eBay

lotzofuniquegoodies · ‎07-06-2023

I believe you had a post recently regarding a tool eBay was working on to give sellers the option of either showing counter rates or the new level 4 discounted rate? Curious to know how far down the long and winding road this is to being released? Currently sellers are having to do everything under the sun to make buyers aware that there is a possibility of lower shipping (if they are willing to offer) or they can refund after the fact. In many cases these high shipping rates the calculator shows scares buyers away. I've had several buyers as of late tell me that lower shipping would cause them to complete a purchase. This option should have been available with the release of the level 4 discount AND the release of Fedex as an option (6-8 months ago and vs an afterthought)

-Lotz

devon@ebay

Can you shed any light on when this option will be available for Canadian sellers?

msau4301 · ‎07-06-2023

Hi lotz, not sure if this is possible and might be a dumb idea anyways but I wonder if it allows for us to put a negative amount under "handling costs" for shipping and that could maybe deduct some of the amount showing for calculated rates while the Level 4 promo is on. ?!?

For example if we know the shipping is roughly $4 less could we put under handling -$4.00 and it would show to potential buyers as lower amount?? Probably won't recogize the negative sign but wondered what you guys think or if anyone has ever tried entering a negative. Just thinking of options you could do while waiting for the possible new tool.

lotzofuniquegoodies · ‎07-06-2023

@msau4301 wrote:
Hi lotz, not sure if this is possible and might be a dumb idea anyways but I wonder if it allows for us to put a negative amount under "handling costs" for shipping and that could maybe deduct some of the amount showing for calculated rates while the Level 4 promo is on. ?!?
For example if we know the shipping is roughly $4 less could we put under handling -$4.00 and it would show to potential buyers as lower amount?? Probably won't recogize the negative sign but wondered what you guys think or if anyone has ever tried entering a negative. Just thinking of options you could do while waiting for the possible new tool.

@msau4301

I know I have had issues in the past with getting refunds to work so not sure if it would for a discount. The main issue being the discounts vary between services which causes the tax/fuel surcharge to vary. Difficult to be accurate. According to the email I saw several weeks back there was a screenshot included with a toggle to choose if you wanted Counter or Level 4. For sellers on 2 or 3 in a perfect world those too would be available. If you have sent anything using eBay labels recently with USA or Intl tracked the discount is substantial.

-Lotz

PS. Did it say somewhere that level 4 would be temporary? As far as I know it is a master group account owned by eBay.

reallynicestamps · ‎07-06-2023

I believe it was advertised as temporary.

I got a discount on Tracked USA at the PO counter the other day, a temporary promotion by Canada Post.

I was, as usual, using stamps as postage, but the label was actually a good deal. A friend who also sells stamps on eBay has reported a rancourous phone call with Canada Post about getting both the (implicit ) discount* of using postage stamps AND the promotional discount.

Since she is the nicest person, I think any fault in the discussion would be on the CPO officer's side.

* For those unaware, we stamp dealers usually have boxes of perfectly valid, mint postage which were purchased well below face from estates. I currently have US, UK, and Canadian lots up on eBay.

mrdutch1001 · ‎07-06-2023

I chose an easy route; simply changed the shipping cost on all my listings to reflect the eBay discount>> as I list items, I make the changes; no big deal.

msau4301 · ‎07-06-2023

As reallynicestamps has said I also thought the discount was temporary. I assumed it would be like the huge discount they had when eBay labels was first initiated (few years back) and it did last for quite some time (year or more if memory serves) but I know rates went back up to normal since that's when I switched back to Shippo. Right now I'm bouncing back and forth between the two (so far Shippo is still allowing me to use PayPal, knock on wood, not sure if it's because I have always been actively using them so they don't know when to cut me off for the change over!?)

flipistics · ‎07-06-2023

@msau4301 wrote:
Hi lotz, not sure if this is possible and might be a dumb idea anyways but I wonder if it allows for us to put a negative amount under "handling costs" for shipping and that could maybe deduct some of the amount showing for calculated rates while the Level 4 promo is on. ?!?
For example if we know the shipping is roughly $4 less could we put under handling -$4.00 and it would show to potential buyers as lower amount?? Probably won't recogize the negative sign but wondered what you guys think or if anyone has ever tried entering a negative. Just thinking of options you could do while waiting for the possible new tool.

I just use a 20% or 25% discount in my shipping policies for Canada Post and try to adjust either through item price or a handling fee for items (like those going expedited lite) which are affected incorrectly by it. We really need eBay to fix both this and the tax issue though. Both of them should really be high priority issues.

The upside is that people love seeing lower shipping costs, so even with expedited lite and a higher item cost, it feels like they're getting a good deal.

msau4301 · ‎07-06-2023

Thank you! I don't see option for discount in my shipping policies with calculated rates, only the handling charge box and service level of course (I think I do it a different way that most, I do the old fashion way where I have a few policies (that have been set up for years) and when I do up my listings I usually use the defaulted (most used) one and change for the odd exception. I've seen people post here with screen shots showing a shipping screen I've never used but most people are bigger with way more items. I don't use any tools or bulk methods since I usually only list 10ish items at a time (weekly, though not always) and it's fairly easy to do manually from my sell similar with low volume - same way I have since 2014 - I tend to be a creature of habit.

