From today's Toronto Star:
When Walmart Canada introduced free shipping on all online purchases last year, it was a clear message to its rivals that it was gearing up for a fight.
Craig Patterson, an analyst who runs the online news magazine Retail Insider, said the move by one of the world’s largest retailers was bold, setting a new standard in going the extra mile for consumer dollars.
“This means war. It’s a declaration of war, no question,” he said from Vancouver.
For the last few years, a battle has been waging among retailers trying to set themselves apart, as entrants such as U.S. giants Target and Nordstrom arrive to compete for the same customers.
“What this comes down to is building trust with the customer,” said Patterson. “Walmart knows that if they offer free shipping, they are coming out punching. When someone like Walmart does it, there is going to be scramble from other retailers to see how they can compete either by adding extra value, better customer service.”
While a behemoth retailer like Walmart may be able to absorb the costs of shipping, it would be a challenging task for smaller retailers to offer the same without raising prices, he said.
I read that article earlier. It is, obviously, not free shipping. It is the ability to absorb shipping into the cost of doing business.
Soon, very soon, it will be that the price a customer sees, is the price they pay. eBay saw this coming five YEARS ago. They warned everyone. I would wager that 90% never heard the message.
I heard it. I heard it five years ago.
Soon, very soon, it will be that the price a customer sees, is the price they pay. eBay saw this coming five YEARS ago. They warned everyone. I would wager that 90% never heard the message.
I heard it. I heard it five years ago.
"I heard it. I heard it five years ago."
So have I and my listings have offered "free shipping" ever since! 
I have to agree with treasure hunter. I am around $15.00 for Canada and 18 plus to send to the states. Most of my items are over $100. I am not shipping without tracking.
One of the bigger problems is that there are to many sellers selling the same thing and more are coming. This will certainly cause competition in the market place. The only solution is lower prices. Then to add free shipping! Thats a tough one.
I started selling my items and was one of the first that was doing what Im doing. I know the best thing to sell on Ebay is something unique. Unfortunately I'm not alone anymore. My area is not a huge market. To have additional sellers to compete with makes selling on Ebay questionable. I cant do free shipping. I just hope that more sellers start showing up. It been a tough summer.
Man, I remember back in 2007-2008, I made so much money. Honestly sales were coming in so fast that many mornings I was hoping that I didnt have any sales to deal . I had days where I couldnt get of f the computer. Just as I thought I was done, Bang another sale. Ever sinse the crash in 2008, it just has never recovered. Pitty!
Just waiting for the good times to roll
"It is out of balance when even mailing magazines is almost unworkable."
As the title of this thread suggests, "free shipping" is a challenge for Canadian sellers. Canada Post may not always be the best answer.
And the same challenge applies to sellers or publishers of magazines.
Sometimes successful business must think outside the box.
Mary subscribes to several magazines. One of them is Chatelaine. A few months ago she noticed that the magazine now comes in a plastic envelope with no address on it. How does the mail carrier know where to deliver it?
Mystery!
Last month... same thing. Plastic envelope. Unaddressed.
The mystery continues!
Yesterday morning, as she was working on the flower bed along the driveway, here comes Anthony, our friendly 11 year old local newspaper carrier, delivering the local newspaper (The Intelligencer) and her new edition of Chatelaine!
Mystery solved!
Chatelaine, in an effort to lower distribution costs, has contracted with local newspapers to use their distribution networks to deliver the magazines to their paid subscribers.
That, my friends, is thinking outside the box!
PS - I am not suggesting you contract delivery of your parcels with local newspapers but simply pointing out that, sometimes, there are solutions out there to solve costly problems.
What do we do when offering free shipping , just isnt enough? I guess eventually Ebay will change as far as who sells on Ebay today. Look where we are today.
lowering prices
free shipping
You know these actions are only a plug in the dam. If events continue as they are, we sellers will be faced with choices. Do we stay or do we go.
Still waiting for the good times to roll. Are we there yet?
Well, Jersey, as Pierre says, and I echo. Some things are just not meant to be sold on eBay or online.
I sell car parts, have for 12 years. I have never knowingly sold a part for a Ford Tempo or Mercury Topaz. No market. Other parts I figure I could sell all I could my hands on? Nothing.
I know two groups of people. One group swear by buying on eBay. The other has never heard of eBay.
I sell car parts, have for 12 years. I have never knowingly sold a part for a Ford Tempo or Mercury Topaz. No market. Other parts I figure I could sell all I could my hands on? Nothing.
I know two groups of people. One group swear by buying on eBay. The other has never heard of eBay.
