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eBay is at it again ***A Message from Kristina Klausen - Shipping Update***
jessewvu
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eBay is working on mixing things up again. I just got off the phone with my account manager and she said that in the near future, eBay is going to STOP people from charging more for shipping if someone else, selling the same item, charges less!
She said this was going to be an initiative of eBay to reduce the fluctuations on shipping charges between similar items and make them "more uniform". I don't know what that means but from talking to her, it sounded like eBay is going to start requiring people to charge only actual postage/handling costs.
Here is some info from a post that was put up today.
Hi everyone...This is Kristina Klausen from eBay’s Shipping team. Shipping is an integral part of the eBay experience. We’re focused on making changes that both improve the buying experience and benefit sellers who are working hard to create great shipping experiences.
There are several changes related to both these goals that I’d like to share with you.
Shipping Costs Factored into Best Match
As we’ve mentioned before, with the increased competition in eCommerce, buyers have become much more sensitive to shipping costs on eBay. Expensive shipping is a reason some buyers leave eBay. To address this, we’re doing a number of things to provide more exposure through Best Match for listings that provide good shipping prices and offer the best opportunity to deliver great buyer satisfaction.
As Jamie Iannone recently announced, Best Match is now the site-wide default for search results. Best Match already considers factors such as Time Ending, Relevance, Seller Performance, and Shipping & Handling.
Items from sellers with higher Detailed Seller Ratings scores for shipping costs may receive more exposure in search results, and items from sellers with below average DSRs may receive less. As sellers’ DSR scores improve, so does their search exposure. Over time, and category by category, how DSRs are treated in Best Match will be fine-tuned. As Lorrie announced, when the full Seller Dashboard launches in May, sellers will be able to see how their shipping DSR scores are impacting their visibility in search.
Coming soon, Best Match will also take into consideration how the shipping cost for an item compares to other items in the same sub-category, and also whether the shipping price is specified. Items with shipping costs significantly above the average cost for other items in the same sub-category may receive less exposure.
We will monitor as we go to make sure we’re achieving the goals of improving the overall buying experience on eBay and benefiting sellers who are creating great shipping experiences.
Phasing in Required Specified Shipping
Online buyers today expect to know the exact shipping price for an item before they place an order. And knowing the exact shipping price at the time of bidding or purchase on eBay is an important driver of buyer satisfaction.
When sellers specify the shipping price and service in the Shipping Details section of their listing (not just in the description) this information shows up for buyers in key places during the purchasing process -- on the Search Results page, at the top of the Item page, and in the Shipping Details section at the bottom of the listing. Listings with shipping specified in this way are more likely to sell and attract better DSR scores. For these reasons, starting this week, we’ll begin requiring that all new sellers who are listing for the first time specify their shipping costs using the Shipping Details section.
A few months later, specified shipping costs will become a requirement for most listings on eBay, including listings from 3rd party listing tools. (Exemptions will apply to certain categories like Vehicles, or services such as Freight.) The good news is that the vast majority of listings on eBay already include specified shipping. For sellers who are not yet taking advantage of specified shipping, we encourage you to adopt this important best practice right away.
New USPS Larger Flat Rate Box
Many eBay sellers have come to appreciate the Priority Mail Flat Rate Boxes offered by the United States Postal Services (USPS) for $8.95 to anywhere within the US. In response to demand, USPS recently introduced a new Flat Rate Box item, which is 50% larger. The Large Flat Rate Box measures 12 x 12 x 5-1/2 inches and is priced at $12.95 for domestic shipping.
The new Large Flat Rate box is now included in the eBay Shipping calculator, and we expect to incorporate it into our PayPal shipping labels solution later in the summer. Sellers are encouraged to make sure they use adequate postage - $12.95 domestically - when they use the Large Flat Rate Box. The Postal Service may return short-paid packages to the sender for additional postage.
eBay is working on mixing things up again. I just got off the phone with my account manager and she said that in the near future, eBay is going to STOP people from charging more for shipping if someone else, selling the same item, charges less!
She said this was going to be an initiative of eBay to reduce the fluctuations on shipping charges between similar items and make them "more uniform". I don't know what that means but from talking to her, it sounded like eBay is going to start requiring people to charge only actual postage/handling costs.Here is some info from a post that was put up today.
