eBay

poptarget · ‎12-04-2022

I'm a new seller and feel like I'm getting ripped off. I sold an item for $18. Shipping within Canada tracked costs $22.70. Buyer paid $24.56 shipping as calculated by ebay. With taxes buyer paid $44.69 total. So ebay calculated fees on this amount and I end up getting $13. So on an $18 listing ebay takes a 28% cut. That blows.

msau4301 · ‎12-04-2022

It's been a tough go lately that's for sure! It's not just you, the fees have been considerably higher (though the rate has remained the same at 12.9% (less 10% when top rated seller) but when you do a per item calculation like you did it is always way, way higher. The fees are based on the entire transaction amount of item price, shipping and taxes, this is where the amount goes way up. I sold seven items yesterday, for fun (well not fun really) I worked out the individual amount like you did and for the one sale I had within Canada the percentage was 26%, for the other six items that went to the US it worked out to 16%. I'm guessing your sale was within Canada. Though I would have thought the opposite to be true I'm assuming the higher fee is based on the US having a lower sales tax (less we pay our fees on), shipping is always cheaper (baffling but has been the case for me anyways) so again less fees and of course we pay tax on the fees themselves. This is sadly just how it is and the only things we can really do as sellers is to find the cheapest shipping we can - if you don't have a small business account with Canada Post get one, I'm just a small seller and I still managed to reach Level 2 in discounts, use the pre-paid boxes if you can within Canada (this saves a few bucks shipping accross country), those are the things I have tried personally. Though it does seem frustrating just keep these extra fees in mind when you are pricing items. I still find this is still the best place to reach the largest number of people (selling locally really limits the numbers!) so as long as you keep the fees in mind when pricing it hopefully makes it worth your while. At least you've been making sales and that has been a little tougher to do lately. Good luck!

byto253 · ‎12-04-2022

That is a tough situation. I am not sure if you know, but you are not required to use eBay labels for shipments, and with your location in the Toronto area, you may wish to look at alternative shippers such as Stallion Express, Chitchats and crossborderpickups. You can still list with calculated shipping and find the least expensive way to ship.

Also, if you do not have a Canada Post Small Business card and number, you should get one. For some things, the discount provided when buying postage labels online is cheaper than through eBay labels.

For these lower cost items, you can also tack on a bit of a handling charge to shipping which will buffer those extra fees.

poptarget · ‎12-04-2022

Wow I was angry last night XD. Yeah it is a sale in Canada. I only found out just recently that tracked shipping within Canada is more expensive than tracked to US via Canada Post. Sometimes I wish I could just sell to US.

poptarget · ‎12-04-2022

I tried to sign up for Chitchats but they don't deliver to buyers door? Maybe I got that wrong. I will look into those alternatives thanks!

byto253 · ‎12-04-2022

Chitchats delivers through Canada Post, so they do go to the door. But there is a new option that popped up a recently for "collection" which is requires the recipient to pick up the package - but for me that has always shown up as an option to the regular service.

Don't hesitate to email or call chitchats either, they are good about getting back to you.

crossborderpickups is a very interesting option for US shipments because you can purchase your own USPS label and drop it off for them, and they will bring it across the border for a small fee. That opens up the possibility to buy discounted USPS labels through options like Pirateship. They also provide a US return address so that you can use that option.

The drop off location is in Mississauga though, not sure how close it is for you.

marnotom! · ‎12-04-2022

Do your Star Trek graphic novels have to be shipped by tracked parcel post? If they're thin enough to ship as oversized letters within Canada and you're willing to shoulder the risk of the rare but possible fraudulent claim of non-delivery, shipping them by lettermail may be a better bet for you. I see you're shipping by Small Packet Air to the US, which isn't trackable.

And, yes, you can ship to the US only if you're willing to list on .com instead of .ca. I doubt you were seriously musing about that possibility, though. 😁

lotzofuniquegoodies · ‎12-04-2022

@marnotom! wrote:
Do your Star Trek graphic novels have to be shipped by tracked parcel post? If they're thin enough to ship as oversized letters within Canada and you're willing to shoulder the risk of the rare but possible fraudulent claim of non-delivery, shipping them by lettermail may be a better bet for you. I see you're shipping by Small Packet Air to the US, which isn't trackable.
And, yes, you can ship to the US only if you're willing to list on .com instead of .ca. I doubt you were seriously musing about that possibility, though. 😁

@poptarget

@marnotom!

Huh? They are trackable once they reach the USA and go through customs within ebay tracking. In the last 90 days 18 of 20 of my parcels to USA were Small Packet air. 2 were tracked so no problem. All have delivery scans. Sample attached. Those tracking numbers will work to Scandanavian countries within their(not ebay tracking) postal tracking system, but not to majority of Europe. They work in Spain, Portugal, Cyprus and some E. European countries.

-Lotz

reallynicestamps · ‎12-04-2022

Our American friends are totally paranoid about tracking. Whether this means the rest of the world is more laid back or more honest is hard to know.

You can get Global Top Rated Seller status without tracking, with the small perks that gives you.

