How to Reduce Shipping Costs on eBay Items

eBay sellers are always looking for ways to cut costs and increase their bottom line. Shipping and packaging are one area where eBay sellers can continually evaluate processes to save money.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• eBay Account
• Internet Access
• Priority Mailers
• Poly Mailers

1. For shipping within the USA, if items weigh less than 14 ounces, use First Class mail. The rates are lower and the package arrives just as quickly. You can purchase plain white poly mailers on eBay very inexpensively.

2. For shipping within the USA, use USPS Priority Mail for items weighing 14 ounces or more. You can get free supplies from your post office or from USPS.com. They are shipped to your door, free.

3. Use the Priority Mail Tyvek envelopes instead of boxes, when applicable. The envelopes weigh considerably less than a box, and you will pay less for shipping.

4. Pay attention to your packaging and how much it weighs. Overpacking can cost you extra money. The more packaging you use, the more your package will weigh, and the more it will cost to ship it. (I’ve seen it happen on my own items, specifically first class and international shipping. By trimming the packaging just a bit so that the weight stays below a particular threshold, I can save $2 on one package sometimes.)

5. Buy labels and poly mailers in quantity. Many can be found on eBay. Price shop these items on a regular basis. You might find a better deal the next time you need them, so take time to price shop.

6. If you are shipping First Class, International, Media Mail, or Parcel Post, research how to get free boxes. (See my eHow article titled "How to Get Free Shipping Supplies for your Home Business.)

7. Save money by shipping online using USPS.com.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't get creative and turn the USPS Priority Mail supplies inside out and use them for other classes of mail. If the post office catches you, the recipient (your customer) will be charged for Priority Mail upgrade. That is not good customer service!

Resources

• Learn more about eBay selling

[slphilbrick]

on 9/12/2008 This is important info. that I have learned from selling on Ebay.... Your warning is correct too... media mail used to be badly misused. I bought a motorcycle seat and it was shipped this way !! How they got away with that, I don't know.