posted on May 15, 2002 11:25:31 AM
I'm curious if anybody has been using the iShip "Sell It" product?
We use USPS Priority Mail exclusively right now (yes I like the free boxes) and I'm trying to come up with a way to do this effectively once the USPS rate increase takes effect in June. While researching this here on this forum and on AW I came across this service.
I almost always include the shipping charge in each of our auctions and want to be able to continue to use Priority Mail. BUT, I don't want to have to use the highest rate based on the new zoning requiremenst for all packages over one pound.
http://iship.com/sellit/seller.asp
I couldn't seem to get the link's that are generated on the iShip Sell It website to work although I didn't actually post any in live auctions.
Has anybody used this?
Does it work?
What kind of feedback do you get from buyers about it?
Are you aware of any other solution out there that accomplishes the same objective of posting a live shipping rate calculator into an auction?
Wouldn't it be great if AW could incorporate this type of service directly into the setup/configuration for each auction listing allowing us to save default shipping information and pulling the ship from zip code and weight/dimensions from fieild in the inventory database that can be input at the time of creating a new inventory item? The relationship with iShip already exists!
(Finally, can somebody tell me how to post a live hyperlink into a message on this board?)
It's a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it.
W. Somerset Maugham (1874-1965)
posted on May 15, 2002 02:05:49 PM
I don't know much about iShip, but I will tell you what I was considering...
Since the postal zones will be set by the postoffice, and I don't intend on moving, I will be listing shippings in my auctions based on destination zones. This way I still have my set shipping charges, and the customer doesn't need to email me before bidding.
I am also considering offering a link in the auction to the postal zones section of the USPS web site so that each customer can figure out what zone they are in.
The only way this plan will work, that I can see, is if there are a relatively small number of zones.
posted on May 16, 2002 07:32:39 AM
Keep in mind, the zones are from your zip code to the buyers. You'll need to link to a zone chart customized with the zones as they are from your zip code.
I am thinking of just adding the customized zone chart for my zip code to my about me page and offering that link for the buyer to determine their zone.
Add a table of rates for zones 1 - 8 to the description. I think that will do the trick.
It wouldn't take long to do a few rate templates. 1 - 10 pounds should do it for me since I can't recall ever shipping anything more than 10 pounds USPS Priorty.
posted on May 16, 2002 09:10:03 AM
When the new rates take effect next month, why don't you just put in your auction that shipping will determined by the buyers zip code? I do this on items that are over 5 lbs. at the present time. I almost always add $2.00 to the postage charge to cover my expenses for packing & going to the PO. Its a 10 mile round trip for me & I feel I don't need to pay a dollar or more for my gas without being reimbursed for it.
[ edited by sanmar on May 16, 2002 09:11 AM ]
posted on May 16, 2002 07:15:56 PM
Thanks for the input.
So far it doesn't look like there is a better solution out there from the feedback I'm reading here.
Lets hope that iShip can evolve this product to deliver the true functionality that it appears many of us need. And that maybe AW will incorporate this feature directly into the AW site so that we don't have to go to yet another website to input this information and cut an paste a link everytime we list a new item for auction.
A couple of thoughts:
A.) Just putting a rate table into an auction may help a little but I find (like others here) that it is best to include the actual shipping charges in the auction. A rate table with zones is still going to leave most buyers confused.
B.) They don't know what zone they are in.
C.) Even if you you provide a link to the USPS website where the potential buyer/bidder can input their information they will have to type in your zip code as the ship from address and then you have to hope (and maybe pray) that they can copy the weight (and dimensions if odd or oversized) into the calculator to get an accurate rate.
D.) The big challenge is that the rate for many shippers varies widely based on distance and is going to be a real pain for those using Priority Mail after the rate increase takes effect next month.
E.) In lieu of being able to include the actual shipping charges I think that the iShip service is on the right path with the Sell It feature that lets each indivual calculate the actual shipping charge to their destination but it just needs some more work.
FYI for those who want to add a shipping and handling fee (we don't as we add this into our start price for each auction) the iShip Sell It function allows you to incorporate whatever charge you want and it will add it to the total shipping chare that is returned to the buyer/bidder for you.
I also wish (like others) that you could select the types of shipping services from each shipper company that you offer instead of the site returning all available options (essentially) from each shipping company.
As for nothing being FREE and iShip being a part of eBay (I hadn't heard this before) I for one would be willing to pay a monthly fee for this service if it offered a little more functionality. Maybe $5/month for the first 100 hits and $10/month for unlimited hits. I know that adding any additional fees for some is a rather controversial subject but we're running a business here and I feel that this type of service would definitely help clarify the shipping charge issues and email questions that inevitably are generated as a result of not having this included in each auction.
The REAL BENEFIT IMHO would be that we would get more bidders for our auctions if we could eliminate the question in the Buyer's mind of what the shipping (and handling) charges will be. And if they happen to be in a location that is closer to us they will benefit from not having to pay a rate for somebody that is much further away. I know I've gotten many Questions from many a buyer near the end of an auction asking for this information when it wasn't included. Then I just wasn't around to reply to their email before the auction ended and these potential buyers never did bid on the item.
DannyG
It's a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it.
W. Somerset Maugham (1874-1965)
