posted on January 3, 2001 02:33:29 PM
Personally, I think the postal rate increases are ridiculous, especially the jump in priority shipping. I will definitely be changing my selling habits and will probably stop selling small items that would normally start at $3. I just can't see charging someone $3.95 for an item that weighs in over a pound. I will probably start selling higher ticket items where the increase won't seem to hit as hard. Is anyone else making any changes. I have a feeling the higher rates might scare away some bidders, so I may just stick with the $3.20 rate and pick up the difference.
posted on January 3, 2001 02:39:43 PM
Not really.......at least not yet. It may after the new rates have made their effect known.
I do not care what it costs for the buyer to get their stuff, as I pass along the entire costs along.
This method of buying is not cost free. It may affect the sales of lower value items. Again, if that segment gets hurt it is good for Sellers of higher priced merch...less clutter for the buyers to wade thru.
Maybe this will be what gets Sellers to realize that the cost of delivery of [lets be clear here] non replicatable items [i.e. antiques/collectibles] ...is not a part of the cost of the goods sold. The buyer sets the price of sale at auction. The delivery costs are just what it costs to get the stuff to the Buyer.
posted on January 3, 2001 02:44:22 PM
Most of the items I sell weigh 2 or 3 ounces when packed and go first class. Since the price for 2 ounces remains the same and 3 ounces will be cheaper by a penny, I don't have to make any changes.
posted on January 3, 2001 03:36:31 PM
I've always used a flat fee, and when it was first rumored that rates were going up, I adjusted my shipping upward slightly, sort of splitting the difference of the increase between the bidder and me. I haven't seen one speck of difference in bids or bid amounts.
posted on January 3, 2001 03:49:42 PM
I Ajusted my flat rates a while back as well and if there is any difference at this time its an upword trend in bids as listings on ebay continue to thin out.
also have shifted to parcel post shipping which for the Items I sellis a big difference in shipping costs as most will ship for $2.97 not instead of the $3.20 I use to charge or the $3.95 and up the new rate will be.
I will ship priority by request only at the buyers cost.
So in fact in the face of the Postal incress my shipping rates on the better part of my sales went down .98 cents.
posted on January 3, 2001 04:00:31 PM
Actually, my sales have been good. I have been completely honest about the shipping cost, and only charge Priority rates and NO HANDLING fees.
I just try to be sensitive to my buyers, and weary of my competitors shipping rates. So far, it hasn't hurt me yet. I'm looking for alternative methods of shipping though. The Priority took a big jump and I'm not comfortable with it.
posted on January 3, 2001 04:09:47 PM
That is a good way to look at it. Under the current rates, 16 ounces sent regular mail costs $3.49, while the priority mail rate is $3.50. It's worth the 1 cent difference, but a 14 ounce package would be better served going regular rate (Sorry, but I simply do not believe Priority mail gets any priority service, just a way for the Post Office to charge more)
Under the old rates (or soon to be old rates) of $3.20 for 16 ounces, it only took 14 ounces to reach $3.19, basically the same rate, so while it is annoying that rates are going up, anything under a pound can be shipped cheaper than the priority rate, not so under the current system where 14 ounces is the same rate as one pound.
Also, for a lot of sellers (me included) I ship things between 3-8 ounces, so shipping will actually be cheaper for me under the new rates.
posted on January 3, 2001 05:20:26 PM
yeah, it will affect somehow...
I figure buyers will be reluctant for a while, until they get used to the rate hike...and wasn't it a big jump in priority rates? The free boxes and stuff made life real easy for me, the seller...but if I go out and hunt down a small brown box and ship at a lower rate the buyer will be happier.
I do sell a higher volume of 8.00-22.00 items and I think I'll need to keep the smaller priced (but highly collectible) items back until people are used to the rate hike.
posted on January 3, 2001 09:12:40 PM
Does anyone know what the new rates will be?
From what I am reading, the $3.20 rate will go to $3.95 is that right?
What about the former $4.30 rate?
thanks a lot
posted on January 3, 2001 09:23:45 PM
Current rate is $3.20 up to 2 pounds (actually, it is for as much as you can fit in the envelope, it technically can be over 2 pounds in the small priority envelope)
posted on January 3, 2001 09:38:16 PM
this will answer some of those rate questions. http://www.usps.com/news/2001rate.htm#statement.
My two cents is I use first class 90% of the time. I Currently have a max set at $4.00 Which will allow for a 2lb Priority Tracked package. After that I pick up the rest. I simply now have a $5.00 limit which covers the same.
posted on January 4, 2001 03:23:45 AM
I can't find new rates for book rate anywhere. Has anyone else found it?
Also, maybe I'm reading the new rates for first class wrong (or have had the wrong tables for first class in the past), but it looks like the new rates are cheaper at 5 ounces...? (used to be $1.21, but now it is at $1.18...?) Although I like the idea, it doesn't make much sense to me that they raised 1 oz. costs but thened lower the cost on heavier packages. Maybe I've seen the wrong tables..
**edited because I haven't had enough coffee yet to type coherently
[ edited by KatNap on Jan 4, 2001 03:26 AM ]
posted on January 4, 2001 03:56:43 AM
KatNap -
The fatter envelopes (2+ ounces) have a smaller increase or even a decrease.
Plain PARCEL POST has a different rate structure, and with packages in the 3-10 pound range is a lot cheaper for the closer zones. At 10-20 pounds it gets really cost effective for all zones.
And if the destination is not more than a 3-hour drive, or if it's in the boonies, both Priority and Parcel Post will be sharing a truck.
