How do sellers afford tracking for free?

[cozybirder]

I see tracking for orders totaling as little as $2.00. When i went to the post office and asked about tracking on single envelopes they said it was $4.00. How are these sellers paying for this and making any money on the sale on small orders? Is it some kind of option if you get a bulk account through the post office or something?

[jakni_5 · Accepted solution]

I have a gazillion little cell phone parts that sell for $8.99-$11.99. They sell too. Not fast but 10 per month. But then just to mail an empty envelope is $5. So an $8.99 item you make $4. And then customer might try to return it. 

(didn't mean to steal your thread. My example is the same as yours)

How to sell stuff like this? Anybody want some? I'll sell by the pound. A $7.99 item "item not recieved" case shouldn't count against a normal powerseller. If you didn't get it, "yeah yeah here's your money back" but most people who buy this stuff are honest. 

[popblox]

"I see tracking for orders totaling as little as $2.00. When i went to the post office and asked about tracking on single envelopes they said it was $4.00. How are these sellers paying for this and making any money on the sale on small orders?"

They aren't. The sellers are either selling the items and shipping without tracking, or the sellers are located somewhere outside the U.S. 

[toysaver]

The sellers are located in China.  China to US shipping is pennies on the dollar compared to US shipping anywhere. 

More political shenanigans....

[stikmup]

I sell decals and eBay tells me my “items not received “ rate is high this month and that I should use tracking regardless of the cost of the item. NOT! This is one of those situations where it’s easy for a multi billion dollar company to talk down to the little man. Basically they are telling me to spend $4 on tracking to track a 2.99 item. So That puts me at -$1.01 x 20 losing $20.20 per day. You would think they would help people that they make money off of instead of forcing them out of business. It wouldn’t be so bad if people were honest. 

per day