Woman in Grey Shirt Holding CardBoard Things You Need to Know About Shipping on eBay
Say that five times fast, hah! I know that sometimes shipping on eBay can seem daunting, like that alliteration… Anyways, if you’re the kind of person who wants to know exactly how to ship your items on eBay the most efficiently and effectively, I made this for you 🙂! Whether you’re just starting out on your eBay journey, you’ve taken some time away from selling on eBay, you’re trying to ship a new shape/weight item, or it’s your first time selling and an item is listed or it’s sold and you need some help with what to do next… Or, maybe you’re just looking to better optimize your shipping systems. No matter who you are… if you’re here for learning more about shipping on eBay, this blog was made for you.
Shipping can be an overwhelming task and I’d like to make it a little easier by offering my experience. Especially if you have a high volume of items being shipped to a various number of locations it can be extremely overwhelming. With over 30,000 total items shipped and 30-50+ shipped a day currently… I know what it’s like to be overwhelmed and in the weeds on shipping. I’ve figured out some awesome systems and processes to be able to ship from anywhere with the most efficiency and profitability. I’d like to show it to you, is that cool? Cool, let’s jump into how to avoid and manage the chaos of shipping on eBay.
As you might already know, eBay sellers live and die by shipping… So establishing rules for shipping in your area is extremely important for your success as an eBay seller. On top of that, shipping is a key factor in customer satisfaction! When you get items shipped promptly and properly, your customers will be a lot happier. Happy clients are more likely to give you positive feedback. Keep reading and you’ll find 5 shipping success secrets that will help you minimize shipping expenses on eBay and help you create a set of rules for your location that are easy to follow and deliver maximum customer satisfaction.
Real Quick… I’m Shari Smith and if you don’t know me there are a bunch of other places where you can find out more about me on the website. But, I think I’ll give you the run down real quick? Just so you know why you can trust me and we can get back to our secrets for success shipping on eBay…
I quit my job in 2006 and happened to stumble into the eBay business. Since then I’ve sold more than $2 million on eBay and have never worked another job again. During that time I have been through and learned a lot. One thing I’ve learned is that I love helping and being around high school and college students in the community. I’ve hired quite a few and loved how much they’ve helped my business and made my life easier.
I think I like mentoring because I was fortunate enough to have a mentor right out of high school that changed my life. So, I like passing that gift on my own way. To this day, I still run my eBay business with highschool and college students. I’m constantly looking for ways to maximize my time spent shipping on eBay with the proper systems and processes. So let’s jump into some systems and why I love them so much!
As I said, I’m a huge proponent for creating opportunities in the community. I hire a lot of high-school and college students to help me with anything from listing and shipping, to organizing my inventory and even helping me update my systems. I’ve hired a lot of teenagers in my day! Like a lot. So having systems developed was crucial in helping me teach my employees how to help me with my business. Plus when they’re documented they’re available to help you at any time you need to access them.
Once you’ve created them, the rules for shipping on eBay become easy. It’s just a simple system to run through when an item sells. Note: Even once you’ve created the system it will always be best to use eBay’s shipping calculator to verify your rules are actually leading you to use the least expensive option. The system is in place to save you tons of time and money, and help educate anyone that works for you.
A quick note… Creating a set of rules for your location may take some time, but it will be worth it. The end result will vary depending on where you live. Also on what kind of access you have to the major shipping carriers and their services. Taking the time to define and get to know the system in your area is extremely important for your success. Especially with shipping on eBay and the scalability of your eBay business.
Recently, I moved from California to Colorado. Everything was easy for me back in CA. I knew the system like the back of my hand. I had even created a flowchart for the exact process depending on an item’s weight, dimensions and a couple of other variables. Here in Colorado was a different story for a little while. I’m glad I had that flowchart though! It took me a couple of weeks to adapt and change that flowsheet from California to work here, but now I have it dialed in again and it feels amazing! I’d like to show you how to create your own flowchart. You can actually just use the template I’ve created to help create the rules in your area. But first, let’s get back to the secrets and then I’ll give you everything you need to create your own flowchart. Sound good?
Tip #1 is to know the game and play it well. “Shari, what the heck do you mean by that?” Great question! Well, I mean that shipping is a great way to save some money and get great feedback from your customers. I see it as a game… How much money can I save? How quickly can I do it? Can I maximize my resources? It’s like a game to me, the better I do the more time I have in the day and the more money I have in my bank account. Sounds like a fun game to play as an eBay seller if you as me, right?
