Sort of a Rant: astronomical shipping costs killing my ebay options

[Zoidberg]

Shipping has gotten amazingly expensive. I have a handful of old collectibles that are not heavy but need a bigger box and I'm seeing shipping rates at their cheapest being $40 to $300 depending on ZIP code.

I'm constantly getting messages from potential bidders accusing me of trying to scam people by overcharging for shipping; I have on every auction that shipping costs are determined by item dimensions and weight (everything I sell is ready to ship upon payment). I always offer a few options for shipping (USPS and UPS usually being the go-to).

There's no sunrise on the horizon for this, though maybe rates might drop again after the holiday season by a little bit. Just stinks that I picked the worst possible time to start selling these larger items.

[Tiangou]

Zoidberg wrote:
There's no sunrise on the horizon for this, though maybe rates might drop again after the holiday season by a little bit...

There is a "sunrise on the horizon," unless the USPS makes the rates permanent, which they tend to do.

https://about.usps.com/newsroom/local-re...-dates.htm

For the 2022 holiday season, the Postal Service has implemented temporary price adjustments. The changes are in place through Jan. 22, 2023, 12:01 a.m. Central time, for both retail and business customers.

The changes include some of the Postal Service’s more popular shipping products, which also includes military shipping: Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, First-Class Package Service, Parcel Select Ground and USPS Retail Ground. International products are unaffected.

These temporary rates will keep the Postal Service competitive and are similar to adjustments in past years to help cover extra handling costs to ensure a successful holiday season. More information can be found at usps.com...

[Acer]

The stuff I sell is mostly under 16 oz or fits in a flat-rate small priority box. That's not too bad. But yeah, wow, get up into a pound or three that won't fit in a flat rate box and it skyrockets.

I had one auction for a camera I knew was going to sell in the $50-$60 range. I had the box and the manuals. I went to ship it, and discovered I had grossly underestimated the shipping cost when i listed it, like it was going to cost me ~$25 to ship, and the buyer had not paid nearly that much. I canceled the sale. I relisted with a bare camera and got almost the same bid. Shipped it for <$8, buyer paid. Can't cancel as a seller often because ebay will ding you, but in this case I had to do it.

[D-Rod]

Have you guys tried Pirate Ship like talked about here on the forum. Big difference on price and it still ships with the company you want to use. You sre just buying the shipping label from them and their great buying power.

[Acer]

ebay shipping offers a discount on USPS for eBay sales. Is it not as good as Pirate Ship?

[Filliam H. Muffman]

Shipping companies are telling you they don't care about your business unless you ship enough to pay for your own driver/sorter.

[Zoidberg]

Dennis R wrote:
Have you guys tried Pirate Ship like talked about here on the forum. Big difference on price and it still ships with the company you want to use. You sre just buying the shipping label from them and their great buying power.

Acer wrote:
ebay shipping offers a discount on USPS for eBay sales. Is it not as good as Pirate Ship?

I use Pirate Ship. And eBay has good discounts as well.

It's what eBay puts on the auction that is the clincher.

Ebay notes a retail shipping rate based on the weight and the dimensions of what you're shipping, your ship-from ZIP code, and then the bidder's ZIP.

You might get a discount as a seller, but it's not shown.

It's a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation. I tried a few times telling bidders that, once they won an auction, to wait to pay and then I would generate an invoice based upon the discounted shipping rate. That didn't fly with them (accusations of scamming) nor eBay.

I tried flat rate shipping but that's a gamble that I might wind up paying (a lot) out of pocket. Again, even with "continuous 48 states only" selected, rates vary wildly; e.g., across town here in central AR, $18, to Seattle WA, $215. It's a clustercuss.

Back in the day, I would note "free shipping" and then just start my bidding at a basic shipping cost + whatever the least I'd accept for the item in a friendly transaction. Can't do anything like that anymore.

[testcase]

"Local Pick Up" won't work for you? :dunno:

[Zoidberg]

testcase wrote:
"Local Pick Up" won't work for you? :dunno:

I live in a small city in Arkansas. No, it won't work for me.

[Acer]

Yes, I don't do free shipping because of the gamble.
I round up the weight to make sure I don't get stuck, but it seldom nets more than a dollar or two, if anything, and just gets lost offsetting packing materials and a trip to the post office.
It's the bidder's responsibility to factor in shipping. eBay charges its fee on the shipping, so the seller is not hiding any profit. Buyers whining about it is a waste of everyone's time.