Free Shipping

[claircy]

How do sellers breakeven with free shipping on all products?

[lja440]

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@no_zero369 wrote:

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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

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Yeah, I have thought about getting a mannequin but I need to use a stock photo so rarely. It really isn't about the cost but about where I would store it, or rather them as I would need several.

My norm is a old hollow interior door. I will drape it (I have several colored sheets for this) and lean it against the house wherever the light is best. The last time I used stock photos was with some Prom dresses (some rather um slutty ones) heavy beading and a lot of cut outs and filmy material. I got the whole lot of them along with a zippered freestanding clothes rack for $5. Luckily the only textile competition was a few older women and a bunch of Amish lady's  I'm just saying while I'm no prude I am glad my two daughters chose much less revealing dresses for their dances.

[johnrj1226]

Here is an  excel spread sheet example that  shows how I make a  profit on my  transactions.  I make certain I  identify all my cost of  sales including Ship & handling.  Let  me assure you the profit margin shown in this example is much lower than I  actually target.  I base my profit percentage based on the total revenue I receive from the buyer.

Maybe this will give you  some ideas - just  copy the image & paste  it on a Word sheet then enlarge it to 200%  for readability or use a magnifying glass

[the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth]

“Free” shipping is often more lucrative for sellers since buyers don’t expect combined reduced shipping on multiple purchases. Sellers then get to charge multiple selling amounts within the total.

[no_zero369]

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@johnrj1226 wrote:

Here is an  excel spread sheet example that  shows how I make a  profit on my  transactions.  I make certain I  identify all my cost of  sales including Ship & handling.  Let  me assure you the profit margin shown in this example is much lower than I  actually target.  I base my profit percentage based on the total revenue I receive from the buyer.

Maybe this will give you  some ideas - just  copy the image & paste  it on a Word sheet then enlarge it to 200%  for readability or use a magnifying glass

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Wow!  40% looks like a nice tidy margin!  Hope all of your sales are a lucrative!  Well done!

[johnrj1226]

@no_zero369 

Thanks but actually as I stated my profit  margin is  higher  than 40% as shown in that example - I won't  say what it is.   And when I  buy  right it  is even higher,  I do price to  market  mid point and  throw out the real high & real low price same or similar items.  I do look at  sold items  primarily to set my price - that is what a willing buyer actually paid vs what a seller hopes they might get.  Don't every get  in the race to the bottom pricing.