Hello! How can I compete with US based sellers on shipping?

[lakewaytruckcentreltd]

We are an old company starting a new venture on eBay for overstock. The issue we are having is shipping from Canada to USA.

Our prices are competetive, however shipping usually is the deciding factor on whether a page visit converts to a sale (in my opinion). For smaller less affordable items sometimes our shipping is more expensive than the product itself.

Do you have and hacks, or tips on how to keep shipping down? I currently pay for signature on delivery and use FedEx Ground for international shipping. Most of our items are bigger than the 500g, 2cm letter mail as they are new commecial truck parts. 

Thank you in advance.

[femmefan1946]

Another thought.

Most of your items are valuable- in the $500-1000+ range.

So shipping is not the big question here.

If you sell that Tank Radiator  Overflow  for $500 and it costs an average of $75 to ship it, how would it sell as $575 with Free Shipping?

There is the question of Will what I lose on the coconuts be made up on the roundabouts?

Again, you have to think in terms of monthly sales and costs, not each specific sale and costs.

Free Shipping is very popular with consumers. I'm not as sure that it is a draw for business customers.

Free Shipping means that your shipping and packaging costs are included in the asking price.

[femmefan1946]

Have you actually compared Canada Post prices for shipping your products?

https://www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/cpc/en/tools/find-a-rate.page

They are often cheaper and usually competitive.

You can get small discounts by joining the Solutions for Small Business Program

https://www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/cpc/en/business/small-business/shipping-discounts.page

Canada Post now offers parcel pickup as well as delivery.

EBay only requires Signature Confirmation on shipments valued over $750, although I sometimes use it when I feel a little nervous about an address.*

Since you seem to be near the border have you looked into ChitChat Express or Stallion?

These are freight forwarders who accept your shipments, carry them over the border, and mail them using USPS at much cheaper rates.

I haven't used them myself. Their Vancouver Island dropoff is not convenient for me, but many sellers are very satisfied with their fees and their service.

*Like shipping an expensive item to a business address. Some businesses are better than others about getting mail to their employees or may open employee mail.  Best are mail boxes whether postal or commercial.

[flipistics]

eBay labels have good (or at least decent) prices right now for anything under 2 KG. If you sell something higher value, you could possibly also just pop across the border yourself and mail it from the States. I believe you'd pay a higher bridge crossing fee (I want to say $20 or so?) since you're crossing with commercial goods and there'd be some extra paperwork to fill out. Unfortunately the Soo doesn't have a cross border shipper that I know of.

[lakewaytruckcentreltd]

I have thought about crossing the border, I would want it to be worth it. I would likely have to increase international shipping handling time to hopefully make multiple sales and ship all at once - this will likely be something that I explore if the store becomes more popular.