HOME

What's New

Contact Me

Advertise

eBay Shipping

Learn the Right Way to Ship Your eBay Items

ebay shipping.

When you list your eBay item, there will be a place where you get to determine how you would like to ship your item.

Before you get started with eBay shipping, you will need to decide what methods of shipping you will offer.

First, decide if you will be offering USPS which is the Post Office, or UPS shipping, or both. FedEx is also an option.

USPS

Most eBay sellers who carry product will decide to use USPS.

This is usually (though not always) the least expensive, and most convenient eBay shipping option for the regular eBay seller.

There are several good reasons why most seller choose to ship via USPS.

Advantages:

--Most Sellers are Familiar with USPS
--USPS Offers FREE Priority Mail Boxes
--Several Mailing Classes to Choose From (First Class, Priority Mail, Parcel Post, Media Mail)
--Will Easily Ship International
--Offers Delivery Confirmation and Insurance Services
--Able to Print Postage Online
--Carrier Will Pick Up at Your Home

Because USPS offers a variety of mailing classes and options, it is a very attractive service. The following classes are offered:

Media Mail
For books, DVDS, and CDs, this is a very inexpensive shipping option. Rates are less than half those of Priority Mail. These materials take the longest to arrive, typically 10-14 days. Domestic Only.

First Class
This is a great, inexpensive mailing rate for packages less than 13 ounces. Generally takes 3-6 days.

Priority Mail
USPS offers 2-3 day Priority Mail. The reason most sellers offer this service, sometimes exclusively, is because USPS gives you totally FREE Priority Mail Boxes. The rules state that you must use them ONLY for Priority Mail packages.

I have seen some less scrupulous sellers turn boxes inside out and use them for other classes, which is wrong, and is how people abuse the system until it is not longer available.

If you are going to be selling on eBay, you will want to create a free USPS account and order Priority Mail boxes as soon as possible.

Flat Rate Boxes
USPS offers two different versions of its Flat Rate Priority Mail boxes. These boxes will ship for a flat rate, currently $8.95, no matter how heavy the box is. (Up to 70 lbs). This is great for smaller, heavy items that would cost a fortune to ship otherwise.

When ordering your free Priority Mail Boxes, make sure to get some of each of the sizes of these.

Parcel Post
Parcel Post mail is generally slightly cheaper than Priority Mail, and takes a few days longer. Because these boxes are not free to sellers, most sellers do not offer Parcel Post. Personally, if the package is over 3 pounds and will not fit into a Priority Mail Flat Rate box, I do offer Parcel Post as an option. I offer it as the second option, not the first, and most customers still use Priority Mail.

UPS

Why do sellers use UPS?

There are two main reasons sellers use UPS over USPS when eBay shipping.

1. They have some familiarity with it, or they get a discount

2. They dropship

Familiarity
ups shipping

Those eBay sellers who use UPS instead of or in addition to USPS generally have some sort of comfort level with it.

Many sellers have items that all weigh around the same amount, and find UPS to be a lesser expensive alternative.

I know quite a few sellers who get a discount via UPS for working there, or having a family member work there.

Personally, I have only used UPS a few times, when a package is large and UPS rates are less expensive than USPS rates.

I found it to be a hassle, and I don’t feel in my circumstances I have saved too much.

Dropship
Those who choose to become a dropshipper instead of carrying inventory may well be given UPS as their only eBay shipping option.

Many businesses choose UPS over USPS for shipping, and their dropshippers have no other choice.

International Shipping

Now that you have decided which carrier to use for eBay shipping, it’s time to decide if you will ship Internationally or not.

Many sellers, especially those new to selling, are uncomfortable shipping items internationally.

I think this is silly.

Is it more of a hassle?

Yes.

Is it worth it?

Definitely.

I think of it this way: I don’t really want anyone internationally WINNING my auctions, but I want them all to BID on my auctions.

So I offer international shipping on each of my auctions, unless the product would not work overseas, or is too large or heavy to reasonably ship overseas.

