Question:

How to figure out shipping on Ebay for a seller?

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I am selling my first item on Ebay but how do I figure out how much shipping is, Where to get the supplies-box etc, what kind of shipping to get, is it usps of ups, ahh, help!!

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  1. I always just put ~$4 flat so I don't have to figure it out and it usually costs under that if you're shipping within the US.


  2. When you list an item, you choose whether it is to be a flat rate charge or a charge based on the weights of the boxed items. If you want to do your listings OFFLINE, download TURBOLISTER free from ebay. Once you have finished with your listings, you can upload them anytime or schedule a date and time when you want your auctions to start.

    If you plan to sell on a regular basis, you can purchase an inexpensive postal scale on ebay for $15 to $20. I bought one several years ago and it still works just fine and is always in sync with the scales at the post office.

    The links to the postal rates effective May, 2008:

    http://www.usps.com/prices/welcome.htm

    Regarding shipping methods:

    Any smaller, lightweight items that can fit in an envelope and be well protected can go first class mail.

    Larger and / or heavier items are usually sent via USPS Priority mail. The greatest majority of items listed on ebay are mailed Priority Mail.  The REASON?  The BOXES ARE FREE from the USPS and they are delivered FREE to your doorstep!!!  You can either pick them up at your local PO but for a greater selection of boxes and to save gas, you can make your selections at the USPS website. Once your FREE order has been placed, the USPS will deliver your boxes FREE to your doorstep. Howya gonna beat that?

    http://shop.usps.com/webapp/wcs/stores/s...

    Beware of Media Mail- Thousands of ebay members are in violation of this postal regulation. Books, magazines, etc can be sent media mail PROVIDED they contain NO advertising. If the books/mags, etc. contain advertising, regardless of the items’ age, they CANNOT be sent media mail. The post office does randomly open media mail packages to catch violators. In addition, Media mail is ever so slow as it can take 7 to 10 days for delivery and in some instances up to 21 days. You will find buyers hounding you for their items when they don’t receive them in 5 days. Sometime it’s just best to use Priority Mail.  

    Most mail in the US is moved by commercial air carriers. The USPS is the largest customer of the commercial carriers. When weight or space limitations have been reached on a plane, the low priority mail sits in holding areas until there is room for it on another flight, which, sometimes, can be a week or more.

    I suggest you ‘go with the flow’ and use Priority Mail. It also is quick, 2 to 3 day delivery in most cases.

    People are increasingly complaining about the high cost of ebay and PayPal fees.  I say, try establishing your own business and reach the tens of millions people that ebay reaches and find out how much your overhead is.  In short, the greater the potential market, the greater the potential for higher selling prices. I say ‘Kwitchurbellyakin’ to those complainers.

    The only other thing, avoid selling ‘nickel and dime’ items. People who list and sell .99 items are wasting their time.

  3. Calculating shipping for an item is not as complicated as you may think. If you plan to start selling regularly on eBay, you will want to invest in a digital scale. You can find them for $10 or less at office supply stores, or my favorite place - eBay! Follow these steps-

    http://www.eshopowner.com/ebay-faq-5-how...

    Learn more about eBay How-to's-

    http://www.ehow.com/members/atlantagolfs...

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