The Expedited Lite items I've had are all okay (displays the correct low rate), it's my other ones that show counter rates, I'm okay with it myself, I manually tweek here and there and sometimes even keep the extra money for myself (imagine that) but depending on the value of the item (ie the cheaper stuff too big to go Expedited Lite) would be nice to have lower shipping costs showing and as lotz has mentioned it may be in the works.

lotzofuniquegoodies · ‎07-06-2023

@msau4301 wrote:
Thank you! I don't see option for discount in my shipping policies with calculated rates, only the handling charge box and service level of course (I think I do it a different way that most, I do the old fashion way where I have a few policies (that have been set up for years) and when I do up my listings I usually use the defaulted (most used) one and change for the odd exception. I've seen people post here with screen shots showing a shipping screen I've never used but most people are bigger with way more items. I don't use any tools or bulk methods since I usually only list 10ish items at a time (weekly, though not always) and it's fairly easy to do manually from my sell similar with low volume - same way I have since 2014 - I tend to be a creature of habit.
The Expedited Lite items I've had are all okay (displays the correct low rate), it's my other ones that show counter rates, I'm okay with it myself, I manually tweek here and there and sometimes even keep the extra money for myself (imagine that) but depending on the value of the item (ie the cheaper stuff too big to go Expedited Lite) would be nice to have lower shipping costs showing and as lotz has mentioned it may be in the works.

I am in the same situation. Shipping policies don't really work for me. I add an assortment of services when I can using calculated shipping. I use flat rate for anything I can send by letter mail only. Biggest concern happens when there is an increase you have to manually go through and update listings accordingly.

Because Expedited Lite is a special rate and not discounted (as far as I know) you are able to add to listings as you create as long as you enter the measurements after you choose services. Item has to be under the 200 grams to qualify. The system is still blocking adding services(expedited USA is the common 1) if you enter weights in first. (Unsure of the possible rates when you are in the process of creating a listing. There seems to be a major variation for rates when applied to anywhere in Canada.)

-Lotz

msau4301 · ‎07-06-2023

"I am in the same situation. Shipping policies don't really work for me."

Somehow always comforting to know your not alone at least (the old misery loves company thing)!

For me I set up a special policy I call Expedited Lite for my under 150 gram items and for Canada it's easy (automatically calculates) but for US I plug a flat rate in (less than the counter rate calculated does) since shipping to US is the same no matter which state it's going (always blows my mind).

I do put the size in carefully each time, in my case it's for Barbie clothes and it let's me put in 35 x 26 x 3 (those large bubble mailers) and 150 grams (even though item is under 100 so it's easy to remember). The only snag I ran into was when someone bought two items they (eBay) automatically doubled the weight but it was an easy fix to change it back to the original 150 and it let me print the label (package with both items was still under 150 grams).

dinomitesales · ‎07-06-2023

I don't do a ton of calculated shipping, but I do on some things. I just added a manual 20-25% discount to the CPC rates - it comes close enough to the Lvl 4 discount in my limited testing thus far.

Go to your Account Settings (I get there by hovering over the "Hi Matthew!" in the upper left-hand corner on desktop). Under Selling click on Shipping Preferences. Then under "Offer carrier-specific discounts for buyers" you can set a % off for Domestic and International. I set Domestic to 20% and International to 25%.

devon@ebay · ‎07-07-2023

@lotzofuniquegoodies wrote:

@reallynicestamps

I believe you had a post recently regarding a tool eBay was working on to give sellers the option of either showing counter rates or the new level 4 discounted rate? Curious to know how far down the long and winding road this is to being released? Currently sellers are having to do everything under the sun to make buyers aware that there is a possibility of lower shipping (if they are willing to offer) or they can refund after the fact. In many cases these high shipping rates the calculator shows scares buyers away. I've had several buyers as of late tell me that lower shipping would cause them to complete a purchase. This option should have been available with the release of the level 4 discount AND the release of Fedex as an option (6-8 months ago and vs an afterthought)

-Lotz

devon@ebay

Can you shed any light on when this option will be available for Canadian sellers?

Hi @lotzofuniquegoodies! Let me get this in front of the Shipping team to see what insight I can get to share with everyone here.

lotzofuniquegoodies · ‎07-07-2023

The eBay Postage Calculator (intl shipping) for sellers appears to be even more broken than it was before. It now asks for you to choose shipping options but no options to choose from.

https://www.ebay.ca/shp/Calculator

Service options below Parcel or padded Envelop are not applicable to Canada Post. Those are USPS options.

Still no field to choose a US zip code. Something built in to the CP calculator. Express service requirement because rates will vary by distance.

