The DSRs are a bonus.

Even though most people are smart enough to understand that the price includes the shipping, we still love the "free"part.

Here's another example. "We pay the tax" sales. Of course the seller is remiting taxes. There is no cheating going on. All that is really happening is that the price has been reduced by a percentage to allow the normal retail price to include tax.

Retailers know they will do better with "Taxes Paid" promotions, which reduce the customer's payment by 15% (or so) than they would by offering 25% or 30% off the regular price,then addingthe tax.

Or "No payments for 18 months". Very effective. And if you are not ready to pay in full at the end of that 18 months, you will be paying 30% or more to the finance company.

Or "BOGO" which is just a variation on the 25% off sale. Buy one for $50 get one free OR Buy two for $50- which is cheaper?

We know we are being suckered, but it's fun to pretend we are cheating the taxman or getting something free. And then with the money we "save" , we will buy a lottery ticket.

Freedom 6/49!

As a buyer I like free shipping because it makes transactions less complicated.

(I do think it cheapens items because the Free Shipping thingy looks so kitchy.)

On the whole....... IMO......It's nice for sellers who limit sales to their own country.

Aside from considerations related to one's place in the search.....

I don't think it necessarily helps sales when compared to moderate shipping costs.

I feel that it's a very bad idea for sellers shipping internationally unless they can offer Free Shipping to everyone across the board....

and that is very hard to do....... not impossible....... but it depends on the item.

Each item is different, not only in terms of actual shipping cost but profit margin.

(Just an observation: Some items are so high priced it's amazing that sellers don't just absorb the cost of shipping.....

but most do not.)

In short, when buyers see that they are expected to pay full pop for shipping while others are getting shipping included in the price of the item they resent it.......... as they should.

msmaggie060 wrote:

its-not-me, I ship internationally and I offer free shipping to my buyers in Canada and US. However, I don't expect my overseas buyers to pay full shipping price too! What I do is charge them a discounted shipping price so that they don't feel like they are being overlooked. I state in my TOS that overseas customers shipping is discounted, since we all know that shipping isn't really free, its included.

That sounds like a perfect solution.

My items are all over the board in relation to shipping costs, and even though I'd like do Free Shipping it's too complex becaue I wouldn't do it without doing it to all destinations.

My compromise is to charge everyone much less for shipping than my cost.

The last thing I want is to lose sales because of shipping costs and I think that sellers might be surprised at how often that happens.

Buyers feel much better about a higher item price than they do about high shipping costs.

pierrelebel wrote:

Since you are competing mostly with US sellers, it makes sense to price your shipping charge competitively with them and adjust your selling price accordingly.

 

Pierre, I've seen you contradict yourself on this point a number of times and from different angles as well.

I've finally decided to ask you about it....... .

Here is seems like you are suggesting that Canadian sellers charge First Class International shipping costs.

That's exactly what I've been posting over and over......

However,  many times when I have posted that Canadian sellers have to compete with US shipping costs if they want to compete with US selelrs...... you've outright disagreed with me on this exact issue.

Now you seem to be stating just that.

In the same vein, you are also unclear because you have often taken issue with my posts when I suggest that sellers charge buyers for the less expensive methods of shipping.

When I've pointed out that the perks that go with upgraded methods of shipping only benefit the seller so the seller should foot the bill you've posted that you disagree with this point as well.

These contadictions are confusing and make it difficult to understand your position, and since it seems that you have written a book I'm sure you that you'd like to be clear about where you stand on these issues.

I think you may be confused between the shipping service a seller should use and the shipping charge a seller should charge the buyer.  Two different things.

Personally, as stated over and over on these boards, I have always felt "free shipping" is the best method in most instances - except for low value transactions (under $25).

For years, well before eBay instituted the DSRs system, I offered "free shipping" on $25+ transactions.

On the other hand, I realize it is not always possible depending on the type of goods one sells.

However, as stated above, if a seller sells "stuff" to the US  marketplace where most competitors charge $4 shipping (for example), then it makes sense to charge $4 shipping when selling to the same marketplace. 

Unless you are competitive, there is no point wasting your time and money listing on eBay.  The $4 shipping charge has nothing to do with actual shipping cost.

pierrelebel wrote:

"confusing and make it difficult to understand..."

 

Many of your posts deal with being a buyer and a seller at the same time. That may be confusing to some.

 

I think it is always best to deal with one side of a transaction at the time. There are conflicts of interest attempting to be on both sides of the fence at the same time.

I agree that buyers and sellers have a lot of difficulty seeing transactions from the other side.

However, that does not mean trying to understand what it's like from the other's perspective isn't something to strive for.

That's why I present both sides.

If that's confusing it shouldn't be.

In relation to your response to my questions about shipping, I'm still confused.

I've always stressed that the shipping a seller uses is not necessarily the same as what a seller charges for, but that's not where you've contradicted yourself.

Just when I think I've understood your position........ you post a contradictory view point.

Had you not indicated that you've written a book I wouldn't have mentioned it.

pierrelebel wrote:

I really prefer to deal and converse with folks knowing who they are, what they sell, what they buy, not hiding behind a posting ID.

 

 

Talking of "contradiction" without references requires proving a negative.  Impossible.

............. and yet here you are:  Conversing with someone with an id of the type you prefer not to converse with..... ......... and you have done so many many times.

Not just with me..... you converse with all of us.

I am not alone.  As you know many posters have posting ids.

You say that you know their selling ids as well?

That seems strange to me and hard to believe.  Really?

You are suggesting that what I say would mean more to you if you could see what I buy and sell?

That makes no sense.

What I said was that I no longer know where you stand on many issues becuase you posted contradictory viewpoints a number of times.

That's OK........ it happens ........ but you say have written a book and that is the only reason I questioned it.

The id I use to question that with should not matter to you.

The facts are the same.

.

cumos55 wrote:

 

If you come here with a posting ID there is no way to verify how a question relates to what you sell... Or Buy

 

It is perhaps because of this  that you get contradictory answers.... Maybe there is no answer

 

and many times  someone will state a problem....  that in reality is  only a part of selling on eBay where  other sellers have made an adjustment... with some measure of unhappiness  that disappears quite quickly.... usually...

I was not saying that I have asked questions to which I have received contradictory replies.

I was saying that replies to questions posted here by others are  often contradictory.

When someone says things should be done a certain way one time, and then does an about face on that exact same issue  in another thread.......

It starts to seem argumentative.

"The biggest advantage I see is if you ship free and do 1 day shipping you take those 2 dsr scores out of the hands of the buyer because there automatic 5's"

canadians cant meet the criteria for automatic 5 on the shipping time one anyway, which is the one most lose their trs status over

If you arent planning to sell enough to get to power seller/trs to have the discount it isnt worth worrying about.  You've got to be really bad to get the boot altogether,

The eBay system in Canada is based on the eBay USA system.  So eBay shipping policies are created for shipping by USPS for the USA. eBay Canada is expected to try and make the USA model fit on eBay Canada and work. 

So things like shipping with Delivery Confirmation is easy for USA sellers as almost all can get a DC for 19 cents or so. In Canada we cannot.

USPS mail system moves fast (until cutbacks get implemented this year?) so 4 day delivery is (was) possible.

Free shipping is easier in the USA because of lower rates, special flat rate boxes, media mail, etc. but not so easy in Canada.

Fact of life is that ecommerce is a bit easier in the USA by USA sellers to USA buyers.