LETS BRAINSTORM on how to circumvent the upcoming FVF's on shipping
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
03-16-2011 10:20 PM
List on .ca: You'll pay FVF's on the LOWER of:
Your least expensive DOMESTIC shipping option (if shipping domestically or internationally) or the actual shipping paid by your INTERNATIONAL buyer (if shipping internationally)
List on .com: You'll pay FVF's on the LOWER of:
Your least expensive shipping option to the US (if shipping to the Us or internationally) or the actual shipping paid by your DOMESTIC CANADIAN buyer (if shipping to Canada)
IF YOU WANT TO VENT ABOUT THIS, PLEASE START ANOTHER THREAD.
(I share your frustrations but would like to keep this thread focused on how to adjust for those of us who choose to continue selling on this venue).
I am starting this thread because I would like to discuss what can be done and hear what other's have decided to do.
We are not all in the same boat here mainly for three simple reasons:
1) We have different average item price points
2) We have different average shipping costs
3) We may not list on the same site
There are many different avenues that can be taken and I'd like to hear your ideas and points of view so please add your input in here!
LETS BRAINSTORM on how to circumvent the upcoming FVF's on shipping
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
03-16-2011 10:39 PM
LETS BRAINSTORM on how to circumvent the upcoming FVF's on shipping
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
03-16-2011 10:54 PM
Some facts about my situation:
1) I sell low ticket items (about $2-$20 items with an approximate average of $8 per item)
2) The vast majority of my items are under 500 grams and can be shipped lettermail/light packet (usually the only time parcel mail comes into play is when someone buys multiple items). My average shipping cost probably runs around $4.
At first, I thought I'd increase my prices to include the extra 11% in shipping. Let's understand here that the 1% less I am paying for FVF hardly gives me a break. Applying that to my average $8 item, I am saving 8 cents but am paying an additional 44 cents on my average shipping cost.
I would increase my item price in a heartbeat but one single factor is stopping me:
NO FVF REFUND ON SHIPPING REFUNDS
Yes you heard right. As per Griff Griffith of eBay's town hall, eBay is unable to refund the FVF's paid on a shipping overpayment which we refunded to the buyer.
This may or may not be your problem, but it is indeed mine since I do OFTEN wind up refunding shipping fees to buyers who opt for the quick checkout. I suspect to encounter this more often with the SHOPPING CART option that's in the works. I wonder though, if a FULL REFUND and a new invoice COMBINING SHIPPING will resolve this. It sure would be nice to know the nitty gritty details and make an informed choice!
But until I know this these things, this is my new plan:
Include my shipping costs in my item price and keep a specific price point. I'll lose on some individual items to get a certain price point and gain on others.
The problem with this is that my buyers are at a huge disadvantage because they will no longer benefit from combined shipping.
I looked into the combined shipping options on .com and they are just too impracticable for us Canadians. They do however, give you the option to DECREASE shipping by a set amount when multiples are purchased. I DO NOT know if this can be applied to free shipping but I am HOPING it can because I can then offer a "shipping" discount per item off of what would actually be inflated shipping due to my shipping costs PER ITEM simply being added up in a multiple purchase.
If it works, in the case of a multiple item buyer, I can guarantee that my buyer will pay enough (or more) shipping to cover my costs and will be able to offer them an extra discount off of their "free" shipping to give them an incentive to buy more. I'll also be guaranteed a perfect score for shipping fees which is where I have the most trouble (even though I consistently fall into the highest group for reasonable S&H fees).
Anyhow, this is shaping up to be my plan. Would love to hear some other ideas and if you see any holes please feel free to point them out!
LETS BRAINSTORM on how to circumvent the upcoming FVF's on shipping
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
03-16-2011 10:56 PM
LETS BRAINSTORM on how to circumvent the upcoming FVF's on shipping
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
03-16-2011 11:00 PM
Not sure how this will work, but they said it will help with combined shipping.
LETS BRAINSTORM on how to circumvent the upcoming FVF's on shipping
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
03-16-2011 11:21 PM
LETS BRAINSTORM on how to circumvent the upcoming FVF's on shipping
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
03-17-2011 08:34 AM
The only way I can see 'circumventing' the 13% FVF fees in my category (Music, Records) are one of two ways,
#1. Increase each FP listing by about 15% and keep the calculated shipping fees.
#2 List these items on .COM and charge the MAX $4.00 USD Domestic shipping (actual cheapest shipping cost is $7.91 CAD) and ADD the difference to ALL those items, meaning Canadian and International Buyers are subsidizing U.S. buyers.
While on higher price items this method is better than option#1...for lower priced items adding $4.00 USD to the FP cost could increase the price by FAR more than the 15% of option#1.
