Shipping Prices All Over The Map - Rant

[rckr43]

Up until today... For all of my listing with calculated shipping fees, USPS Ground has been cheaper than FedEx. In listings eBay showed the cheaper USPS option and buyers would have to click on "details" to see the FedEx price.

Today.... I actually ended a new listing for speakers because eBay showed the USPS price (which seemed outrageous) and buyers would have to click on "details" to see the 1/2 price FedEx option.

Join my rant, offer an explanation, or just take it for what it's worth.

[rckr43]

Explain this:

(copy and paste from a new listing of mine for vintage stereo receiver, the X'ed-out zip code in mine)

USPS Ground Advantage®

Estimated between Thu, Jan 15 and Tue, Jan 20 to xxxxx

Shipping: US $35.24

US $27.70 delivery in 2–3 days

UPS Ground

Get it between Thu, Jan 15 and Fri, Jan 16 to xxxxx

US $26.02 delivery in 2–4 days

FedEx Ground / FedEx Home Delivery®

Get it between Thu, Jan 15 and Sat, Jan 17 to xxxxx

FWIW: I add a $10 handling fee for stereo equipment to cover shipping materials so prices reflect that.

eBay shows the higher shipping price unless listing viewers click on 'See Details' 

You're not doing me any favors eBay! Rant!!

Last week I sold 70's vintage receiver and at that time USPS cheaper. An experienced buyer and seller didn't see my options for shipping and USPS ground was automatically selected. At that time, just one week ago, USPS was cheaper. 

[wastingtime101]

eBay displays shipping options according to the seller's settings.

If you set USPS as the first shipping option and FedEx as a secondary shipping option, eBay will show USPS as the default.

If you want FedEx to be the default then you need to edit your listing and make FedEx the primary shipping option and USPS the second.

This is entirely in your control.

[robbie31415]

Its annoying for sure.

Wish eBays system would make the default the cheapest instead of the order they are entered statically.

Different locations can be cheaper with different carriers.

[wastingtime101]

eBay tried that years back and it didn't go well so they went back to using the seller's settings.

[rckr43]

You answered a question that just came to mind. Thank you!

Is that option under 'shipping preferences' or 'seller's settings' ?

I went through all seller's settings when I started selling again a year ago, so it's been awhile.

EDIT: Or do you mean when I create shipping rules/options for listings?

Nevermind, I think I got it. Thanks again.

[rckr43]

I agree!

Anyway, I figured it out: Shipping policies offer a primary shipping service. It's the 'primary service cost' that shows in listings without clicking 'see details'. Easy fix.

The thing is thou.... FedEx is cheaper for larger and heavier items and USPS cheaper for smaller lighter items. I'll have to pay some attention to that for the lowest prices to show in listings.

Now I can relist my speakers without looking like an idiot. 😀