How to Determine the Shipping Costs for eBay Items
Selling items on eBay can be intimidating. When you create your first auction, you will find several options that can affect your bottom line. One field in particular is the shipping field: Each item you sell on eBay can be linked to shipping services. Depending on the weight and size of the item, the cost of service may vary. For each item you sell, you must figure out what to charge your buyers so they will cover the cost of the service without overpaying for shipping.
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Instructions
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Package your item, then weigh and measure the parcel. Even if your item only weighs a few ounces, it is important to note the total weight to accurately estimate shipping costs. If you measure or weigh your item before wrapping it, keep in mind that the weight of the box or the packaging materials can change your original shipping estimates.
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Select your shipping service provider. Use the United States Postal Service (USPS) with First Class shipping or Media Mail (if you are shipping books, CDs or other media-related material) if you are shipping an item smaller than a CD. If your item is larger than a CD, consider Priority Mail or UPS Ground Shipping.
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Calculate your shipping costs based on the shipper's calculations. USPS, UPS, DHL and all other major shipping services provide online tools to calculate shipping. Visit their website for an accurate estimate.
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Calculate extra costs incurred with shipping materials, your time or gas to get to your local post office. All of these factors should be considered on a reasonable scale to account for resources you have used to ship their item. Add the original amount you calculated for shipping your item to your additional expense total to determine your shipping and handling estimate.
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Tips & Warnings
Consider offering free shipping for better eBay promotions and improved seller feedback. EBay offers better item promotions and buyers respond better to items that offer free shipping service. Even though this means that the buyer won't pay extra for shipping, your item typically will sell for a few dollars more simply because you offered free shipping.
If you get inquiries for international shipping, always ask for the buyer's location so you can calculate international shipping costs. It is OK to tell the buyer they will have to pay more for this service than if the item was shipped within the continental United States.
