I believe the shipping calculator can be used as a good marketing tool for sellers! As some of you may know, you can customize the list, when you are shopping, to include the calculated shipping for your zip code.  You no long have to click the shipping calculator on each item and then have sticker shock when you see $35 for a 1 lb. item!

As you go down the list of items that you are looking at, the shipping cost to your zip code is posted on the far right or where ever you have chosen to put it. You can now compare prices and shipping costs before you even look at an item.

Here is where it gets tricky and can be very useful, especially in  highly competitive catagories. Say you are looking at 2 identical ...(hmmmmm lets see here, what are we looking at? Ahhh yes Rolex Watches, everyone NEEDS one of those!) watches. Both watches are the same brand, style, condition and price.

Watch A NIB  Buy it now $4500 2 days 1 hour 25 minutes $5.05

Watch B NIB Buy it now $4500 2 days 1 hour 25 minutes $2.08

Ok so it is only $2.97 on a $4500 watch but we are bargain hunters!

Many people will look at 2 identical items, compare the costs and select the cheaper one to look at. They will then buy the cheaper one and never go back to look at the one with the higher shipping. But we are going to look at the shipping calculator for both of these items.

Watch A Calculator                                                       Watch B Calculator

Priority $5.05                                                               !st Class $2.08

Parcel   $ 4.28                                                              Priority $5.05

1st Class $2.08                                                             Parcel $4.28

Do you see what I am getting at? The automatic shipping calculator only shows the first listed shipping price. If you use the shipping calculator in your auctions, always put the lowest form of shipping that you offer in the first box. The winning bidder always has the option of choosing which shipping option that they prefer, but you have to get them to look at the item first.

I hope this helps!