Why does eBay frequently miscalculates shipping for me

[pdwinslow]

Can someone provide insight on why eBay's calculated shipping is frequently wrong for me as of late?  Usually it's only by 30-40 cents against me, but the most recent item was almost $4 off (https://www.ebay.com/itm/176743064039).  This is frustrating especially when I accept an offer almost 40% off.

I sell a low quantity of items and so measure, weigh, and package everything before listing.  I always leave options for buyer to select either ground advantage or priority and in this case they selected ground advantage and the buyer paid $6.63 but the shipping cost me $10.04.  Weight is 1lb 13oz and dimensions are 14x12x3 with shipping from 93940 to 23836. 

Appreciate any insight anyone has.  I assume I don't have any recourse.

[heckofagame]

Are you allowing the buyer to have the discount rate or retail rate?

Are you generating a label through eBay or going to a USPS window?

[pdwinslow]

@heckofagame the buyer is taking the discounted rate and I do not add any handling charges.  I generate the label through eBay.

[dhbookds]

are you sure you're reading it right?.........that shows a $10.04 charge to zip code 93940 ......  $6.63 sounds like it would be your discounted rate. 

[nobody*s_perfect]

$6.63 is the Zone 4 rate, and $10.04 is the Zone 8 rate, for an eBay label for Ground Advantage postage given those dimensions and weight.

Usually when the payment and label are for different Zones, there is an inconsistency in the pairs of ZIP Codes used. For Instance, if the  "Shipping from" ZIP Code on the label preparation form doesn't match the ZIP Code used when setting up the listing. Or if the seller sent an invoice, which locks in the price, and then the buyer changed their address from a Zone 4 location to a Zone 8 address when making the payment.

[pdwinslow]

@dhbookds I believe I am reading it correctly.  It says the buyer paid $6.63 and I owe $10.04.  The original shipping price was $16.20 with $6.16 eBay discount.

@nobody*s_perfect I haven't changed the shipping from zip code.  Is there anyway to tell if the buyer changes their address after the purchase?

[stainlessenginecovers]

$6.63 is for an item UNDER 1 Pound; Over 1 Pound is $9-$12 depending on where it's going.

You have the weight incorrect when YOU set up the listing- although looking at the listing, it says you are in 

Kentucky and shipping to me in NV or CA says $10.04. 

[wastingtime101]

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@nobody*s_perfect wrote:

$6.63 is the Zone 4 rate, and $10.04 is the Zone 8 rate, for an eBay label for Ground Advantage postage given those dimensions and weight.

Usually when the payment and label are for different Zones, there is an inconsistency in the pairs of ZIP Codes used. For Instance, if the  "Shipping from" ZIP Code on the label preparation form doesn't match the ZIP Code used when setting up the listing. Or if the seller sent an invoice, which locks in the price, and then the buyer changed their address from a Zone 4 location to a Zone 8 address when making the payment.

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^^^ This is the correct answer @pdwinslow and exactly what I was going to say before I read the replies and saw someone else already posted it.

I can add, you said, "shipping from 93940 to 23836."

The problem is you are shipping from California, but your listing says the item location is in Kentucky. That's what's causing the inaccurate rates.

You need to update your listing location to California if that's where your items are located. Do a bulk edit of your listings and change the zip code item location to 93940. That will solve the problem.

[dhbookds]

9 zip code is Cal

2 zip code is Chester va

listing is Fort Knox Kentucky........

Listing shows I would be billed

[pdwinslow]

@wastingtime101 Thank you and the others who have replied.  I see the listing says Kentucky when I view it now but I don't know how to change this in the settings. 

I used to live in Kentucky but when I moved to CA, I changed the shipping address, ships from address, and return address all to the 93940 area code.  Is there a different area to change the item location?

[wastingtime101 · Accepted solution]

As I mentioned above, do a bulk edit of your listings and change the zip code item location to 93940. Or you can do it one at a time (you only have about 20 listings). That will solve the problem.

Make sure any time you create a new listing or use relist or use sell similar from an old listing that you double-check the item location before publishing. It's near the bottom of the listing form in the "preferences" box below the shipping section.

[pdwinslow]

@wastingtime101 Thank you.  I didn't realize that there was a separate section in the listing for item location.  I'm not sure what the point of a "ships from" setting if it doesn't apply when I create a listing, but I'll double check in the future.

[wastingtime101]

There are valid reasons for the different settings, but I won't bore you with all those details. All that matters is you know what needs to be updated so you can take care of it and get your shipping back on track.

As you're charging buyers discounted shipping rates, I feel like I should throw out some advice for you to consider.

The question is whether you want to charge buyers retail rates or discounted rates. Keep in mind that you have access to discounted rates when you purchase labels on eBay regardless of how much you charge the buyer.

The setting to offer buyers discounted rates can be found on your shipping preferences page under the carrier specific discounts setting: https://www.ebay.com/ship/prf

Since eBay charges a fee on total cost buyer pays (item + ship + tax), by charging discounted rates you are losing money on every single package. If you want to make up for that you can add a handling fee or increase your item costs - or simply charge retail rates for a built in cushion instead of passing on the discounts.