posted on September 19, 2005 04:34:18 PM new
I launched an auction last night. Today I discovered the Shipping Price Column on ebay's browse page showed my shipping cost as 'Free'. I thought I set it up as See item description.
I tried to revise the auction, while it was active, but I didn't see an option for changing the 'shipping price column'... so I cancelled it before someone bid on it.
As per your announcement, I already had reset my global preferences to:
'Display Shipping and Handling options'. And my 'Custom Shipping Note' says: (see item description).
The auction is back in my 'pending listings'. When I looked to edit it, the preference button was green for: "ebay Shipping and Payment Details'. And green for: 'I am specifying shipping costs for eBay checkout'. Also green for: 'I use fixed shipping rates' (my shipping carrier is also green for Fed Ex Ground but has no amount… just zeros)
I changed the first button to: 'I am not specifying shipping costs for eBay Checkout. The button for 'I use fixed shipping' is still on... no way to turn it off.
If I edit the auction (from my pending listings) and change it to the 'not specifying shipping cost' preference.. will the shipping on ebay's browse page read: 'see item description'?
How should I set my preferences to accommodate both fixed shipping and those based on zip code?
Also is there a way I could have revised the 'free shipping' problem without actually cancelling the auction?
Sorry for being so long-winded, I just don't want to make this same mistake twice. Thanks, Lynn
posted on September 19, 2005 05:48:37 PM new
Hello Lynn,
In eBay Site Specifics and in individual listings, you will need to select the preference "I am specifying shipping costs for eBay checkout." What you currently have right now will most likely display 'not specified' in the shipping column results.
You can change these settings on an individual basis so what I would recommend is that you set up the default for the one you use most (sounds like fixed shipping) and put in your zip code. When you want to offer something calculated, just edit the item you're creating and instead of fixed rates, choose a calculated rate, as the same section where you edit your eBay shipping in handling will appear in your listings.
If you want us to review a listing before you submit, please create one and then notify us it is there so we can take a look.
You could have revised the free shipping issue while the item was still active. It would have required doing edits on both the Vendio and Ebay side.
posted on September 19, 2005 11:23:35 PM new
Hi Sonya,
I'm lost and need more help.
After I closed the auction and put it back in the pending listings, I looked at the preferences in the pending auction, they were set at:
a. "I am specifying shipping costs for ebay checkout.
b. I use fixed shipping rates
c. Shipping carriers: Fed Ex Ground $00.00
When the auction was active, one of those above settings caused Ebays 'shipping price column' on the auction browse page to default my shipping cost as "Free".
Since then, the only thing I changed in the pending auction is (a.).
I changed it to "I am NOT specifying shipping cost for Ebay checkout".
'b' cannot be changed (the green light won't go off when I click on it ...
and 'c' still shows Fed Ex as my carrier.
I have not changed anything in "My Account'preference settings. The auction was originally written on SMP with the same preferences that show up in 'My Account' now.
In 'My Account', the Global preferences has the green checkmark ON for:
1. Display Shipping and Handling options and Custom Shipping Note in listing.
2. Shipping carriers: Media mail and Fed Ex Ground
3. and the custom s/h note says: see item description
I never use a shipping calculator as I don't ship with UPS and most of my USPS is flat rate.
If I turn back on 'I am specifying shipping costs for ebay checkout' in the pending listing... I'll be back to where I was when the auction was alive and showing 'Free shipping on the browse page.
Can you take a look at my pending listings and Seller's preferences' in my account and
let me know exactly what I did wrong.
You also said I could have revised the listing while it was still alive. What EXACTLY should I have edited on both the Vendio and Ebay sides?
posted on September 20, 2005 10:00:02 AM new
Hello Lynn,
After I closed the auction and put it back in the pending listings, I looked at the preferences in the pending auction, they were set at:
a. "I am specifying shipping costs for ebay checkout.
b. I use fixed shipping rates
c. Shipping carriers: Fed Ex Ground $00.00
Fed Ex Ground $00.00 is what caused it to say 'free' because you set shipping as 0.00 which eBay reads as free. If you plan to offer fixed shipping then you will need to set an amount for shipping.
Since then, the only thing I changed in the pending auction is (a.).
I changed it to "I am NOT specifying shipping cost for Ebay checkout". 'b' cannot be changed (the green light won't go off when I click on it ...and 'c' still shows Fed Ex as my carrier.
You had everything set up right, except for the shipping set to 00.00. You need to change step a to "I am specifying shipping cost for eBay Checkout" or it won't work and it will show up as Not Specified, most likely.
