Shipping Discounts

[isource_20]

On the listing creation page I see a lot of expedited shipping options (I will use FedEx 2Day as the example for this post) that have wild prices for relatively small boxes.

It says “$28.03-$122.19” when I select that as a shipping service, but after someone buys my item and I’m on the “Print Label” page, the same service is given nearly a 50% discount and the price to ship across the country is now only $13 for a 2lb 11x8x4 item!

Why doesn’t eBay show this discount when creating a listing? I think it’s incredibly misleading since I could have been offering better shipping options if the prices were accurate.

Also, after selecting FedEx 2Day and publishing a listing for it, I get green text that says “Free 3 day shipping”, but then “Arrives by July 9”? My handling time is set to same day, so how is July 4 (today) + 2 or even 3 days = July 9?

[friskya]

Today is a Sunday. You're not expected to ship on Sundays.

Tomorrow is a Holiday. You're not expected to ship on Holidays.

Tuesday is the first "business day" you're expected to ship.

July 6 plus 3 days equals a July 9 arrival date.

As to the pricing differential, eBay defaults to the buyer paying "retail" rates, but you are charged eBays negotiated discount rate. You can offer this to your buyers, but since I choose to go with the defaults, I couldn't tell you where that setting is located. I'm sure someone else will be along that can tell you, though. Keep in mind that eBay will collect their fee, regardless of whether you offer your buyers the eBay discounted rates, or not.

[isource_20]

I’m asking eBay to show the discounted rate and the buyer’s price when selecting shipping options, so it’s not a mystery until the item sells. It would make it easier to pick the best option to maximize cost efficiency since I’d never be paying the prices it actually lists.

I don’t know if I want to offer free shipping or how much the flat rate should be if I have no idea what the final price would be.

Something like this:

 

[kosmosattik]

This was a longstanding issue with Classic View and maybe the other pre-Seller Hub view which I did not use.  This issue is rectified with Seller Hub.  Seller Hub's listing screen has a shipping options link that routes you to the shipping calculator with your package specs prefilled.  One more click and you're shown the USPS options and a range of rates.  There are toggle links to flip to the other shippers.  Pick your poison and  it goes in the listing. 

I don't know what @friskya has set up, but you can absolutely charge the buyer the discounted shipping rate.   That option is available at Site Preferences -> Shipping Preferences.  That's what I use, but it kinda sounds like you're there already.  If not, you now know where to look.  Those discounted rates will appear in the shipping calculator when routing from the Seller Hub listing page which is what you're looking for.

Despite all the carping about Seller Hub, it mostly amounts to "don't move my cheese."  It doesn't take long to find your way around.  Frankly the shipping rate issue you describe is worth switching to Seller Hub if you're in the habit of shipping stuff that weighs more than 15.9 oz.

Alternatively with Classic you can use the shipping calculator https://www.ebay.com/shp/Calculator but then you have to enter your package specs twice and you still won't see the discounts when creating the listing.  You can view a Classic listing after creating it to see the shipping cost to your own zip code as a kinda semi-confirmation.

I've commented on your issue, previously my issue, several times over the past year, including a long thread and PMs with a UPS shipping specialist who confirmed the problem but couldn't get eBay to fix it.  You are the first person I've seen who has observed this problem which begs some questions which I will not pose.  Suffice it to say it is not my problem anymore having switched to Seller Hub.

[slippinjimmy]

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@isource_20 wrote:

I’m asking eBay to show the discounted rate and the buyer’s price when selecting shipping options, so it’s not a mystery until the item sells. It would make it easier to pick the best option to maximize cost efficiency since I’d never be paying the prices it actually lists.

I don’t know if I want to offer free shipping or how much the flat rate should be if I have no idea what the final price would be.

Something like this:

 

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eBay can't show you the actual price when listing because they have no idea where the eventual buyer is located and what if any surcharges might apply.

Be warned FedEx are notorious for adding surcharges and in any event even FedEx won't give you a hard price until after they receive the package, check and the calculate dimensional weight and confirm which if any surcharges apply.