Does anyone here who sells on EBAY charge a shipping and handling fee?

[Maraya1969]

I charged $2.50 for this vase because I have to pack it really well and because of gas etc. I think that is fair but I wonder if anyone thinks it is not.

I need to go back to the ebay forums. <sigh> Have to learn to maneuver them all over and I remember they weren't actually PC friendly years ago.

[Webster Green]

1. Sounds fair to me..

I've charged as much as $40.00 in handling fees in addition to the shipping cost for some hard to pack large glass solar tubes. Nobody complained about it.

[Sherman A1]

2. Years ago when I did sell on Ebay

I would charge enough to cover the postage, materials and such (including my time and gasoline) to ship the item, sometimes that was $7 or $8. Several times I caught some flak for it, but I always had it clearly posted in the item description. I really think you are not charging enough in your case. Don't take the hit on your item's sale price just to cover the S&H. As long as the buyer understands ahead of time, they agree to the deal. If they don't want the item that is their choice.

Be fair to yourself


:hi:

[napi21]

3. I don't usually charge a handling chg. because I try not to sell

fragile items, but if something takes more packing etc, that's fine. The sellers I have a problem with are the ones who list am item for an artificially low price (lilke .99) and show shipping charges of $15.00 when you know the items weighs less than 1 pound!

[Demit]

4. As a buyer, I always take the S&H cost into account when deciding whether to bid.

If I want the item and it's hard to find, the shipping cost doesn't really matter. If there are a lot of the same items and somebody charges less for S&H, I'm more likely to bid on that one. Buyers aren't making complicated judgments on what's 'fair' to the seller; they're looking at the bottom line cost to them. If it's a commonplace item, they're likely to bid on one that has a lower S&H charge. The thing I really don't like is a seller who doesn't post the shipping at all, and you have to ask them. Man, I hate that.

Edited to add: As a seller, I didn't charge a handling fee. But it wasn't a business for me, I was getting rid of stuff I didn't want & was grateful it would be gone, lol.

[Arkansas Granny]

5. I don't sell on ebay, but when I buy I expect to pay shipping and

handling that is higher than the actual shipping cost. As long as the terms are spelled out clearly in your listing I think most buyers pretty much expect that type of charge. After all, your time and effort is worth something and people understand that. If they think you are charging excessive amounts, they are free not to bid on the item.

[Kahuna]

6. I generally don't unless I have to purchase specific supplies for the item.

And then it would just be my cost. Then I would state in the ad that the shipping cost will include shipping supplies (if needed).

[Pab Sungenis]

7. I usually charge for the cost of materials

Padded envelope or bubble wrap (if needed), the cost of a box if it's something that can't be shipped flat. Then I add on the appropriate postage: first class, priority, media mail, or UPS ground depending upon the item.

That's my charge.

[PetrusMonsFormicarum]

8. Flat rate

"reads" best to buyers: a flat rate is equal for all, therefore it is reasonable, or at least that is how it is interpreted. I set the flat rate a bit on the higher side, as I also offer complimentary shipping insurance included with S/H and I'm often feedbacked for being a "considerate packager". I've taken hits on flat rate posting, but more often than not I am pocketing a few extra pennies to account for shipping materials, costs of travel, etc.

[shugah]

9. yes

i charge a handling fee, usually between $1.50 and $3.00 but more if extra care and materials are necessary when packaging.

i also use stealth postage so the actual shipping cost does not appear on the package - i use an electronic postage service but i think that printing labels through paypal now offers the option of stealth postage.

[ixion]

10. yep, I do. It's pretty standard

don't feel bad about it...

[robinlynne]

11. Everyone charges for shipping and handling on ebay. Sometimes more than the price of the actual

product (I won't buy when it's set up that way), because ebay doesn't take a percentage of the shipping charge. And shipping is getting more and more expensive. So make sure to charge enough to cover your expenses.

[BlackVelvet04]

12. I don't usually charge that much because I ship

Priority mail most of the time. The boxes or envelopes for priority mail are free.

I sold a camera/backpack/tripod and had to purchase 2 boxes and I charged for them and a bag of popcorn on top of the shipping.

I think it just depends. You really shouldn't make your profit through shipping, though.