The fact that eBay isn't going to refund shipping overpayment FVFs is another troubling aspect to take into account while 'brainstorming' I too have many trigger happy buyers who buy multiples and pay for each item separately before receiving an invoice.
LETS BRAINSTORM on how to circumvent the upcoming FVF's on shipping
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
03-17-2011 09:03 AM
List on .ca: You'll pay FVF's on the LOWER of:
Your least expensive DOMESTIC shipping option (if shipping domestically or internationally) or the actual shipping paid by your INTERNATIONAL buyer (if shipping internationally)
List on .com: You'll pay FVF's on the LOWER of:
Your least expensive shipping option to the US (if shipping to the Us or internationally) or the actual shipping paid by your DOMESTIC CANADIAN buyer (if shipping to Canada)
Are you sure about that? This is pasted from the FQA on the changes:
Are Final Value Fees charged on Express and International services?
Final Values Fees will be calculated on the shipping service paid by the buyer unless the buyer pays for an Express or International shipping option. If an Express service or International option is selected, the first domestic shipping service offered other than Express will be used to calculate Final Value Fees. If there are no other domestic shipping services offered, fees will be calculated on the Express service.
How can I reduce my Final Value Fees on sales to US and International Buyers?
If you can offer free shipping or lower shipping costs for your Canadian buyers than for your US or overseas buyers, consider listing your item on eBay.ca instead of eBay.com. If an US or overseas buyer purchases your item and your Canadian domestic shipping costs are lower than the international shipping cost, you'll be charged the Final Value Fee on your lowest Canadian domestic shipping service. Lower domestic shipping costs will reduce your Final Value Fees and you won't be at a disadvantage if you sell to US or overseas buyers.
I read that to mean that if you list on .com you will be charged FVF on the stated lowest US shipping offered, regardless of buyer location.
Ann
LETS BRAINSTORM on how to circumvent the upcoming FVF's on shipping
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
03-17-2011 04:09 PM
LETS BRAINSTORM on how to circumvent the upcoming FVF's on shipping
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
03-17-2011 04:21 PM
Actually they did. They consulted with many of their largerst sellers who offer items at prices which include shipping (that is about 30% of all fixed price listings).
These sellers were complaining about two things:
1- FVF were too high and they wanted a reduction - they got it as FVF are being lowered across the board
2- they complained about other sellers offering lower prices with high shipping cost, making them look bad in Search results. eBay will solve their problem by charging FVF on shipping costs, therefore increasing very substantially the cost of doing business on eBay if you charge for shipping.
Those large sellers are very happy today. They were consulted and, as a result, have lower fees and less competition.
An no, eBay did NOT consult me. 😞

LETS BRAINSTORM on how to circumvent the upcoming FVF's on shipping
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
03-17-2011 05:56 PM
Hypothetical:
A seller starts an auction on .ca for $9.99 and charges $5 for S/H to U.S. and International but gives free shipping to Canada. Seller pays FVF on only the selling price only because the lowest domestic shipping cost is free S/H. The item is shipped to the U.S. and the actual cost of shipping + pkg is only $2.75. The seller is TRS and gets a 20% discount on the FVF which was paid on purchase price only and benefits also from the reduction in FVF.
How does this negatively impact this seller who overcharges for shipping internationally but not domestically? Or am I missing something.
LETS BRAINSTORM on how to circumvent the upcoming FVF's on shipping
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
03-18-2011 07:48 AM

LETS BRAINSTORM on how to circumvent the upcoming FVF's on shipping
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
03-18-2011 12:25 PM
Only if the buyer location is not less expensive for shipping. If I'm listing on .com and shipping lettermail from Canada to Canada and it's less than light packet Canada to US, I will be charged the FVF on the Canadian one as it's less expensive. This is how I'm understanding it.
LETS BRAINSTORM on how to circumvent the upcoming FVF's on shipping
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
03-18-2011 06:17 PM
Regarding the new FVF on shipping, I need to know if my buyer makes several payments and I refund all the payments and re-invoice with a shipping discount, which shipping amount will I get billed FVF's on: the first payment or the second?
6:07:16 PM Customercraftycatsattic
Hi Joseph...my name is Catherine
6:09:20 PM SystemSystem
Connected with Jospeh F.L.
6:09:30 PM AgentJospeh F.L.
HI Catherine, good question. It's always the first payment. It will always be based on the price after the item was sold.
6:09:35 PM AgentJospeh F.L.
Anyway, do you have other concerns which I can help you with?
I could not ask anything more as their system cut me off but this does not make any sense.
LETS BRAINSTORM on how to circumvent the upcoming FVF's on shipping
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
03-18-2011 08:29 PM
We don't have a process for crediting back Final Value Fees on refunded shipping overages. I know that the pricing team is examinging this right now. This concern has been raised by a significant number of sellers, so it's definitely on the radar screen.
