here is a new policy that will start in July and that will make it more difficult for some of us that sell item with reserve, that may not sell or shipping cost can be very different from one zone to another.
Thanks for talking with me. I am following up on our discussion in regards to upcoming changes to shipping. As we discussed, starting in July, all sellers who list their items on eBay.com in the U.S., will be required to specify domestic shipping services and costs in their listing. When sellers specify the shipping services and costs in the Shipping Details section of their listing, this information shows up for buyers in key places during the purchasing process, like the shipping cost column in the search results page, the top of the View Item page, and the shipping details section at the bottom of the View Item page. Knowing this information upfront helps buyers in making informed decisions and they are less likely to be disappointed with the transaction.
Starting in July, the requirement will go into effect and sellers will simply not be allowed to list items that do not specify shipping. Sellers are encouraged to begin specifying shipping in their listings now, as listings without specified shipping may receive less exposure in search. Specified shipping costs will become a requirement for most listings on eBay, including listings from 3rd party listing tools. Note, exemptions will apply to certain categories like Vehicles, or services such as Freight. Sellers can specify freight without entering any cost, but they will need to specify freight as a shipping service type.
If you are not yet using specified shipping, we encourage you to adopt this best practice right away. Listings with shipping specified in this way are more likely to sell and attract higher DSRs.
Sellers who sell internationally should also specify their international shipping costs to ensure their visibility to international buyers is not reduced.
For sellers looking to improve their overall shipping practices, here are some tips:
1. Specify your shipping cost using "Flat Rate" or "Calculated" shipping in the shipping details. With eBay's Shipping Calculator, eBay will automatically calculate the shipping costs for your buyer based on your ZIP Code, the buyer's ZIP Code, package details, and shipping service.
2. Be specific about the shipping services you offer. Give buyers options with shipping services. You can select the shipping services that you want to offer when you list your item. You may want to select one inexpensive service and one fast service.
3. Specify your handling time. Specify the amount of time it will take you to ship the item after you receive payment from the buyer. Providing buyers this information lets them know how long it will take to receive the item.
4. Provide details about any packaging or handling costs. If you decide to add a handling cost, let the buyer know what the costs include. In the item description, clearly state how your item will be packaged and what the related costs are.
5. Offer shipping discounts. Offer buyers savings on shipping when they purchase multiple items from you. This may encourage them to buy additional items from you.
For more tips on shipping, visit
http://pages.ebay.com/sellercentral/shipping.html#best I hope you found this information helpful. Thanks again for your time. Have a good day!
Regards,
PATRICIA
eBay Seller Development
Wendell
