How do I set up Puerto Rico, Hawaii and Alaska so that they are ebay international shipments?

[jefe-48]

I have recently been granted eBay international shipping approval.  How can I set up so that Puerto Rico, Alaska and Hawaii purchases ship via the international shipping program and NOT via UPS, Fedex or USPS?  I cannot see an option for international shipping for buyers in these locations currently when I go to ship their items.

[wastingtime101]

You need to set up exclusions to block HI/AK and territories on your listings to avoid shipping direct.

By default, eIS will override those exclusions and will appear as the only option to buyers in those regions.

[farnorthsid]

As a lifelong Alaskan I have seen this refusal to ship to Alaska for years and I don't understand it. Granted, the shipping cost may be higher, but why not just charge the buyer accordingly, ,unless you offer free shipping on all of your items. If that is the case, there must be a way to exclude these destinations from free shipping, or charge some sort of special handling charge when shipping to them.

I once bought a telescope from a company in New York who offered free shipping in the lower 48 states.  I approached them with the idea that I would pay what it would cost to ship the item from Seattle to Alaska. They agreed this was a wonderful way to approach it and receive business from Alaska that in the past they had been missing out on. They changed their shipping policy to charging this "surcharge" to their free shipping and now enjoy a new customer base they didn't have before. They couldn't thank me enough for this suggestion and shipped my telescope for free for the idea.

Also, flat rate priority costs the same no matter where it is shipped to in the U.S.  But if you do  not want business from those of us in these locations, that's up to you, I am sure we can find someone who will appreciate our business. As a side note, Anchorage is a major hub for both UPS and Fed Ex for items heading to and from Asia. I discovered years ago that if I am purchasing an item and have the option, I always choose UPS ground, (I refuse to deal with Fed Ex, my reasons), because obviously there is ground shipping, it always arrives by air by default, usually in a few days. And paying for ground shipping is far cheaper than paying for air when it HAS to come by air anyway. I once ordered a package from North Carolina with UPS ground. It arrived at my door in less than 48 hours.  LOL.

But, at the end of the day if you don't want my business,  I will find someone who does.

[jefe-48]

I also offer free shipping to the lower 48 USA and instruct all other buyers to contact me for shipping costs.  Most HI and AK buyers do, virtually nobody in Puerto Rico does….and they complain when I tell them its extra.

[jefe-48]

Thank you, I will try this 🙂

[rfmtm]

I can see doing this for UPS/FedEx, but why would you do it for USPS?  The USPS flat rate box/envelope rates are no more expensive than shipping to any other Zip Code.  Plus if not using flat rate the shipping calculator will take care of the difference.  Going EIS the buyer is going to see a much higher price likely sending them somewhere else to buy.

[fab_finds4u]

Why would you want to treat those locations differently?

You ship free to California, Oregon and Washington.

  A 2 lb package costs $16.20 retail Ground Advantage from PA to anywhere on the west coast. That package costs the same price  to ship to Anchorage Alaska and  Lahaina Hawaii.  Did you know to ship it to San Juan PR is $14.10? That's $2.10 cheaper to send it to PR than to send it to the west coast, Alaska and Hawaii.

Being the cost is the same or less than to the west coast you should not exclude those locations or try to charge them more. 

[jefe-48]

Believe me I have strongly considered omitting west coast buyers too.  Having to factor in shipping to those areas keeps my prices on larger and heavier items much higher than they need to be otherwise.  And when I change those types of items to calculated shipping the sell through rate plummets.  Puerto Rico rates are horrible for anything bigger and heavier than a pair of shoes.

I am finding this pushback interesting, much as I see people here giving the terrible advice to sellers to accept returns instead of fighting them.  Its almost like some posters here are ebay employees…

[bonjourami]

"I am finding this pushback interesting, much as I see people here giving the terrible advice to sellers to accept returns instead of fighting them.  Its almost like some posters here are ebay employees…'

So you would advise sellers to 'fight' a return,have Ebay step in, refund the buyer,receive a defect on your account, putting your account at risk,and receive a negative feedback too? Good advice..LOL. Ebay is buyer centric, maybe you havent noticed that,you have been here such a short time, and they will always rule in the buyers favor.

I see you have one negative feedback already for refusing a return. Had the buyer opened a case, Ebay would have refunded him, Ebays 30 day MBG trumps your 'no returns'. And your account would have been dinged without the buyer having to return the item..

As far as any Ebay employing ringers on the board, thats hilarious too. To even think Ebay would do that, when they couldnt care less what sellers think.

[wastingtime101]

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@jefe-48 wrote:

Believe me I have strongly considered omitting west coast buyers too.

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eBay doesn't let sellers block anywhere domestic other than AK/HI, territories/protectorates, APO/FPO and PO boxes. You can't omit states, zip codes, or regions.

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@jefe-48 wrote:

Having to factor in shipping to those areas keeps my prices on larger and heavier items much higher than they need to be otherwise.  And when I change those types of items to calculated shipping the sell through rate plummets.

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Solution to that @jefe-48 is setting up rate tables. Continue offering free shipping everywhere that isn't "west coast" as you described - or zone 8 through USPS in relation to your zip. You can set up a flat ship cost to western states that's only high enough to make up the difference between the amount factored in to your pricing to offer free ship, and the actual ship cost.

Ex: Say you factored in $15 to your pricing to cover shipping and find it costs $20 to the west coast - you can set up a rate table with free shipping everywhere except for west coast where you'll charge $5 ship.

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/shipping-items/using-shipping-rate-tables?id=5459

[fab_finds4u]

About fighting returns. Why would you think it's terrible  advice to have sellers accept returns instead of fighting them?

If a seller has a returns accepted policy the seller must accept returns for any reason.  You can't  fight your own return policy!

 If the seller has no returns and the buyer claims it isn't  as described it is in the seller's best interest to accept the return and provide a return label within 3 days. If eBay has to decide they make you refund and they tell the buyer they don't have to return it. You then earn a defect for having a case unresolved by the seller. Defects lead to higher selling costs and restrictions. 

Another reason to not fight returns is if a buyer wants to return it they'll find a way.  They can go to PayPal or their credit card. A credit card dispute costs the seller a $20 chargeback fee. 

Of course a seller can choose to fight but generally it's  not a good idea.

[rfmtm]

I agree always best to accept a return.  But to add you can then report the buyer and appeal the refund, if buyer abused the system.

[jefe-48]

That is excellent, I had no idea that was an option, thank you 🙂

[jefe-48]

I have a no returns policy and I win a LOT more than I lose.  And when I do lose its ebay CSRs going rogue and ruling in direct contradiction to ebays published written policies…which when I bring up and quote they just stop responding lol.  Credit card companies are far smarter than ebay, they see through the **bleep** more often than not.  And IMO reporting a buyer does exactly nothing.

If more people held their ground instead of being sheep things would probably be much better, not just here but in the world in general.  Be like Ukraine, when Russia comes, fight.

[bonanza125]

"I am finding this pushback interesting, much as I see people here giving the terrible advice to sellers to accept returns instead of fighting them.  Its almost like some posters here are ebay employees…"

If you fight the return the seller loses the money and the item. That is how Ebay works. Accept the return then refund the buyer. Then relist the item and sell it to someone else. So no that's not terrible advice that many sellers in this community give it's great advice to help save you as a seller from losing your item.