Chris taught me to charge shipping during one of his podcasts in his Patreon group. It works. I make more money when I charge for shipping than when I increase my price and offer free shipping.
I do flat rate shipping on most things unless it is a competitive item where most ppl are doing free shipping. I mainly do this to help make buyers aware of the real cost to get the item to them and it helps take the edge off of offers. Every item has a market value... say $30. I can either $30/free ship or $20+10 ship. I find that if I do $30/free ship I will get offer for $20 but if I do $20+$10 ship I will see offer for $15 resulting in a $5 discount instead of having to go back and forth over a $10 discount.
I think it all depends on what you are shipping out . For example, a heavy item over 1 pound I don’t put free shipping. Clothes is a good idea for free shipping because you can mail it in poly bag, boxes are more of a challenge for free shipping. I do both free shipping and cost for shipping on heavy items. Thanks for sharing 😊
The fact that most small businesses online charge for shipping and the only people offering free are the giants like amazon is enough of a hint to me. Even a lot of big brick and mortar retailers only give free shipping after a certain dollar amount.
I say it like this, if the buyer can afford a $100 product they shouldn't have a problem paying for shipping. Honestly, I don't care about the low ball buyers the other sellers can keep them 😂 Thank you for the insight chris
I used to offer free shipping on everything bc thats what EVERY youtube reseller said would increase sales and my sales did ok. I started charging for shipping and my sales and profits have actually gone UP!? also ebay take 10% on total sales ( this includes shipping costs) so make sure you account for that.
I love calculated shipping because i tend to have buyers who live closer to me and they talk about how fast my shipping is in the feedback. Also items are even less likely to break if your buyer live closer.
Another pro for charging shipping on eBay you will be able to list more items within same monthly limit bc eBay doesn’t include cost of shipping inside of it
Chris you are the best in teaching Ebay 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 thank you for sharing your knowledge with us and thank you to all who have shared your experiences with free and charging shipping.
I love your new video style. I love your old video style too. You put out so much good helpful and motivational stuff. Hope you get your eBay store back.
My favorite is ebay giving buyers the ability to rate you based on “reasonable shipping cost” then the buyers complain and 1 star you when all you’re doing is charging them what the post office is charging you. As if you have any control over USPS prices.
I charge shipping every time, but I ship antique books. I've tried both free and paid and haven't seen much of a difference--that's the perk of selling antiques! But I must add that I do free shipping for very high-cost items--usually a few thousand. Since I pay about a buck a book and have an average sale price of 70 bucks I definitely could swing paying for shipping though! Lol
Media mail rates are nice though--only have a few buyers get scared off with shipping. 99 percent of the time that's because it is for a set of very heavy (and big) books.
On larger items, I'll use Calculated Shipping and put a disclaimer in the Item Description stating "Calculated Shipping will be used so depending on where you live is what the shipping charge will be. I have no control over the shipping cost." I live in WV and have tried the Flat: Same Cost To All Buyers method and have lost my a$$ when an item has to be shipped to TX, CA, AZ, NM, or the Pacific NW. Lesson Learned. Thanks for the video.
I don't sell large items, but if wanted to do flat rate for large items, I would create a shipping policy that limited shipping to states within my postal region.
Dear Chris! Hi. I hope that you're fine! Huge tnx to your helpful video guidlines for all reselling purposes. Yes, shipping must be charged on the customer because, they are purchasing from the seller and shipping is a service for which the customer must pay while they have the decision of purchasing in their mind. All sellers must charge for shipping specially for those expensive items which MSRP'S above $1000.00. Best, Sami Saber.
I do 300k per year on ebay and don't charge for any shipping. Shipping is charged regardless whether an item has free shipping or not. If an item is 15$ free shipping or 12$+3$ shipping its the exact same thing except i will rank higher than you
It's tough to offer FREE shipping and accept OFFERS at the same time. Yes, you could add the shipping cost to the price but when you accept offers too, it takes away from your built-in shipping fee, therefore, you get less profit.
@@someonewhoknows1891 - after two lowball offers, I will BLOCK them from making any more offers! "Cheapstakes" or Lowballers are not worth your time! Even if they do accept your offer, they are the worst when it comes to returns. They will lie in the REASON for their return! For example, if a lowballer purchases shoes and they don't fit, instead of admitting that the shoes don't fit, they will lie and say your shoes are NOT AS DESCRIBED because they want their original shipping fees refunded. On DOESN'T FIT, the buyer forfeits the original shipping fee so these scammers will lie and cause you a DEFECT in your eBay sellers hub.
