ericka23
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posted on August 30, 2000 05:26:53 AM new
would you combine ship items for buyers to save $$$. They didn't ask me to. The shipping was 8.00 on these items, priority insured. They could be safely shipped together. What would you do?
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pickersangel
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posted on August 30, 2000 05:34:49 AM new
I always combine shipping for my customers--it's an easy way to promote additional sales! Hopefully you've not quoted them a rate and received payment. If you have, then either ship individually or include a refund of the difference with the package. Overcharging on shipping (or appearing to) doesn't make for happy customers. 
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fountainhouse
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posted on August 30, 2000 05:36:41 AM new
I don't understand the problem here ... why wouldn't you combine them???
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sborchert
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posted on August 30, 2000 05:36:45 AM new
Any time I can combine items safely for shipment to save a buyer money I do it. Makes many of your buyers want to do business with you again. If what I've been paid for shipping turns out to be more than it costs to ship I refund the difference. Makes people happy.
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mballai
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posted on August 30, 2000 05:51:55 AM new
I ship items on a flat rate and add for additional items as warranted by the total weight. I'd quote a total based on what it costs together.
Just to play devil's advocate...if you ship all items together and the package gets lost it is a bigger problem than with separate shipments. Therefore I recommend you insure and/or DC a multiple item package if the value is over what you might be comfortable losing to the Outer limits of the USPS.
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llama_lady
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posted on August 30, 2000 06:01:27 AM new
I always try to combine shipping. If I notice that someone is bidding on another item that may close in a day or two after the item they won, I will wait until the last one closes to quote shipping. I see no reason to charge double for two items that can be shipped for the same or maybe a dollar more. 
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rrmccloud
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posted on August 30, 2000 07:58:02 AM new
When I receive the first bid on an item, I go ahead and pack it. Several times it's happened that the winning bidder was the same on multiple items. In my EOA email I tell them I'll combine items and let them know if they'll save money in one shipment. Of course, sometimes it might be safer to ship in more than one package - I tell them that too. I'd rather go to the extra trouble and have a happier customer!
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cassiescloset
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posted on August 30, 2000 09:55:08 AM new
If the bidder sends one payment for all items, I ship together. It's much easier for me to only have one box to take to the post office.
When my auctions end, I preview my winning bidder list and send a single EOA for multiple items.
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networker67
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posted on August 30, 2000 10:28:01 AM new
I would encourage combining shiping where practical to do so. Because ask yourself this do you want to accidently combine shipping and pocket the funds from one of the auctions and risk a negative from a disgruntled buyer.
keep this mind make your business environment as productive to you as possible. Productive in the essence of your time and resources expended for the money you receive. it makes good business to sense to combine shipping where practical and be prepared to justify when it isn't practical. Examples of when it isn't practical unless the buyer consents in advance.
1. The auctions are ending more than 5 days apart.
2. Both items are highly fragile example vases, pottery, multiple glassware sets, etc.
3. Size of the box for combining multiple bids exceed the weight and size standards of the carrier that you use.
Other than the above it is very practical and cost effective to the seller to combine shipping. However a lot of sellers out there pad the shipping and won't part with that handy profit center that they have grown accustomed to profitting from.
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birdwatcher-07
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posted on August 30, 2000 11:09:21 AM new
The only time I WON'T combine items is when I have a heavy book and a breakable item going to the same person. First of all, it's usually cheaper to send the book by itself via book rate mail instead of having to pay Priority rates in a combined box. And second, a heavy book could easily move a bit in a box and bump up against and break the other item. I have had this situation a couple of times, and people always understand when I explain to them. Otherwise, I combine all sorts of things together to save the buyer money.
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hopefulli
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posted on August 30, 2000 11:34:22 AM new
I once had three auctions running, each for 2 plates. Only one set received a bid, and the winner asked for a reduced price on the other two sets since they received no bids. My opening bid was already as low as I wanted to go, but I pointed out to her that the other two sets could almost get a free ride with combined shipping (because I could eliminate the box weights). She ended up buying all three.
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traceyg
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posted on August 30, 2000 12:24:42 PM new
Well if it cost no more to combine and if I am not greedy and I want the customer to come back I would and do combine shipping.
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ericka23
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posted on August 30, 2000 01:02:00 PM new
Cassiescloset
This is a dumb newbie question but where do I get the winning bidder list? I know of the list on ebay that shows the high bidders when the auctions are active but I don't know where to get a list per say of all winning bidders at the end of auctions. This is all fairly new to me. I need all the help I can get......Thanks
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chisholm1943
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posted on August 30, 2000 01:07:51 PM new
I charge a flat rate, per item. No discounts.
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mrpotatoheadd
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posted on August 30, 2000 01:10:42 PM new
chisholm1943-
I charge a flat rate, per item. No discounts.
Do you indicate this in your auction description?
edited... spelling
[ edited by mrpotatoheadd on Aug 30, 2000 01:11 PM ]
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chisholm1943
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posted on August 30, 2000 01:12:24 PM new
Why yes, of course I do. I also state the shipping method. No confused bidders allowed.
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mrpotatoheadd
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posted on August 30, 2000 01:15:56 PM new
That's cool- I wouldn't have any problem bidding on your auctions. You could even charge a (gasp!) handling fee, and I wouldn't mind, as long as it was listed in the description. I'd give you a nice feedback when I got my item, too.
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computerboy
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posted on August 30, 2000 01:19:10 PM new
Treat all customers as you would like to be treated yourself. Combine the shipping and deliver what you promised and you'll have a happy customer for life.
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azrae
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posted on August 30, 2000 01:21:45 PM new
Oh well, here is a half Devils Advocate response.