“So Shari how do you get to know and play the game?” Great question again! Get to know the game by doing your research on shipping carriers and the shipping options around you. Research things like the ins and outs of USPS Standard Priority shipping vs. Priority Flat Rate shipping. Learn about the different boxes and how to best utilize them for your shipping needs(don’t worry we’re going to cover this too). Start to create your own set of rules for shipping that are easy to understand. Follow so it becomes easy for you or anyone that would help you with shipping items on eBay.
“Ok Shari, where’s the best place to start with all this shipping on eBay shenanigans?” Yeah, of course, I figured you’d ask… right below this! We’re going to jump right into all the nitty-gritty and get to know the shipping “game” as best as we possibly can and ensure that you’re a top-rated seller with your shipping requirements, sound good?
To understand shipping you need to understand a couple of fundamentals; the shipping carriers(USPS, UPS, FedEx, Freight Carriers), types of shipping within each carrier(priority USPS vs. first-class USPS), the supplies you’ll need for shipping and to know what boxes to use when.
The second most important thing for success with shipping on eBay is to use the tools they provide. There are a number of reasons why you should use the tools they provide. First, every(almost) item sold on eBay is charged a fee and those fees go to a number of different things that eBay helps with. From their shipping tools to their customer support and awesome staff. There’s a number of awesome things that benefit from those fees but one is eBay’s relationship with shipping carriers and the ability to print labels straight through eBay’s website which also gives you eBay’s discount with USPS and FedEx(this is why I don’t ship with UPS). It’s also easier to print your label right on eBay.
When you go to the Post Office and ship First Class Mail you actually have to pay extra if you want a tracking number. On eBay tracking is free (including for First Class Mail) and eBay automatically attaches the tracking number to your sales record and notifies the buyer that the item has shipped. They can click on the tracking number right on eBay to see follow the package.
Utilizing their tools is the smart thing to do because you’ll be protected if you use all of the eBay tools properly. Also, when you print your label through eBay you don’t need to wait in line at the post office, you can just drop off your packages with the prepaid shipping labels you printed through eBay. You can also go to USPS.com and schedule a pick up if you do not want to make the trip to the Post Office.
You get free tracking even with First Class mail when printing your labels through eBay. (If you pay for the label at the Post Office you have to pay for tracking for First Class packages.) Your tracking is immediately sent to the buyer and attached to your sales record. Overall, shipping on eBay becomes a lot easier, more efficient and profitable when you know the game and you learn how to play it.
Tip #2 is to have the proper tools and stock up on the essentials. Without the proper tools, shipping can be a bigger pain in the butt… So not only should you be using the shipping calculator, but you should be using the right scale and the right printer. Here is the printer I use, the thermal printing tape and the scale I use. I also order a number of free boxes from USPS depending on the kind of items I have to ship. I currently have over 900 items listed so I have to boxes of all kinds around with different types of packing materials.
Boxes and packing materials are tools! You must be well-stocked up on these items to make shipping efficient and less frustrating. That’s why I always make sure I have enough tape, boxes and packing materials around. I’m sure any local family, friends or neighbors, have boxes that they’d love to get rid of. Let them know that you’d love their boxes on a regular basis if you’re shipping needs are becoming bigger.
While USPS provides you with free shipping boxes and envelopes for shipping priority, you need to get your own envelopes and boxes for shipping USPS First Class and FedEx Ground. While I seem to have enough small boxes from my friends and family’s online purchases, I do buy poly mailers since I sell a lot of clothing. You can buy eBay co-branded poly mailers on eBay, and if you have an eBay store you get a coupon toward that purchase every quarter.
I personally strictly use USPS and FedEx for my shipping unless it’s for freight. For one, eBay gets a discount with USPS and FedEx and you can print those labels right through eBay. For another, it’s the most profitable way to ship.
Tip #3 is to be strategic about choosing the right type of shipping to make your buyer happy while also saving money on every shipment.
Getting the item to the buyer fast and as economically as possible are critical to the buyer’s happiness with the purchase. If you have ever purchased an item online I’m sure you can relate. If you get the item to the buyer fast and for what they see as a reasonable shipping price, they’ll be happy. Hopefully, if you do a good enough job they’ll leave you positive feedback, and even better they may become regulars. Over 8% of my sales are to repeat buyers and it’s because they know I’m reliable.
