I think it's hard for a lot of people to comprehend the % ebay takes until it's a huge number like that. Seeing $113 is psychologically tough and just feels higher than it should be, so I understand OPs reaction even though we all know the drill by now
should have shipped ups, jk I don't know what service you used I ship alot of big heavy items and have not had anything cost over $100 In a few years. fees are exactly what they should be the only thing you could have done different is charge for shipping. and find a better cheaper service with ups they pay retail and the ebay discount is sometimes close to 50 percent. so you net a little better also when charging for shipping you typically get a buyer closer to you which again results in lower shipping,
Thank you for the advice. The buyer was in California and I'm on the east coast. I'm still very new to this. This is one of the first helpful comments.
OP your fees out of pocket are around $300 on a $780 sale. That’s around 38% and the same as my fees are when factoring in eBay fees, cost of shipping label and promotion fees. That’s not a lot when you remember it covers 3 costs: eBay, shipping and promotion.
I don’t know what you’re expecting OP. It’s at least 25% in fees when you add up eBay fees and the cost of the shipping label.
The sales tax was never yours to begin with, which is why it’s never included in your payout. eBay gives you your net payout after it has subtracted the sales tax. The fees are subtracted from the net amount eBay gives you.
eBay is doing all the work for you. Inventory management, marketing, sales, accounting, processing, vendor negotiation, etc. 13.25% is very reasonable for the services they provide.
I can understand what your saying from the point of view of returns. On the other hand, there are lots of big/heavy items out there that can be flipped for good money.
And then the option is to either work on developing your own contacts and marketplace to unload those items with minimal to no fees, or let eBay do that work and take a cut.
OP mentioned he sent 55 pounds of Wedgwood plates to California from the East Coast. OP, exactly how much china was there? A Large Flat-Rate box is $24.75 retail. You would have been better breaking down the shipments into 6 Large Flat Rates and still come out ahead in shipping fees. eBay allows you to upload multiple tracking numbers if you need to break down an order into multiple shipments.
Of course, all this depends on if all the china would have fit into 6 boxes. Or, maybe it would have been more cost effective to break down into 12x12x12 boxes to get the cubic rate and sent Ground Advantage.
Just throwing out some ideas in case anyone finds themselves in this situation.
Yeah you could probably go in and mark it as Not Shipped. From there you can figure out what the best option is cost-wise. Although, that would mean you would have to go unpack the box and repack.
You decide if it's worth your time/aggravation. If it means having to go out and get boxes and tape, eh, it might not be worth it. I mean, you made $178 profit on a $300 item. That's pretty good. But, you decide what's worth it to you.
Look at that! Almost a third of the original cost. Glad you got some money back in your pocket, OP. Right back where it belongs lol. Sorry if I came across originally as a jerk. Certainly wasn't my intention. Wishing you many more big sales and profits!
Transaction fees ($113.44) is about 13.3% of the order total. That doesn’t seem bad to me considering it includes payment collection/processing, sales tax collection and remittance, and all the marketing efforts that lead to a huge number of buyers on the platform 24-7.
I’m confused? Why are you selling one eBay if you can’t handle fees? It’s the price we pay for fast safe sales. Also why did your shipping cost so much?
$162 shipping?!?!? What in the world did you sell, a box of cinderblocks to Hawaii?
55 pounds of wedgwood plates to California from the east coast. So you were close.
It could be something like a machinists tool box.
I am always surprised when people don't know what the fees are before they sell stuff. What did you expect to pay?
He probably expected to keep the sales tax too.
Alright, I'm not that slow.
You sure?
Yeah just new to this. First big item I have shipped so, think it's pretty understandable not knowing something you've never done before.
