Help -- Shipping Advice

[sylsh9475]

I am new to eBay and have sold a framed print that is 36" x 30" x 3".    I stated clearly that shipping was the responsibility of the buyer and the cost would be determined after the sell based on buyer's location.

I sold the print yesterday .....

1.  eBay calculated the shipping as $17.17 and 'collected' this amount from the buyer. This amount is absurdly low. I am on the East Coast and the buyer is on the West Coast.  HOW DO I GET THIS AMOUNT CHANGED?

2.  I do not understand what the next step might  be.  I need to buy good, safe packaging and take it to the post office or UPS for delivery.  HOW DO I GET REIMBURSED FOR THIS SHIPPING?

Believe me ... I have looked at so many articles on eBay shipping, but I am completely confused.  

Thank you for any advice.

[caldreamer]

You are correct...there is no way PRIORITY MAIL is only $17 (East to West Coast) for a 36x30x3 package.   This doesn't make sense...did you put the correct (weight & measurements) when you created this listing?   Unfortunately, you cannot ask customer to pay additional money for postage (that is against EBAY rules).

I am located in California and I viewed the other 36x21 print that you have for sale.   This shows shipping as 
$147.01 USPS GROUND Advantage.   You might want to check your listing to see what "weight/measurements" you show for that one.   $147.01 seems excessive for "ground" shipment.

[dbfolks166mt]

    You are using calculated shipping in your listing and I checked the sold item. I am on the east coast as well but even to ship it to me in VA is only $10.82 for priority mail which is very low for a painting of that size.  As caldreamer mentioned there is probably something wrong with the dim's or weight that you had in the listing. 

     I just shipped a print from VA to OR that measured 31" x 27" x 1" and weighted 5 pounds 9 ounces. That package was $22.66 using USPS Ground advantage so there is no way your painting would be cheaper. 

     On the down side there is no way for you to change the amount of shipping or the total price of the order once the sale has been made. You can either purchase the shipping and complete the sale or you can cancel the order but the later may upset the buyer depending on what reason you use for cancelation. If you proceed with the shipment given USPS's record lately and the fact that this is going cross country I would purchase enough extra insurance to cover the full value of the item. 

[fern*wood]

When you require the buyer to pay a shipping cost, you must enter the proper information in your listing so they are charged correctly when they purchase.  This means finding a box ahead of time so you can enter the correct dimensions/weight when you set up shipping in the listing.  It isn't proper to state you will determine the amount later.    We are not permitted to charge buyers more after the purchase, or maybe I should say the buyer is not obligated to pay more.

[jerseyboymusic]

When you listed this, did you put the weight and measurements into the shipping field? @sylsh9475 

[susanb1872]

Shipping is the most difficult part of selling on ebay and most sellers make a few mistakes in the beginning. Unfortunately, it sounds like you thought you could tell the buyer the shipping cost AFTER they purchased the item. The purpose of calculated shipping is the buyer knows the shipping cost BEFORE they purchase, and it’s based on their location. Your choices are to cancel the sale and get a defect and maybe a negative feedback or pay the correct shipping cost. It's too late to ask the buyer for additional funds to cover the extra shipping cost.

[cambriachick]

As the others have said, you apparently entered the weight and dimensions wrong in the listing your sold.  Now you have to decide if you can afford to 'suck it up' as far as the additional shipping cost.  I would find the cheapest cost, check FEDEX and UPS too besides Ground Advantage, and calclate how much it would cost to ship.  Then contact your buyer and let him know that eBay undercharged him on shipping and you will be sending it with your chosen carrier to lose less money.  If he can't go with that, cancel the sale.  Priority will cost you a couple hundres dollars, I would think.  If you buy a shipping box made for framed art, that's $15 by itself.

As a new seller, cancelling a sale is not a good thing and you will get a defect.  You might want to list some $20-$30 items justto get the hang on online selling.

Wishing you the best.

[fern*wood]

Another piece of advice I always post for newish sellers.  Always start out with some low cost items until you learn more about how things work. That way a mistake won't hurt your selling account  or your wallet so much.   On top of that, large items have their own challenges if you are unfamiliar with shipping. 