In addition to leaving you positive, neutral or negative Feedback, the buyer can leave you up to five stars on: Accurate Description, Communication, Shipping Speed, and Shipping Cost. Half of the star ratings are about shipping! And excellence in Shipping Speed and Shipping Cost depends directly on who you choose as your carrier and your method of shipment you choose from that carrier.
It means so much to me (and to potential buyers) that I have 5 stars in each category.
In the feedback (below) notice how much shipping means to these buyers. The first person purchased a massage chair that I had to palletize(put on a pallet and get ready for a freight carrier to pick it up) to freight to him.
Being able to sell larger items that require freight is super lucrative (and a whole different animal) so I’m going to dedicate my entire next blog article on how to do that. If you haven’t checked out my 7 Figure eBay Business Blueprint you’ll have to check that out after this, it talks about the low-risk ways to sell for this one underserved niche that is neverending.
You may have noticed that I am not promoting using free shipping(we get into why in my course). Buyers certainly like free shipping and you do get an automatic 5 stars on Shipping cost when your listing has free shipping. But I generally do not offer free shipping.
Over the years I’ve had periods where I offered free shipping hoping it would increase my items’ visibility and desirability. You can build the shipping cost into your price, but ultimately, I didn’t see an increase in sales due to offering free shipping, and when the buyer returns an item (even if it was because it just didn’t fit or they changed their mind) the seller is out that initial shipping cost.
I do offer Free Returns though. Free Returns mean that if a buyer returns an item for any reason I pay the return shipping. There are a few reasons for this. eBay promotes items with Free Returns, buyers feel more confident purchasing those items and my Top Rated Plus Seller status applies only to listings with 30 day Free Returns.
If I were to offer free shipping I would be out shipping both ways for items that are returned.
As a Top Rated Seller eBay refunds me 10% of the Final Value Fee on my Top Rated Plus listings (which helps offset the added cost of paying for the return shipping).
I’ll also cover how to become a Top Rated Seller in another Blog! This whole blogging thing will show you how much information you really do have rolling around in your head. Anyways…
Instead of Free Shipping I use the eBay calculator to calculate the shipping cost for the buyer based on where they are located (and the weight and dimensions and shipping method I select).
I’ve found the right balance for making the buyer feel good about what they are paying for shipping, usually not losing money on shipping and sometimes making a dollar or two on shipping.
Here are my criteria for which carrier and method of shipment:
USPS first class: If your item is less than a pound and worth less than $40, I’ll ship it USPS first class mail because it’s less expensive than Priority and still arrives within 2 to 5 days. Also, the weight limit for First Class is one pound. It’s important with an inexpensive item that the shipping is not too expensive in comparison with the price of the item which is why I choose First Class mail for items priced under $40. The price for First Class mail with eBay’s discount varies between about $3.50 to $5.50 depending on how many ounces it is. Clothing that’s under a pound can be shipped in a polymailer to keep the weight down. Bubble wrap and air pockets are good for items that need to be boxed also because they are light.
If it’s worth over $40, I’ll ship it Priority mail even though it’s more expensive than First Class because Priority mail comes with $100 of free insurance and once an item is over $40 I feel it’s worth the extra cost. Also, First Class mail takes 2 to 5 days while Priority mail takes 1 to 2 days.
Important: If an item is worth over $250 I always purchase added insurance and I always choose to require a signature. You can select those right on the eBay shipping screen (see below). Since Priority only comes with $100 of insurance, you can decide at what price you want to purchase added insurance. Occasionally, shipments are lost and/or buyer’s claim not to have received them even when tracking shows them as delivered. Requiring a Signature is the only sure way to prove that your item was delivered and getting the item to the buyer is the seller’s responsibility. On that same note, a seller is not allowed to charge the buyer for that added insurance or for requiring a signature.
**If you do select First Class mail you should also give a second option for the buyer to choose Priority mail in case they want to pay more to get it sooner.