Any book less than 2cm thick and 500gr can go LetterMail within Canada. No tracking, but most people are honest. And the purpose of tracking is Seller Protection against false claims of non-delivery. Who is going to lie over a $10 magazine?

In addition to all the other excellent advice let me share the Good News about Cookie Jar Insurance.

This just means putting a few virtual pennies/dimes aside from each sale in a virtual Cookie Jar as a self-insurance premium for the occasional problem.

When you get a question from an unhappy buyer, you take your costs from the Cookie Jar. Whether that is paying for return shipping on a valid claim,or a refund on a false one, you have covered your costs. Many sellers actually find the Cookie Jar becomes a profit centre, just like a real insurance company.

And the Cookie Jar covers things postal or third party insurance doesn't, like problems that are your own fault. It happens.

reallynicestamps · ‎12-04-2022

Shipping within Canada tracked costs $22.70. Buyer paid $24.56 shipping as calculated by ebay.

And did you notice your extra income from the difference between your shipping cost and the buyer's shipping cost?

reallynicestamps · ‎12-04-2022

The point is that there is no reason to track a cheap paperback at all.

Although the OP was actually selling graphic novels which are larger and heavier and had a higher original price.

marnotom! · ‎12-04-2022

@lotzofuniquegoodies wrote:
Huh? They are trackable once they reach the USA and go through customs within ebay tracking. In the last 90 days 18 of 20 of my parcels to USA were Small Packet air. 2 were tracked so no problem. All have delivery scans. Sample attached. Those tracking numbers will work to Scandanavian countries within their(not ebay tracking) postal tracking system, but not to majority of Europe.

Yeah, forgot about that and I had a feeling you'd call me out on that. However, it's just a matter of good fortune that Small Packet scan data occasionally shows up either in eBay or the destination country's postal system's website. Canada Post would have no reason to offer Tracked Packet if Small Packet scans showed up widely.

lotzofuniquegoodies · ‎12-04-2022

@marnotom! wrote:
@lotzofuniquegoodies wrote:
Huh? They are trackable once they reach the USA and go through customs within ebay tracking. In the last 90 days 18 of 20 of my parcels to USA were Small Packet air. 2 were tracked so no problem. All have delivery scans. Sample attached. Those tracking numbers will work to Scandanavian countries within their(not ebay tracking) postal tracking system, but not to majority of Europe.
Yeah, forgot about that and I had a feeling you'd call me out on that. However, it's just a matter of good fortune that Small Packet scan data occasionally shows up either in eBay or the destination country's postal system's website. Canada Post would have no reason to offer Tracked Packet if Small Packet scans showed up widely.

My scans for LAX/SF routinely show up in 3 to 5 days. Caught memore by surprise that they do work for some countries but not going to complain. The only 1 so far that showed up in the US system for international was my parcel to Cyprus. (Showed up at the exit point in NY.) Including customs hold at Cyprus end. They needed proof of original docs to release to customer. After that it was fine. Like as they go down the belt how much extra work would it be for the item to get hit with a scanner on it's merry way?

Getting rid of Light Packet Air was evil. That would be awesome if they had something similar. Even better for Canada. This is definitely not leveliing the playing field for Canadian sellers when it is so expensive to ship. Saw it quoted in another US post earlier today where it was stated eBay owns the account for US sellers who use eBay Labels.

-Lotz

Besides...Someone has to keep you on the straight and narrow!! 😆

byto253 · ‎12-04-2022

One other thought, if you use crossborderpickups you can purchase USPS Mediamail labels, which it the cheapest way to ship books and CDs, etc. It really levels the playing field when shipping to the US. But be sure to read up on what qualifies. For example magazines do not qualify as they have advertising inn them.

marnotom! · ‎12-04-2022

@lotzofuniquegoodies wrote:
Getting rid of Light Packet Air was evil. That would be awesome if they had something similar. Even better for Canada.

Af least the weight limit for packets destined for the USA is 2 kg. Remember when it used to be just one kilo?

tuckhouse2021 · ‎12-05-2022

Hi-I also use small packet air frequently but did not realize they were trackable unless I paid for that extra service. I use Snapship mostly but also have a Shippo acount that I am learning about but have not yet used. How do I find the results of the tracking? How is ebay tracking different than Canada Post tracking?. Do I have to enter the code from my reciepts in order to find the pathway of my packages sent and how do I access eBay tracking? Thanks in advance.

lotzofuniquegoodies · ‎12-05-2022

@tuckhouse2021 wrote:
Hi-I also use small packet air frequently but did not realize they were trackable unless I paid for that extra service. I use Snapship mostly but also have a Shippo acount that I am learning about but have not yet used. How do I find the results of the tracking? How is ebay tracking different than Canada Post tracking?. Do I have to enter the code from my reciepts in order to find the pathway of my packages sent and how do I access eBay tracking? Thanks in advance.

If you use either Snapship or Shippo you just manually enter the UR#########CA in tracking after you ship. With eBay labels a receipt number is ported but I understand there is a second place to enter the UR #. I'm not sure if that UR number shows up if you purchase at a depot. (It should.) Also, when I drop off at my local Shoppers they scan and give me a receipt confirming the package was dropped off. You can attach to your paperwork for your records. (if required later.)

-Lotz