Free Shipping Choosing Carrier

[pink_slippers!]

When offering free shipping, can I a seller send item with different carrier than listed. When I listed the item it asked for a carrier, but I want to be able to ship it the most cost effective way I can, I  will ship either Priority or Fed ex 2-5 day home delivery. But depending on where it goes and how many they buy it will affect the price of shipping. Trying to keep my cost low. Thank for any info. 

[nobody*s_perfect]

If your listing says that you ship via Priority, then you have to use Priority.  

If you want to choose which carrier to use, then just don't specify. Set up your listing to offer generic "Expedited" or "Standard" shipping, not a specific service or carrier.

[pink_slippers!]

- At least one valid shipping service must be specified. This is what the listing states when I try and leave it blank. I don't see any item to select that sayes expedited or Standard that will go in the box. What am I missing.

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

@pink_slippers! 

@nobody*s_perfect 

I thought the rule was you could always upgrade on the service. NEVER downgrade. As for changing services, maybe the wrong allowable service got added to a listing? Measurements changed at final packing. It happens. Service would no longer be applicable for the package.  You would have no choice but to change service. You could advise the buyer and let them know you needed to change carrier/service and give them any applicable tracking info. If there is some sort of additional shipping costs it that would be at the sellers expense. Those are called life lessons. If the buyer takes issue, cross that road when you got there.

-Lotz

[kensgiftshop]

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@pink_slippers! wrote:

When offering free shipping, can I a seller send item with different carrier than listed.

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You don't want to change the carrier.

Some buyers choose what to buy, depending on what carrier is being offered.

Some carriers are not available in all areas and they choose what is the best carrier for their location.

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@pink_slippers! wrote:

- At least one valid shipping service must be specified. This is what the listing states when I try and leave it blank. I don't see any item to select that sayes expedited or Standard that will go in the box. What am I missing.

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You can't leave it blank, you do have to choose something from the list of services.  You have to set up flat rate rather than calculated shipping in order to be able to choose one of the generic categories of shipping rather than a specific service.

[nobody*s_perfect]

You can upgrade rather than downgrade, but choosing a different carrier is a whole 'nother situation.  Some buyers have very strong preferences, often due to local situations such as poor service from their local FedEx driver (mine smokes in the truck). Or if you're going to use USPS they have to provide a PO Box instead of their street address in some locations, so the buyer needs to know in advance that you'll be using USPS.

[pink_slippers!]

Wow, I learned a lot from your information, Thank you all.

[lightlily_arts]

I do not specify a shipping carrier on any of my listings.  I use either Standard or Economy shipping options on all my listings so that I can choose both the carrier and speed of service.  I only use USPS or Fedex.  I use Fedex for heavy oversize parcels for zones further away.  I also use First Class mail for my lighter packages, but when they make multiple purchases then I upgrade to Priority Mail when the  total weight goes over a pound.

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

@nobody*s_perfect 

Personally for me, as a Canadian buyer, I would definitely want to be advised if there was a change in carrier or in those cases where shipping just denotes a generic unspecified service. If an item goes USPS to Canadapost and it's low value, there are usually no customs charges/duties and taxes (9 times out of 10). If it is someone like a Fedex/DHL/UPS there is the potential for substantial customs processing charges along with the duty. Varies per carrier and at their discretion. Sometimes it's even charged  by error. And very difficult to reverse. That is why I would I would always advise a customer if changing was required. Whatever the reason. This is why I avoid services like GSP and International Standard Delivery for incoming purchases. I've learned the pitfalls with those ........'s.

-Lotz

Note: From a Canadian perspective, International Priority Service is an oxymoron.

PS. @lightlily_arts So what do you use for your international shipping and how has response been from your buyers?

[lightlily_arts]

 I don't ship internationally as I quit when eBay changed their return policy that required the seller to pay for return shipping on claims.  International shipping is so expensive especially when I sell heavy ceramic collectibles.  I already worry enough over getting my packages to domestic locations without breakage.  My only international sales since the policy change have been through Freight Forwarders.

I only have one listing which I'm willing to ship internationally as they are rare and hard to find Paperback Origami Books written in Japanese. That one specifically ships as an International Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelope to Japan only.

There is a message on my seller overview asking me to register for a shipping program to Canada.   I don't know if it's a benefit to Canadians.   I don't know what Standard delivery is.

This is the message:

Save up to 14% on shipping to Canada

Choose eBay international standard delivery Register Now

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

@lightlily_arts 

This is that new program and details. 

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/shipping-items/setting-shipping-options/ebay-international-standar...

With GSP any duties and taxes are applied at payment. With Standard International at the end so anything owing "could be a surprise for buyer depending on value of item. The one test I made with service item was passed off from USPS to DHL to Canadapost. It could stay in the DHL system if there are taxes owing and because of Covid19 would have to be paid prior to delivery. Drivers do not collect at the door. If it moves with DHL its part of their ecommerce division with a different system to access the tracking  vs regular DHL. I find it interesting that the program is explained on dot com but not explained for the International Buyer unless they are willing to do some major digging. From a buyers perspective it's nice to know how something is going to be handled before its shipped.

I sell from Canada. On lighter things quite often it is cheaper for me to ship to the Continental USA vs E.. Canada and sometimes even faster. And the biggie customs charges only applies to US shipments after 850.00 USD. Not sure if it changed with the new USMC agreement. It takes me 2 extra minutes to process an order for USA. Now if US sellers would pass on some of these supposed savings to Canadian buyers, like the song says, Ohhh, what a wonderful world it would be.

-Lotz

Personally I don't think GSP/Standard International Shipping have done anything to make things easier for shipping to Canada...Or cheaper.