free shipping question

[kokoek9]

Hi, I have my items, mostly books, on free shipping. If I choose to ship internationaly will that shipping be free as well. I can ship free within USA but not internationaly thanks.                                                             Mike

[rfmtm]

Yes, if you are shipping directly yourself you can add a separate international shipping option with a cost.  Or you can use the Ebay International Shipping (EIS) program, where you ship to the hub in the USA for free (or not) and ebay will show on the listing and invoice the buyer for the international part of the shipping.

[1786davycrockett]

@kokoek9 

@rfmtm 

Just to clarify -- while the OP may use "free shipping" (at the OP's cost) to ship to the eBay International Shipping hub, the OP's buyer will NOT be getting "free shipping" from eBay.

If the OP wishes to refund those extra shipping costs to international buyers, the OP will need to do that separately, after the transaction has been completed -- although that will very likely not be cost effective or profitable for the OP.

[kokoek9]

thanks, can a customer come after me for the shipping from ebay hub to them

[ebooksdiva]

Come after you? What do you mean?

[1786davycrockett]

@kokoek9 

If you are advertising "free shipping" to ALL your buyers (including international buyers), then you probably shouldn't be using eBay International Shipping (EIS).

International shipping can be QUITE expensive, especially with the latest European Union regulations which begin in December, plus the current limitations from Germany imposed on international shipments.

While you may be advertising "free shipping" to ALL your buyers, eBay has NO obligation to ship your items overseas with "free shipping," since that cost would be coming from eBay's pockets -- and not YOURS.

So, yes, you might be accused of lying (and international mail fraud) if you advertise "free shipping" to ALL your buyers -- but you don't follow through with it.

You can list your items WITHOUT choosing to use EIS; but you'd better be prepared for some VERY expensive shipping bills, as well as mounds of paperwork in order to comply with the latest European Union shipping regulations.

[1786davycrockett]

@kokoek9 

Better read this VERY carefully, before you plan to ship ANYTHING to the EU -- especially with "free shipping" --

https://www.ebay.com/sellercenter/resources/seller-updates/2024-summer/operations#gpsr

[kokoek9]

thanks, how do i check my shipping set up. I want to sell internationaly to select counties But international shipping is not free

[1786davycrockett]

@kokoek9 

To opt out of eBay International Shipping, go to your "Seller Hub" page.

Under "Shortcuts," click on "Site preferences."

That will take you to a page called "Selling preferences."

On the left is a column of choices -- click on "Shipping Preferences."

That will take you to another screen, with "eBay International Shipping" at the top.

On the right of that are the blue words "Opt out."

Click on that, and NONE of your items can be shipped via eBay International Shipping.

However. . ..

If you actually WANT to sell to particular countries, you will need to ship via another method, and at your own risk, due to the new EU restrictions which I have previously sent to you.  But you will need to set up your own individual shipping policy for those items (I would suggest calculated USPS First Class International); but you probably don't want to use "free shipping" with those -- and you will still need to be compliant with any of the new shipping restrictions which many of these countries have recently established:  When you opt out of EIS international shipping, you are either not shipping out of country at all, or you are assuming the risks on your own for any individual  international sales which you may select to ship.

But you may find that it is unwise to offer "free shipping" to international locations, especially when you are making yourself alone 100% vulnerable for any NAD and INR cases.

International shipping is not cheap -- and "free" international shipping is courting disaster.

[pjcdn2005]

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@kokoek9 wrote:

Hi, I have my items, mostly books, on free shipping. If I choose to ship internationaly will that shipping be free as well. I can ship free within USA but not internationaly thanks.                                                             Mike

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As @rfmtm mentioned, If you use eBay international shipping (EIS) an international buyer will  pay you  the same shipping amount that a domestic buyer would pay you and also pay an international shipping fee to eBay. 

If you ship to other countries directly and do not use the EIS, you will have to choose an international shipping method when you are doing the listing and then if  use calculated shipping they will be charged  based on their location. As @1786davycrockett  said there are some restrictions that you have to be aware of when shipping directly. 

[pjcdn2005]

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@1786davycrockett wrote:

@kokoek9 

@rfmtm 

Just to clarify -- while the OP may use "free shipping" (at the OP's cost) to ship to the eBay International Shipping hub, the OP's buyer will NOT be getting "free shipping" from eBay.

If the OP wishes to refund those extra shipping costs to international buyers, the OP will need to do that separately, after the transaction has been completed -- although that will very likely not be cost effective or profitable for the OP.

---

I  believe the op was saying that they do not want to ship free to international buyers. 

[1786davycrockett]

@pjcdn2005 

The OP's latest comment stated "I want to sell internationaly to select counties" ( see #8, above).

@kokoek9 

But, after looking at the items which the OP is currently listing for sale, I'm not sure that there is any profit to be gained from attempting to sell most of those items to other countries, with "free shipping".

USPS First Class International packages will cost the OP at least $16.35, plus eBay's final value fees of 14.95%, plus the OP's cost for materials & labor -- and many of the OP's listings are under $30.00.  

So there's not a lot of potential profit involved for the OP if the OP wishes to offer "free shipping" to "selected" countries.

[rfmtm]

@kokoek9   Once the item is received by the ebay hub, your responsibility ends. This includes any return shipping, refunds, additional fees, etc.  Using EIS is the safest way to ship international, the buyer will pay more, but they see and pay all the costs upfront including customs fees.

You still have the option to ship to the USA for free or charge for it and this includes shipping to the USA hub.  You also retain the option to either let EIS decide what countries to ship international to, or you can exclude any ones you do not want to ship to on an item by item basis.

Personally Canada is the only country I would consider shipping direct to using USPS to save your buyer money over EIS, but I still would not do it for free.

[kokoek9]

I am in the exclude shipping locations page but there is no opt out button however there are nine areas of countries should I check all of them, will that be the same as opting out thanks

[kokoek9]

Iknow there is no profit in free international, I do want to be able to sell to UK and canada but I won't do if free. I f I need to exclude them i will, I may also back to caculated shipping