Shipping has gotten amazingly expensive. I have a handful of old collectibles that are not heavy but need a bigger box and I'm seeing shipping rates at their cheapest being $40 to $300 depending on ZIP code.

I'm constantly getting messages from potential bidders accusing me of trying to scam people by overcharging for shipping; I have on every auction that shipping costs are determined by item dimensions and weight (everything I sell is ready to ship upon payment). I always offer a few options for shipping (USPS and UPS usually being the go-to).

There's no sunrise on the horizon for this, though maybe rates might drop again after the holiday season by a little bit. Just stinks that I picked the worst possible time to start selling these larger items.

---

Quote
Zoidberg
There's no sunrise on the horizon for this, though maybe rates might drop again after the holiday season by a little bit...

There is a "sunrise on the horizon," unless the USPS makes the rates permanent, which they tend to do.

[about.usps.com]

For the 2022 holiday season, the Postal Service has implemented temporary price adjustments. The changes are in place through Jan. 22, 2023, 12:01 a.m. Central time, for both retail and business customers.

The changes include some of the Postal Service’s more popular shipping products, which also includes military shipping: Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, First-Class Package Service, Parcel Select Ground and USPS Retail Ground. International products are unaffected.

These temporary rates will keep the Postal Service competitive and are similar to adjustments in past years to help cover extra handling costs to ensure a successful holiday season. More information can be found at usps.com...

---

The stuff I sell is mostly under 16 oz or fits in a flat-rate small priority box. That's not too bad. But yeah, wow, get up into a pound or three that won't fit in a flat rate box and it skyrockets.

I had one auction for a camera I knew was going to sell in the $50-$60 range. I had the box and the manuals. I went to ship it, and discovered I had grossly underestimated the shipping cost when i listed it, like it was going to cost me ~$25 to ship, and the buyer had not paid nearly that much. I canceled the sale. I relisted with a bare camera and got almost the same bid. Shipped it for <$8, buyer paid. Can't cancel as a seller often because ebay will ding you, but in this case I had to do it.

Have you guys tried Pirate Ship like talked about here on the forum. Big difference on price and it still ships with the company you want to use. You sre just buying the shipping label from them and their great buying power.

---

Formerly known as Dennis R

ebay shipping offers a discount on USPS for eBay sales. Is it not as good as Pirate Ship?

Shipping companies are telling you they don't care about your business unless you ship enough to pay for your own driver/sorter.

---

In tha 360. MRF User Map

Quote
Dennis R
Have you guys tried Pirate Ship like talked about here on the forum. Big difference on price and it still ships with the company you want to use. You sre just buying the shipping label from them and their great buying power.

Quote
Acer
ebay shipping offers a discount on USPS for eBay sales. Is it not as good as Pirate Ship?

I use Pirate Ship. And eBay has good discounts as well.

It's what eBay puts on the auction that is the clincher.

Ebay notes a retail shipping rate based on the weight and the dimensions of what you're shipping, your ship-from ZIP code, and then the bidder's ZIP.

You might get a discount as a seller, but it's not shown.

It's a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation. I tried a few times telling bidders that, once they won an auction, to wait to pay and then I would generate an invoice based upon the discounted shipping rate. That didn't fly with them (accusations of scamming) nor eBay.

I tried flat rate shipping but that's a gamble that I might wind up paying (a lot) out of pocket. Again, even with "continuous 48 states only" selected, rates vary wildly; e.g., across town here in central AR, $18, to Seattle WA, $215. It's a clustercuss.

Back in the day, I would note "free shipping" and then just start my bidding at a basic shipping cost + whatever the least I'd accept for the item in a friendly transaction. Can't do anything like that anymore.

---

"Local Pick Up" won't work for you?

Quote
testcase
"Local Pick Up" won't work for you?

I live in a small city in Arkansas. No, it won't work for me.

---

Yes, I don't do free shipping because of the gamble.
I round up the weight to make sure I don't get stuck, but it seldom nets more than a dollar or two, if anything, and just gets lost offsetting packing materials and a trip to the post office.
It's the bidder's responsibility to factor in shipping. eBay charges its fee on the shipping, so the seller is not hiding any profit. Buyers whining about it is a waste of everyone's time.

I had started trying to ship in re-used Amazon boxes and etc. but that's gotten untenable b'c of shipping fees, so for the duration I guess I'll switch to only selling things that ship in flat-rate USPS envelopes and boxes so there's no @#$%& from bidders regarding shipping costs.

---

Quote
Zoidberg
Ebay notes a retail shipping rate based on the weight and the dimensions of what you're shipping, your ship-from ZIP code, and then the bidder's ZIP.

You might get a discount as a seller, but it's not shown.

Yea, I think that’s messed up (retail rate shown to buyer, seller gets discounted rate). Was it always this way? I don’t remember it being this way. I didn’t notice it until I saw an auction for one of my laptop’s with $40+ shipping! Actual shipping was probably a little over half of that, but I did use the extra for insurance and to pack in a bigger box with more padding. Luckily no one has complained to me yet (but I might be getting hammered in the star ratings, but I don’t have enough feedback to show that yet…). At least one buyer appreciated the “correct” packaging I use (instead of throwing a laptop in a box with some Amazon packing air bags… (as I sometimes receive them…)

I agree with too high shipping on eBay. I have given up on eBay pretty much.

