eBay

around_again_records · ‎03-05-2019

Could someone tell me how the new Shipping Rate Tables could be put to good use. I don't seem to get it

If I ship via Letter Mail the cost is the same everywhere in Canada

If I ship via Expedited Parcel the cost is Calculated for the different rates within Canada.

I'm having trouble seeing how I can use these Shipping Rate Tables to any advantage at all?

Does anyone have a practical example?

ypdc_dennis · ‎03-05-2019

One. If you ship with a carrier that does not have calculated shipping on eBay.

Two. If you want to exclude parts of Canada from buying your product.

Three....

pjcdn2005 · ‎03-05-2019

Three...If you want to use a flat rate to Canada but want to add a surcharge on to the more remote ones(s)

femmefan1946 · ‎03-05-2019

I suspect this is a overflow from the USA where there are many domestic shipping zones, including Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.

Canada has basically three- Regional, National and Isolated (not sure what that's called) and Calculated deals easily with all three.

tyler@ebay · ‎03-05-2019

Hi @around_again_records - Shipping rate tables are a good way for some sellers to manage their shipping and surcharges quickly. More practical uses for them here!

Tyler,

around_again_records · ‎03-05-2019

OK, it is starting to make sense. This is for people who offered the so called Free Shipping.

So by using Rate Tables, I don't have to increase the cost of an item by the most expensive shipping location. I can increase it by the least expensive location, and the buyers in more remote locations don't get quite as Free Shipping as someone closer.

I guess I get it now (sort of) . One thing that keeps me from offering Domestic Free Shipping is that US and International would buyers have to pay the increased cost of the item, but also have to pay shipping (because I cannot afford to offer free International shipping). I could see an advantage of being able to have Shipping Rates applied to other countries so that I could deduct the increased item cost for the (ahem) Free Domestic Shipping and not in effect overcharge International buyers.

OR - I could just do what I do now, and ask what I want for the item and state the shipping cost separate. It's so much easier that way. Sorry, methinks it's too much of a tangled web to do otherwise. 😞

Good to know there are options though, maybe I will see the light and find a use for Shipping Rates at some point in the future

tyler@ebay · ‎03-05-2019

@around_again_records - I think that 'free' shipping is a great psychological tool, but that it really depends on your category and demographic.

For instance, I'm far more likely to aim for free shipping when it comes to things like household staples, occasional purchases, etc. In fact, I'm willing to wait to have them shipped if it means they ship for free, even if it's with the extra-special-super-slow-delivery

However, collectibles are a different matter - because it's an emotional purchase for me I do not care about shipping (if I want the item I want the item), and am more likely to pay top tier if I can tell from the seller's photos that the item is the one I want, in the condition I want it in.

I think most folks on the board have items that fall into the 'emotional purchase' area of things, and so have much less of a demand for 'free' shipping.

Ultimately though, if you can work it into your pricing structure I think it's a good way to get some extra exposure. May be worth trying out on an item or two!

Tyler,

tryubik-useonlyasdirected · ‎03-06-2019

tyler@ebay

Is there a way to use rate tables and charge a surcharge for every $100 the item sold for? Insurance is $2.20/ $100 up to $600 then $1.35 / $100?

Or Rate Zone / Size / Cost per $100?

I'm always paranoid our shipping is high but its about middle compared to our competitors. We've tried Free Shipping before and it received

zero sales boost.

desertvalleyauctions · ‎03-06-2019

I have been using the Shipping Rate Table since the BETA came available in the early fall of 2018.

Personally for my business and what I ship I find it very useful. In fact, I don't know why it took eBay so long to get something like this put together.

I am located in BC, and most of my items are sold in eastern Canada. The price for parcel shipping varies greatly the further away from BC it goes.

So if I sell something to someone in Alberta, why should they pay the same amount of shipping as to someone in Ontario. The price difference is $13 to Alberta and $17 to Ontario.

This is what makes the table so wonderful as I can set the price based on where the customer lives.

I have my table set up to allow for buyers to chose letter mail or expedited, if they choose expedited then it's set for the province they live in. If the buyer is buying something that is over 2cm it has to be sent via parcel mail so the table is set for the cost to ship via the province they live in.

I find shipping within Canada to be one of the biggest hurdles in the way of small e-commerce businesses. eBay knows this and at least they are working with the seller to try to make things a bit easier.

femmefan1946 · ‎03-06-2019

@desertvalleyauctions

Useful information.

I still can't see why Rate Tables are any better than Calculated Shipping for parcels, since it works from the buyer's postal code automatically.

But if a seller is using Flat Rate for LetterMail shipping but needs Calculated for Expedited- perfect!

Thank you for that explanation.

femmefan1946 · ‎03-06-2019

@tryubik-useonlyasdirected

I believe that insurance is not allowed to be an addon, since it benefits the seller not the buyer.

Have you looked into other insurance companies? I think you are only looking at postal insurance.

We use Hugh Wood International (Toronto office - talk to Gina, she's a treasure.) who specialize in collectibles.

They not only insure your stock and your collection, but do fire,water, liability, and cover not only shows but also travel to and from shows.