Hi everyone...This is Kristina Klausen from eBay’s Shipping team. Shipping is an integral part of the eBay experience. We’re focused on making changes that both improve the buying experience and benefit sellers who are working hard to create great shipping experiences.
There are several changes related to both these goals that I’d like to share with you.
Shipping Costs Factored into Best Match
As we’ve mentioned before, with the increased competition in eCommerce, buyers have become much more sensitive to shipping costs on eBay. Expensive shipping is a reason some buyers leave eBay. To address this, we’re doing a number of things to provide more exposure through Best Match for listings that provide good shipping prices and offer the best opportunity to deliver great buyer satisfaction.
As Jamie Iannone recently announced, Best Match is now the site-wide default for search results. Best Match already considers factors such as Time Ending, Relevance, Seller Performance, and Shipping & Handling.
Items from sellers with higher Detailed Seller Ratings scores for shipping costs may receive more exposure in search results, and items from sellers with below average DSRs may receive less. As sellers’ DSR scores improve, so does their search exposure. Over time, and category by category, how DSRs are treated in Best Match will be fine-tuned. As Lorrie announced, when the full Seller Dashboard launches in May, sellers will be able to see how their shipping DSR scores are impacting their visibility in search.
Coming soon, Best Match will also take into consideration how the shipping cost for an item compares to other items in the same sub-category, and also whether the shipping price is specified. Items with shipping costs significantly above the average cost for other items in the same sub-category may receive less exposure.
We will monitor as we go to make sure we’re achieving the goals of improving the overall buying experience on eBay and benefiting sellers who are creating great shipping experiences.
Phasing in Required Specified Shipping
Online buyers today expect to know the exact shipping price for an item before they place an order. And knowing the exact shipping price at the time of bidding or purchase on eBay is an important driver of buyer satisfaction.
When sellers specify the shipping price and service in the Shipping Details section of their listing (not just in the description) this information shows up for buyers in key places during the purchasing process -- on the Search Results page, at the top of the Item page, and in the Shipping Details section at the bottom of the listing. Listings with shipping specified in this way are more likely to sell and attract better DSR scores. For these reasons, starting this week, we’ll begin requiring that all new sellers who are listing for the first time specify their shipping costs using the Shipping Details section.
A few months later, specified shipping costs will become a requirement for most listings on eBay, including listings from 3rd party listing tools. (Exemptions will apply to certain categories like Vehicles, or services such as Freight.) The good news is that the vast majority of listings on eBay already include specified shipping. For sellers who are not yet taking advantage of specified shipping, we encourage you to adopt this important best practice right away.
New USPS Larger Flat Rate Box
Many eBay sellers have come to appreciate the Priority Mail Flat Rate Boxes offered by the United States Postal Services (USPS) for $8.95 to anywhere within the US. In response to demand, USPS recently introduced a new Flat Rate Box item, which is 50% larger. The Large Flat Rate Box measures 12 x 12 x 5-1/2 inches and is priced at $12.95 for domestic shipping.
The new Large Flat Rate box is now included in the eBay Shipping calculator, and we expect to incorporate it into our PayPal shipping labels solution later in the summer. Sellers are encouraged to make sure they use adequate postage - $12.95 domestically - when they use the Large Flat Rate Box. The Postal Service may return short-paid packages to the sender for additional postage.
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Add to this the unfairness is cost for some sellers that buy extra packaging materials versus sellers that do not. Another ebay misstep.
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Edited for link.
Russ, NCNE
Good point!
I'd like to see how ebay is going to monitor this.
(The S+H is simply built into the item price. I sell mostly
in designer-fashion and electronics; 98% BIN.)
How does this new scheme impact me?
<< <i><<<So if someone offers free shipping on a rare item and I decide to sell a similar item they won't let me charge shipping?>>>
Good point!
I'd like to see how ebay is going to monitor this >>
I might be concerned about this if the announcement actually said anything like that.
Russ, NCNE
<< <i>ALL of my shipping - in ALL categories - is "FREE."
