selling video games on ebay

[pontifex]

I'm selling some old PS1 games on ebay. To ship priority mail it costs $4.80. That doesn't include any extras like insurance or delivery confirmation.

I put in $5.00 as the shipping cost and it tells me this:

Starting in October, the maximum shipping cost in this category will be $4.00. You'll be asked to enter a shipping cost less than or equal to this cost for the first U.S. flat rate shipping service.

Get a head start on these changes by updating your shipping costs for this listing

Are we supposed to use media mail or what? how can they force a shipping price that is less than the cost of one of their shipping options? Or do I just raise the selling price of my item to cover the shipping, which is against their rules also, if i'm not mistaken.

 

[spaceman]

ebay are suck

 

[Kelemvor]

So anything you sell in the video game category you have to charge $4? That sounds pretty retarded.

Can't ya just put in the weight and dimensions and let the user pick how quickly they want to get it and it should calculate the price off that?

 

[TwiceOver]

Is there an option for different rates? Like Standard $4.00, Priority $4.80, etc?

 

[ebaycj]

Originally posted by: pontifex
I'm selling some old PS1 games on ebay. To ship priority mail it costs $4.80. That doesn't include any extras like insurance or delivery confirmation.

I put in $5.00 as the shipping cost and it tells me this:

Starting in October, the maximum shipping cost in this category will be $4.00. You'll be asked to enter a shipping cost less than or equal to this cost for the first U.S. flat rate shipping service.

Get a head start on these changes by updating your shipping costs for this listing

Are we supposed to use media mail or what? how can they force a shipping price that is less than the cost of one of their shipping options? Or do I just raise the selling price of my item to cover the shipping, which is against their rules also, if i'm not mistaken.

Yes, use media mail. It will be CHEAP. You can then get insurance and delivery confirmation.

See how easy that was ?

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: ebaycj

Originally posted by: pontifex
I'm selling some old PS1 games on ebay. To ship priority mail it costs $4.80. That doesn't include any extras like insurance or delivery confirmation.

I put in $5.00 as the shipping cost and it tells me this:

Starting in October, the maximum shipping cost in this category will be $4.00. You'll be asked to enter a shipping cost less than or equal to this cost for the first U.S. flat rate shipping service.

Get a head start on these changes by updating your shipping costs for this listing

Are we supposed to use media mail or what? how can they force a shipping price that is less than the cost of one of their shipping options? Or do I just raise the selling price of my item to cover the shipping, which is against their rules also, if i'm not mistaken.

Yes, use media mail. It will be CHEAP. You can then get insurance and delivery confirmation.

See how easy that was ?

but then it takes like 3 weeks to get to the buyer.

 

[mugs]

You have to offer an option at $4, but you can offer other more expensive options also.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: mugs
You have to offer an option at $4, but you can offer other more expensive options also.

then why does it say this?

Starting in October, the maximum shipping cost in this category will be $4.00. You'll be asked to enter a shipping cost less than or equal to this cost for the first U.S. flat rate shipping service.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: pontifex

but then it takes like 3 weeks to get to the buyer.

Very rarely, but then again priority can get delayed too as it's not guaranteed.

Ebay should police those that use shipping to get out of fees.

Still they should have it around $10 or less. $4 is really too low unless they are going to REQUIRE media mail be the only method allowed in that category and even then on a bundle of games you'd be looking at more.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: mugs
You have to offer an option at $4, but you can offer other more expensive options also.

then why does it say this?

Starting in October, the maximum shipping cost in this category will be $4.00. You'll be asked to enter a shipping cost less than or equal to this cost for the first U.S. flat rate shipping service.

See the bolded phrase. First shipping option is < $4, others can be more.

 

[murphy55d]

put them on goozex.com instead and get some real value for them.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: murphy55d
put them on goozex.com instead and get some real value for them.

QFT, I have only used the site once. I ended up getting the game I wanted for free with the sign up bonus.

The process was painless and the game arrived quickly and was mint.

 

[Injury]

I'm going to go out on a limb and assume that it gives you the same message when you sell a group of games, which, if that's true would be really, really stupid.

 

[RadiclDreamer]

Originally posted by: pontifex
I'm selling some old PS1 games on ebay. To ship priority mail it costs $4.80. That doesn't include any extras like insurance or delivery confirmation.

I put in $5.00 as the shipping cost and it tells me this:

Starting in October, the maximum shipping cost in this category will be $4.00. You'll be asked to enter a shipping cost less than or equal to this cost for the first U.S. flat rate shipping service.

Get a head start on these changes by updating your shipping costs for this listing

Are we supposed to use media mail or what? how can they force a shipping price that is less than the cost of one of their shipping options? Or do I just raise the selling price of my item to cover the shipping, which is against their rules also, if i'm not mistaken.

Its because people would all set buy it now prices of $0.01 and then charge $15 for shipping. That way they showed up as being a low price

 

[minendo]

Originally posted by: ebaycj

Originally posted by: pontifex
I'm selling some old PS1 games on ebay. To ship priority mail it costs $4.80. That doesn't include any extras like insurance or delivery confirmation.

I put in $5.00 as the shipping cost and it tells me this:

Starting in October, the maximum shipping cost in this category will be $4.00. You'll be asked to enter a shipping cost less than or equal to this cost for the first U.S. flat rate shipping service.

Get a head start on these changes by updating your shipping costs for this listing

Are we supposed to use media mail or what? how can they force a shipping price that is less than the cost of one of their shipping options? Or do I just raise the selling price of my item to cover the shipping, which is against their rules also, if i'm not mistaken.

Yes, use media mail. It will be CHEAP. You can then get insurance and delivery confirmation.

See how easy that was ?

First class mail will be cheaper than media mail and it delivers in 2-3 days as opposed to 5-7 days.

 

[dud]

This is probably happening because of seller abuse of shipping charges and complainst received from buyers (for exorbitant shipping).

Recommend that you state in your auctions that Ebay requires the max $4 charge BUT that will entail media mail (slow) with no insurance and then offer the Priority (or other option) at a slightly increased price.

I REALLY hate to say this but insurance provides protection for you , the seller not the buyer. If ebay limits you to $4 AND you buy insurance (to protect yourself) then your botton-line will really be hit hard.

On another note ... I really wish that ebay would institute a shipping cap for other catogories of items sold through their site. Some greedy bastards charge $20 to ship an item that would clearly cost $5 to ship.

 

[holden j caufield]

Originally posted by: Injury
I'm going to go out on a limb and assume that it gives you the same message when you sell a group of games, which, if that's true would be really, really stupid.

qft I've seen lots of packaged deals for games and to have the buyer eat that cost is stupid

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: mugs
You have to offer an option at $4, but you can offer other more expensive options also.

then why does it say this?

Starting in October, the maximum shipping cost in this category will be $4.00. You'll be asked to enter a shipping cost less than or equal to this cost for the first U.S. flat rate shipping service.

See the bolded phrase. First shipping option is < $4, others can be more.

it sounds pretty confusing the way they have it worded then.

 

[JJChicken]

Also, you could jack up the item price by $.80 and then charge $4 for shipping.

 

[nanette1985]

Originally posted by: minendo


First class mail will be cheaper than media mail and it delivers in 2-3 days as opposed to 5-7 days.

First class mail is not always cheaper than media mail.

 

[God Mode]

Priority mail always come out cheaper for me to ship with since they have free boxes and free delivery confirmation if you print the label online.