posted on February 5, 2009 01:03:21 PM new
Hi Guys, have just moved back to the USA after 5 years of selling ebay from France. Confused on how to handle the postage rates. Now that ebay is demanding that a price for postage be entered on an auction how do I figure a rate when I don't know where the winning buyer lives until after the auction is over.
For example: everything I list will be under priority mail fixed. So if I have a two pound package and don't know where it will end up how in the world do I put a rate in the auction when priority mail is based upon destination rather than weight. I am sure that everyone else knows how to do this. But after 9 years on ebay I feel like a beginner again. Would appreciate any answers from anybody. Thanks, Steve
posted on February 5, 2009 01:56:15 PM new
Hello Steve,
There are two main ways that sellers will handle this (I'm sure there are others, and maybe someone else has some other ideas):
1. Charge a flat rate that will cover your shipping costs over a period of time. It might be an average, where you will gain a bit extra in shipping on some orders, and lose a bit on other orders. You could also charge the rate for the most expensive area of the country to ship.
2. Use calculated shipping, where the exact shipping cost will be calculated. You will need to enter the weight and dimensions of the package if you do this. The shipping cost will then be calculated and shown on eBay based on the bidder's/buyer's zip code.
Once you decide how you are going to charge shipping, let us know if you have any trouble setting it up.
posted on February 5, 2009 03:15:32 PM new
If you are shipping two pounds of feathers which can fit into a Flate Rate envelope, then choose Priority Mail calculated and designate USPS Flate Rate Envelope, with dimensions of 9"x12"x0.25".
If you are shipping a box of rocks, which can be sent by Flate Rate Box, then choose Priority Mail calculated and designate USPS Flat Rate Box - there is an area for dimensions.
Luckily, the calculator will compute correctly, and the flat rate will compute the same in all postal zones.
At the present, this will not work correctly for Express Mail.