When an international buyer wins one of my auctions, I simply charge them applicable shipping, and run the package to the Post Office where I fill out a customs form and ship it just like any other package.

The post office does offer Global Priority Mail boxes and envelopes, again, free, to sellers.

Handling Fees

You will be given the chance to set handling fees for each of your auctions.

Handling Fees are tricky. I have seen some sellers set astronomical handling fees that will cause bidders to run to another auction.

But Handling Fees are important when considering eBay shipping.

You need to take into consideration the following expenses when you set your handling fees:

--eBay Listing and Completion Fees
--PayPal Fees
--Printer, Ink, Misc Postage Fees
--Bubble Wrap
--Packaging Tape
--Mailers

The nice thing is that you can set a different fee for domestic and international transactions.

On my auctions, I set a 55cent handling fee for all domestic auctions, and a $1.25 handling fee for all international transactions.

If someone wins multiple items from me, I only charge the handling fee once.

Combined Shipping

When you have multiple items for sale, one bidder might win two or more auctions.

You will need to determine what kind of eBay shipping discount you will offer.

Unless you are dropshipping, you should ALWAYS offer an eBay shipping discount to your buyers to encourage them to place more bids.

There are three main ways to offer shipping discounts:

Combined Shipping Based on Weight
This is what I offer. I box up all the winning items, figure out what they weigh together, and offer a combined shipping price based on the weight. I do add in my one time 55cent handling fee.

For example: if a bidder wins three items, one weighing 6 oz, one 4 oz, and one 14 oz, I would be able to box them all together and ship them for a 1-2 pound Priority Mail rate, instead of 2 First Class and 1 Priority Mail. It would save the buyer around $5 and wouldn't cost me a thing extra.

Discounts Per Item
Many sellers offer a discount per additional item. For instance, if shipping is $4.99 for the first item, then it may be $2 for each additional item.

This is common on goods such as books and CDs which are relatively the same size.

Flat Rate Shipping
Though less common, there are some sellers who choose to offer a flat shipping rate no matter the quantity of items purchased.

This happens a lot with products that already have the eBay shipping build into the cost of the item, and it also happens with small, lightweight items like coupons.

Why wouldn't you want to build the cost of eBay shipping into the item's price?

When selling on eBay, it is important to remember that you are charged an Insertion Fee for the total amount of the item as well as a Final Value Fee for the closing amount. These fees add up fast, so unless you are doing some sort of promotion, it is suggested that you charge a separate amount for eBay shipping.

Shipping Supplies

When eBay shipping, there are some essential supplies that you will need:

Priority Mail Boxes
If you haven't done it already, go to USPS and order some FREE USPS Priority Mail boxes.

Suggested types:

--Flat Rate Box O- FRB1
--Flat Rate Box O- FRB2
--Flat Rate Envelope
--Priority Mail Shoebox
--Priority Mail Box 4
--Priority Mail Box 7
--Priority Mail Tyvex Envelope

The Tyvek envelopes are great! I get them in quantities of (100). Whenever I have an odd sized box that can be shipped on its own, I simply cut and tape Tyvek envelopes around it. The Tyvek says Priority Mail, and is durable, providing just enough protection for eBay shipping.

There are also boxes designed for Videos and DVDs available.

Other Boxes
I can honestly say that I have never purchased boxes for eBay shipping use.

Since I usually only offer Priority Mail shipping, I use the Priority Mail boxes. I also save all boxes I get from purchases and the like, and if I do mail something Parcel Post I have a supply of miscellaneous boxes to use.

You can also find boxes by asking at places like Wal-Mart and Lowe’s. You can even go behind the stores looking for them.

If you plan to open a “real” business on eBay, and are in need of special boxes for your product, well, then, the best place to go for the boxes is eBay itself:

Find all the eBay Postage Supplies you need to get started selling on eBay right here!

All Sizes Available.

Best prices online!