Before I started selling on eBay, I read a lot of comments about shipping costs. How to accurately determine what they will be and how some sellers use shipping and handling to offset the lower price they are getting for their merchandise. $22.50 to mail two tickets by First Class Mail? I don't think so.

I did some additional research and learned how to minimize my shipping costs and consequently, what I have to charge to break even on the postage.

First, I use Stamps.com mostly. It's an internet-based postage service and while it does charge a small monthly fee, the tracking benefits and personal use I get from it are well worth it. You can also go into Paypal and input the tracking number for the benefit of your customer even if you haven't used the Paypal shipping method. Admittedly it's nice to use that as it sends the shipping info automatically into the Paypal system and well as the eBay system.

Second, I get all the shipping supplies I can from the U.S. Postal Service. They're free and shiped right to your door - also free. Thing is though, the boxes they give you for free and mostly for Priority Mail. As you are no doubt aware that turning a priority mail box inside out and using it for a different mail class is not only wrong, it's against the law. Ramifications will vary based on the mood of the postmaster at the time and could go from paying the priority rate to paying a hefty fine.

Now, there have been times when I sold an item and the buyer selected Parcel Post for the lower cost. In one instance, the cost to ship by Priority Mail was only 10 cents more, but that's not saying anything against the buyer. On the contrary they were trying to get the best deal possible. My choice now became finding a plain box to pack it in or having to buy one - about 97 cents in this case. I did the penny-wise thing and sent it by Priority Mail, paying the additional dime myself (using the free USPS box). In the long run it saved me 87 cents. I will not do this everytime, but occasionally, the lack of a box and the desire to ship an item quickly, may cause me to do this.

I also rarely charge flat rate shipping. Before I list an item, I put it into the box in which  it will be shipped and weigh it. I then factor in packing material and input that weight into my listing. I then let the buyer use the shipping calculator to find out what shipping will cost. One thing I will not give in on, though, is packing materials for delicate items. It is cheaper to pack them properly, get a little more money for the extra materials than to have them break in shipping and hear the complaint of improper packing.

So sellers, get everything you can from the post office for free. Buyers, remember to factor in shipping costs - think about some of the on-line retailers and how much they charge before dissing on all sellers. I believe if we're fair with the shipping costs, our buyers will understand that it's a part of doing business and a part of the buying experience.