posted on August 22, 2004 02:49:52 PM new
I probably loose a few bucks over the course of a year. I see alot of people charging a little over the actual cost of shipping.
Is this acceptable? I realize there is cost/time involved n the shipping process but usually I expect my profits to eat that ....
posted on August 22, 2004 03:18:31 PM new
Personally, I don't feel that I should be expected to do any work for free... and that includes the time involved in packaging eBay merchandise. My s/h charges cover enough so that I typically make about $5-10 an hour while packing. I think that is quite reasonable, and it is certainly acceptable business practice. Don't short-change yourself.
posted on August 22, 2004 03:33:22 PM new
Trying to not profit on shipping is like trying to use a checking account without a cushion for errors, eventually you will get stung. Unless you plan to eat it on shipping every now and then, you have to build in a pad. Charging each buyer 25 cents(for example) extra to cover the occasions when you get burned, or burn yourself, is just good business sense.
The great un-washed masses at eBay eschew sellers that attempt to profit from shipping. Posters here almost unanimously decry such tactics as fee avoidance, or bidder gouging when high s/h is not mentioned in a listing. There are marketing models that do work well with raised s/h costs, but only if it is red-flagged again and again in the listing to avoid vituperative feedback. It's a real sticky wicket.
posted on August 22, 2004 03:53:57 PM new
Yes, average about 15% of the shipping/handling fee. Because of the structure I use in combining orders I profit less on larger orders and more on smaller. Occasionally I lose on shipping as I use a flat fee structure rather than actual cost and if certain heavy items are bought I lose a little. I've never broken it down to an hourly pay rate.
Our usually turn around is same day shipping M-S if paid by 3PM out that day. Occasionally we get backed up and it goes to the next day.
Most mail order business's do not charge actual shipping. LL Bean, Borders etc. My shipping amounts and terms are clearly stated (and rarely read) in each auction description, and every email I send.
posted on August 22, 2004 03:54:15 PM new
I used to charge the exact amount for shipping. But in the last year I've begun adding the cost of the bubble envelope I often use, or about 25 - 50 cents for other shipping supplies, plus maybe another quarter to cover the times I get burned on shipping.
I don't exactly "profit"--more like breaking even.
I *still* think people who make all their profit on shipping alone are usually gouging the customer. There is truly a fine line here.
___________________________________
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posted on August 22, 2004 03:57:37 PM new
Parklane hit the nail on the head. A little cushion to compensate for the times you get burned is not out of line. However, that cushion should never exceed the amount of a seller's mortgage payment and liquor bill combined.
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
posted on August 22, 2004 04:29:30 PM new
Well, you have enlighted me. I charge exactly what the postage and insurance is plus bubble wrap and styrofoam peanuts. If I don't go dumpster diving for a box I have to buy one. In the long run I don't make a penny on shipping. I guess I should be paid for driving out to pick up packaging supplies (gas and my time), packing (which takes me away from listing), standing in line at the P.O. (which takes me away from listing), and storage of large reels of bubble wrap and huge bags of peanuts. It all adds up. However, the postage is out of sight and I have buyers who are flabberghasted when they buy china or pottery from me and it is twice what they paid for the item. I ship everything USPS.
“Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we! They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we.” ~ GWBush White House 8/5/4
posted on August 22, 2004 05:12:05 PM new
In the end, it doesn't really make any difference either way. If the shipping is higher, the item ends lower. If the shipping is low you get a higher bid.
The biggest problem with the complainers is because they see the item cheaper and want to get it at the lower rate and pay the lower shipping too.
posted on August 22, 2004 05:22:22 PM new
I charge $2.50 on Media Mail we make all our own boxes,we have repeat customers...nobody complains. The only time I charge exact is on Priority.
posted on August 22, 2004 07:25:39 PM new
Usta in the begining not, people, companies kept telling,ADD. Around two years it started ta sink in cause I was selling like CRAZY,and I read these boards of the HORRIBLE things going on, padding for shipping!!!!!!!!! what a crime! etc. Plus I saw auctions that were for the same things I found and the shipping rates were even back then,,,,,,,,,Unreal,,I too looked at them as crooks! Something that I knew was $8.00 actual,and seeing like $14.99 S/H.........
Anyway,,,,,,real time,,,,,,,,,paper, ($57.00 a roll) tape,,$40.00 a case........boxes,,,they cost real money if you HAVE to buy them and iffin' you is a diver, ,,,,,,,,,,gas to go around the blocks to get them. time,,,,,,,,,,,computer paper,,,,ink,,,,,,,to make labels,,,,,,AND I pay a lady (accounting fees)$3.00 per shipment on UPS ones.
NOT to EVEN mention,,,,,,,,,,E bay fees, pay pal fees, IPS fees, the phone Company and the electric Company. Tey call it in the real world,Overhead.........I did Not even include this roof.............as I had it long before e bay. OR the heat, OR the air conditioning,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Or the food,,,,,all came before e bay. NOT even TWO buck Chuck is mentioned here.
You have always heard the phrase the Company passes either the SAVINGS on to it's customers or PRICE INCREASES,,,,,,,,,Thank YOU Gasoline Companies, and are any of you activily complaining to anyone where it matters? Nope...........just keep on pumpin'.
I did and the price fell($2.20? ta $1.89? ),,,,,hahahaha, but now I see that I ain't been around in' it crept right back up...........screw the diesels went back to drivin' the gassers, See I don't care about the price of diesel this week cause gas is cheaper, when it goes the OTHER way,,,,,,AGAIN............
posted on August 22, 2004 10:01:23 PM new
I sell rubber stamps & charge 50 cents extra over the cost of my bubble mailers. I'm happy with that, it more than covers my listing fee & eBay commission. Most of my sales are under 5.00, the rubber stamps cost me .25, .45 & .90 each, according to their size.