The only losses or breakage I've seen in the last 90 days has been on a combined box of items. US Priority box, small items heavily bubble wrapped and put in small cardboard boxes. When the box arrived crushed, everything was damaged.
Post clerk made a !big!! stink about shipping numerous small items in one box, although they admitted packing was excellent and I got my claim settled.
Moral - if you are going to combine shipments, buy the best packing materials you can, and don't be afraid to charge the customers for them. They still come out way ahead, AND they get their items in good shape.
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hopefulli
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posted on August 30, 2000 01:52:44 PM new
I personally would never bid on an auction where the seller states a per item shipping charge and refuses to combine (assuming the items can be delivered safely when combined). To me, this signifies that the shipping charge is padded for profit. This is especially true for the sellers who actually do combine the shipment but just don't reduce the charge.
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dave_michmerhuizen
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posted on August 30, 2000 02:02:04 PM new
unless you have handling charges, shipping charges are the bidders money. save money for the bidder and they'll remember you (many of mine do,) and want to buy from you again.
if you have a distinctive name or userid, you will build a reputation. do everything you can to make it a good one. it is very valuable.
ebay: [email protected]
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chisholm1943
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posted on August 30, 2000 02:05:04 PM new
hopefulli Good. Then my plan is working!
Part of the reason I charge a flat fee per item is so that I will never have to deal with stupid bidders who bid based on some silly moral or ethical conviction, rather than smart bidders who can do math and bid based on price and customer service as shown by over 2000 positive feedbacks on two venues and powerseller status on both venues.
Do the math. It's pretty easy, it's just simple addition! Or take your silly moral and ethical convictions to some touch-ee feel-ee seller who cares about your sensitive feelings. Cause guess what? I do not care!
All I care about is taking your money, and shipping you an item that is as good or better than you expected.
Oh, the other part of the reason is I ship via Truck-Lines, Fed-Ex, UPS, Priority Mail and Book Rate Mail. It all depends on the item.
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chisholm1943
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posted on August 30, 2000 02:11:27 PM new
dave_michmerhuizen Yep, I've been doing flat fee per item shipping for a long long time. I get PLENTY of return customers. Perhaps because I am up-front with price and method of shipping and there can be no questions or confusion about shipping!
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mrpotatoheadd
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posted on August 30, 2000 02:16:28 PM new
hopefulli-
I personally would never bid on an auction where the seller states a per item shipping charge and refuses to combine (assuming the items can be delivered safely when combined).
I don't understand- maybe you can explain it to me. Are you saying that if you found two items that, with shipping included, were priced below what you were planning to spend, but the seller stated that they would not combine them for shipping, you would not bid?
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mballai
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posted on August 30, 2000 02:25:03 PM new
My shipping charges are flat rate and they are not padded for profit--they are padded against the potential loss of profit.
On average I "make" about .50 shipping an item if you listen to the bean counter bidders. In reality, I probably lose that shipping an item. As I make up for that on most items I sell, I believe I am profitable.
People who moan about being gouged by sellers' shipping need to get a grip. If they don't think the total price is a good deal they can shop plenty of retail stores who certainly add shipping costs to the price tag on the item.
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stockticker
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posted on August 30, 2000 02:29:04 PM new
Ericka23:
Click on "my eBay", which is on the top line of every eBay Page (you will be prompted for your user name and password). I have "my eBay" as my home page in my browser.
Once you are in "my eBay", click on the tab which says "Selling". You can see all your auctions. You can also select how many days of your closed auctions you wish to see listed.
Now, click on the words "See Details" which appear above the "Time Left" column. You will see summaries of all your auctions including the name of the high bidder.
If you have signed onto eBay before going to "my eBay" you will also see all the e-mail addresses, if different from the eBay IDs.
I always work from the "See Details" page to send my end-of-auction notifications. I copy the auction number and title as shown, click on the bidder's e-mail address and then paste the information onto the subject line of the e-mail.
Irene
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hopefulli
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posted on August 30, 2000 02:43:24 PM new
Chisholm1943-I am more than happy to accomodate you by not bidding on your auctions.
MrPotatoheadd-Yes, that is exactly what I am saying. Putting aside any issue of gouging, you are assuming that each item separately is worth that item's total. Sometimes it is the combined shipping that makes it worth the deal.
And being ethical and smart are not mutually exclusive.
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mrpotatoheadd
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posted on August 30, 2000 02:47:12 PM new
Yes, that is exactly what I am saying.
If you can get the items you want at less than you're willing to spend, but refuse based on the fact the seller will not ship them together, that seems a bit like cutting off your nose to spite your face.
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chisholm1943
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posted on August 30, 2000 02:54:16 PM new
I think hopefulli missed the point of the question.
Let's say that hopefulli is looking for thing1 and thing2.
Let's say that a seller who charges a flat rate has a thing1 for 1.00 plus 3.20 and a thing2 for 2.00 plus 3.20. Total for the two things is 9.40
Let's say that a different seller has a thing1 for 4.25 and a thing2 for 5.25 but he is a niceguy seller and will combine shipping. So his total is 12.75 shipping included.
Who will hopefulli buy from?
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hopefulli
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posted on August 30, 2000 03:12:58 PM new
As I said, sometimes the price is NOT less than I would be willing to spend absent combined shipping.
As for this contrived example, I choose to buy thing1 for 1.00 and thing2 for 2.00 with $3.25 combined shipping for a total of $6.25.
What??? With combined shipping the $1 item would never sell for just $1? Other bidders would push it up to the $4.25? Sounds like fee avoidance.
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