(The S+H is simply built into the item price. I sell mostly
in designer-fashion and electronics; 98% BIN.)
How does this new scheme impact me? >>
Not much, unless you have nebulous shipping policies and the buyer can't readily tell, based on your listing, what their exact S&H charge will be.
<< <i>So if someone offers free shipping on a rare item and I decide to sell a similar item they won't let me charge shipping?
No, I think they are going to try to use it to keep people from listing an item with a buy it now of $.99 with shipping of $25 when someone else has the same item for a buy it now of $25 with shipping of $.99. It might be so they don't have to monitor that anymore.
This is all news to me but talking with my account rep, it really sounded like they were going to crack down on shipping charges. How they do that is beyond me.
We got onto this when I asked about DSR's less than 5 for shipping when you ship for free. She said eBay wasn't going to monitor that but they were coming out with a bunch of "revisions" to their shipping policies. This being one of many it sounded like to me.
If any of you guys out there have an eBay account manager, give them a call and get their take on the matter. Mine seemed very knowledgeable.
<< <i>ALL of my shipping - in ALL categories - is "FREE."
(The S+H is simply built into the item price. I sell mostly
in designer-fashion and electronics; 98% BIN.)
How does this new scheme impact me? >>
If Best Match actually worked, it would be of benefit to you since it would rank you above the other sellers in your category.
Russ, NCNE
I'm all for that. I think they just need to make the option that fiqures the shipping for you mandatory. Then give the buyer the option
of adding insurance,nice bubble wrap envelope,upgraded shipping. I have bought single coins that I could care less if they were
wrapped in a paper towel and mailed to me. A lot were after paying up to 5 or 6 bucks for shipping and seeing .90 cent on the
envelope....
Edited to add---The sellers will just eliminate combined shipping
<< <i>
<< <i>ALL of my shipping - in ALL categories - is "FREE."
(The S+H is simply built into the item price. I sell mostly
in designer-fashion and electronics; 98% BIN.)
How does this new scheme impact me? >>
Not much, unless you have nebulous shipping policies and the buyer can't readily tell, based on your listing, what their exact S&H charge will be. >>
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"FREE" is shown in the search results shipping-cell.
"FREE" is detailed throughout all listings.
So, I guess this change does not impact me at all.
<< <i>Where does it say anything about enforcing the other seller shipping price vs your shipping price? >>
It doesn't. It just says that criteria will be used in Best Match.
Russ, NCNE
<< <i>"FREE" is shown in the search results shipping-cell.
"FREE" is detailed throughout all listings.
So, I guess this change does not impact me at all. >>
It sounds like if there is any impact, it would be positive.
<< <i>Where does it say anything about enforcing the other seller shipping price vs your shipping price? >>
Again, she was telling me what they seem to be planning, and setting up the enforcement was one of the first steps.
I am not trying to sound like a FOX news alarmest, just trying to figure out what eBay is doing and how it could effect all of us that buy/sell on eBay.
If someone else could call eBay and get some info and post it here, that would be great.
<< <i>Then give the buyer the option
of adding insurance >>
No way in hell.
Russ, NCNE
What I am reading is that they will not allow UNKNOWN shipping. Such as "shipping charges will be determined at checkout" like some sellers do.
The more ebay gets into dictaction of what individual sellers can/cannot do, the more likely they are to be successfully sued as they would no longer be just providing an outlet/venue for the sales but would be "in charge" of most aspects of the sale.
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
<< <i>
<< <i>Where does it say anything about enforcing the other seller shipping price vs your shipping price? >>
It doesn't. It just says that criteria will be used in Best Match.
Russ, NCNE >>
But if it is only for best match now, i think it is only a stepping stone until it goes to the entire site.
<< <i>The more ebay gets into dictaction of what individual sellers can/cannot do, the more likely they are to be successfully sued as they would no longer be just providing an outlet/venue for the sales but would be "in charge" of most aspects of the sale. >>
I would think so, too. In fact, this is one of the reasons I thought they opened a can of worms by only allowing five specific services to be sold as "certified". Once you start policing the content and the circumstances and terms under which certain types of items can be sold, the old "we're just a venue" legal defense is on thinner and thinner ice.
