posted on August 2, 2005 10:16:40 AM new
It all depends upon what you are selling and what the weight is? Please be a little more specific.
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Alive in 2005
posted on August 2, 2005 10:24:24 AM new
I use a flat rate because SM Pro doesn't REALLY support calculated shipping if the handling charges for each item have to be separately entered (e.g., the handling on 20 pieces of china is very different to the handling on a NIB camera).
I'm looking forward to being able to have calculated shipping, as it will cut down on emails, complaints, partial refunds when I've ripped somebody off, etc.
posted on August 2, 2005 11:17:12 AM new
I use Flat Rate on almost every thing I ship. I use Zone 8 for both FedEx & USPS. I just weigh the item add for packing material & box & Voila!, I have my shipping charge. I do add for insurance in some cases, but usually there is enough cushion to cover DSI, which so much cheaper than USPS & you can use it World Wide.
I have never had a complaint on shipping charges.
Life Is Too Short To Drink Bad Wine
[ edited by sanmar on Aug 2, 2005 11:19 AM ]
posted on August 3, 2005 11:09:56 AM new
I use Vendio's calculator as I live in Florida and what cost $5.00 to NC cost $8.00 to Calif and I want to be as fair as possible to all my customers.
cashinyourcloset - the way I handle combined shipping with Vendio is to list it in my auction that I will combine after the auction to save them $$ - but I don't have anything done automatically. In the WBN I ask that if they purchased more than one item - please contact me directly. I usually catch it before they have time to pay anyway. i combine and figure a new shipping using their zip - resend the WBN with all the correct information. It's a real time saver this way. Of course, you can do the same with ebay check out. If they ignore my notice and pay twice - I do refund but keep a little extra to cover the additional paypal fee.
I know I don't do the volume that you do but you may want to try it and see if it works for you.
posted on August 3, 2005 11:43:34 AM new
I am in Ohio. when I get a new product in, I check the weight and see what it would cost to ship to Alaska or Hawaii. I then take whichever of these shipping amounts is higher, add $1 for the cost of the box, and this becomes my flat rate. Since I rarely actually ship to AK or HI, the leftover money becomes a safety net or handling charge if you prefer.
I actually find my shipping to be far less than my non-eBay competition.
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Quidquid Latine dictum sit altum sonatur.
posted on August 3, 2005 11:43:38 AM new
lady, you don't mind if I call you lady, do you?
I handle combined shipping the same way that you do. My problem is with regular single auction shipping amounts. I'm on the East coast, like you, and having a flat shipping rate is either unfair to someone nearby, or to me if I'm shipping to Washington State.
BUT, since SMPro doesn't handle handling charges on a per auction basis, I can't use calculated shipping. If I sold items that had roughly equal handling components, I could do it with an average figure. However, since my handling charges can run from $1 to $30 or more, I have to wait until SMPro does their next release (mid September from what I have heard).
posted on August 3, 2005 12:50:06 PM new
I see what you mean. I have a built in $1.20 per calculated item and if it's a very large & heavy item - I just don't use the any shipping on that item. I have a very good FB rating and I don't mind quoting on a few items so it seems to work ok for me.
If I have a very fragile item or something that may require special handling - I up the weight to hopefully cover it.
Glad to hear SMPro is going to add some new features - I love my SMPro but there are a few things that could use an upgrade.
posted on August 3, 2005 02:56:59 PM new
Important - I noticed when I started using flat rates recently that when I went to send an invoice or a buyer paid, the Paypal default for insurance said it was included in Shipping and Handling, which is wasn't - it was optional and additional. Anybody else notice this? Is it perhaps a setting in Paypal I'm missing? Needless to say, I stopped flat rates right away and ended up paying about $25 in insurance out of pocket for those auctions.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Caroline
Caroline