aroundtheworldtreasures
|
posted on August 30, 2003 12:35:43 PM new
I haven't posted auctions for awhile, but am going to again soon.
I wanted to get some thoughts on your sales with flat rates, or calculating shipping. Have you tried both ways...any slow down in sales using calculating method?
Problems with bidders placing a bid, and not paying after they find out the cost of shipping?
Have thought of using a calculator in my template, will I get less bids if I do that, or just let them email me and ask.
I sure do hate the "zone" thing for Priority mail, with most of my items shipping that method, but works out better sometimes.
Your thoughts are appreciated. Oh also, I have heard some calculators are not allowed on ebay, do you know anything about that?
Thanks.....
|
Fenix03
|
posted on August 30, 2003 12:42:07 PM new
personally - I use flat rate shipping. It just does not get any simpler thanthat. buyer knows exactly what to expect and how much to pay - I'm not into being work intensive.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
Men Are Like Grapes. If You Stomp on Them and Keep Them in the Dark Long Enough, They Might Turn Into Something That You Would Take to Dinner
|
sanmar
|
posted on August 30, 2003 02:21:14 PM new
I don't know how many times this has come up on a thread. There is no one way that is right for every one. This week I shipped a stone crock jug that weighed 18 lbs. I have some tobacco tins on that weigh 8 ounces. How do I flat rate items like this? The crock went FedEx Ground for $17.00. I can send the tins Priority Mail for $3.85.
|
Fenix03
|
posted on August 30, 2003 02:27:37 PM new
San - you flat rate each item. You don't rate rate your inventory as a whole.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
Men Are Like Grapes. If You Stomp on Them and Keep Them in the Dark Long Enough, They Might Turn Into Something That You Would Take to Dinner
|
MAH645
|
posted on August 30, 2003 02:28:24 PM new
I think it depends on what you sell. On Music CDs I charge a flat rate of $2.50 which is not unreal in that catagory. On the other hand if I sell an item weighing 5 lbs I list in the auction buyer payes exact shipping and I offer shipping options with the exact for each one.I make sure I make my profit off the starting auction price on those items.
|
TheFamilyBiz
|
posted on August 30, 2003 04:02:33 PM new
Fenix03,
That's what we do. Depends on the packaged weight - we'll calculate shipping to the farthest point (Zone 8 for us) and then set the rate that way. If it's way over (like when someone in the next state buys), we'll provide a credit for the next auction buy. It can make for a reason for your buyer to bookmark you and make you a favorite - just to get that $1.50 credit...
We've had very pleasant results so far.
Wayne
Trying to Make a Difference - One Satisfied Customer at a Time....
|
Fenix03
|
posted on August 30, 2003 04:43:54 PM new
Tip for selling on international sites....
Since a lot of foreign buyers are weary of international postage I have found that working the postage into the bid price and listing Free S/H (or P/P in the UK) is an excellent draw. There are quite a few items that I have found sell for much higher rates overseas than in the States and free international shipping is viewed as a huge bonus.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
Men Are Like Grapes. If You Stomp on Them and Keep Them in the Dark Long Enough, They Might Turn Into Something That You Would Take to Dinner
|
ahc3
|
posted on August 30, 2003 04:53:13 PM new
Anything under a pound is flate rate, at least in the US. I think they are talking about a package that is several pounds, where zone 1 might be $6 and zone 8 might be $9. I've done it both ways, flat rate is easier. I might cut a break for someone closer to me, but most people it seems I ship to are zone 5 or higher, and the difference between 5 and 8 is not that much.
|
Fenix03
|
posted on August 30, 2003 05:17:35 PM new
AHC - that operates under the assumption that said package is shipped out via Priority. Not every package is.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
Men Are Like Grapes. If You Stomp on Them and Keep Them in the Dark Long Enough, They Might Turn Into Something That You Would Take to Dinner
|
ahc3
|
posted on August 30, 2003 06:18:07 PM new
Anything under a pound is flat rate means that it doesn't matter if it weighs 6 ounces, it is the same $1.52 first class to Alaska or Hawaii, or Puerto Rico. Not necessarily flat rate priority mail, but the point is the cost is exactly the same for that weight no matter where you mail it. Same goes for media, book, or library rate.
|
tfs13
|
posted on August 30, 2003 09:51:11 PM new
We use a flat rate. For Priority, we would set a 2 lb item for $6.00 (though we may raise it slightly soon). Sometimes we win, sometime we lose.. but it seems to even out in the end.
Seth
|
pandorasbox
|
posted on August 31, 2003 12:54:52 AM new
We ship flat, calculating all the while...
Sell all that you have and come follow me..
|
maggielane
|
posted on August 31, 2003 06:18:56 AM new
We ship Flat rate to save us time. With 100 auctions a week to ship it would be take probably a day of time to calculate and respond back to each of them.
Also if you calculate you will get a lot more emails to answer about "What is Shipping?". I have it clearly stated in my auctions and still get about 20 of these a week. I know there are calculators that you can put on your auction, but I doubt that people are willing to use them. I can't even get people to go through Endica's checkout.
When listing we just guess and 95% of the time do just fine with it. We occassionaly get some gripes about shipping, but I even got those when we shipped everything at actual cost. We use Endica Stealth mode which is very helpful in not having people being upset.
"For I know the plans I have for you." says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." - Jeremiah 29:11
|
