eBay

caseyscounter · ‎03-08-2021

One of my items has multiple variations and depending on the amount bought I need to ship it in either a small box or large envelope. I ship fist class mail since it is usually pretty light but the difference in shipping price can be quite different between a large envelope and package of the same size and weight.

How can I change this when purchasing my shipping labels? It can be a difference of $1 or $3. I only make a couple bucks profit off of the smaller quantities so that difference is quite significant.

reallynicestamps · ‎03-08-2021

Charge the higher price. Add Best Offer.

If the Offer is for the larger package and does not allow you to make a profit, decline or counter-offer.

If the Offer is for the smaller package which allows you to make a profit, accept.

Also.

If you make ten transactions of which nine cover or more than cover the cost of shipping and one does not, keep in mind that in the bigger picture, you broke even.

If you are not, raise all your shipping charges.

Also.

Are you using Calculated Shipping?

I'm not clear how this works for multiple purchases, but someone else probably does.

Also.

If you use Free Shipping (DON'T PANIC! Free Shipping means the cost of shipping is included in the selling price of each item) when you sell multiples, you will also collect the shipping cost of one multiple times. Usually this is more than the cost of shipping the multiple items.

Buyers looooooove Free Shipping. (Which, again, is not free.)

Also.

The cost of shipping is higher than the cost of postage.

It includes your packaging and insurance.

Are you charging for those?

Also.

There are discounts available from some shippers. I'm in Canada and we get discounts from Canada Post (Solutions for Small Business) from Paypal and from Shippo. There may be similar deals from USPS.

Also.

I actually don't use shipping labels. Instead I use discount mint postage stamps because: did you notice my ID?.

There are US postage lots available on eBay for 20-40% off face. (Only buy Mint Never Hinged. Someone licked the "unused, no gum" ones.)

no_zero369 · ‎03-09-2021

You CAN ship stuff First Class Mail as shown on eBay's shipping calculator: that is what is known as a "flat." However, First Class Mail is not a label eBay can/will sell you, it is a retail service that uses stamps. First Class Mail has no tracking: no proof of delivery.

However, when you select a "package" in the Calculator, eBay shows you the cost for First Class Package Service, which indeed has tacking. Because of the tracking the FCP service is more costly.

Me thinks you want to ship with tracking to avoid 'Item Not Received" (INR) cases.

caseyscounter · ‎03-09-2021

I'm talking about the first dropdown box you get on the shipping calculator. https://www.ebay.com/shp/Calculator?_trkparms=clkid=2521745375397262459 I just want to change it when purchasing the shipping label, but do not see where to do that.

I usually use the usps first class label under standard services and print a label with eBay. However, depending on if I select "large envelope" or "package" I get different prices for said service even when the other information stays the same: dimension and weight. I sell using free shipping and want to know how to change from "package" to "large envelope" when going to print the label. I set it to "package" in the listing since sometimes it requires a box, but often I just use a small padded envelope. I'm not talking about first class for a letter since, according to the shipping calculator, eBay does not sell those labels. I hope this clarifies my question.

no_zero369 · ‎03-09-2021

I dunno, from what is written it sure looks like there is some confusion, or I got confused.

On the following list.... letter and large envelope (aka "flats") are the code words for First Class Mail - retail stamps or metered mail. Yes the shipping calculator DOES show those and show prices for them, even though eBay doesn't sell labels for them.

To get to the First Class Package rates one needs to select Package or Large Package. There is no requirement that a package be a box, you can use a padded envelope or a poly bag if you wish as they are "packages: too.

See screen capture for how to get the drop down menu.

pjcdn2005 · ‎03-10-2021

The reason that there is a difference in the price between a 'large envelope' and a package on the ebay calculator is that the first one gives you a price for a first class flat which does not have tracking. Plus, a label can't be printed on ebay for a large envelope, you would have to use stamps or print the label on a platform that supports labels for 'flats'.

As no zero explained, if you want tracking and want the buyer to pay the package price, you have to chose package on your listing. If you don't want tracking, want to charge them less and are willing to do your label manually with stamps, then use large envelope.