If an item weighs more than 3 lbs and has a dimension over 12 inches and doesn’t fit in a Priority flat rate box, I ship FedEx Ground/Home Delivery. It will be less expensive than USPS and will still get to the buyer in 1 to 5 days. Packages with a dimension over 12 inches have a hefty surcharge when shipping USPS Priority. I’ve seen it cost $30+ more for a package that was 13″ x 12″ x 12″ as opposed to 12″ x 12″ x12″.
I personally never ship USPS Media Mail or Fedex Smartpost. The reason for that is that these methods of shipment take one to two weeks to arrive and that is completely unacceptable. Also, USPS Media Mail does not come with tracking. The only time I’ve used USPS Media Mail (which can only be used for books, vintage magazines, LP’s and other media), is when the buyer specifically requests it. Then I make sure to have a conversation via eBay’s messaging letting them know it does not come with tracking and can take a couple weeks to arrive. I would still not use it on an item with a value over $40 because you have no proof whether it was delivered or not.
Tip #4 When shipping Priority mail, you can save yourself $1, $2 and sometimes much more by choosing the right Priority packaging and shipping options.
I want to introduce you to my favorite Priority package–the padded flat rate envelope.
This hidden gem, which is not even on the display of flat-rate packaging at the Post Office, is one of the least expensive ways to ship priority and yet because it is stretchable poly you can fit more in there than you can in the flat rate envelope they have on the display at the post office. In fact, in one glorious shipment, I fit 5 pairs of yoga pants into one of these padded flat rate envelopes. (I don’t necessarily recommend this.) It’s okay if it’s bulging, but the package seal on the envelope must reach over the other side all the way across. It is the same rate no matter how much it weighs, where it’s going from or to. With eBay’s discount, it is only $7.52.
One of the things I sell regularly is high-end clothing. Even when it weighs less than an lb, it is almost always about 50c less in the padded flat rate envelope. When I ship jeans, they are usually over a pound and putting them in the padded flat rate envelope saves over $1 (per shipment) so it adds up.
Today I was shipping a Burberry jacket that weighed just a few ounces more than 1 lb. Any fraction of an ounce over 1 lb brings the shipping weight to the next lb up, so it’s the same as weighing 2 lbs. Shipping regular Priority mail is $9.69 but by putting it in a Priority Padded Flat Rate Envelope I saved $2.17.
If your item needs the protection of a box, USPS has flat rate boxes. One of the most common mistakes people make is to follow the Post Office’s mantra “If it fits it ships”. Just because something fits in a Flat Rate box, doesn’t mean that’s going to save you money. Many times that will cost you more. A Medium Flat Rate box with eBay’s discount is $12.80. But a 3 lb item going from CO to MI is only $11.79. So if your item weighs 3lbs or less ship it regular Priority mail (not in a flat rate box). If it weighs more than 3 lbs, compare the rate for Priority mail vs. Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate Box before selecting your box.
Below is a screenshot of eBay’s “Print Shipping Label” screen which shows you the rates for the different packaging.
If you are on either the West Coast or the East Coast I do have a hard and fast rule for you. Shipping from the West Coast, if an item weighs more than 3 lbs and it’s going past the Mississippi, a Medium Flat Rate box would be the least expensive way to ship it. So if you are on the West Coast you can use that as a rule. If you are on the East Coast you can reverse that and use it as a rule as well. Being in Colorado now, if an item weighs more than 3 lbs I go to “Print Shipping Label on eBay before I seal the item in a box to see if a flat rate box will save me money.
Not everybody knows about the Large Flat Rate Console box. This is also not on the Flat Rate box display at the Post Office, but you can order it for free at USPS.com. It’s the same rate as the rectangular Large Flat Rate box, but it is nice and long, and is perfect for things like old heavy laptops.
Yesterday I had to ship an old, heavy laptop to Florida. When boxed it weighed eight pounds which was over $25 to ship USPS Priority Mail. When I listed it, I made sure it would fit in a Large Flat box and specified that as the shipping on eBay so eBay quoted the buyer $21 for shipping (the walk-in rate at the Post Office for shipping in Large Flat Rate box. But eBay’s discounted price to sellers is $17.40 so I actually made $3.60 on shipping. Remember if I can do that 30,000 times, I’ve made myself $100,000 just on shipping. Obviously that’s not always the case but that’s why this matters.
**Final tips for packing: When you ship in a flat rate box (as I mentioned earlier) the box cannot be bulging and the flap has to fit all the way across (see below).
