with business policies.    @wastingtime101 is much more familiar with business policies and usps shipping than I am so perhaps he can chime in here.  

[rfmtm]

If you select Flat Rate Shipping in the shipping section, then when you enter a shipping option you will see two fields, one for shipping cost for the first item and one for each additional item.

If you select Calculated Shipping, then in your Shipping Preferences:

Enable Combined Payments: Enable combined payments and number of days for buyer to purchase items.

Calculated Shipping Rule (edit): Select a discount (such as add weights), click Next, select a Handling Cost Rule, then Save.

Now either revise individual listings to enable the rule, or use the bulk editor and select the items to apply the combined shipping rule to as follows:

Under the Edit Fields tab, select Shipping Discounts (domestic).

In the drop down menu for Calculated Shipping Discounts select Add to All.

Click Save and Close.

Note adding weights does not take into account growing package size, which can lead to problems.

[wastingtime101]

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@jdbtwo wrote:

 Also, I have to use different box dimensions depending on what shipping service the buyer picks.

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You've gotten good advice already @jdbtwo and just to reiterate what the others said, there is no way to account for changing box dimensions based on service or number of items. If you use flat rate shipping you'll need to factor that in as best you can, and if you use calculated shipping then you can consider adding a handling fee if needed - but again, handling fee is (unfortunately) not dependent on service chosen.

You'll have to make some decisions about whether you can work out an average cost model or if you need to offer only 1-2 service options because dimensions are having too much of an impact.

[jdbtwo]

Thanks so much @pjcdn2005 ,@rfmtm and @wastingtime101  ! 🙂 Your help and advice is greatly appreciated 🙂

As I understand it, I can choose different shipping services, but, as for applying shipping rules to said services, I can only choose one and that one applies to all my shipping services. This is a problem as I want to offer USPS Priority Flat Rate as an expedited service as well as USPS Parcel Select Ground as an economy service. If I choose the flat rate rule, then for USPS Parcel Select Ground I'd add an amount for each additional item, but, this doesn't make any sense for USPS Flat Rate Priority. OTOH, if I select calculated shipping, then I don't have the option of charging a fixed amount for each additional item. I guess what I'm asking is if there is any way to approximate offering USPS Flat Rate Priority as a flat rate service and USPS Parcel Select ground as a calculated shipping service with an additional shipping charge for each additional item. Note that I have determined that for each shipping service I can get by with only one box size -- the only thing that changes is the weight for each additional item.

Thanks,

jdbtwo

[wastingtime101 · Accepted solution]

It sounds like what you want to do at this point is pretty straightforward @jdbtwo. Correct me if I got this wrong. You want to offer 2 shipping services:

1. Priority Flat Rate - one box , one rate no matter how many the buyer purchases. Charge for one, free shipping for any additional.

2. Parcel Select Ground - set up as a flat rate with a fixed amount for each additional item.

You can do this, by setting up the listing with flat rate shipping.

1. Under the Priority service choose the Flat Rate box of your choice, enter the amount you want to charge, then under "each additional" enter $0.00.

2. Under the Parcel Select service, enter your averaged flat amount you want to charge, then under "each additional" enter how much you want to charge for each additional item.

You could also use rate tables. Rate tables would allow you to set up exactly what you want to do with Parcel Select, and you could set up zones based as closely as possible to the USPS zone chart from your zip. That way you don't have to average out a cost for the country - you could charge more for farther zones and less for people nearby.

Let me know if I'm in the ballpark here with what you want to accomplish.

[jdbtwo]

Thanks so much @wastingtime101 ! 🙂 This is exactly what I want to do 🙂 Also, thanks for mentioning rate tables -- I think I will use that feature to give the buyer a lower, more accurate shipping cost. I can't believe I overlooked entering zero dollars for the "each additional item" field of the flat rate shipping rule -- I guess I was thinking that entering zero wasn't valid -- thanks for the informative correction! 🙂

I'll go ahead and mark your reply as a solution.

Thanks to all,

jdbtwo

[wastingtime101]

No prob. If you have any more questions let us know. 👍