I hope that we will develop a way to issue refunds of FVF for partial shipping refunds as well. At this point, none exists but the developers are looking into it. I don't have any further information beyond that.
Mirium also said this..
Final Value Fees will be charged on shipping when buyer completes checkout. If for any reason, the original checkout is canceled, we will credit the Final Value Fee on the canceled checkout, calculate the fee based on the new checkout data and charge the new FVF.
I said the following and asked if I understood correctly.
Looks like we'll have to do a full refund quite often in order to get our FVF back, yet PayPal is now taking $0.30 each time we do that.
Her reply.
I think your understanding is correct. I don't know how often you have to refund buyers after they've checked out, then reinvoice - so I can't speak to how much of an impact this might have on your individual business. Hopefully it's more of an exception than a rule.
According to the above we will get the FVF refunded if we refund the full payment, we will not on partial refunds. Who knows she could be wrong.lol I think it's more likely the chat guy is wrong as they so often are. Maybe just wishful thinking on my part.
Keep in mind that you lose $0.30 per full payment that you refund, it might not make it worthwile.
All my items weight different amounts and have varied combined shipping amounts, even accross the same categories depending on how many are in the lot. I've no clue yet how I will handle this going forward.
LETS BRAINSTORM on how to circumvent the upcoming FVF's on shipping
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
03-18-2011 11:29 PM
Many American and overseas buyers may hit the back button when they see free shipping domestically and full shipping to their destination.
But would the US buyer see a Free Shipping icon if he found the Canadian listing on dotcom? I really don't think so although I have been told differently.
I looked at my own listing 380173716131
From dotCA the Free Shipping icon shows.
From dotcom the Free Shipping icon shows.
BUT
If I am in dotCA and change the shipping destination to USA90210 then switch to dotcom. (are you following me here) the FS icon disappears.
That is, if eBaydotcom believes I am a US seller, I can't see the domestic FS icon.
Let me rest a moment here. My brain hurts.
Anyway, my point is. US sellers search on dotcom. They have US zipcodes . There is no reason for a US buyer to look for another shipping price.
And frankly, if he is that anal, do you really want to deal with him?
LETS BRAINSTORM on how to circumvent the upcoming FVF's on shipping
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
03-19-2011 12:44 AM
eBay profits once again.
LETS BRAINSTORM on how to circumvent the upcoming FVF's on shipping
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
03-19-2011 12:45 AM
The goal here for me is really simple: how do I cover all the extra fees and walk off with an acceptable profit margin without turning the buyers away due to a highly inflated item price? It just doesn't sit right with me to build all my shipping into the item price which I know is what eBay is pushing for here. When doing that it takes away any discount for the buyers and that can really add up for them. I have built my reputation on fairness and am feeling the push here from eBay to deviate from that.
I am starting to wonder if it would just be easier to list on the .ca site (in order to get calculated shipping) but am really worried about the impact of that since I sell overwhelmingly to Americans.
I am also wondering if 3rd party checkout would resolve the combined shipping issue..but don't even know how that works or if it will even still be allowed. I wonder too if the buyers can pick and choose what to pay for now in their cart or later.
Another idea is to deflate my shipping cost under what the actual postage label says and build it into the price of each item. The goal with this is to have the upper edge should a customer not wait for a combined invoice. I could still refund and cover my extra fees all the while making it look like my s & h is reasonable. At the same time, the extra increase in my items won't look as bad as if I put the entire shipping cost into them.
Anyway, we have some more time to think about this. I have a trade show in June and will likely be closing my store down for about a 2 month period during the summer so will likely only start revising at that point. Thankfully I have a full time job outside of eBay now and can get by without the extra eBay income.
LETS BRAINSTORM on how to circumvent the upcoming FVF's on shipping
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
03-19-2011 02:02 AM
I feel the same way that you do regarding the combined shipping dilemma. Raising the price would be fine if we had all new buyers all of the time who purchased one item. However many are return customers or those who have watched us for awhile and they would be turned off by having the price suddenly jump by $2 or $3 even is shipping is "free". And they could not help but notice how much more it was costing them for multiple purchases than it did in the past.
I tried the free shipping when eBay first began pushing it but had to keep my price the same to remain competitive. It did NOT increase my sales...I just made a whole lot less money. When I put the shipping charge back on last year I went to Silver for about 3 months...and that was a first.
LETS BRAINSTORM on how to circumvent the upcoming FVF's on shipping
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
03-19-2011 03:37 AM
I do have a question.. Why is it only sellers that seem concerned about these changes. I am a buyer too and of course items are going to go up in price to cover the fees so I am concerned about having to spend more for my supplies.