To those who offer free shipping by adding the shipping cost to the price of the item. How do you do that without over charging for the item and making sure you have the right amount to cover the shipping cost?
I use the calculated shipping and given my items on average are no bigger that a dvd case it doesn't cost much in fact I've seen my items be one of only two that had paid shipping eveyone else's was free shipping but was 4 or 5 dollars more expensive. Sometimes I get the sales over the free shipping sometimes I don't. But I always try and shoot for same day or next day shipping which pops up in a great survey so it pays off in the long run.
I noticed if you have an item priced at market value and you have it listed as Free Shipping/no offers..when they watch it you cant really submit an offer. You'll loose money sending offers this way because its already priced right. Then they may counter offer lower to where you'll lose the deal.. It sucks when they dont buy right away.
Smashed the button before watching the video. ☺️ Is there a way can offer free shipping, but charge west coast customers like California a shipping charge? I’m on the east coast.
Unless an item is so expensive/padded that free shipping won't kill the profit, ie a $250-300 item won't become unprofitable by offering free shipping. If it does, your margin was never there to begin with basically.
If I see an item for $25 free shipping and another $20 + $5.01 shipping, i buy the one that charges shipping, cause my state doesn't charge sales tax on shipping on ebay.
Hi from Germany. I would like to ask if we sell brand new items at half price, is it recommended to charge shipping? In Europe, different brands have price labels. I sell those Items for half or less. For example, the Brax jeans label usually is between 104 and 99 euros, but my price is 46.99. each pair of jeans cost me 14 euros. I eccept also offer. what is your recommendation?
If you sell in a category that everyone ships first class or media mail I can't understand why you would ever charge for shipping instead of building it into the price of the item. I do 300k per year selling media such as CDs, movies, and video games and everything is free shipping. I know personally many of the biggest 6-7 figure media sellers in the game in these subsections and they all offer free shipping on the platform or offer free shipping after a certain threshold is met. There is no way they are charging 3-5$ per item for shipping and competing with the countless free shippers out there. Maybe if you are selling clothing or something then ya go charge for shipping since you are using priority mail or ups and price can fluctuate based on location
charging shipping cost does not make sale down from experience.if you ship cheap item cost less than $10 charge item cost plus shipping other wise customer wont buy and ask question and more chance of return. an example $2 face wipe if we charge $9 ( $2+$7 shipping) no one will buy it :)
Small seller; no store. Right now I charge for shipping and do free returns. What if I flip that and offer free shipping and buyer pays for returns? Thoughts?
offer free return for damaged item or wrong item send..rest charge return fee..charge shipping for cheap items...expensive item offer free shipping example order over $50 or $100
how can you add free shipping to your listing? it only gives me the option of "free for buyer, you pay shipping" but I already included shipping in the listing price. I can't find the just "free shipping" option.
Does anyone else have problem with eBay mobile app shipping labels? I will save it to Dropbox and 30% of them just dissapear! They never show up in ANYWHERE I save them to. I contacted eBay and they said it's a mobile app problem but I've seen no else have problems
If I see an item for $25 free shipping and another $20 + $5.01 shipping, i buy the one that charges shipping, cause my state doesn't charge sales tax on shipping on ebay.
Chris taught me to charge shipping during one of his podcasts in his Patreon group.
It works. I make more money when I charge for shipping than when I increase my price and offer free shipping.
I do flat rate shipping on most things unless it is a competitive item where most ppl are doing free shipping. I mainly do this to help make buyers aware of the real cost to get the item to them and it helps take the edge off of offers. Every item has a market value... say $30. I can either $30/free ship or $20+10 ship. I find that if I do $30/free ship I will get offer for $20 but if I do $20+$10 ship I will see offer for $15 resulting in a $5 discount instead of having to go back and forth over a $10 discount.
I've noticed that as well!
If Tek charge shipping, I'm charging shipping
I think it all depends on what you are shipping out . For example, a heavy item over 1 pound I don’t put free shipping. Clothes is a good idea for free shipping because you can mail it in poly bag, boxes are more of a challenge for free shipping. I do both free shipping and cost for shipping on heavy items. Thanks for sharing 😊
The fact that most small businesses online charge for shipping and the only people offering free are the giants like amazon is enough of a hint to me. Even a lot of big brick and mortar retailers only give free shipping after a certain dollar amount.
Absolutely
Yes you should. Calculated shipping I find works best.