In 'My Account', the Global preferences has the green checkmark ON for:
1. Display Shipping and Handling options and Custom Shipping Note in listing.
2. Shipping carriers: Media mail and Fed Ex Ground
3. and the custom s/h note says: see item description
I never use a shipping calculator as I don't ship with UPS and most of my USPS is flat rate.
That is fine, you only need to change your shipping amount from 0.00 and make sure you have chosen to specify shipping and handling for eBay Checkout.
If I turn back on 'I am specifying shipping costs for ebay checkout' in the pending listing... I'll be back to where I was when the auction was alive and showing 'Free shipping on the browse page.
Again, you ONLY needed to change 00.00 to a fixed amount. You had everything set up correctly.
Can you take a look at my pending listings and Seller's preferences in my account and let me know exactly what I did wrong.
Please do the following:
- Go to My Account > Site Specifics, eBay and enable the following -- " I am specifying shipping costs for eBay checkout"
- Go to your pending items and under eBay Shipping and Payment Details, enable the following -- " I am specifying shipping costs for eBay checkout"
- For each pending item, make sure you enter in a cost for your shipping carriers. You have Fed Ex selected but your shipping is 0.00.
This will fix the problem.
You also said I could have revised the listing while it was still alive. What EXACTLY should I have edited on both the Vendio and Ebay sides?
All you had to do was change the Fed Ex shipping in eBay from 00.00 to what you planned to ship the item. Then you would have needed to go to All Active Listings, select your item and hit Set WBN, then select the item and hit Edit WBN, and scroll to where shipping carriers are shown and change the 00.00 to what you planned to ship the item at.
Please let us know if you have any other questions.
Regards,
Sonya
[ edited by SonyaCS on Sep 20, 2005 10:02 AM ]
posted on September 20, 2005 01:13:21 PM new
Hi Sonya,
This is turning out to be a real problem.
First of all, when I create an auction, I basically use one of two methods of shipping. It depends on what I'm selling, I DON'T use the same shipper for each and every auction.
I need to have my settings set up to accomodate both:
1. "Fixed rate" for small items.
and
2. Shipping for heavy or large items based only on zip code... "NO fixed rate" "NO calculator" and "NO specified shipping cost" in the actual auction description, but I want ebay's browse page to say: "See item description".
At this point I really don't care if ebay's browse page for all of my auctions says: "see item description". (But I would prefer where I DO specify a fixed rate, to have the shipping cost visible on ebays auction browse page. I just DON'T want it ever to say 'Free shipping"
On this particular auction, I'm NOT offering a "fixed cost" of shipping.
My description reads: "shipping based on zip code by Fed Ex Ground or USPS... whoever has the better rate".
My auction description also says: Feel free to email me with your zip code for the exact cost of shipping.
I deliberately offer two options when shipping large or heavy items. The buyer's zip code often determines whether the US post office OR Fed Ex will have a better cost.
After an auction ends, I do want a "FIXED Rate Shipping" cost to show up on Vendio's "Customer's checkout page".
For auctions that end with "shipping based on zip code", I personally email my customer (and ask if the zip code they have on file with ebay is up to date and correct) before I email them with exact cost of shipping.
I believe for right now, since I am NOT using a Flat Rate on my problem auction, all I can do is use:
"I am NOT specifying shipping cost for Ebay checkout". I'm not sure the Custom s/h Note on ebay's browse page will say: "see item description" or "not specified"... but either will be better than it showing up as Free shipping.... let me know if I'm wrong.
Can you forward this problem to your programmers and ask them what can be done to fix the Global preferences and Ebay Site Specifics so, DEPENDING on whatever individual auction a seller is creating, either the "fixed shipping rate", OR "shipping calculator" OR "see item description" will visibly show up on ebay's browse page. It could be as simple as inserting each of these three options on the SMP and letting the seller decide which one is applicable for ebays browse page.
I hope this is resolved soon, in all my years of using Vendio, this is the first time I've encountered a problem where Vendio and Ebay are not on the same page.
posted on September 20, 2005 06:01:56 PM new
Hello,
"On this particular auction, I'm NOT offering a "fixed cost" of shipping. "
What item is this? I think the problems are being caused right now by us not knowing what item to look at, and giving you general directions for setting this up for a fixed rate. Let me take a look at it, I was getting a bit confused but if I look at the item and you tell me what you want -- fixed rate for small or shipping based on zip code -- I can help you from there. If you are going to do shipping based on zip code, you will need to use calculated shipping. Are you thinking that the default setting is going to override everything? If you are creating items online, you can change that per item, so it really wouldn't matter what you set as your default. You can toggle from fixed to calculated on a per item basis.
