Newbie flat rate shipping question

[backyardfarmers]

Hi All,

    I have something to sell that is 10"x10"x12" and not too heavy. Others are selling this same product with free shipping. I am guessing that they are using a flat rate service since no one knows where it might be delivered to in order to know the shipping cost. I can't find a USPS flat rate box that would fit this. What am I missing ? How do folks do free shipping usually ?

Thanks all,

Denis

[ryry-jj]

They are not using flat rate...they really do not know what it will cost until the buyer purchases.

[kensgiftshop]

---

@ryry-jj wrote:

They are not using flat rate...they really do not know what it will cost until the buyer purchases.

---

Some do.

I use flat rate packages from USPS so I know exactly what's it going to cost to ship, no matter where it's going.

[buyselljack2016]

Doing "free" shipping when zone 8 is a possibility is a tough road. Having to get the shipping, or most of it into the asking price can be difficult.  

[kensgiftshop]

If the item won't fit a Flat Rate box, I go to USPS site and see what it'll cost to ship the furthest from me, then figure my free shipping from that.

[ryry-jj]

true, but in this case there isn't a flat rate box that fits what the OP says they are using

[nobody*s_perfect]

---

@backyardfarmers wrote: ... 10"x10"x12" and not too heavy. Others are selling this same product with free shipping. I am guessing that they are using a flat rate service...  How do folks do free shipping usually ?

....

---

No, they are not using a flat rate service; there's no flat rate box that big.  Even if there was, it would probably cost more than weight-based shipping for an item that's "not too heavy".

Like most sellers who offer Free shipping, they are estimating an average or maximum possible shipping cost and adding that to their asking price.  You can use eBay's shipping calculator to estimate the eBay postage cost, and you can look up retail prices in the USPS rates publication.  Your package is under 1 cubic foot, so eBay's pricing for Ground Advantage will be at the nicely discounted Cubic rates, and it could be substantially lower than the retail price.

http://www.ebay.com/shp/Calculator

http://pe.usps.com/cpim/ftp/manuals/dmm300/notice123.pdf

[slyders_finds]

Some use their 9 to 5 mailroom. Basically stealing but costs them nothing to ship. 

[fm2000]

The package is under a cubic foot, so it is possible they are figuring in the cost of Ground Advantage cubic rate to the farthest zone from them. They may also be located in the center of the country, which would decrease the amount they may have to pay.

It is also possible the others sellers don't know what they are doing and may incur a significant loss on the shipping.

If you are unsure about what to charge for shipping, stick with calculated shipping, and lower the price of the item if you need to lower the cost to get the item to sell. Don't forget the FVF you will be paying on the shipping cost charged, keep it in mind if you decide to lower the price of the item.