Shipping method should be specifically stated

[slapco1]

Ebay should eliminate the "standard shipping" option from Seller's shipping details.

It should be replaced with a SPECIFIC method; USPS,UPS,DHL,FED EX, CAMEL, CARRIER PIGEON etc.

Make it absolutely clear what method the seller is using so that the buyer knows, without a doubt, how they will receive their package.

[myboardid]

I disagree.  If I list First Class - sized items, but my buyer purchases more than one, I will have to ship their package by either Priority Mail or Parcel Select.  If I ship a 6 lb oversized package to a location near me, I can ship it via Priority Mail for the same price as the slower Parcel Select.  If I have to send it across the whole country, Parcel Select is much cheaper.

Sellers need the flexibilty to adjust where it makes a difference. 

I list Standard Mail on all items that ship under 1 lb weight, and Parcel Select for all heavier ones.  These are the most useful settings and allow me to upgrade shipping when appropriate without additional cost to the buyer or to me. 

[richard1rst]

Things are not always as cut and dried as you would like.

I am in Nevada. I can ship a 5-10 package to California by Priority Mail for less money than either parcel select, UPS or FedEx. That is because we are in the same postal rate zone. Additionally, there is no oversized box charge if I am over 1 cubic foot.

BUT if I send that same package to the east coast then FedEx is usually cheaper. Unless it is an oversized box, in which case parcel select is cheaper.

Under your scenario I would have no choice but the list the most expensive shipping method just to cover myself in case it is oversized going to the east coast.

In other words, your are going to pay more for shipping for no other reason than that you have denied me the flexibility to pick the best choice for each individual case,

Are you willing to accept those terms?

[partial*eclipse]

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richard1rst wrote: ..Under your scenario I would have no choice but the list the most expensive shipping method just to cover myself in case it is oversized going to the east coast.....

You can set up your listing with calculated shipping for up to 4 options, and let the buyer choose based on price, speed, and preferred carrier.

[arun7500]

That would be a problem here (Thailand). I can ship you a package using DHL and in most cases if you're a rural addressee the package will be delivered by the USPS. The same case involved TNT. While on rare occasions EMS EXpress my be delivered to you via FEDEX. Though I do agree with you that if the seller charges a higher premium for a higher shipping class, that should be the case. Instead of advertising FEDEX and then using First Class.

[the_fancy_fox]

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@partial*eclipse wrote:

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richard1rst wrote: ..Under your scenario I would have no choice but the list the most expensive shipping method just to cover myself in case it is oversized going to the east coast.....

You can set up your listing with calculated shipping for up to 4 options, and let the buyer choose based on price, speed, and preferred carrier.

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That won't work with "free" shipping 

[richard1rst]

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You can set up your listing with calculated shipping for up to 4 options, and let the buyer choose based on price, speed, and preferred carrier.

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Again, not as cut and dried as you would like. I do offer multiple options when they are appropriate. But the calculator is not always the be all and end all of it.

I had a buyer buy a birdhouse which, due to its weight and size, was best sent by Priority Mail.

Except, she actually bought 2 different birdhouses as 2 separate orders which kicked the box into an oversized condition. Because of that Priority Mail would have been $50.00, FedEx was $35.00 while parcel select was only $25.00. And in fairness to the buyer I can only use parcel select if I get her approval ahead of time (and of course refund the excess).

Based on the calculator alone she would have wound up paying twice what she should have because when you make individual purchases the calculator can not recognize the size demands of multiple orders.

When you take away the flexibility of the seller to select the best shipping method you wind up paying more than you should have to.

And as the fancy fox pointed out, “free” shipping is a whole different story. If I am buying the label then I alone have the right to select what method I will use based on the individual sale. Prestating what I am going to use again forces me to have a higher price just to cover myself for the shipping anomalies.

[florida-lifestyle]

Well, I don't know how I'm going to ship the item until I know where the package is to be delivered.  For example...a large box of 18 x 16 x 11 would ship by USPS Priority Mail if it were to go to a locatiion in our zone because it's the cheapest way for us to ship.  However, that same package may go by FedEx Home Delivery if the destination is several more states over.  And, I can guarantee you that it will ship by FedEx SmartPost if the destination is on the opposite side of the county.  We ship our items "for FREE" therefore we pick the most cost effective solution.  Again, until the item is purchase we have no clue where it is going.  But, when we generate our shipping label we do, as a courtesy, notify the customer what method of shipping is being used and also provide a tracking number.

[slapco1 · Accepted solution]

If you list an item and specify a form of shipping in your ebay listing, the item must be sent that way or I will give negative feedback.

A sale is a sale.

We agree to price and terms, no exceptions without contacting the buyer first.

Had a guy list an item I bought as shipped USPS PO Box okay.

So I gave him a PO box address.

He then shipped the item UPS to my PO Box address.

Took two weeks and a 2 hour drive to get my item.

Yes, he got negative feedback not only because he violated the terms of the sale but because he also ignored my request for help sorting it out.

You can list multiple shipping options in your ad.

There are no excuses.

I refuse to buy from sellers the list ambiguous shipping methods and if you say DHL it had better come DHL or you contact me first or you will get negative feedback.

[myboardid]

slapco1 - I believe you just made a host of new "buddies"!