UGH!

Just got my first 'warning' of the new shipping policy where Ebay is setting the shipping in some categories starting October 1st.

I'm sure it will be for more categories, but I just got the warning message when listing CD's and cassettes. Apparently, they think that these items should be shipping for $3.00.

I got the warning message about my shipping being too high when I was shipping LOTS of multiple CDs and cassettes that will cost me MORE than $3.00 to ship even if they go media mail through USPS - and of course I have to pay for my shipping supplies on top of that.

So now Ebay will onlly allow me to charge $3 for shipping, even if I have to pay more than that to USPS plus the cost of the box, bubblewrap etc.

Isn't that nice that Ebay thinks shipping charges should be less than the actual cost to ship?!?!?!?!

UGH!

I think the problem is that eBay doesn't make any money on shipping charges. That's why they want sellers to offer "free" shipping.

I have a similar problem. I have a video game that comes in a box and weighs 3lb. ( Because it includes 4 controllers). If I do parcel post is going to be over $8, but if I can do Media Mail , it's only around $3. Can we do Media Mail on a box? Tia!
Amy

No. It doesn't qualify for Media Mail and is subject to inspection. That means your buyer will be paying postage due on their package if someone inspects it.

You will just have to add the extra cost into the purchase price.

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How do you receive the warning? By email or something? Or is it the one that pops up when you submit your auction? I have gotten the warning box that bops up when I submit my auction before that my shipping seems high for my item. Well, no, I am shipping it in a Priority box that costs $9.80, that IS the exact shipping, and I resent the fact that that little box pops up and "accuses me of charging too much shipping" I am usually shipping 4-5 items together and this is the easiest way to ship. With other items I DO charge a shipping and handling fee, but it is usually only about $1 over the exact shipping and it is to pay for bubble mailers and that type thing. They are certainly trying to make it harder on small time sellers. Anyway, sorry for rambling. How did you receive the warning?

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It was like those warnings - a gray box - but it told about the change in policy and 'suggested' that I lower the shipping charges. Then after I completeed the listing - it again 'suggested' that I go back and lower the shipping since they were going to force it on me starting October 1st anyways.

It was offensive and accusatory.

I get the warning on clothing, too - and it always rubs me the wrong way. Maybe a pair of size 2 Daisy Dukes can ship cheaply - but the plus size denim knee length overall shorts with cargo pockets weigh over 2 pounds and are going in a flat rate Priority Mail box. I don't need to be accused of gouging when I'm only charging what the Post Office charges me.

I don't need to be accused of gouging when I'm only charging what the Post Office charges me

Exactly! The times when it has popped up for me was when I was sending 4-5 items of childrens clothing and I know that it would cost more than the flat rate box, so I am not sure how they decide when that little box should pop up. Because if we are charging the EXACT shipping, who are they to say we are overcharging? I don't really get it?

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It's good that eBay recognizes the problem of sellers setting a low starting price, but then charging $20 shipping (for things that obviously don't require that much to ship). However, it sounds like they're going about it in completely the wrong way and not using any common sense. I mean, of course a lot of CDs is going to cost more to ship than a single CD.

Shipping is turning off buyers even if seller tries to be fair.

Might be the end of many ebay sales.

Got a message/email from Ebay encouraging me to switch over to offering Free Shipping - the big selling point was that sellers who offer free shipping average a 4.8 rating on Shipping charges.

Shouldn't this tell Ebay that maybe the feedback star system isn't fair or accurate? How can someone deserve anything less than a 5 for shipping cost if it is free?

Exactly, they are being greedy. They want us to offer free shipping, so we might not make an extra .50 or 1.00 on an item when we ship it , but we will have to pay extra fees to both Ebay AND Paypal for whatever the amount of our shipping is is as well as the price of the auction. We get sqrewed and they make more twice.

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It's the same for many online vendors.

Shipping has gone up so much that many customers simply stop buying.

Sometimes burying the true shipping cost helps increase sell through.

Some online sales may no longer make economic sense.

there was a seller charging $69 then reduced it to $39 shipping for $800 digital amazon code and Ebay allowed it. the same seller charged $19.99 and up for $500 digital codes why is he allowed to charge so much?

He isn't but needs to be reported.

The code to catch this may not yet be in place for this category of item.

What really bugs me about shipping is Paypal's automatically taking a percentage of it. Somehow I don't think fixing that issue is a priority on anyone's list.

I'm getting the messages to offer free shipping too. I'm willing to combine shipping - but pay for it myself? No way!

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Paypal is a money transfer service. Their fee is based on the amount transferred and is the same idea as a money order fee.

I always give "free" shipping. I figure out approximately what the highest shipping charge would be then add what the minimum amount I would want to get for the item is and that is my starting price. I've only had one item not sell by using this method and while, yes, paypal and ebay are getting a bite of the shipping costs, I'm not actually losing anything on the shipping. I only sell in the US though - I have no idea how anyone could make this work if they shipped worldwide??