Was it always this way? I don’t remember it being this way.

No, it wasn't always this way...but what is anymore? Ebay never charged the seller final fees on shipping. Then the sellers that always want something for nothing would list their items super low but have a ridiculously high shipping charge. So as always, the few ruin it for everyone else and ebay started charging the final fee on shipping, too. I think their way to appease sellers was to give pretty good discounts. I get the same complaints about shipping costs so I usually mention in the auction that I only charge what I pay and will refund the difference (I only do it if it's more than a few bucks). The complaints have eased a little.

Although one (potential) “benefit” of high shipping costs to buyers is that they may not have to pay sales tax on the shipping charges (at least it works that way for CA, may vary by state).

So you just have to consider the total cost and accept that eBay isn’t necessarily a “fair” marketplace (for auctions at least) because you might be competing with bidders with no or lower sales tax costs, or reduced shipping costs if they are closer to the item, and wait for the item that works for you.

Quote
Acer
The stuff I sell is mostly under 16 oz or fits in a flat-rate small priority box. That's not too bad. But yeah, wow, get up into a pound or three that won't fit in a flat rate box and it skyrockets.

I had one auction for a camera I knew was going to sell in the $50-$60 range. I had the box and the manuals. I went to ship it, and discovered I had grossly underestimated the shipping cost when i listed it, like it was going to cost me ~$25 to ship, and the buyer had not paid nearly that much. I canceled the sale. I relisted with a bare camera and got almost the same bid. Shipped it for <$8, buyer paid. Can't cancel as a seller often because ebay will ding you, but in this case I had to do it.

90% of what my wife ships is under 16oz. and anything 16.0oz. and under goes First Class. The delivery time is nearly the same as Priority nowadays. She gets a good discount on shipping by printing them out through eBay.

---

Grateful11

Quote
Grateful11

Quote
Acer
The stuff I sell is mostly under 16 oz or fits in a flat-rate small priority box. That's not too bad. But yeah, wow, get up into a pound or three that won't fit in a flat rate box and it skyrockets.

I had one auction for a camera I knew was going to sell in the $50-$60 range. I had the box and the manuals. I went to ship it, and discovered I had grossly underestimated the shipping cost when i listed it, like it was going to cost me ~$25 to ship, and the buyer had not paid nearly that much. I canceled the sale. I relisted with a bare camera and got almost the same bid. Shipped it for <$8, buyer paid. Can't cancel as a seller often because ebay will ding you, but in this case I had to do it.

90% of what my wife ships is under 16oz. and anything 16.0oz. and under goes First Class. The delivery time is nearly the same as Priority nowadays. She gets a good discount on shipping by printing them out through eBay.

True, but won't work for me, as what I'm talking about are boxes that are pretty big (one measurement typically around 20") and heavier (4 to 6 pounds). I'm kind of locked out of any reasonable shipping option these days.

---

Quote
Zoidberg

Quote
Grateful11

Quote
Acer
The stuff I sell is mostly under 16 oz or fits in a flat-rate small priority box. That's not too bad. But yeah, wow, get up into a pound or three that won't fit in a flat rate box and it skyrockets.

I had one auction for a camera I knew was going to sell in the $50-$60 range. I had the box and the manuals. I went to ship it, and discovered I had grossly underestimated the shipping cost when i listed it, like it was going to cost me ~$25 to ship, and the buyer had not paid nearly that much. I canceled the sale. I relisted with a bare camera and got almost the same bid. Shipped it for <$8, buyer paid. Can't cancel as a seller often because ebay will ding you, but in this case I had to do it.

90% of what my wife ships is under 16oz. and anything 16.0oz. and under goes First Class. The delivery time is nearly the same as Priority nowadays. She gets a good discount on shipping by printing them out through eBay.

True, but won't work for me, as what I'm talking about are boxes that are pretty big (one measurement typically around 20") and heavier (4 to 6 pounds). I'm kind of locked out of any reasonable shipping option these days.

Yes, that is really hard to ship economically. But to be clear, this is not really an eBay thing. It just feels worse at eBay because of the pound of flesh eBay suck out of every deal for their own fees before you get to the shipping.

I've not used this option, but there is something called USPS cubic priority shipping. Perhaps it will lower the cost.
[www.fp-usa.com]

Quote
pqrst
I've not used this option, but there is something called USPS cubic priority shipping. Perhaps it will lower the cost.
[www.fp-usa.com]

Quote
USPS
Priority Mail® Cubic is a special rate or sub-service of Priority Mail® for smaller packages where a mailer pays based on the size of the mail piece instead of the weight. It has a maximum weight of 20 pounds and the size can be no bigger than .5 cubic feet.

Zoidberg has the opposite problem, large packages that don't weigh much (for the size of the package). Seems like anytime you get over 12" in one dimension, you get put into "dimensional weight", where the weight of the package no longer matters and they bill you based on the size of the package (i.e. how much space it's going to take up on the truck).



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/31/2022 06:12PM by Gareth.