How to account for larger size with combined shipping

[forwardtechsurplus]

Combined shipping rules allow you to add the weights of multiple items together, but I don't see any way to account for the increase in package size. This is a real problem with large items, as you can't always fit two or three or 6 units of an item into the same sized box that you'd ship one.  Sellers can easily get screwed when actual shipping costs far exceed what ebay's shipping calculator charges the buyer. Does anyone know how I can set up a listing so that when someone buys multiples of the same item, the calculated shipping charge accurately reflects the increase in both weight AND size?

[wastingtime101]

This has been a sore point for years. I think the only ways around it are:

• Go through the labor-intensive process of setting up rate tables, or
• Disable combined shipping entirely

[kgirlsmiley]

This has been a problem for me as well. We all know those dimensions really can make a difference. I was just looking at the preferences for it and trying to figure out what to do. I ended up leaving the preference that I will allow combined shipping but opted for the "no discount" option. I'm not sure how this will work because I will definitely offer a shipping discount when I can but don't want to get burned again by ebay only adding the weights and not accounting for the dimension changes. 😕

[mybigsale]

I don't sell a lot of multiple quantity items. When I have multiple quantities of glasses, plates or other items I will do this:

1) Check how many items I can safely pack in a 1728 cubic inch box or smaller (basically know USPS limitations for surcharges on cubic size and lengths).

2) Look closer at the weight of the item. While I might put 1lb for an item that would ship in a 1lb package, I will be more specific with the weight (whether 12oz , 16oz etc) for shipping with rules for multiple items.

3) I only list the number of items I can safely ship based on rules. After the sale I can adjust quantity available for future sales. I don't list more than I can safely ship in the biggest reasonably priced shipping package. 

[kh-taylarie]

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