Shipping Fees

[kennyjo]

Being a relative newbie on ebay, this situation just happened to me and I was wondering if this was user error on my part or did I miss something on how to calculate shipping costs correctly.

I listed an item and used the "recommended" option for shipping. I made sure that my item was within the limits as shown on the shipping option and posted shipping was to be paid by the buyer. So far, so good.

The sale was made and I packed up the item and made a label for it. It was then that I noticed that the buyer was from Puerto Rico; didn't think anything of it since PR is a US territory. After I shipped the item off, I received notification from ebay when the package was going to be delivered. I checked My ebay account and then discovered that I was being charged an additional $12.00 because it was being shipped to PR!

I'm assuming I got charged for international shipping above and beyond the normal, regular fees.

My question is: Is there a way to be notified or to find out the additional costs/fees before the sale is finalized so I or ebay can notify the purchaser of the additional charge(s) to make sure they are willing to pay them?

My margins are very small, as are probably most small sellers, and that additional charge ate up any profit I was going to make on this sale.

Or did I miss something when I listed the item?

Thanks!

[heckofagame]

PR is not an international shipment from the U.S. 

What did the notification say about that $12 charge? Sound like it may have been a shipping adjustment. What did you ship and how did you ship it?

[monica-sells]

All I can recommend is "NEVER" use any "recommended" options (for any listing) ....

for shipping, measure, weigh and manually input your ACTUAL shipment information....

for promoting, start at 2% (minimum) and determine if your item requires more exposure...

for category, put it in the right category...

in other words, until the "recommended" options are better defined, use your own actual numbers.

[ladybugmls]

Shipping to Puerto Rico using USPS is no different from shipping to any US state. And it does not cost extra. 

[kennyjo]

Update:

Thanks for your reply.

I thought I did use the actual measurements, chose "recommended", and the shipping charges were $12.27 which the buyer paid. However, when looking at the Funds in My Account, it's showing the label charge was $20.45! Could this have been a mistake made by USPS? The receipt I got from the Post Office doesn't show any figures on it at all. Or did ebay make a mistake in undercharging the buyer?

Could it have been my fault for putting the item in a box that was too large? I wanted the item protected as good as possible since I saw it was going to PR. If that's the case, lesson learned. But the question I have now is, how do I know what the dimensions of the shipping container will be until the item is sold  and then I get a box for it, because then it's too late to change the measurements. I guess the obvious solution would be to get the shipping container for the item before I list the item for sale. I think I may have answered my own question!

Thanks again, and would appreciate any additional insights you may have.

[krazzykats]

4oz 12x12x12

8oz 12x12x12

12oz 12x12x12

15.99oz 12x12x12.

Suitable for most small items. I will experiment with different dimensions and shipping methods. 12x9x2 fits, etc....

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[ryry-jj]

If you placed the item in a box larger then you stated in the listing, yes it will cost more.  It will also weigh more if you increased the packaging inside, thus raising the cost.   Your item should have been packed the same regardless of where it was going and your listing needed to reflect that with the correct OD and weight to get the correct postage

Also, if it did cost more, you cannot then go back and ask for more shipping money, that's a no-no

[hardrhymer76]

Just to be clear...

• When creating the listing, be as accurate as you possibly can with weight and dimensions. Ignore what eBay recommends. This determines what the buyer is shown and charged if you're using Calculated Shipping. You might want to consider adding a small increase in the weight total until you're comfortable with the process.
• When purchasing an eBay shipping label after the sale, pack up the item and make any necessary adjustments to weight and dimensions in the form. This determines what you're paying the carrier and they don't take kindly to underpaid shipments. They're happy to keep any overage, however.

[babyers88]

better yet, just do free shipping

then a scale and a tape measure will teach you real quick how to be economical, yet secure.

then calculate the expected shipping cost into your purchase price versus what it should sell for so you can still make a profit.

after a while you should be able to look at just about anything and know almost precisely how much it cost to ship it.

and contrary to what was stated above, shipping to PR is not the same cost as anywhere else DEPENDING...

flat rate, small packets or packages, yes. Larger heavier things no, same for HI,AK, GU, Virgin/Marshall Isle's

[deserdog]

From where I live, in CA. shipping to Peurto Rico is the same as shipping to New York or eastern Tennessee.

[lakefor94]

@kennyjo ,

Note that a seller cannot notify a buyer of additional charges after the original purchase.  Strictly against eBay policy. 

When you list an Item, use calculated shipping. To not lose money on shipping, a seller must know the dimensions and weight of the shipment when listing. 

[kennyjo]

Thank-you !

[kennyjo]

Thanks for your answer. One of the reasons I used the recommended shipping method was that it said it was good for up to 70lbs; my item didn't even come close to 70lbs, even with the packing materials in it - maybe 5lbs max. I know I have to eat the extra cost, was just trying to figure out the best way to handle this so it doesn't happen again in the future - lesson learned!

[kennyjo]

Thanks! Next to buy on my list is a scale!

[krazzykats]

I use calculated shipping with a default size of 12x12x12, which usually covers most items. I've experimented with smaller dimensions, but the cost is often the same for a 3x3x3, so I stick with 12x12x12 for all my listings.

I also offer the eBay discounted postage pricing to minimize any overages as much as possible.

For weights, I round up: 2.1 oz goes as 4 oz, 5.6 oz as 8 oz, 10.11 oz as 12 oz, and anything up to 1 lb. as 15.99 oz since prices jump significantly at 1 lb. and above.

This approach works with all the price changes. Is also pretty fair and accurate with very few errors. Of course, I sometimes get it wrong around the 1 lb. mark if it's just 0.5 oz over after being packed, I will cover the deficit. 

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