<< <i>Ebay wants to reduce shipping costs to zero because they can't justify taking their percentage on the shipping. That is their motivation. >>
<< <i>No way in hell. >>
Come on Russ...If I buyer has a solid feedback score with no retractions that should be an option for an under 10 or 15 dollar coin.
I have skipped many auctions for common widgets that have 3.99 shipping and in the details it states mandatory insurance for 1.60
more..Back too the shipping cost being as much as the coin is worth..
I am all for mandatory insurance for coins with the value you deal in. But as a small time buyer of common date coins it irritates me
to pay 1.60 for insurance from sellers who are too stupid to relize when the padded envelope shows up it's clear they didn't even
purchase the insurance.
<< <i>But as a small time buyer of common date coins it irritates me
to pay 1.60 for insurance from sellers who are too stupid to relize when the padded envelope shows up it's clear they didn't even
purchase the insurance. >>
The padded envelopes I mail don't show any evidence of insurance having been purchased, but it has, nonetheless.
I understand your sentiment, but the decision about voluntary or mandatory insurance has to be made by the seller when the listing goes up. There is no way to know in advance if the winning bidder will be an honest one like you, or a sleazeball who would deliberately decline insurance knowing that they can file a PayPal claim.
Russ, NCNE
<< <i>The padded envelopes I mail don't show any evidence of insurance having been purchased, but it has, nonetheless. >>
How can you tell that insurance has been purchased then. I have received padded mailers with nothing but a hand
written address and a small postage meter sticker at the top. The 3 times I mailed out coins and the buyers wanted
insurance the post office made me fill out a 2 part form and stick the one on the envelope and I left with the other.
I know using paypal and the automated postage stickers from your computer have it added in. Im talking about the
envelopes and the small mailers with a small metered sticker in the upper corner for .90 cents or close to it.
How would the post office track a package with insurance if there was no bar code to scan?
If the seller uses private insurance, it wouldn't be on the mailer anywhere.
Russ, NCNE
<< <i> understand your sentiment, but the decision about voluntary or mandatory insurance has to be made by the seller when the listing goes up. There is no way to know in advance if the winning bidder will be an honest one like you, or a sleazeball who would deliberately decline insurance knowing that they can file a PayPal claim. >>
I see your point. I guess thats why I only sold 5 items or so before I quit the selling game...I know the few higher priced coins I have
purchased I gladly paid the Insurance..
<< <i>If the seller uses private insurance, it wouldn't be on the mailer anywhere >>
This is why I am so glad I found this forum...Knowledge is a great thing to have. I think I will go eat my Micky D's now the wife is back
with the BIG MACS
Thanks again Russ for bringing me up to speed on the Ins deal..
<< <i>
<< <i>The padded envelopes I mail don't show any evidence of insurance having been purchased, but it has, nonetheless. >>
How can you tell that insurance has been purchased then. I have received padded mailers with nothing but a hand
written address and a small postage meter sticker at the top. The 3 times I mailed out coins and the buyers wanted
insurance the post office made me fill out a 2 part form and stick the one on the envelope and I left with the other. >>
You can't tell. As Russ pointed out, there are private companies one can use to insure packages.
<< <i>They don't get fees on shipping. Leave no stone unturned in trying to squeeze every last dime out of sellers. >>
Well, with PayPal as the only alternative for electronic Payment, eBay most certainly collects 3% on what sellers charge for shipping.
My question is, I don;t mind paying what others charge for cshipping but will this new policy address "handling charges". Handling charges should encompass materials used for preparing a package.
The name is LEE!
The name is LEE!
That is one miserable feature the dumbasses at Ebay dreamed up.
What's Ebay going to do next? Make that the only search option?
Ray
<< <i>I see nothing of concern in that announcement.
Russ, NCNE >>
Russ, I do it's ebay.
As long as smart talk by the educated tends to mislead the general pop, somewhere down the line it will hurt the sellers and it will become a meat market for buyers. Just look at the recent changes and changes forthcoming.
I really hope there's a really strong eBay alternative that's going to hit the scene soon. All the one's I keep hearing about are still ultra weak.
I lose money on shipping typically, so I pretty flexible with what ebay decides at this point.
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