Free Shipping

[claircy]

How do sellers breakeven with free shipping on all products?

[richard1rst]

The object is not to just break even. I offer free shipping on over 80% of my listings and more are being converted as time passes. I make money on every one. BECAUSE I know what my costs are and set the price accordingly.

[lja440]

I NEVER break even. I ALWAYS make a profit.

Each and every listing I post has my minimum profit (30%) built in, (60% for BIN's).

I use a basic formula. 

What I have in the item + all listing fees +a estimated FVF based on current trending prices = starting point

Starting point + minimum profit + cost to ship to zone 8 = Starting Price w/ free shipping.

If the starting price exceeds the trending price then it does not get listed as a single item. Instead it gets shifted into a lot. This will change mainly the what I have in the item amount but may not change my shipping costs or change it only slightly but it will increase my search keywords. Like 'Bad Co LP' becomes 'Bad Co, CCR, Allman Bros LP lot' . 

[no_zero369]

Not everything can be sold online for a profit by small sellers.  Your 'job" as a seller is to figure out all of the costs and then figure out IF an item can be sold for a profit or IF that profit is worth your time.  If the answer is no, then don't offer it for sale.

Look, high volume sellers have their own deals with shipping companies for deep discounts.  Some have High Volume that allows for a lower profit item per transaction that is offset by volume.

So if something can not be sold profitably, then bundle it as OP stated or donate it and find something that is profitable.

[lja440]

High volume sellers also buy in high volume making their cost per item a lot less, this can increase their profit or increase their sales due to lower prices.

Small seller niche is in the unique and rare.  I make more cash with a end of sale box lot picked up at a estate auction than buying from one of the wholesale companies.

[7606dennis]

Free Shipping is something of a misnomer.  While there is no line item charge for shipping to the buyer, the costs involved are passed on to the buyer in the form of higher item prices usually.  Always remember, there is no free lunch.

[fern*wood]

You have to work all your costs/fees into your pricing. 

I looked through your listings and am confused by your gallery photos showing completely different colors than your titles for many of them.  I'm not talking about shades of colors, but showing a red sweater and stating it is med green.

[lja440]

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@fern*wood wrote:

You have to work all your costs/fees into your pricing. 

I looked through your listings and am confused by your gallery photos showing completely different colors than your titles for many of them.  I'm not talking about shades of colors, but showing a red sweater and stating it is med green.

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I didn't notice that. I just saw stock photos.

IMO

stock photo = drop shipping = BACK BUTTON

[chapeau-noir]

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@lja440 wrote:

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@fern*wood wrote:

You have to work all your costs/fees into your pricing. 

I looked through your listings and am confused by your gallery photos showing completely different colors than your titles for many of them.  I'm not talking about shades of colors, but showing a red sweater and stating it is med green.

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I didn't notice that. I just saw stock photos.

IMO

stock photo = drop shipping = BACK BUTTON

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Not necessarily, sometimes people who purchase from wholesale have permission in their manifest to use stock photos associated with certain products.

[lja440]

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@chapeau-noir wrote:

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@lja440 wrote:

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@fern*wood wrote:

You have to work all your costs/fees into your pricing. 

I looked through your listings and am confused by your gallery photos showing completely different colors than your titles for many of them.  I'm not talking about shades of colors, but showing a red sweater and stating it is med green.

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I didn't notice that. I just saw stock photos.

IMO

stock photo = drop shipping = BACK BUTTON

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Not necessarily, sometimes people who purchase from wholesale have permission in their manifest to use stock photos associated with certain products.

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I sometimes use a stock photo but NEVER as the gallery photo. That is ALWAYS a photo of the actual item I have in my hand. 

The VAST MAJORITY  of people using only stock photos do drop ship.

[no_zero369]

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@lja440 wrote:

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@chapeau-noir wrote:

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@lja440 wrote:

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@fern*wood wrote:

You have to work all your costs/fees into your pricing. 

I looked through your listings and am confused by your gallery photos showing completely different colors than your titles for many of them.  I'm not talking about shades of colors, but showing a red sweater and stating it is med green.

---

I didn't notice that. I just saw stock photos.

IMO

stock photo = drop shipping = BACK BUTTON

---

Not necessarily, sometimes people who purchase from wholesale have permission in their manifest to use stock photos associated with certain products.

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I sometimes use a stock photo but NEVER as the gallery photo. That is ALWAYS a photo of the actual item I have in my hand. 

The VAST MAJORITY  of people using only stock photos do drop ship.

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imho stock photo = LAZY SELLER which means back button to me.

But hey, I am sure stock photos could attract buyers looking for free stuff because the listing is a violation of eBay policy and too easy to find a flaw that wasn't shown in a picture of a pristine item.

[lja440]

I only use them on items that I can't get good detail  on a flat surface in addition to my pictures. Such as really soft fabrics with a lot of draping. Something that actually needed to be shown on a body or mannequin to really be seen. Like I said they are a supplement to my photos of the actual item.

[no_zero369]

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@lja440 wrote:

I only use them on items that I can't get good detail  on a flat surface in addition to my pictures. Such as really soft fabrics with a lot of draping. Something that actually needed to be shown on a body or mannequin to really be seen. Like I said they are a supplement to my photos of the actual item.

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er, um, ah...... methinks one can buy a mannequin right here on eBay for 30-50, free shipping and free returns!  7351 on offer for the female...

I get some good detail on a hanger, hung over a door that is draped with a white sheet.

Should be no need for stock photos in an eBay listing, especially for used items. 

I'm just saying

[armyairforce4]

Some of your listings state free priority shipping worldwide.

[richard1rst]

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@no_zero369 wrote:

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er, um, ah...... methinks one can buy a mannequin

Should be no need for stock photos in an eBay listing, especially for used items. 

I bought a mannequin very early on and I do not even sell clothes. I use it to display my suspenders and my baseball caps. Looks a lot better then just spread out on a table.

I will sometimes use a stock manufacturer's photo as the LAST photo in an array **IF** it shows a good example of the item in use in such a way as I cannot recreate in my studio. But everything in front of that is ALWAYS my own photos.