They only have annual contracts, which may be a drawback.

lotzofuniquegoodies · ‎03-06-2019

The Shipping Rate Tables will work fine if you are shipping the same items all day long in identical packaging. Remember to take into consideration final charges could be substantially different if dimensional weight factors into the calculation. I had a package recently actual weight was 160 grams. Dimensional weight was 650 grams. This made for a substantial difference in the final billable rate.

-Lotz

tyler@ebay · ‎03-06-2019

@tryubik-useonlyasdirected wrote:

tyler@ebay

Is there a way to use rate tables and charge a surcharge for every $100 the item sold for? Insurance is $2.20/ $100 up to $600 then $1.35 / $100?

Or Rate Zone / Size / Cost per $100?

I'm always paranoid our shipping is high but its about middle compared to our competitors. We've tried Free Shipping before and it received

zero sales boost.

Hi @tryubik-useonlyasdirected - I've been looking into this throughout today and as far as I can tell you are limited to either item, weight, or surcharge.

However, I know that the team in charge of rate tables is excited about helping out and hearing from members. They've set up an email address, CanadaRateTables@eBay.ca to get feedback and suggestions. I think that a feature like this may not be on their roadmap - but I'm pretty certain they'd like to hear about it from you.

Tyler,

tryubik-useonlyasdirected · ‎03-07-2019

@femmefan1946 Insurance benefits all parties. If an item is not insured there is more chance for difficult transactions. Difficult transactions are not a benefit to the buyer, a seller, or eBay. For every difficult transaction there are people to staff.

People have mentioned Hugh Wood Int on these platforms a lot lately, and it is something that is on our seemingly neverending list of "Things to Look Into after Things that Require Immediate Attention after OMG the News Cycle".

tyler@ebay 's recent post with @ricarmic is also at the top of the "Read ASAP after Dog Requires Walking* list. (And Tyler, thanks for the addy I'll be sure to send them a note 🙂 Rate Tables have always been curious but I'm worried they would take a lot of work to get right, though it may be worth it.

** 9 Days no Sales. 1 a day is typically tough times with 7-9 being peak. Our listings are using the same formula with new & standard stock rotation practices. No point looking to Hugh Wood if we're not in business. Has eBay drastically changed the algorithm?

around_again_records · ‎03-07-2019

@femmefan1946 wrote:
@desertvalleyauctions
Useful information.
I still can't see why Rate Tables are any better than Calculated Shipping for parcels, since it works from the buyer's postal code automatically.
But if a seller is using Flat Rate for LetterMail shipping but needs Calculated for Expedited- perfect!
Thank you for that explanation.

Hmmmm, I still don't get it - Is this based on the assumption that the seller is stating Free Shipping? Otherwise like you say Expedited is looked after nicely with the calculator and Letter mail is the same everywhere in Canada. Why make it more difficult? Am I right in thinking that this tool is only useful if you are pretending that shipping is Free?

tyler@ebay · ‎03-07-2019

Hi @around_again_records - members looking to use 'free' shipping to most places, with surcharges for more remote areas is one of the best examples for this tool.

Alternatively, a seller charging flat rate shipping can now more easily control the pricing to different regions instead of being locked into a particular price (since you can now adjust that cost based on region).

The addition of an international rate table option can also be helpful if you're looking to charge an additional amount per item or weight for different countries. Depending on your items or shipping strategy it may not be particularly useful for you, but having options is always nice. 🙂

Tyler,

femmefan1946 · ‎03-07-2019

@tryubik-useonlyasdirected

Insurance benefits all parties. If an item is not insured there is more chance for difficult transactions.

I disagree.

The best protection against non-delivery claims is tracking. Which is a lot more expensive than insurance, at least for Canadian sellers.

Having proof of delivery is the only defence against those claims.

Insurance does protect the seller against damage in transit. But then you have to persuade the postal service that the problem was their running over it with a truck, and not your own poor packaging.

And poor packing aside, it does nothing for the inevitable day you send a customer the sweater intended for another who gets the first customer's bag of birdseed.

Which is why I am a big proponent of Cookie Jar Insurance, putting aside a tiny amount of each payment to cover the few but inevitable problems.

Why pay someone else for something you can do more cheapl y and with more coverage yourself?

pjcdn2005 · ‎03-07-2019

If buyers are given a choice of lettermail or expedited, do you actually have buyers that choose to pay a substantial amount more for expedited? I can't see a reason for using both in a listing.

tryubik-useonlyasdirected · ‎03-07-2019

@femmefan1946

I can agree with your reasoning that tracked package is more important than simply insured.

I'd add to that signature confirmation, because an item tracks to the buyers house doesn't mean that it has been received.

With the USPS I find the parcels with the "Tracked, Insured & Signature Confirmation" stickers are handled and treated the best with the fewest issues.

I'd bet eBay has a harder time with sellers who don't insure than those that do. And that's a buyer issue. And as a buyer I find the sellers that insure (usps, third party, or cookie jar) typically do a better job all the way around.

Returns Claims don't happen often (thank goodness) but our items can get pricey so a small amount from everything can be used up fast.