Tip #5 Use shipping as a way to over-deliver and earn Top Rated Seller status. Shipping fast and packing your item with care is how you show your buyer you care and is an opportunity to make them happy!
Set your handling time at 1 day if it’s possible for you to ship Monday through Friday. (If an item sells Friday, Monday is still consider 1 day.) Buyers want their items fast, and when you select a 1-day handling time on your listing eBay will show them their estimated delivery date based on your handling time plus the time frame for your method of shipment.
Pack your item with care. Remember the 5 pairs of yoga pants I managed to fit into a padded flat rate envelope? I only did that because the buyer was in Australia and asked me if it was possible because it actually saved her about $30. Normally, the clothing I’m putting in the padded flat rate envelope fits nicely.
When shipping heavy items that can be damaged, or shipping breakable items, make sure you are protecting them sufficiently. These items should have at least 2 inches of padding on every side.
The packing materials you should have on hand are air pockets (your friends who shop online should be able to supply you with those), thin foam, bubble wrap, and biodegradable packing peanuts.
I found the most reasonable packaging supply company when I lived in the Bay Area in California. I bought large sheets of bubble wrap on the huge roles, biodegradable packing peanuts and thin foam from him every few months. Even after 2 years in Colorado I still haven’t had to find a supply company. My family and friends shop so much online they’re keeping me stocked with packing material and boxes! It’s awesome.
I never just throw packing peanuts loose into a box. First, it’s a mess for the buyer. For another, they move around and they don’t provide reliable protection, especially if your item is heavy.
I put the packing peanuts into bags and put a couple in the box. I then mold them around the corners of the items. This suspends the item in the middle of the box where it will be protected from any impact.
I always tell my teenagers, make sure it passes the shake test. (When you shake the box, nothing should be rattling.) And if you want to know if you’ve protected your item sufficiently, ask yourself if it would survive a 5-foot drop.
Finally, the easiest way to lose a lot of money when shipping is when your box dimensions push your item into a higher dimensional weight. Dimensional weight is calculated based on the size and weight of the item. Carriers often charge you more for larger dimensions. This is going to come into play with your larger items.
For example, I sold a Ski Trainer on eBay a few weeks ago. When I listed it, I entered the dimensions (without having the box I’d ship it in at the time) and added 4 inches to each dimension so that it would have 2 inches on each side. When it sold, I went on Facebook Marketplace and searched “free large box” and found someone giving away a couch box. I was able to cut that box down to fit around the Ski Trainer. I went on eBay to print the label and it was showing $159 for FedEx Ground, but eBay had only charged the buyer $71. The box dimensions were 17″ by 18″ by 63″. There was nothing I could do about the length, but I was able to cut the 17″ down to 15″ and the 18″ down to 14″ and it was now $71 to ship.
With the DVD/VCR player, I shipped in the images with the packing peanuts those boxes are just big enough to allow 2 inches of padding on each side, but not so big that they push the box size into a higher dimensional weight.
So when you list your item, find the box you are going to ship it in, put those dimensions onto your eBay listing in the package size area and click on calculate shipping. You can see what eBay is going to quote buyers for your shipping. It allows you to enter a zip code for where you are shipping it. Since you don’t know where your buyer will be yet, I enter a zip code for New York (10001) which is almost as far as it can get within the continental U.S. Now you can see if the shipping is reasonable or if you need to try to get your item into a smaller box.
If you are selling multiples of the same sized items, it might be worth it to buy boxes in bulk that are the perfect size for your item and for avoiding extra, dimensional weight charges. (Sometimes you can get them for under $2 each when you buy them in bulk).
So now you can see why shipping is so important. When you do it consistently and it’s a mainstay of your business, like it is in any ecomm business, it’s super important for multiple factors. Saving money(making money), getting good customer reviews and having maximum customer satisfaction, they’re both important to your business. Using things like systems, gaining a deep understanding of the options and resources, and being creative to solve your problems, will afford you many returns. Investing in the proper shipping techniques, systems and supplies will make or break your business so I hope you now understand how to be maximize your shipping time, energy, effort and processes!
If you want to check out my 7 figure eBay Business Blueprint, be sure to check it out here. Or check out another one of my blogs for more informational walkthroughs for eBay Businesses and Sellers.
Learn More : How to Make Money on eBay: I just crossed $2 Million in Sales on eBay
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