I say it like this, if the buyer can afford a $100 product they shouldn't have a problem paying for shipping. Honestly, I don't care about the low ball buyers the other sellers can keep them 😂
Thank you for the insight chris
I used to offer free shipping on everything bc thats what EVERY youtube reseller said would increase sales and my sales did ok. I started charging for shipping and my sales and profits have actually gone UP!? also ebay take 10% on total sales ( this includes shipping costs) so make sure you account for that.
I've always had better luck moving items doing free shipping.
If the item is super heavy I will charge for shipping.
I love calculated shipping because i tend to have buyers who live closer to me and they talk about how fast my shipping is in the feedback. Also items are even less likely to break if your buyer live closer.
Another pro for charging shipping on eBay you will be able to list more items within same monthly limit bc eBay doesn’t include cost of shipping inside of it
Chris you are the best in teaching Ebay 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 thank you for sharing your knowledge with us and thank you to all who have shared your experiences with free and charging shipping.
Can’t do this biz without your videos
I love your new video style. I love your old video style too. You put out so much good helpful and motivational stuff. Hope you get your eBay store back.
My favorite is ebay giving buyers the ability to rate you based on “reasonable shipping cost” then the buyers complain and 1 star you when all you’re doing is charging them what the post office is charging you. As if you have any control over USPS prices.
Great video, great thoughts! Thanks! :)
Hello Chris thanks for the conversation. I charge shipping for preowned clothing and some new items.
Great video Chris!!
If you charge shipping and have a Sale or Coupon the Shipping isn't discounted unlike when the shipping is build into the total price.
I charge shipping every time, but I ship antique books. I've tried both free and paid and haven't seen much of a difference--that's the perk of selling antiques!
But I must add that I do free shipping for very high-cost items--usually a few thousand.
Since I pay about a buck a book and have an average sale price of 70 bucks I definitely could swing paying for shipping though! Lol
Media mail rates are nice though--only have a few buyers get scared off with shipping. 99 percent of the time that's because it is for a set of very heavy (and big) books.
Hey Chris glad you are feeling better after your panic attack.
You've been inspiring me.
Good video! Thank you
On larger items, I'll use Calculated Shipping and put a disclaimer in the Item Description stating "Calculated Shipping will be used so depending on where you live is what the shipping charge will be. I have no control over the shipping cost." I live in WV and have tried the Flat: Same Cost To All Buyers method and have lost my a$$ when an item has to be shipped to TX, CA, AZ, NM, or the Pacific NW. Lesson Learned. Thanks for the video.
I don't sell large items, but if wanted to do flat rate for large items, I would create a shipping policy that limited shipping to states within my postal region.
Illuminating, as always. Confirmed my obsession with all things shipping is not in vain!🚢
Good summation of the shipping
Great advice I'm watching from London
Selling books, free shipping is sometimes seen as an ebook.
+shipping is seen as a physical book
Dear Chris!
Hi. I hope that you're fine! Huge tnx to your helpful video guidlines for all reselling purposes. Yes, shipping must be charged on the customer because, they are purchasing from the seller and shipping is a service for which the customer must pay while they have the decision of purchasing in their mind. All sellers must charge for shipping specially for those expensive items which MSRP'S above $1000.00.
Best,
Sami Saber.
I do 300k per year on ebay and don't charge for any shipping. Shipping is charged regardless whether an item has free shipping or not. If an item is 15$ free shipping or 12$+3$ shipping its the exact same thing except i will rank higher than you
Thank you for sharing
I wish I watched this when I first stated thanks for the tips!
It's tough to offer FREE shipping and accept OFFERS at the same time. Yes, you could add the shipping cost to the price but when you accept offers too, it takes away from your built-in shipping fee, therefore, you get less profit.
Wow that’s a great point!
And unfortunately, all the cheapskates shop on eBay. Some of the audacious, BS offers they make, honestly piss me off.
@@someonewhoknows1891 - after two lowball offers, I will BLOCK them from making any more offers! "Cheapstakes" or Lowballers are not worth your time! Even if they do accept your offer, they are the worst when it comes to returns. They will lie in the REASON for their return! For example, if a lowballer purchases shoes and they don't fit, instead of admitting that the shoes don't fit, they will lie and say your shoes are NOT AS DESCRIBED because they want their original shipping fees refunded. On DOESN'T FIT, the buyer forfeits the original shipping fee so these scammers will lie and cause you a DEFECT in your eBay sellers hub.