-Lotz

mrdutch1001 · ‎07-07-2023

I don't know how long eBay has had this calculated shipping feature as in all the years I have been an eBay seller, have never used calculated shipping.

In fact, I have never used calculated shipping on any of the other selling sites I have listed on over the past 20 years. I have refined my flat rate shipping that works superbly and has so for many, many, many years...

so have never experienced the glitches, problems & issues that other sellers encounter when using calculated shipping...but I am sure it must be very frustrating.

lotzofuniquegoodies · ‎07-07-2023

@mrdutch1001 wrote:
I don't know how long eBay has had this calculated shipping feature as in all the years I have been an eBay seller, have never used calculated shipping.
In fact, I have never used calculated shipping on any of the other selling sites I have listed on over the past 20 years. I have refined my flat rate shipping that works superbly and has so for many, many, many years...
so have never experienced the glitches, problems & issues that other sellers encounter when using calculated shipping...but I am sure it must be very frustrating.

I have been using calculated for in excess of 15 years. Due to my mix of items flat rate does not work for most items I sell. Throw in tax on total, ever changing fuel surcharges and in excess of 1500 listings there is too many things to make an estimate go off the rails. One of the biggest glitches for many years happens if a seller sells in multiples. The calculator automatically assumes each additional item requires its own box. (It shouldn't.) The system stopped handling any handling charges for multiple unit sales correctly about 10 years ago. Used to work reasonably decent. All that would be required is a box for the additional weight per item similar to what sellers use if you buy in multiples with flat rate shipping. Cubing will always be a problem difficult to address.

It would be nice to be able to do a listing wide search to make sure you have no discrepancies for your listings but from my years of testing there is nothing built in to do so.

If there is NO toggle to choose between for example counter rates and level 4 this would be a problem for anyone that does not use eBay Labels, maybe is a stamps on box person or uses CP/Net Parcel with their own discount.

Lastly if sellers are unable to show accurately shipping on any listing it can and is causing buyers to run for the hills. You can refund after the fact but messing when the buyer can't tell before hitting buy that maybe shipping could possibly be lower. We all know how most buyers do not read listings for tidbits like that!!!

-Lotz

pjcdn2005 · ‎07-07-2023

Service options below Parcel or padded Envelop are not applicable to Canada Post. Those are USPS options.

They aren't USPS options, they are generic options. If you are using your own envelope or box you would chose that option. It is sort of pointless to have any of those options anyway since you still have to add in the measurements and weight even for the specific Canada Post packages.

lotzofuniquegoodies · ‎07-07-2023

@pjcdn2005

It appears the sellers calculator was thrown together in 15 minutes and dropped on us with almost no testing. They should be basing their options on valid options.

What I was referring to from USPS below. Not real world applicable to CP. What they should have included are an assortment the myriad of prepaid services that actually exist that are priced officially by CP.

-Lotz

lotzofuniquegoodies · ‎10-09-2023

@dinomitesales wrote:
I don't do a ton of calculated shipping, but I do on some things. I just added a manual 20-25% discount to the CPC rates - it comes close enough to the Lvl 4 discount in my limited testing thus far.

Go to your Account Settings (I get there by hovering over the "Hi Matthew!" in the upper left-hand corner on desktop). Under Selling click on Shipping Preferences. Then under "Offer carrier-specific discounts for buyers" you can set a % off for Domestic and International. I set Domestic to 20% and International to 25%.

@dinomitesales

Any guesses how the following is meant to be translated.

Save on US shipping.

For a limited time, save up to 61% on Canada Post Tracked Packet™– USA

With CP does the discount change(fluctuate) depending on distance? In testing 1 to the USA the discounted rate was 52 % for tracked. 7 % Air. (Special eBay Calculator). Expedited is not triggered with the special eBay calculator. With the calculator at CP for counter rates are affected by distance for Expedited/Xpresspost. Does the discount vary depending on country goods are being shipped to. (Or does the level 4 discount vary per customer?)

According to the CP website level 1,2,3,4 are as supposed to be as follows:

-Lotz

dinomitesales · ‎10-13-2023

Sorry for the late reply, I think they intentionally leave that vague by including the "up to".

I'm sure the percentage discount varies depending on a wide variety of factors - the most significant is probably the weight class the item falls into. That's what we're seeing with the new discounted Tracked Packet rates. But there also could be some fluctuation depending on where in the U.S. it's going, or to what country it's going to (if international).

lotzofuniquegoodies · ‎10-13-2023

@dinomitesales wrote:
Sorry for the late reply, I think they intentionally leave that vague by including the "up to".
I'm sure the percentage discount varies depending on a wide variety of factors - the most significant is probably the weight class the item falls into. That's what we're seeing with the new discounted Tracked Packet rates. But there also could be some fluctuation depending on where in the U.S. it's going, or to what country it's going to (if international).

@dinomitesales

Thanks. That is what I suspected. There was no real explanation I could find anywhere on either CP Level page or eBay's announcement on the subject. Makes assigning an across the board discount unreliable.

-Lotz