topic How can I provide a shipping quote on my auction if I don't know where my parcel will end up? in Selling

How can I provide a shipping quote on my auction if I don't know where my parcel will end up?

pretty*poppets — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 02:41:44 GMT

Hi Ebayers,

How do you deal with the shipping quote portion of an auction? Ebay won't let you list without you specifying how much shipping will cost. But Shipping costs vary widely according to where you need to ship to. If I am shipping in my own state, it's different from shipping to a different city which would be different to shipping to a country town or to somwhere else in the world.

So how do I provide a shipping cost so that I can get my auction listed, but at the same time won't be unfair to either me or the buyer?

Please advise me!

Re: How can I provide a shipping quote on my auction if I don't know where my parcel will end up?

collect247 — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 03:13:02 GMT

Shipping to another country yes it will be different but posting anywhere in Australia will be the same with Aust Post.

You have a pre paid satchel in your listing of $8.50,this cost is to anywhere in Australia.

Re: How can I provide a shipping quote on my auction if I don't know where my parcel will end up?

*bellee* — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 04:00:23 GMT

When listing your item, in the postage option you need to choose "charge actual cost". Then you put in the weight and dimensions of the item including all packaging, and choose the service you will use. eBay will then calculate the postage depending on the buyer's location.

You used to be able to add a handling fee to the price. They've now taken away that option. **bleep**!

Re: How can I provide a shipping quote on my auction if I don't know where my parcel will end up?

pretty*poppets — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 05:30:26 GMT

Hello, thank you for the helpful information BUT I haven't even listed the auction yet so I do not know, ultimately where my buyer might be located.

So how can I provide a quote for an uknown location?

Re: How can I provide a shipping quote on my auction if I don't know where my parcel will end up?

curraone — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 06:13:19 GMT

Well I think we need a bit more information. For example, how big is your item and how much does it weigh?

Will it fit in a 500g satchel - 3kg satchel - 5 kg satchel? Because they all have standard prices for the whole of Australia.

Re: How can I provide a shipping quote on my auction if I don't know where my parcel will end up?

collect247 — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 06:19:23 GMT

Yes you did,you have an item already up for auction with a prepaid 500g satchel or am I the only one that can see this

Re: How can I provide a shipping quote on my auction if I don't know where my parcel will end up?

*bellee* — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 06:29:47 GMT

But if you choose the "charge actual cost", eBay will calculate it for you when your item is active. Depending on who is viewing your listing, eBay will display the postage based on the buyer's location. eBay calculates this information based on the weight and dimension you provide when you create the listing.

The other alternative is use Australia Post's prepaid satchel like everyone is saying, which only works for Australia. For international you can use the calculate based on location option.

For all options, you need to know the weight and dimensions of the item you are selling including packaging.

Re: How can I provide a shipping quote on my auction if I don't know where my parcel will end up?

daydreams_12 — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 07:14:29 GMT

Just a little confused with the 1 live listing you have up. You quote on this listing all of the following. It cant be all 3

1. New without tags

2. Almost new, as new

3. Only used once

I would be very surprised if both those items will fit into a 500g satchel. JMO

Re: How can I provide a shipping quote on my auction if I don't know where my parcel will end up?

pretty*poppets — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 08:54:06 GMT

Thank you for this information:

The other alternative is use Australia Post's prepaid satchel like everyone is saying, which only works for Australia. For international you can use the calculate based on location option.

For all options, you need to know the weight and dimensions of the item you are selling including packaging.

This is what I needed to know.

As I said in my first post, I haven't launched this auction yet. It is for a very large and heavy (6kg) featherbed that definitely won't fit into any satchel. I never said this had anything to do with my current auction.

Thanks for those that replied to me helpfully.

Re: How can I provide a shipping quote on my auction if I don't know where my parcel will end up?

pretty*poppets — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 08:56:35 GMT

And Bellee I just realised you gave me the same information twice, but I didn't understand what you meant the first time. I apologise!

Thank you very much - you have been incredibly helpful!

Re: How can I provide a shipping quote on my auction if I don't know where my parcel will end up?

*bellee* — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 10:18:31 GMT

That's alright. Glad I was able to help.

Re: How can I provide a shipping quote on my auction if I don't know where my parcel will end up?

lyndal1838 — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 10:49:43 GMT

If you have a feather item that weighs 6kg it must be rather large.

Are you sure it will be within the Australia Post guidelines...weight is not the only limiting criteria?

It might be a good idea the check before listing.

Re: How can I provide a shipping quote on my auction if I don't know where my parcel will end up?

thecatspjs — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 11:52:33 GMT

For the OP and others that may read this thread, there is alway the option for large and bulky items that won't fit in satchels you can choose FREIGHT as the post service -

If you select FREIGHT as an option you do not have to put prices or parcel dimensions as you have to for other options.

You will then need to put some information in your listing regarding the post costs.

Some sellers seem to use a rounded up flat post quote on a state by state basis - others only put prices to capital cities and ask buyers to contact them for post quote if they live outside of metro areas.

Having freight as the post option also means you can list with some confidence that you won't be caught out by the sometimes unquoted prices that eBay calculator provides and you can include $$ handling costs in your pricing.

However some buyers may also not take the time to review the listing for this information, nor want to delay getting a final price if they need to contact you for quote prior to sale.

If you are going to auction this item, this listing format gives buyers and yourself some time to communicate re post costs before any sale is final.

Re: How can I provide a shipping quote on my auction if I don't know where my parcel will end up?

*tippy*toes* — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 13:13:44 GMT

If your items are under 20mm thick icluding a padded bag and under 500g, then you can post as a large letter and depending on the weight would be how much postage you'd put in the listing. e.g under 20mm and under 125g would be $2.

If it's over 20mm, it would have to be sent as a parcel. If it's under 500g, then it would cost the same to post anywhere in Australia, $7.60. Include a bit extra to cover fees. You can insert that cost into the listing.

If the parcel is over 500g, then the rate varies from state to state. In that case you'd use the calulated postage option. The amount will be put into eBay and the buyer will see what the cost is to their state. If it's something that you could fit into a satchel, even if you need to put it into a box first, then that will be a flat rate to anywhere in Australia.

To work out what the postage will be, package up the item and put it on some digital kitchen scales, then go to the Aust Post website and insert the weight and dimensions into the postage calculator.

If it works out to be something outside of Aust Post's limits, list using freight and as mentioned by others, the buyer will need to contact you for a quote.