How to fill out shipping section when offering free shipping

[aquaschwa]

Has something changed in Ebay regarding shipping? It used to be I didn't have to weigh an item til after it was sold and when I went to buy and print the shipping label. But now it asks for this info when I am setting up the listing. Since I am offering free shipping, I just made sure that free shipping box was checked and ignored all the other stuff. My item sold and then I got an email saying to buy my shipping label and there was a price already indicated. That was weird. How does Ebay know the cost for shipping if I haven't inputted weight and size? I don't necessarily mind, unless I'm paying more that way? What is the best way to do this?

[mr_lincoln]

@aquaschwa   I seldom use Free Shipping so I have always put the weight and size info in the listing form.  On items that are light weight and have been around for a while I might turn Free shipping on for a listing cycle or two and then turn it off again.

Knowing that glitches can occur I'd rather play it safe rather than being sorry later ...

[redmodelt]

No such thing as free shipping, that has to be part of the selling price. If the item fits into a Flat Rate box for example and you own the item for X, then you have to figure your profit margin plus fees plus X then add on cost of shipping to arrive at the selling price. If you listed an item at what you own it for, fees and shipping cost come out of that so you are loosing money.  Nothing new about asking for weight and size of box, that info is needed to sell unless you are shipping using flat rate boxes. When I ship in non flat rate box, I weight the box and item get the size of box  and estimate the weight of packing material before I do the ad.

If you are clicking the service to be used, that might be how eBay is getting the price.

[mccamira · Accepted solution]

I've always had to state the size and weight of the package in order to list the item. But I believe the Quick Listing Tool (maybe it used to be called something else) does not ask for size and weight. As I recall (I've only used the Quick thing once), it does ask for a shipping price.

If you listed with the regular listing form, with free shipping, and didn't enter a size and weight, it probably was autofilled with the size and weight from your last listing. If you used the Quick Listing Tool, I don't know what it does if you choose free shipping.

Anyway, if ebay does not have the correct size and weight, you should be able to change that information on the page where you print the label.

[aquaschwa]

Well I know there is no such thing as free shipping and that someone has to pay for it. 🤣

My shipping cost is BUILT INTO the price I am charging. What I am saying is that in the past, I have never  entered the size and weight when I listed the item. I didn't do this until AFTER the item sold and I purchased a shipping label. 

But this time, Ebay's process was different. My item sold, and Ebay asked me to buy a shipping label. However, this time they didn't ask me for size and weight, they just calculated the price for me without me telling them, which I thought was odd.

[twopoodles1966]

I am having the same problem you are.  Trying to list something and offer free shipping (as in we, the seller, pay the shipping cost, whatever that cost may be, and the buyer just pays the selling price of the item, plus any sales tax, if applicable).  It used to be that there was a box you could check to indicate free shipping, but like you, I can't find that button.  It doesn't seem to be there anymore.  I don't know what has happened.   I'm just as frustrated as you are.  🤔🙄😤

[shawnthepeman]

Same issue - I just selected "buyer pays a flat rate" and entered $0.00, then listed it.  It shows up as "FREE shipping" in the listing.