Is there a better way to handle free shipping on multiples?

[cidsa_dragoon]

So I recently switched a bunch of my items to free shipping after incorporating the cost into the item itself. However, I have had a few orders where people want to order multiple items which bumps the shipping cost up because I can no longer send them lettermail (ie 2 dvds instead of one.) 

Is there any better way to handle this situation instead of asking the buyer for shipping costs or having to send each item one by one?

[ricarmic]

Hmm thats a good question!

Can't you set the 2 DVDs beside each other in a larger envelope? You can use even larger than 10x13" envelopes for lettermail.... 2 DVDs would fit into one of them no problems...that's what I do is I put them beside each other, with stiffener behind each (I'm selling packs of stamps). Leave it so the posties (despite what you write on the envelope) don't break them when they bend the envelope sideways....

[travis7s]

I ship 2 DVD together all the time in the same envelope. The kraft #4 bubble mailers are a great size for this and are typically stiff enough to just drop them in and go.

You can actually get away sending 4 dvds at a time in lettermail if you arrange them in a 2x2 grid in a poly mailer. I don't really recommend this but I have done it a couple times.

[reallynicestamps]

You  understand that Free Shipping means you have already included the cost of shipping one DVD in the price of the DVD, So that's a good start.

So if you price your DVD with Lettermail shipping of $4.44 (up ot 400 grams), and want to make $10 on the sale,  your asking price is $14.44 /Free Shipping.

For two DVDS you now have $8.88 in your asking price.  For three you have $13.32. The cheapest  National package rate is $15.28.

We get small discounts on parcel rates when we buy labels through eBay/Paypal/Shippo/SnapShip.

It can be cheaper to mail Small Packet USA than LetterMail USA.

You can :

• accept a smaller markup on multiple sales - instead of $20 for two DVDs you keep only $13.30. Is that acceptable?
• keep in mind that shipping parcel rate to the USA (without tracking) is cheaper than shipping within Canada. Do those sales offset the losses on multiple Canadian sales?
• packaging them side by each leads to a thinner package. Still letter rate.
• build in a discount for Best Offers and for multiple sales. So $13.30 take home is acceptable on multiple sales and you are willing to accept Best Offers of 10% or 15% off with Free Shipping. Basically your asking price is not set in concrete.
• I have another possibility, but we are not supposed to advertise our wares here.
• At the end of the month do your postage costs equal the shipping fees you collected? Are they higher? Are they lower? It's a Best Practice to reckon these monthly rather than on each sale. Same with procurement costs- Buy 50 items for $50 , make $50 on the first five sales and the other 45 were effectively free.

And some things are not made for mail order. If a used DVD sells for $5, but ships for $7.50, customers are turned off.  You could switch those numbers and sell the DVD for $12.50 + Free Shipping or for $7.50 + $5 shipping. Or you could bundle five for $75+ Free Shipping.based on how many you can put in the package for the lowest shipping cost each.

If your decision is the send each separately, mark them One of Two /Two of Two, etc. to ease the customer's mind. You could even Message him to let him know that is what is happening.

[ilikehockeyjerseys]

Send out each item individually, and tell the buyer to expect multiple packages.

Whether in your messages to the buyer, or in your listing - you can frame that in order to provide the best value (free shipping) larger lots or multiple purchases may ship in more than one package.

Also, you can send 2 DVDs letter mail side by side. I'd have to double check, but I think a size 2 bubble mailer fits 2 standard DVDs perfectly side by side so that they do not overlap and exceed the 2CM.

Ultimately, I can ship four single disc DVDs for $6.38 ($3.19 x 2) - along with the additional 20 or so cents for the extra mailer. Or, I can pay parcel rates, which in a best case scenario will be in the 10-11 dollar range, or worst case 16 dollar range.

Theoretically, you're budgeting 1.94 or 3.19 per item for "free" shipping. So depending on weight, multiple items combined or shipped over multiple packages should not negatively effect your margin for each item.

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

@cidsa_dragoon 

Remember when calculating your postage and supply costs to factor in provincial taxes.

-Lotz

[ilikehockeyjerseys]

Sorry, I was thinking of the pre-tax numbers out of habit because I am registered to collect HST.

Theory is all the same, items sent over multiple packages shouldn't have a negative impact on margins.

Just insert whatever HST/PST/GST is relevant. Each seller's numbers will be slightly different depending on which province they are in, and whether they will collect a rebate on the HST spent on postage.

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

@ilikehockeyjerseys 

Not to worry. In the scheme of things for all the places tax is factored in throughout eBay, it starts to add up if you don't build into your final cost of sale. My abacus overheated long ago doing just the basic math.  🙂

-Lotz

[widgetc]

"Is there any better way to handle this situation instead of asking the buyer for shipping costs or having to send each item one by one?"

Why would you ask a buyer that purchased multiples say 5 of them  (even if you had to ship one by one) to pay more than 5 buyers who each purchased one?

Package in twos up to the point where it gets cheaper to ship a big lot via expedited parcel.