Question
OK, I've got this in my auctions as my shipping discount as set in my eBay preferences:
Save up to $2.00 shipping for each additional item.
(Shipping Discounts are offered directly from the seller.)
It shows right under the shipping charges under shipping and payment details, like this:
Shipping and handling:
(within United States) US Postal Service Media Mail: US $3.50
US Postal Service Priority Mail: US $9.25
Save up to $2.00 shipping for each additional item.
(Shipping Discounts are offered directly from the seller.)
So, I got a question today from someone who asked:
Does $2.00 per item mean that total shipping and handling will be $10.00?
I was confused at first because this was for a lot of 5 books. It just so happened that at the top of the page under the item price it says:
Quantity: 1 lot (5 items each)
Cost per item: US $2.00 each
(Not sold individually)
So I wasn't sure which $2.00 the person was talking about. To cover all bases, I defined what each meant.
Then I got another email:
I guess I'm just wondering what is the complete and total charge for lot #XXXXXXXXXX for shipping and handling?
OOOOkkkkkaaaaaaayyyyyy then....
So I'm wondering if the wording (which is eBay's BTW):
Save up to $2.00 shipping for each additional item. is too difficult for most people to understand or just for this person who has very low feedback and already 2 bad feedbacks for non-payment.
So, what do you think? Is that wording too difficult to understand?
Answer
Save up to $2.00 shipping for each additional item.
I think it would be a less confusing if you didn't use the words "additional item" and said instead "each additional auction won".
I'm not sure how meaningful your discount offer is because of the words "up to". A potential buyer has no idea what the discount will be, just that the discount could possibly be as much as $2.00 and as little as $0.01.
Answer
I think the wording sucks! :p
It says "Save up to $2.00 shipping for each additional item". Up to doesn't tell me how much I'm going to pay for shipping. It's too vague.
I think a better way would be to invite them to view your other listings, state that you will combine items to reduce shipping costs and to add $x.xx to shipping for each additional item purchased.
Answer
OK, thanks! The wording is eBay's and the phrase appears in the auctions based on the shipping discount set in my preferences. I'll go with an option that gives better wording then.
Answer
You always have to be careful when stating shipping costs for each additional item. I've had in the past ppl mistake the shipping cost for how much each additional item would cost ( i.e item cost $10 and shipping is $4 plus $1.20 each additional item shipped) so I would get emails asked if I had 20 more LOL
Answer
I don't think it really matters what is stated for shipping. I clearly state the amount of shipping in the description for every auction i.e. (Buyer pays $6.50 shipping) and Still receive emails from people wanting to know what the shipping charge is to a specific zip code.
So I can see how trying to explain shipping discounts for more than one item is confusing to our educated buyers.
I just tell them I'll combine shipping, if they ask.
Answer
Stop it! You're making me laugh!
Answer
Ted,
What may be happening is that the buyers are not trying to be dense, but are politely inquiring if you would reconsider your flat rate if shipping was to a more local zip code.
As soon as the PO jacked up the rates a while back I began to get a flood of local buyers, where previous most were West Coast. I do not use flat rate on zoned items and simply state a shipping weight ( I let them figure it out).
I have never gotten one of those types of emails, and I am a red star seller.
There are many buyers who will try to purchase regionally, hoping the sellers will cut a break on shipping. I have even done it myself on a few occasions, and when such requests are ignored, I will invariably buy elsewhere.
Personally I believe flat rate shipping on zoned items to be a BAD idea, since it kills off any possibilities of developing local niche markets for more common items.
If someone is gonna charge me $7 to ship a 2 lb package, I will damn well try to make sure they are at least zone 8.
Answer
Originally Posted by snakey
Ted,
What may be happening is that the buyers are not trying to be dense, but are politely inquiring if you would reconsider your flat rate if shipping was to a more local zip code.
Personally I believe flat rate shipping on zoned items to be a BAD idea, since it kills off any possibilities of developing local niche markets for more common items.
Actually the type of buyers I refer to in the previous comments are not reading the auction description. I've had some ask for reduced shipping when the listing states an actual amount, sure...I understand the difference.
Since day one, I've always stated an actual amount for shipping in the listing. I've tried every way possible to accommodate more accurate and more appealing ways to present shipping charges but have found the actual, stated amount method to be the least cumbersome and the least time consuming and the most understood!
I believe that most people that use Ebay, understand the "inclusive concept" if you will.....meaning they are bidding with full knowledge of the stated price for shipping and therefore will bid accordingly. When I receive an inquiry asking for a lesser shipping rate I politely write to them and explain the shipping is a fixed amount and ask them to consider that with their bid....Never had any problems doing this and never lost any money doing this.
By the way, I do base my shipping rates on the actual weight of the package for a medium distance zone. I'm not one of those sellers that inflates their shipping rates.
Thanks for the comments.......good stuff
Answer
I have always felt that the 'one size fits all' shipping method only ensures that either the buyer or the seller gets shafted. Personally, I HATE losing money on shipping, even when I know it will 'average out'.
And I also feel that by becoming a more-or-less standard method that it has killed a potentially great oppurtunity for sellers to develop a regional clientele, and therefor ensure a certain degree of branding.
SOme people can be very finicky about shipping costs. I myself refused to bid on a present for a friend because the seller wouldnt drop the price 25 CENTS on shipping. I set a max price and refuse to budge from it. Not even by pennies.