Some states like California don't charge sales tax on shipping so personally I would buy an item $12 + $4 shipping versus $16 free shipping
To those who offer free shipping by adding the shipping cost to the price of the item. How do you do that without over charging for the item and making sure you have the right amount to cover the shipping cost?
The Doctor of reselling 💪
I use the calculated shipping and given my items on average are no bigger that a dvd case it doesn't cost much in fact I've seen my items be one of only two that had paid shipping eveyone else's was free shipping but was 4 or 5 dollars more expensive. Sometimes I get the sales over the free shipping sometimes I don't. But I always try and shoot for same day or next day shipping which pops up in a great survey so it pays off in the long run.
I noticed if you have an item priced at market value and you have it listed as Free Shipping/no offers..when they watch it you cant really submit an offer. You'll loose money sending offers this way because its already priced right. Then they may counter offer lower to where you'll lose the deal..
It sucks when they dont buy right away.
Smashed the button before watching the video. ☺️ Is there a way can offer free shipping, but charge west coast customers like California a shipping charge? I’m on the east coast.
Also with free shipping when running sales or coupons you are discounting the shipping to
thank uuuu
Turn offers off if you gonna add free shipping
Unless an item is so expensive/padded that free shipping won't kill the profit, ie a $250-300 item won't become unprofitable by offering free shipping. If it does, your margin was never there to begin with basically.
Should we do free 60 day returns for used clothing?? to get faster sales?
If I see an item for $25 free shipping and another $20 + $5.01 shipping, i buy the one that charges shipping, cause my state doesn't charge sales tax on shipping on ebay.
What's the thoughts on paying extra for delivery signature to confirm delivery? When the seller pays for shipping. Is this a tax write-off?
Hi from Germany.
I would like to ask if we sell brand new items at half price, is it recommended to charge shipping? In Europe, different brands have price labels. I sell those Items for half or less. For example, the Brax jeans label usually is between 104 and 99 euros, but my price is 46.99. each pair of jeans cost me 14 euros. I eccept also offer. what is your recommendation?
I don't understand how to keep shipping around $6.00 when sending clothing that weighs 2 lbs and more?
Yeah me either
Flat rate maybe? most likely seller shares actual shipping costs
nice
If you sell in a category that everyone ships first class or media mail I can't understand why you would ever charge for shipping instead of building it into the price of the item. I do 300k per year selling media such as CDs, movies, and video games and everything is free shipping. I know personally many of the biggest 6-7 figure media sellers in the game in these subsections and they all offer free shipping on the platform or offer free shipping after a certain threshold is met. There is no way they are charging 3-5$ per item for shipping and competing with the countless free shippers out there. Maybe if you are selling clothing or something then ya go charge for shipping since you are using priority mail or ups and price can fluctuate based on location
Do you do free Return as well
I noticed most toys under 1lb sale with free shipping t that's what I see in most comps
charging shipping cost does not make sale down from experience.if you ship cheap item cost less than $10 charge item cost plus shipping other wise customer wont buy and ask question and more chance of return. an example $2 face wipe if we charge $9 ( $2+$7 shipping) no one will buy it :)
Makes sense
WHAT IF YOU HAVE GLOBAL SHIPPING? Would I have to pay umpteen amount of money to ship itbeing its "free".? THANKS
Small seller; no store. Right now I charge for shipping and do free returns. What if I flip that and offer free shipping and buyer pays for returns? Thoughts?
offer free return for damaged item or wrong item send..rest charge return fee..charge shipping for cheap items...expensive item offer free shipping example order over $50 or $100
With a small margin like sports cards would you charge shipping?
Yes
how can you add free shipping to your listing? it only gives me the option of "free for buyer, you pay shipping" but I already included shipping in the listing price. I can't find the just "free shipping" option.
"Free for buyer, you pay shipping" is "free shipping".
Just include it on the price. Either way they'll pay 🤷
Doesn’t work that way, oddly enough
So does EBay charge you for what the item sold for including the shipping price?
Yes...they charge you either way
Does anyone else have problem with eBay mobile app shipping labels? I will save it to Dropbox and 30% of them just dissapear! They never show up in ANYWHERE I save them to. I contacted eBay and they said it's a mobile app problem but I've seen no else have problems
Amazon OWNs Zappos
I've always had better luck moving items doing free shipping.
If the item is super heavy I will charge for shipping.
If I see an item for $25 free shipping and another $20 + $5.01 shipping, i buy the one that charges shipping, cause my state doesn't charge sales tax on shipping on ebay.