How can you afford to offer free shipping?
lightningboy
Posts: 1,483 ✭✭✭
I'm starting to see quite a bit of Ebay listings that offer free shipping. I can see offering that perk for cards that will sell for $100's of dollars, but I'm looking at lots that might not sell for more than the .99 opening bid. How can that possibly be worth it - both profit wise and time/effort?
Am I missing out on some free shipping method out there?
Am I missing out on some free shipping method out there?
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Comments
to the retail price.
FS is also fine for auction items that sell for $30+; much
under that, it is prolly not worth it for the seller.
Sellers with FS do get a slight advantage in Best Match
search returns.
<< <i>I think Power Sellers earn double their seller's fee discount if they offer FS too. >>
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It appears that promotion ended on June 30.
Another promo should be announced, soon.
Sellers adding their shipping costs into the retail price making final value fees larger ... what a great idea .... for eBay!
Buyers are rapidly getting conditioned for it, while sellers are blindsided by "promotions" for final value fee credits.
Eventually, the FVF credit opportunities will fade and eBay will reap all the profits as usual.
I hope I'm wrong, but I think it's a comin' ....
PoppaJ
<< <i>I have a feeling that eBay's next great imposition will be mandatory Free Shipping!
Sellers adding their shipping costs into the retail price making final value fees larger ... what a great idea .... for eBay!
Buyers are rapidly getting conditioned for it, while sellers are blindsided by "promotions" for final value fee credits.
Eventually, the FVF credit opportunities will fade and eBay will reap all the profits as usual.
I hope I'm wrong, but I think it's a comin' ....
PoppaJ >>
I second this. They have constantly and aggressively pursued higher revenue streams, since the death of Yahoo Auctions. One of their biggest flaws I have thought is allowing shipping fees to fall outside the scope of what they get a cut of. This is the main reason people charge high shipping fees as we all know. If they put all payments through PayPal you better believe that they will end separate shipping fees.
It appears right now they are just experiminting with the best way to make this work for "cheap" items, as discussed in this thread when does it stop making sense to include shipping fees. $30-$20-$10?? Ebay will be drawing this line soon.
saucywombat@hotmail.com
1. If you BIN an item for $100, what do you clear with FS - assume a graded card - average cost of shipping.
2. If you sell a card on ebay and give FS - what do you clear - same scenario on card and shipping.
Thanx - mike