Use Free Shipping when you can for more reasons than one
Posted on 06. Feb, 2010 by Brigitte in Uncategorized
One of the great benefits of finding low cost items at thrift stores is that you can afford to offer free shipping sometimes. Since eBay will give you a boost in search results if you offer free shipping, it behooves you to do so.
Whenever I have an item under one pound I try to offer free shipping (domestic of course.) As we speak I am listing a T Shirt that I got for 99 cents that I will list for a minimum of $9. Free shipping won’t cost me that much as I use First Class. Keep in mind that people will check out your other auctions too so if you can put something up for free shipping it’s actually a benefit in more ways than one. It’s like offering a boost for your other items too.
Maybe you can list some items just for this purpose as who cares if it sells or not? Some things I get at thrift stores that I can send free shipping are T Shirts, lingerie (if you have my book than you know about this treasure!) , paper items, light metal items, some toys, and more. Basically anything light.
If you see the benefit of offering free shipping is paying off than do it every so once in awhile EVEN IF the item is not light. Think of it as money towards traffic. And we all know how important that is!
Lois Dupre
06. Feb, 2010
Hi
You can also ship 1st class international quite cheaply. I do it with costume jewelry and my jewelers loupes all the time.
Thanks
Lois
Deena O'Daniel
06. Feb, 2010
I also offer free shipping to US addresses on my jewelry and shirts – they don’t weigh that much and I actually build the shipping cost into the item price. It looks better than price plus shipping even if it’s really the same amount. I’ve been doing well with men’s silk shirts that I find at thrift shops for $3-$5 and sell for between $25 and $30 with free shipping. A couple of dollars shipping cost isn’t much with that profit margin. 1st Class international to Europe is about $1/ounce, and postage to Canada is almost the same as US. Thanks for a great post!
Brigitte
06. Feb, 2010
Thanks for the info Deena. I’ll have to reconsider my international shipping options.
Ilene, MS
07. Feb, 2010
I always try to have something up with free shipping but I’ve found it doesn’t seem to make much difference. Maybe it’s what I sell. I’ve sold things with free shipping that actually cost me to ship because the item sold for less than I’d hoped. By the same token, I’ve sold things where I made money on the shipping charges. When I overcharge for shipping, I always refund the excess. Seems only fair and I choose to think it builds good will.
Ed Rubi
07. Feb, 2010
Yeah, free shipping ROCKS! I try to use free shipping whenever I can.
Also, if you get the right packaging materials you can cut down on the weight of the item and it will be cheaper to ship. For example, when I ship a shirt I use a Tyvek envelope. They weigh nothing and they are just about impossible to tear (I’ve tried). Your item arrives safe and sound.
A good resource for shipping supplies is Uline, if there is one near you. Oh, they do ship the supplied to you too if you’d like. If you get a brochure, be sure to check the first few pages, that’s where they list their specials. For instance, a 5 x 5 x 5 inch box, which is one that I use a lot, cost me 20 cents a box. I love Uline!
Nice post Brigitte!
Ed Rubi
Brigitte
07. Feb, 2010
Hi Ed, yeah all that little stuff adds up. I use the tyvek I get free from the post office. I do need plain ones for Int’l Shipping too so I’ll check out Uline.