[ten_o_nine]

Shipping is not really the problem; packaging will cost you more.

[gator08041971]

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@ten_o_nine wrote:

Shipping is not really the problem; packaging will cost you more.

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Can you clarify why you made that statement?

In all the years I have been selling, this is NOT the case.  What are you shipping your items in that cost so much more than the actual shipping itself?  Are they huge items?  Heavy?  Require special packaging?  Most people aren't selling those sorts of items.

And even in this case, as noted by another poster, a box specifically for shipping art might cost around 15 bucks.  The shipping is going to be way more than that.

[mr_lincoln]

HI @sylsh9475 

Comments in red on your original post below.

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@sylsh9475 wrote:

I am new to eBay and have sold a framed print that is 36" x 30" x 3".    I stated clearly that shipping was the responsibility of the buyer and the cost would be determined after the sell based on buyer's location.  Stating something in your listing has nothing to do with how eBay calculates the shipping cost from point A to point B.  What determines that is the weight and dimensions you put in the listing when you create it.  A framed print that size would have a box at least 2" larger on all dimensions so 38 x 32 x 5 would have been better for the size.  Using the Calculated shipping setting and accurate dimensions and weights would let Buyers see what it will cost them to pay you to ship it to them.

I sold the print yesterday .....

1.  eBay calculated the shipping as $17.17 and 'collected' this amount from the buyer. This amount is absurdly low. I am on the East Coast and the buyer is on the West Coast.  HOW DO I GET THIS AMOUNT CHANGED?  You cannot change the shipping cost once the  purchase has been made.  You will have to absorb the loss and learn from the mistake.  

2.  I do not understand what the next step might  be.  I need to buy good, safe packaging and take it to the post office or UPS for delivery.  HOW DO I GET REIMBURSED FOR THIS SHIPPING?  You do not get reimbursed for the shipping cost mistake.  You need to figure out ahead of time what it will take to pack your items securely, meaning get a scale and packaging materials and estimate things.  This has to be done before you list something for sale or this situation will repeat itself.

Believe me ... I have looked at so many articles on eBay shipping, but I am completely confused.  We see a lot of new Sellers making mistake on the shipping end of their business as they get started.  YOu as the Seller determine what shipping is not eBay.  eBay only generates the cost based on the information you supply.  

Thank you for any advice.

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Really sorry this happened on something that will cost you a lot to ship out of pocket.  

[toysaver]

The shipping price stated for the listing takes precedence over your claim in the description it is to be determined.  It can't be both ways.  This is your error, your responsibility.   You can politely ask the buyer for help but they are under no obligation to pay for your mistake.  

[lux.ra_14]

It's customary to eat your own mistakes. Swallow hard,  and put it down as a hard lesson learned. 

Calculated shipping is showing for me at about $12 for Priority Mail. That's obviously wrong, but it's all I would expect to pay if I was the buyer. You can't charge more after the fact. Your best option is to eat the extra cost and ship the item.

[sylsh9475]

Many thanks to all of you.  I am sure this 'conversation' will help future new sellers.  It was definitely my mistake and my misunderstanding.  I am going to the UPS store this morning to work out the costs.

I hate to cancel the sale because my hope is that the person who is buying this really wants it.  I have several art pieces that we bought in the early 70s.  They are international artists and are signed/numbered.  I sold a piece several months ago and delivered it 150 miles (drive a Prius and enjoyed the drive) because I recognized that I did not understand shipping.  I thought I had it right this time .... WRONG! 

I am going to the UPS store with address this morning.  Fingers crossed that I can find a reasonable rate to pay for boxing/shipping.  If not, I will cancel.  While I do not want bad marks, I am not a business that will be selling lots of things through eBay.  In fact, after my lack of savvy, I think I should give up on eBay.

Thanks for all your comments and clarifications.  

[ten_o_nine]

And even in this case, as noted by another poster, a box specifically for shipping art might cost around 15 bucks.  The shipping is going to be way more than that.

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I disagree.