I start my auctions at 1.99 & 2.99, again, according to the size of the stamp so I do really well with them & they are very good sellers. I am not selling right now, but plan to start back around October.
Packaging is a snap, I just address the bubble envelope, stamp it, slip in the rubber stamp & drop in the mail.
Where I loose some is when someone buys several stamps & I have to combine to save postage.
Have never had a complaint about my postage charge.
posted on August 22, 2004 10:11:49 PM new
<<However, the postage is out of sight and I have buyers who are flabberghasted when they buy china or pottery from me and it is twice what they paid for the item. I ship everything USPS.>>
Never ship pottery or glass via U.S.P.S. unless it's a small single item that will weigh under a pound. There are many alternatives that will save your customers some big bucks, and they will appreciate it.
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
posted on August 23, 2004 02:08:41 AM new
Profit - no. But I do charge a handling fee which covers my shipping supplies. I use Vendio post sales and add the handling before it is calculated so sometimes it's more than the actual cost and sometimes less.
On larger items I don't trend to charge enough but I have a much higher profit margin on the item itself.
I would love to have a way to pass back some of the paypal fees??
posted on August 23, 2004 06:54:15 AM new
Same as ladyjewels. Profit no but I charge for supplies. This includes 1st class only. Priority is as actual as I can get because sometimes the price of the postage is as high or higher than the item.
posted on August 23, 2004 09:10:19 AM new
Jack, why use the gas rigs if you have diesel? Here's whatcha do. Make friends with a couple of transmission shops to remove their old tranny oil, then show up with some 55 gallon drums and take it away for them. Let the drum sit for a week or two to let particulates settle, then filter the liquid through a coffee filter or such. Mix 50-50 with your diesel and, voila, your fuel bill is cut in half. The sophistication of your operation depends on your needs versus the space you have available.
posted on August 23, 2004 10:05:14 AM newparklane64 posted on August 23, 2004 09:10:19 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jack, why use the gas rigs if you have diesel? Here's whatcha do. Make friends with a couple of transmission shops to remove their old tranny oil, then show up with some 55 gallon drums and take it away for them. Let the drum sit for a week or two to let particulates settle, then filter the liquid through a coffee filter or such. Mix 50-50 with your diesel and, voila, your fuel bill is cut in half. The sophistication of your operation depends on your needs versus the space you have available.
If you have older trucks, it will work but if you get stopped by the DOT and have your fuel checked, you will get a very huge fine. Off road diesel fuel and heating oil is dyed red and doesn't have any road tax on it. They won't be able to tell the difference.
[ edited by whatnot3 on Aug 23, 2004 12:15 PM ]
posted on August 23, 2004 11:21:20 AM new
Hello
Near all of you have discussed what you charge in P/H but little on How you charge it. If your P/H is clearly listed in your ad weather it is $2.50 or $3.00 will not matter much. As an example I sell philatelic stuff mostly and so use a Zip code on other coast for postage amount and list it as flat rate in the ad. Granted this don't always work for bulky heavy items but I flat rate where ever I can.
There is quite a number of sellers on Ebay who do NOT and some of those will really burn you if you don't ask first etc (Which I usually don't, I just move on)
It is not so much how much you charge for P/H, it is how clear you display that information.
Have a nice week all....
posted on August 23, 2004 11:40:45 AM new
Gouging on shipping fees is dishonest, disgusting, and patheic.
If you haven't got a product that you can make a profit HONESTLY on then get another product.
If you can't, then make your ridiculous "handling" fees ($5.00-$20.00) UP FRONT in big bold letters in your auctions.
And charge HONEST shipping fees.
posted on August 23, 2004 12:09:43 PM new
We charge a reasonable flat rate fee - sometimes we profit a buck or two, sometimes (very rarely) we eat a bit of the shipping. Postage is not shown on the package so the buyers have never complained.
posted on August 23, 2004 12:13:33 PM new
If e bay had ANY concerns about this THEY would have the S/H charges displayed somewhere on the TOP of the listings, but as we all know, where is it? buried at the very Bottom. As if e bay knows few read. E bay knows what their doing.
posted on August 23, 2004 12:16:26 PM new
If I sell a item that takes priority shipping I always list the weight of the object + 1 pound of shipping material then I leave my zip code. I never make money on priority shipping.
On my 1st class I just list a base price that that includes my bubble envelope, shipping label from PayPal that charges extra for that and the widget. If I make 50 cents extra I am lucky. If I overcharge by a lot I always include in my package a refund on shipping.
When I buy I always check the S/H before I buy and if I think that is excessive I back out immediately.
posted on August 23, 2004 12:32:07 PM new
I agree with you Mingotree. It's a hoot listening to all the justifications people use to rip people off for shipping.
posted on August 23, 2004 01:22:59 PM new
kraftdinner: You should have an open field, then. Truly. If you believe that sellers are ripping off buyers on shipping, just do like that NO-RIP SHIP guy does: put it in your title.
posted on August 23, 2004 01:51:53 PM new
Sometimes I do. The range is anywhere from $1.50 to $5.
The other night I received an email from a guy who told me what it would cost to ship the item. I wrote him back and told him my shipping cost was firm and he didn't have to bid on the item.
in' it crept right back up...........screw the diesels went back to drivin' the gassers, See I don't care about the price of diesel this week cause gas is cheaper, when it goes the OTHER way,,,,,,AGAIN...........