Shortchanged on Shipping

[caminocielo]

I’ve returned to selling at eBay after a hiatus of nearly three years and have found that, unlike before, I’m almost always shortchanged on shipping even though, when creating listings, I’ve disabled eBay’s “recommended shipping” charge, which is clearly designed to shortchange sellers.  In a parcel I shipped today by USPS Priority Mail, for example, the seller paid $13.88 for shipping while the shipping label cost me $19.43.  I provided accurate weight and dimensions for the parcel in the listing.  Is there a way to sell at eBay without getting routinely shortchanged on shipping?  This used to be possible and easy.    

[nobody*s_perfect]

The shipping calculator in eBay listings and label prep is usually very accurate for USPS rates.  Thank you for providing exact prices.  We can probably help if you provide more specific details, including package weight and dimensions and both ZIP Codes.  

What do you see when you plus in the ZIP Codes, weight, and dimensions in the eBay shipping calculator?

http://www.ebay.com/shp/Calculator

One potential source of the price discrepancy is if different ZIP Codes were used in the listing vs in the label prep.  Is the location ZIP Code in the listing the same as the one used in the return address and in the separate "Shipping from" ZIP Code on the label?

[monica-sells]

You have one of the best at shipping helping you out with @nobody*s_perfect 

There are a few reasons why you keep "short-changing" yourself...

are you using ebay shipping labels for their discount?

Are you calculating Ground Advantage but using Priority?

Zip code origination and destination need to be accurate.

Weight and dimensions need to be spot-on (no guessing)

[caminocielo]

Thanks for your prompt reply.

The parcel in question was 14 x 10 x 10 inches in size, 5 1/2 pounds in weight, and shipped USPS Priority Mail (with signature required) from ZIP 28756 to ZIP 11222.  Because I'd been burned in shipping costs in other transactions - and not by a little - I estimated the weight of the parcel at 8 pounds.  It didn't help.  I only use eBay shipping labels.  

I'm a senior citizen and, admittedly, find navigating the 'new' eBay challenging.  I sold for many years on eBay with success, but this new regime seems managed to serve eBay's financial interests at the expense of mine.   

[monica-sells]

Dunno what you have done on your individual listing, but the 19.43 is correct (with signature confirmation @ $3.50 online)

[monica-sells]

Only 2 things I can think of...hopefully, the gurus will step in here for you......

does your shipping area in the listing look similar to this?

(Your 'service' may look different)

are you using business policies instead of manual entries?

other possibility, is your "Ship From" address correct here?

https://accountsettings.ebay.com/uas/addresses

that's all i can think of right now...

[worldcoinauctions]

Kind of sounds like they paid for a medium flat rate box and you sent it by size and weight. I always plan for flat rate shipping on my priority packages. I use flat rates and before I set them I already know the USPS non discounted price to ship to most of the US and I use that. Once in a while I lose a little on it, sometimes I make a little. It works well and is simple.

[caminocielo]

I don't recall what the "shipping area" looks like in my listing.  Frankly, it's just too much information for me to retain as a seller returning to an unfamiliar landscape after a few years away.  My "Ship From" address is correct.  When I prepare a label, I don't fiddle with ZIP Codes.  I use what eBay provides, but their shipping ranges are routinely "low ball"   Of course, it's in eBay's interest to make shipping rates as low as possible - even, as in my case, impossibly low.  I'm not sure what you mean by "business policies instead of manual entries".

Thanks for your suggestions.   

[monica-sells]

without sounding crass...

rbay does nothing that you don't control in shipping.......

actually, the more YOU charge for shipping the more money they make..if it were even possible, why would they manipulate your shipping fees...it makes no sense

I might be older than you, and it is a breeze to do shipping here

[caminocielo]

I'm not in control of shipping costs now, although it's clear I've not convinced you of that.  It's true that eBay takes its cut of shipping costs, but my point was that, if eBay keeps shipping costs artificially low, they might stimulate more sales.  If keeping shipping costs artificially low isn't eBay's intent, why would they offer lowball "recommended shipping costs" to sellers?   I see that every time I ship an item.  You don't?   

[monica-sells]

if it is there, i ignore almost every ebay recommendation...

including .99 auctions

and recommended prices for items...

it is a recommendation, not a policy

[wastingtime101]

Was this one of your auction format listings @caminocielo ? If yes, did you send the buyer an invoice?

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There's no reason to send an invoice unless you have to make an adjustment, for example combined shipping costs or adding another shipping method the buyer requested.

eBay sends out payment reminders to buyers automatically. Sending invoices is a duplication of efforts and clogs the buyer's inbox.

Sending an invoice locks in the shipping cost. That could have a big financial impact on someone that uses calculated shipping. The shipping price gets locked in based on the buyer's default location, but if they change the address at checkout to have that item shipped to Mom across the country, that shipping cost can change by leaps and bounds and seller is out the $$.

Finally, sending an invoice resets the clock on when an order can be cancelled for non-payment when sellers handle UPIs manually. The automated system will cancel based on the seller's settings regardless of sending an invoice, but when you use the manual process and an invoice is sent it resets the clock, giving the buyer an additional 4 days before the system will let the seller cancel.

This page has instructions for the unpaid item process and setting up auto-cancellations in the future.

[toomuchstuffagain35]

@caminocielo 

If you're seeing ebay "recommendations" for shipping costs it's possible you're still using the 'simple listing form". If you switch to the "advanced listing form" it will give you more control over your shipping.

Also go to your settings and set your shipping preferences to show RETAIL prices to your buyers and if you use ebay labels you will get the discounted online price.

[caminocielo]

I've sent no invoices.

[caminocielo]

I've found that, despite disabling shipping cost recommendations presented by eBay, weights of parcels have been altered after I've activated listings.  For example, a parcel I'd indicated weighed 11.0 pounds was suddenly 2.0 pounds and a parcel I'd indicated weighed 5.0 pounds was revised downward to 1.0 pound.  This was done without my knowledge or assent.  It's no wonder I'm losing money on shipping. 

In addition, it seems when a listing is automatically renewed, the 'Best Offer' option I disabled is reenabled.  'Best Offer' prices suggested to buyers by eBay are not much more than half the prices I've set, meaning (in all cases) I'd be paying buyers to take goods off my hands.   This is less consequential than eBay's unauthorized revision of shipping weights, since such offers can be refused, but it invites scrutiny.