The death of free shipping...

[Beachkid23]

I tried it for one year. Everything was going to have free shipping on it. I think I lost out on making a lot of money. And I think I'm done with it. Even though I sold a lot it seems like I spent a lot on shipping as well. So I have been changing all of my listings as I list them to include shipping on everything. I don't know if I will sell as much but so far there doesn't seem to be much difference. Anyone else offer free shipping on everything? Or do you charge shipping for everything and has it gone well if you do?

 

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[dieselram94]

It depends what the item is. Small items I often do free shipping but on large expensive to ship items I always charge shipping...


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[jerseyben]

I tried it for one year. Everything was going to have free shipping on it. I think I lost out on making a lot of money. And I think I'm done with it. Even though I sold a lot it seems like I spent a lot on shipping as well. So I have been changing all of my listings as I list them to include shipping on everything. I don't know if I will sell as much but so far there doesn't seem to be much difference. Anyone else offer free shipping on everything? Or do you charge shipping for everything and has it gone well if you do?

It all evens out in the end.

There really is no such thing as "free shipping".

There is only the bottom line as most people know they have $100 to spend on X item, regardless of if the item has free shipping. If the shipping is $10, then the buyer will only spend $90 on the item, in theory.

At the end of the day, you still have your same fixed costs and the buyer still only has their $100. It all evens out.

The only time I would say this DOESNT work is if you start a .99 auction and the items sells cheap but still costs you $5 to ship.

 

[dieselram94]

It all evens out in the end.

There really is no such thing as "free shipping".

There is only the bottom line as most people know they have $100 to spend on X item, regardless of if the item has free shipping. If the shipping is $10, then the buyer will only spend $90 on the item, in theory.

At the end of the day, you still have your same fixed costs and the buyer still only has their $100. It all evens out.

The only time I would say this DOESNT work is if you start a .99 auction and the items sells cheap but still costs you $5 to ship.

It's a psychological thing...


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[Tallone]

I disagree with you, jerseyben, but only to a limited degree. Ebay provides a checkbox filter for "free shipping" and, I'm sure, there are some buyers who utilize this feature thinking that they are getting something for less cost and not realizing that the seller has, very likely, increased the price to cover their cost of shipping. Ebay encourages sellers to offer "free" shipping claiming that this increases sales. I have my doubts so I rarely offer "free" shipping for two reasons: 1) I want to know my costs; and 2) Raising my price to cover the cost of shipping makes my item look more expensive in comparison to others.

 

[dieselram94]

I disagree with you, jerseyben, but only to a limited degree. Ebay provides a checkbox filter for "free shipping" and, I'm sure, there are some buyers who utilize this feature thinking that they are getting something for less cost and not realizing that the seller has, very likely, increased the price to cover their cost of shipping. Ebay encourages sellers to offer "free" shipping claiming that this increases sales. I have my doubts so I rarely offer "free" shipping for two reasons: 1) I want to know my costs; and 2) Raising my price to cover the cost of shipping makes my item look more expensive in comparison to others.

Bingo


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[mugsisme]

One thing I've noticed ... the few returns I got were people who bought things with free shipping. I think when people realize that they have already invested some money in the item, they sorta don't want to return it. It's basically money lost to them. Especially being that they have to pay shipping in both directions at that point. I only offer free shipping on my big ticket items. I figure if someone is willing to pluck down a couple hundred bucks on a piece of jewelry, I can afford to knock $15-20 off my profit for shipping it.

 

[2Minnesota]

Agree with what Mugs said. I rarely offer free shipping because if item is returned due to "doesn't fit" "wrong color" or whatever reason then you do not have to refund the shopping charge. I don't like paying for someone to try on a pair of shoes or a shirt and have to eat that shipping cost so they could try it out. Of course if the item isn't as described I would refund the shipping. If you offer free shipping you have to refund the full amount they paid for the item on returns. It slows people down in hasty buying/returning. Plus it makes it easier for doing taxes. Beach kid, charge for shipping

 

[JustinNH]

It's a psychological thing...


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100% correct.

I try free shipping first as many people filter on free shipping, but if it doesn't sell, I break the shipping out of the item price and charge it on the shipping line and it often sells. Some people like free shipping, some people like a lower cost for the item and accept shipping needs to be charged.

Any reasonable buyer can add two numbers together. 15+0 = 15 and 10+5 = 15.

 

[G.I.B.]

It's a psychological thing...


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It's why $19.99 works better than $20. $24,993 is waaaaay better than $25,000 when buying a car. WAAAAAAAAY better.

People are so easy-

 

[cyberdan]

I don't like to offer free shipping but I do on ocassion. Funny thing is, when I shop on ebay I always click on the "free shipping" button. I just do not like surprises.

 

[diggummup]

I'm not a big believer on the word free when applied to many things. As a buyer I will search using "price+shipping: lowest first". Free shipping doesn't even enter the equation. As a seller, I do offer free shipping on some items and others not. It depends on the item's size, ease of packing, cost of shipping, original cost of item, listed/selling price of item, it all play a part. Of course I will always increase any price to make up for this so called "free shipping" so in reality it isn't free anyway. Just as I always list using the .99 or .95 ending versus a whole dollar figure as mentioned by G.I.B.. Yes, it's a psychological thing.

 

[G.I.B.]

Free shipping -vs- pay for shipping

Each guy is worth $1 One set offers free shipping, the other does not. Did you pay the extra dollar for free shipping?

Hang around a used car lot for a while if the concept eludes you... hehehe

 

[Beachkid23]

I have listed a couple this week. Highest shopping I've put on is $3.00. Both items are selling. With shipping and with free shipping. So I guess it doesn't matter. If they want it they buy despite the shipping. Or just reflect the offer in it. 1 item was $49 with 3 ship. They offered $44. Another item was 39 with free ship, someone bought it up. Oh well! Two sold, on to the next!

 

[Beachkid23]

It has been 10 days and I started putting three dollar shipping on everything. Things have been still selling. Higher shipping on other stuff it seems like I have more sales now than I did before. So free shipping is dead in less it's something I really want to get rid of.

 

[2ndisbest]

Everything I do is free shipping. I just calculate the cost going to California (highest us shipping for me) and roll it into the price. If I ship something to the midwest more profit for me. The real reason I offer free shipping is as a top rated plus seller your 20% discount on final value fees doesn't work on final value fees for shipping.