eBay

dixychick2009 · ‎07-11-2022

Very new to selling on here. I'm doing something wrong but I'm not sure what. I select a shipping method and a price charged to the buyer. Twice now the buyer has selected a quicker (and more expensive) method which is then coming out of my pocket. How do I fix this? Thank you!

nobody*s_perfect · ‎07-11-2022

How did you decide how to set up the shipping sections in your listings?

The Avon chess set offered Priority Mail shipping and charged a flat price of $16.00. The cost for Priority Mail is based on package weight and distance, so $16 was probably not enough to cover the postage cost if the buyer lived far away, and maybe not even enough for a closer buyer.

Even worse, the green bottle was set up to charge the buyer a flat $4.80 for Priority Mail. There is no Priority Mail option that costs only $4.80; it starts at over $7.

wastingtime101 · ‎07-11-2022

Hey @dixychick2009, so it appears you have some issues with your shipping set up.

The gum turpentine bottle advertises Priority Mail for a flat $4.80 no matter what zip code is plugged in.

Nothing can ship for $4.80 Priority - in fact, many items can't ship First Class for that price. This is a rate that you plugged in.

What you need to do is ditch flat rate pricing and instead use calculated rates. Make sure the box dimensions and the weight (of the item fully packed) are both accurate. The shipping calculator will charge based on the dimensions and weight you enter plus the buyer's shipping address.

GLORIOUS!

dixychick2009 · ‎07-12-2022

Thank you! I knew I was missing something. Lol. Why does it have a bubble next to it when I go to sold items that the buyer selected that shipping method tho?

1tuna · ‎07-12-2022

if you do not want your buyers to pick expensive shipping then do not offer it

I charge $5 for 1st class with USPS

they cant pick priority if you dont offer it

@dixychick2009

Germantown proud Germantown strong
up the whiskey hickon
moving right along
19144

aproudparent2010 · ‎07-12-2022

@dixychick2009 wrote:
Thank you! I knew I was missing something. Lol. Why does it have a bubble next to it when I go to sold items that the buyer selected that shipping method tho?

You are offering Priority Mail but not using calculated shipping. You are saying you will ship anywhere in the USA for that flat cost so on those items you do need to ship Priority because that is what you offered to the buyer so they had no choice.

For example: The Harry Wilken Jr flask you have offered has a price of $5.00 Priority shipping to anywhere in the USA. If I purchased that then I am only being charged $5 and you have to ship it to me Priority.....it though will cost you much more...

nobody*s_perfect · ‎07-12-2022

@dixychick2009 wrote:
Thank you! I knew I was missing something. Lol. Why does it have a bubble next to it when I go to sold items that the buyer selected that shipping method tho?

eBay's always shows what the buyer "selected," but that term only makes sense when the seller has offered more than one shipping method. The buyer can only choose a method that the seller chose to offer when they set up the listing. If you only offer one shipping method, then that's the one that the buyer "chose." eBay should say that it's what the buyer "paid for."

ms.rodriguez* · ‎07-12-2022

First, learn to use CALCULATED shipping. Learn to add a "handling fee" so you at least cover the shipping fee. Get a scale. Get a measuring tape. Be aware of the new postal surcharges. (Look at past threads to learn.) A quick example ... Any box over 30inches long will have an ADDITIONAL FEE of $15.00 on top of the regular shipping charge. So start editing your ads so that you do NOT lose money. Oh yes, postal fees went up on Sunday , July 10. So every one start editing.

Next, do NOT give your buyer a choice on the shipping. Make life simple. You decide what item ships first class and what item ships priority mail. Set the fees accordingly.

nobody*s_perfect · ‎07-12-2022

@ms.rodriguez* wrote: ...add a "handling fee" so you at least cover the shipping fee. ....

Or leave the shipping calculator set to the default, which is the retail rate, so there's a built-in handling fee which is roughly proportional to the postage cost.

@ms.rodriguez* wrote: .... Be aware of the new postal surcharges. ... A quick example ... Any box over 30inches long will have an ADDITIONAL FEE of $15.00 on top of the regular shipping charge. ..

The main thing is to enter accurate package dimensions, so surcharges aren't a surprise after the sale. USPS has surcharges for packages that are over 22 inches long, or over 1 cubic foot (1728 cubic inches). Below those thresholds, the dimensions won't affect the postage cost.