shipping with large inventory

[kokoek9]

I have watched a number of selling videos and these sellers keep there stock lose on shelves not prepackaged.How do they know when they sell an item what the shipping will be if the package is not with the item, what am I missing thanks

[richard1rst]

---

@kokoek9 wrote:

I have watched a number of selling videos and these sellers keep there stock lose on shelves not prepackaged.How do they know when they sell an item what the shipping will be if the package is not with the item, what am I missing thanks

---

I have a rather large inventory so I think I am qualified to answer.

First, when I bring in inventory I take my own photos. While the item is on the table I measure the item itself, then I measure the box it is in (if a manufacturer's box is included), then I weigh the item in the manufacturer's box. Otherwise I make note of the item's weight "loose". All in one motion.

Then, when I list it, I record the size and weight in the listing information (but not visible to my buyers). That way when an item sells I have the size and weight right in front of me. For pretty much everything I sell I assume an additional 1 pound for an appropriate sized cardboard box and padding.

A lot of what I sell fits into a cubic sized box (that's different from the USPS Flat Rate Boxes which are in limited sizes) where the size of the box determines the shipping cost not the weight so the weight on smaller items (less than 1/2 of a cubic foot) is not that important.

Never put of 'till tomorrow etc.

[chevymontecarlo88]

Many times a seller can set up shipping rules that include multiple fixed pricing.

This not only includes the price but handling times and you can establish what method you use.

If you wanted to ship items that fit inside a USPS Flat rate envelope.

Example. You could create a shipping rule set up for $10 with a 2 day handling time and choose Economy Shipping 1-10 days.  Now you could use this for anything (keep in mind the cost of the item) that would fit in a USPS flat rate bubble envelope. If it weighed less and you could send it ground advantage or choose any other carrier if it is less expensive when you pack it up.  By setting up a rule that does not commit which carrier you use or the type of shipping, you can pick which one is cheaper at the time you ship. You can always put it in a flat rate envelope which you know would fit and the cost is already covered by the $10 charged. Of course don't use priority mail shipping supplies for other methods or carriers.  Once you ship you can message them that you upgraded there shipping to Priority mail and they typically will appreciate it. This is just one way you can have shipping prices established with rules if you know it will fit and ship in a certain flat rate box/envelope.

It depends on the items of course. If you have large, heavy items, you could use calculate shipping and have it packed up when you list. (dimensions and weight)

Again this was an example and may not make sense for all items. (lower priced items ect.)

[aproudparent2010]

I have several thousand items in my eBay store and I store them loose but I pre-determine what packaging I will use....box, poly mailer, bubble mailers...etc

[orangehound]

I never pre-box/pre-package for items under 1 cubic foot.  Doing that would warehouse too much packaging, take much more space than necessary.

Instead, when doing the listing, I weigh the item and then quickly add 1 to 12 ounces for bag/box/dunnage depending on the item ... it is an estimate based on experience.

• I know most Mylar bags, packing slip, and label weigh 0.7 ounces ... oversize Mylar is 1.0 ounce.
• I know small boxes weigh 3 ounces
• I know medium boxes weigh 7 ounces
• I know larger boxes weigh 12 ounces

Only when the package is going to be over 1 cubic foot will I pre-box the item and do much more careful planning around the shipping.

[monster-deals]

---

@kokoek9 wrote:

How do they know when they sell an item what the shipping will be

---

Mostly we don't, unless we sell tons of the same things all the time.

We have a pretty good idea because we weigh and measure and know when to add for DIM

All those parameters are then plugged into the listing so ebay can estimate for the buyer if they are paying shipping.

[kokoek9]

thanks that helps a lot. I will sell mostly books but I will sell other things as well. Actualy I started to sell my wood turnings but I sell anything that will sell.

[chevymontecarlo88]

---

@kokoek9 wrote:

thanks that helps a lot. I will sell mostly books but I will sell other things as well. Actualy I started to sell my wood turnings but I sell anything that will sell.

---

I am sure you are aware that with most books, you can ship them Media Mail which is less expensive than most other methods. If you are not aware of Media Mail and not sure if your book(s) or other items qualify, you can click this link to USPS which outlines what qualifies for Media Mail.

USPS Media Mail 

Good luck

[slippinjimmy]

While I mostly sell items that are consistent in their weight and size I get a lot of multiple item orders.

What you are missing is experience, I can tell from a quick look what size and amount of packing I will need and the weight of that packing. I just need to weigh the item and add the appropriate packaging weight and I have the answer to the "how much will this cost to ship". In most cases I don't even need to weight the item, I can just pick it up and estimate with reasonable accuracy.

It helps that I have been doing mail order for almost 50 years!

[simba6]

Those how to sell videos tend to paint a " rosy " picture of selling and may leave out some details.  

Sort of like the Mr Ed TV show.  You never saw them have to muck out.