posted on September 3, 2001 04:55:54 PM
I have always wondered why some (most, actually) sellers don't allow their buyers to choose what shipping method they prefer. It is the buyer, after all, that has to pay for the shipping fees. I'm not talking about UPS vs. USPS and the seller having to go out of their way to accommodate a buyers request. I'm speaking more of Parcel Post vs. Priority or Priority vs. Media Mail. The seller has to go to the same place regardless. Lately I've taken to asking sellers about the possiblilty of First Class shipping before I bid. One lady responded that her HUSBAND (?) does not allow her to ship any way other than Priority (this was for a scarf). Another responded they only had Priority boxes (this was for a book) and another simply said "no, First Class is not available" (this was for a pin).
Give me a break! I always let the buyer choose. Why not? It's their money........
posted on September 3, 2001 05:15:03 PM
Very few online merchants offer a choice of shipping methods.
For me, it's harder to ship something parcel post than it is to ship priority because of packing materials. Priority materials are available free and fit most items I ship.
My S&H would be about the same either way (around $5) to ship priority vs. parcel post. For PM, most would go to postage and for Parcel, most would go to handling because of the additional hassle.
posted on September 3, 2001 05:15:43 PM
What a pain! No choice in my auctions. I put the least expensive shipping method for the weight of the item in my listing. That's how I ship that item... period.
If the buyer wins multiple auctions, the package weighs a lot and there's a big difference between Priority and Parcel Post, then I let them choose. I'll ship UPS in the event of significant savings on heavy packages.
But let the buyer choose for every item? Forget it!
posted on September 3, 2001 06:20:29 PM
Because buyers will then choose the cheapest method and expect the seller to bear all the risk for the buyer's decision. Haven't you read all the posts where buyers chose media mail with no insurance but when the item didnt show up in a few days, buyer did a charge back and left bad feedback. Sellers have the right to protect themselves against this.
posted on September 3, 2001 06:39:43 PM
I ship mostly by media mail for my books and CDs and priority for valuable other items. Buyers can ask for other methods if they choose, most don't. Keep it simple.
posted on September 3, 2001 06:45:15 PM
I am with you Deco2 - I always give the totals with first class and priority, and let the buyer choose. I do sell lighter weight clothing items, but I always feel it should be the buyers choice, if possible. I do understand if it is not possible to do it, as far as size or whatever, but if it possible, I like to offer it.
posted on September 3, 2001 06:59:34 PM
I'll accomadate any shipping method the buyer chooses, but I can see why some sellers don't. For me it takes about 30 minutes to package an item for media mail or parcel post vs 10 minutes for Priority mail. Plus, since many of the boxes I get for free are not designed to withstand a rough shipment, I need extra cushioning, and I'd feel more secure if the the item is packaged in a priority mail box.
posted on September 3, 2001 10:37:05 PM
Since cutting back on larger items, this isn't much of an issue with my sales anymore.
Books: Media (Priority is available if they want to pay).
For non-books, it is a pain because you have to search the different rates.
First class is a drag because I take PayPal which means that I have to have proof of shipment. This means when I offer 1st class, I have to "demand" insurance which is something I don't like doing. (I know, the green form doesn't satisfy the brainiacs at PP, but it usually satisfies the customer that the item has been sent.)
I ship everything w/proof of shipment, whether dc, ins, or tracking (UPS). It's a cover your butt world.
So you see, with all the options out there, the higher number of sales you have, the more of a pain it is to get the different rates for each sale.
posted on September 4, 2001 05:09:43 AM
Besides the reasons already given, here might be another one:
Some auction automation services (not AW though) only give you 1 field to input a shipping charge. Therefore, if you offer a choice, you either have to have a blanket statement in there like "If you prefer Priority Mail please add (then you have to fill in said blank) to the above total for a total of (fill in blank)" which adds a bit more work to the automation feature, or state "If you prefer Priority Mail, please email me for the upgraded charges." Then, of course, you might very well have to have another round of emails going out for each customer that opts for Priority vs. Media Mail or Parcel Post. Or you might work it opposite: billing for the upgraded service and getting buyers who want the cheap shipping. Either way, it makes for a little more work.
I know, because I do offer a choice right now, even though it does slow the process down somewhat.
posted on September 4, 2001 08:40:00 AM
Yep, as Sadie said, it's a cover-your-butt world. I've sent out hundreds of packages over the past few years, both for my Ebay and RL businesses, and what a shock--the only ones to ever get "lost" were the 1st class packages without DC. DC has its limitations but it's an extremely useful tool--it's not available on 1st class, though. I list my shipping costs and method of shipment in the auction on light items, and figure that buyers use that amount when calculating their bids. I know it sometimes means less $$ to me, but it's a comfort level I can live with.
Also, I've found that lots of buyers are really clueless when it comes to shipping. I've had buyers ask me if I could send a 5# package first-class to save on shipping! The latest request--a nice lady from Puerto Rico who was *sure* I could send her 22# package first-class cheaper than parcel post. I've had buyers request parcel post rates on packages where the difference is only 5 cents between parcel and priority.
I do always offer my buyers the chance to ship parcel over priority if there's a significant price differential. Often there is not. When the difference is less than $1, sorry, it's priority all the way.
posted on September 4, 2001 08:42:58 AM
If you are a high-volume, low-margin seller, then you can't afford to have a low-volume shipping process, i.e., spending a lot of time futzing with customers on shipping, etc. to stay profitable and in business, you'll have a "shipping process", with standardized materials, methods, sources, etc. Every request for customization severely cuts into your profit margin on that item, so you accomodate them only at your own peril.
On the other hand, if you are a higher-margin seller, then usually you are more in business to satisfy each and every customer completely, so being more flexible makes more sense.
My experience has been that the vast majority of customers for lower-cost items are satisfied with the "standard" shipping offered by sellers, assuming it is a logical choice and reasonably priced. Many of the customers who aren't satisfied with this may be the kind of customers you want to send to your competitors...
posted on September 4, 2001 09:21:17 AM
I concur with pretty much everything that has been said here...I feel that, in most cases, I know more about the best way to ship my goods than the customer may so I offer that. In some instances I will offer another choice but only when it makes sense to do so.
I choose the ship method that most equitably applies (to mostly the buyer, but also to me!) based upon weight and size of the parcel.
posted on September 4, 2001 10:30:58 AM
I once made the mistake of offering a buyer a choice between Priority Mail and Parcel Post even though the difference was a lousy 25 cents. Guess which option the buyer chose? And guess who received a nasty email from the buyer when the package didn't arrive lickity split?
It all worked out well in the end, but it was way too much hassle over 25 cents. So like psyllie pointed out, you've got to watch those piddling differences and just go with the more expensive one when warranted.
posted on September 4, 2001 10:34:11 AM
Just another thought:
I don't use any online postage service mainly because when I checked them out months ago, they didn't support Media Mail. So sellers who don't offer Media Mail might be using online postage services, that is, if those services still don't support Media Mail.
posted on September 4, 2001 10:39:14 AM
This is an eye-opening thread. I often wonder how other sellers move so many items if they spend the time I do on the back end, and the answer seems to be: they don't. I suppose if I always shipped Priority it would be fast and efficient, no more spending time looking for boxes or money on mailers. I probably woudn't SELL many books, but that would cut down on the work-load too!