"After an auction ends, I do want a "FIXED Rate Shipping" cost to show up on Vendio's "Customer's checkout page". "
You can do that if you specify a fixed rate. But if you are setting an item up with shipping based on zip code, that is essentially calculated shipping so the rate cost won't show up until your customer confirms checkout.
Before this confuses you more, why don't you direct me to an item to look at and tell me what type of shipping you want and we'll go from there.
posted on September 21, 2005 09:53:58 AM new
Hi Sonya,
The item is located in my pending listings: vintage KIRKENDALL CHALLENGER Omaha Nebr - COWBOY BOOTS.
In this particular auction, I'm offering shipping based on zip code but the actual cost of shipping CANNOT be displayed in the auction because the shipper is Fed Ex Ground.
A perspective buyer can email me and I will personally let them know the shipping cost. I'm using the words "Shipping based on zip code" only as part of my auction description... for customer information only.
I think I'm confused because I'm not sure what you actually saying in your last post: "If you are going to do shipping based on zip code, you will need to use calculated shipping."
Are you talking about a "shipping calculator"? If so, I CAN'T use a shipping calculator because ebay doesn't support a calculator for Fed Ex Ground.
I want ebay's auction browse page to show my shipping cost as: "see item description". (I have this saved in my Global Preferences in "My Account" under the "Custom shipping and Handling Note" under "Other Shipping Settings".
Will ebay's browse page show my shipping cost as "see item description" if I click on these two settings in the pending auction?
1. "Ebay shipping and payment details"?
I am NOT specifying shipping costs for eBay Checkout (recommended if Shipping is included in Description and Vendio Checkout is used).
2. and putting the green checkmark next to FedEx Ground under "Shipping Carriers" but leave the amount blank... $00.00.
Or am I making a mistake by enabling the second setting? (FedEx ground... but leaving the amount blank). Should I disable it? Is this causing ebay's browse page to display my shipping cost as "Free"?
Tell me exactly what settings I should enable and which ones I should leave blank so "see item description" will show up on the auction browse page.
posted on September 21, 2005 05:25:04 PM new
Hi Lynn,
I took a look at your listing and I figured out what the problem is. You want to offer your customers exact shipping but you use Fed Ex, which doesn't have a calculated shipping option, so my previous suggestions would not work for you. The problem is, in order to get it to state 'see description' you have to check off the option to display shipping and handling in your listings. If you leave Fed Ex Ground at 0.00, that will show up there. You are going to need to specify a price if you don't want it to state 0.00. The two options you references are correct but you can't leave a shipping field blank. If you leave it blank it's going to either error or insert 0.00 which eBay is going to display as FREE.
The other option you could do for shipping is use one of our blank fields and put in Fed Ex (TBA at end of auction) and then put in a high amount so that customers know you are going to customize the shipping.
Now, if you were using UPS or USPS, you could set all of this up for a calculated rate and it would be no problem. I could show you how to do that for listings you have, that you're using USPS for. By the way, I wasn't referring to the eBay calculator -- you can store your zip code in Global Preferences so people can calculate shipping to their location.
Let me know if you need more help with this, I know what it is you are doing now so we'll try to find the best alternatives for you.
posted on September 21, 2005 08:42:41 PM new
Hi Sonya,
Will my pending auction successfully launch and show shipping on ebay's browse auction page as (either/or): "see item description" or "not specified"... if I use these settings:
1. "I am NOT specifying shipping costs for eBay Checkout".
2. Completely turn OFF the "Shipping Carrier"... leave the whole section blank and not show FedEx as my shipper.
posted on September 22, 2005 10:23:19 AM new
Thanks Sonya, I'll relist and see what happens.
Sure hope the new version of SMP will accomodate us sellers that use different methods of shipping... maybe just a button we can click on that will program ebay to show "see description" when we're not using a "calculator" or a "fixed" cost.
posted on September 23, 2005 02:36:13 PM new
Just want to add my voice to Lynn's about us sellers that use both fixed and calculated rates depending of the weight of the item. Rather than the vague "see item description" or worse, "not specified",
I would love to be able to specify shipping for the new ebay shipping column when it is fixed and have it show the calculator when it is calculated. But I see no way to go back and forth with this simply when listing an auction.
Or am I missing something?
Thanks,
Susan
