PET PEEVE - Outrageous Shipping Estimates

One of the largest deterrants to bidding on items across the country for me is the shipping costs. Some sellers use only priority or UPS service--which is usually the most expensive way to ship. Some sellers do not even post the shipping costs. Instead, they say contact me for shipping details! The least expensive way to ship small items is by mail. The least expensive way to ship parcels (larger items, over 4 pounds) is FedEx Ground--not UPS!

FEDEX vs. UPS

Just a few recent examples for actual shipping quotes...I shipped a stereo from PA to TX just a week or so ago. UPS wanted almost $350 to send it--and I packed it myself! FedEx delivered it a day earlier with a rate of $247 and insured each of 4 boxes for $100 each. I shipped an exercise machine, about 80 lbs, to Oklahoma and saved $48 with FedEx. What's even better is that the UPS drop location was only open during business hours. I found a local FedEx Kinkos franchise that is open 24-7. How cool is that?

Measure and weigh the item, after packing, and find out what it costs to ship it before you leave the house! Buy a scale, don't guess on the weight. You can pick up a digital scale on eBay for less than $20, and it will pay for itself in shipping savings. Use FedEx and UPS web sites to get estimates on the shipping. I've had NO LUCK with ship services like Mailboxes, Etc. and The UPS Store. They charge ridiculous rates just to give the service. Go to the source, don't use a middle-service.

PACKING SUPPLIES

Also, beware of getting robbed on packing materials. Office Depot wanted $29 for a roll of bubble wrap. I found 2x as much in a cool box (that I can recycle when it's empty) for $13 at Sam's Club! I bought 3 boxes. Double-box items that are fragile and stuff newspaper or plastic grocery bags in between to minimize shifting during transit. These don't weigh much, and most large items ship by size instead of weight anyhow. Box your items in the smallest box possible, and you'll find that your shipping costs will fall drastically.

LARGE ITEMS

For large boxes, I have found a few furniture stores and auto dealers in the area who often have heavy, corrugated boxes at their disposal--especially this time of year. They will GIVE them to you. The stereo speakers I shipped recently went in a 48 inch wardrobe box that I picked up at a local self-storage warehouse.

CONVENIENCE

If you plan ahead and call around, you can get some great bargains and packing materials for free. Most businesses, like Best Buy and Circuit City, throw away styrofoam by the truckload. If you time it right, you can pack up electronics and bulky collectibles for next to nothing! Then use FedEx to ship them. I have a PayPal debit card that allows me to pay for the shipping at FedEx with my seller's account. No, I can't print the labels at home, but I can time a trip to FedEx when I run for groceries, etc. to save on fuel. And they are open all the time.

We have had some success adding the shipping right in on the item price and listing with FREE SHIP in the title. That way, there is no question what the buyer is going to pay! If it costs more to ship than my estimate, we just eat the cost difference--but we'd never go back for more money from a buyer. A listing is a contract. So do your homework up front! The trick is to get the shipping estimate as close to reasonable as you can.

In summary, I wish more sellers would be reasonable with their shipping costs and would shop around for better rates before listing items with only Priority or UPS service. As a buyer, I've passed up a ton of cool items because I could buy the item locally for less. As a seller, I can't compete with folks who can sell a CD for a penny and then charge $5 to ship it (1st class, it costs me $1.35 to ship a 4oz CD). Buyers must not pay attention to the shipping charges though and think they are getting a great deal until they find out what it costs to get the item to their door!  

So when I started my store, I decided early on that buyers would pay what it costs me to ship. There are some exceptions, i.e. we charge minimal handling fees for dry cleaning or packaging but don't try to MAKE MONEY on shipping. We also don't sell our items for $0.99 and then jack up the shipping costs to get away from paying eBay selling fees. Honesty is still the best policy, and it still goes a long way--even today.

Just a few tips I've learned in these few months as a seller. More to come soon. Hope this helps!