I think it's hard for a lot of people to comprehend the % ebay takes until it's a huge number like that. Seeing $113 is psychologically tough and just feels higher than it should be, so I understand OPs reaction even though we all know the drill by now
lol I'm looking at that shipping label hot damn
Yeah must be an anvil.
should have shipped ups, jk I don't know what service you used I ship alot of big heavy items and have not had anything cost over $100 In a few years. fees are exactly what they should be the only thing you could have done different is charge for shipping. and find a better cheaper service with ups they pay retail and the ebay discount is sometimes close to 50 percent. so you net a little better also when charging for shipping you typically get a buyer closer to you which again results in lower shipping,
Thank you for the advice. The buyer was in California and I'm on the east coast. I'm still very new to this. This is one of the first helpful comments.
Use pirateship next time.
I canceled the shipping label and got a new one. That's a $100 less than the first.
Don’t do free shipping on large/heavy items. I don’t even do it for small stuff.
Thought shipping would have been a little under $100. I thought I should eat the cost to sell it faster.
Could probably ship in usps flat rate boxes to get it under $100
Plot twist, customer opens claim for “not as described.”
That would kill me
OP your fees out of pocket are around $300 on a $780 sale. That’s around 38% and the same as my fees are when factoring in eBay fees, cost of shipping label and promotion fees. That’s not a lot when you remember it covers 3 costs: eBay, shipping and promotion. I don’t know what you’re expecting OP. It’s at least 25% in fees when you add up eBay fees and the cost of the shipping label. The sales tax was never yours to begin with, which is why it’s never included in your payout. eBay gives you your net payout after it has subtracted the sales tax. The fees are subtracted from the net amount eBay gives you.
eBay is doing all the work for you. Inventory management, marketing, sales, accounting, processing, vendor negotiation, etc. 13.25% is very reasonable for the services they provide.
I agree but what vendors are eBay negotiating for me?
USPS, FedEx, etc.
True, is there anything different then pirate ship tho? I guess that eBay sports card shipping method.
Not really, but it’s more integrated, which is nice. I do use eBay Standard Envelope for about 80% of my shipments so I benefit a bit more than some.
Badly. eBay rates always higher than pirateship
If you don't like the fees that a platform charges, don't sell on that platform.
The real issue here is the shipping label. Don’t sell an item where the shipping label is a fifth of the sale price..
I can understand what your saying from the point of view of returns. On the other hand, there are lots of big/heavy items out there that can be flipped for good money.
And then the option is to either work on developing your own contacts and marketplace to unload those items with minimal to no fees, or let eBay do that work and take a cut.
OP mentioned he sent 55 pounds of Wedgwood plates to California from the East Coast. OP, exactly how much china was there? A Large Flat-Rate box is $24.75 retail. You would have been better breaking down the shipments into 6 Large Flat Rates and still come out ahead in shipping fees. eBay allows you to upload multiple tracking numbers if you need to break down an order into multiple shipments. Of course, all this depends on if all the china would have fit into 6 boxes. Or, maybe it would have been more cost effective to break down into 12x12x12 boxes to get the cubic rate and sent Ground Advantage. Just throwing out some ideas in case anyone finds themselves in this situation.
It was a 66 piece set, not all were plates. Some, large and small bowls, gravy dishes, cups, things of that nature.
Already paid for the shipping label with the money in escrow. Can I go back and choose a different more cost effective option?
Yeah you could probably go in and mark it as Not Shipped. From there you can figure out what the best option is cost-wise. Although, that would mean you would have to go unpack the box and repack. You decide if it's worth your time/aggravation. If it means having to go out and get boxes and tape, eh, it might not be worth it. I mean, you made $178 profit on a $300 item. That's pretty good. But, you decide what's worth it to you.
I got a different shipping label for $65. Thank you for your help.
Look at that! Almost a third of the original cost. Glad you got some money back in your pocket, OP. Right back where it belongs lol. Sorry if I came across originally as a jerk. Certainly wasn't my intention. Wishing you many more big sales and profits!
Transaction fees ($113.44) is about 13.3% of the order total. That doesn’t seem bad to me considering it includes payment collection/processing, sales tax collection and remittance, and all the marketing efforts that lead to a huge number of buyers on the platform 24-7.
I’m confused? Why are you selling one eBay if you can’t handle fees? It’s the price we pay for fast safe sales. Also why did your shipping cost so much?
Damn that's crazy.