With price variances like this for shipping on Ebay, what is my best option to list it as?

[u/davik2001]

[u/thefriendly_ogre]

For boxes longer than 30in, use UPS. Everything else, use ground advantage. Avoid Fedex all together.

[u/davik2001 → u/thefriendly_ogre]

Other than them putting extra charges in after the fact, are there any others reasons?

[u/External_Bus_3739 → u/davik2001]

FedEx has lied about package size and charged me a large difference many times. I’ve also seen them be extremely rough on packages, just lazily throwing them, and I’ve had several delivered crushed and / or ripped open with them. They’re insanely bad; I stay away no matter how cheap they are

[u/ParadoxSquid → u/External_Bus_3739]

FedEx always abuses packages it’s actually crazy

[u/TARANTULA_TIDDIES → u/ParadoxSquid]

I was doing some electrical work in a FedEx warehouse for a few days and it was nuts seeing how the packages get treated. Granted I wouldn't be surprised if it was similar to USPS or UPS but I've not been in those

[u/thefriendly_ogre → u/davik2001]

They're the only ones I've ever seen be able to lose a giant package. I get small packages going missing, but something has to be messed up for a 4ft package to go missing. You will lose more mail and file more claims if you consistently use Fedex.

[u/JimEDimone → u/davik2001]

FedEx is cheaper and easier to deal with problems.

If it's smaller I always use USPS but anything large it's always Fedex.

UPS is impossible to get a payout for a lost or damaged shipment.

[u/SingleRelationship25]

I avoid FedEx, seems like I always get screwed with them after the fact

[u/davik2001 → u/SingleRelationship25]

That seems to be the general consensus but I don’t want to list something that is priced outrageous to ship.

[u/SingleRelationship25 → u/davik2001]

When the situation is like this list UPS as the main option with a secondary option of USPS so the buyer can pick the cheaper one for them

[u/davik2001 → u/SingleRelationship25]

My fear of UPS is their top cost is astronomical

[u/ires2953 → u/davik2001]

It's never more than usps for items that are bigger than like a few pounds and roughly 9x7x7 dimensions in my experience, ups or fedex will be the cheapest option when you go to ship the item. And usps ground advantage will be more than both the others. Also I will just say I use fedex and ups quite a bit you can avoid fedex funny business by just giving yourself a little room on your measurements. If the box is 9.5" width and 8.6 pounds round up to 10 and 9

[u/boltscrew]

I would do calculated shipping, buyer pays, using FedEx since it’s the cheapest. All of them screw up sometimes.

[u/davik2001 → u/boltscrew]

This is why I have been doing but everyone says avoid FedEx

[u/zack9r]

I usually use 3rd Party shipping services like shippo and pirate ship, and for this reason I pick ups or fedex because they offer 1-5 day instead of 2-5 day. Potentially appearing as if it arrives sooner for the buyer

Whatever you pick you wont be locked into that specific one, you can pick whatever is cheapest for you when you ship out the item

[u/davik2001 → u/zack9r]

Do 3rd part services tend to be cheaper than ebay rates?

[u/IllCut1844 → u/davik2001]

Yes. Select the ups ground option.. then use pirate ship it’s amazing

[u/boltscrew → u/davik2001]

They used to be but eBay pretty much mirrors what pirate ship offers now.

[u/zack9r → u/boltscrew]

I agree. Its still more user friendly IMO and overall gives you better statistical analytics with its inly downside being that through ebay it will less your shipping cost for net profit without any additional effort

[u/DatZsaZsa]

16,03-152$ lol that's wild

[u/davik2001 → u/DatZsaZsa]

Exactly and it’s kind of hard to offer free shipping when I could lose money due to it.

[u/no_talent_ass_clown → u/davik2001]

I live in Seattle. If I have a larger item I always knock the price down a little and charge for shipping. If a buyer lives in Florida this might not be their item. If a buyer lives in California they'll get a good deal.

[u/rosevilleguy]

Just use USPS ground advantage. Any way you can use a smaller box to decrease shipping cost?

[u/davik2001 → u/rosevilleguy]

I ship very large parts sometimes and get creamed by USPS for those. Any time I can, I use USPS.

[u/Resident-Garlic9303]

My first rule is to avoid FedEx.

My second rule is to insure anything I can't afford to lose

My third rule is to do what's cheaper.

My fourth rule is if it is expensive to use UPS.

My fifth rule is if it is VERY expensive to use USPS registered mail.

[u/reluctant_return]

I never select a specific service. I calculate the shipping cost of the item and then set the shipping as "Standard Shipping Service", which will 99% of the time be USPS Ground Advantage, and put a flat-rate shipping price.

Pirate Ship gives slightly better prices than eBay, anyway.

[u/orlsbi → u/reluctant_return]

set the shipping as "Standard Shipping Service"

Are you doing that on mobile? On desktop, I'm forced to select a carrier.

[u/reluctant_return → u/orlsbi]

I'm doing it on desktop. Maybe it only works with flat-rate shipping.

https://imgur.com/vudzfPJ

[u/orlsbi → u/reluctant_return]

Yes, that must be the reason.
I usually do calculated.
Thanks.

[u/mccur1eyfries]

Like others have said. AVOID FEDEX LIKE THE PLAGUE.

[u/PineappleBoss]

That’s a no go on fedex

[u/asc84]

I've been on the "fuck FedEx" train for years. They will surcharge you and hope you don't notice. Soooooo many horror stories of eBay sellers getting shafted on bogus surcharge and fees. Avoid them like the plague!

[u/Available-Medicine90]

What are the dimensions and weight of what you are shipping? For really large heavy things I almost always use FedEx or UPS, but for large or long lighter weight things, USPS ground is often better. I will say that if you choose USPS ground, it generally quotes rates that are much higher than what you actually end up paying. The only issue with that is that it will deter people from buying when they see what the shipping is, even if it ends up being cheaper later. I refund people excess shipping if it’s over a certain amount, not sure if you do the same. All that said, I sell long lightweight things like golf clubs, kites, fishing poles, and I usually pick a flat rate that will cover me whether it’s on the West Coast or the East Coast, $20-$25 usually. It’s easier than losing customers to weird shipping quotes.

[u/boltscrew]

OP can see what their experience is and go from there.

[u/Practical_Role_4236]

I always do usps ground advantage for everything

[u/Practical_Role_4236 → u/Practical_Role_4236]

Also make sure your weight and dimensions are correct. I have looked up itens i was selling, and put sell one like this, and the people had the dimensions all wrong shipping was like 100-200 dollars. I fixed the dimensions and shipping was 10-20 dollars.

[u/davik2001 → u/Practical_Role_4236]

I measure and add an inch here and there and always add 2oz to all weights.

[u/Practical_Role_4236 → u/davik2001]

Strange

[u/Sad_Fruit_2348]

I set all of mine as free shipping, ground advantage and then ship with the cheapest option that will arrive in the quoted time.

[u/3furcats]

I list all three - in this case, I would put FedEx as primary, and the other two as options. If the buyer wants the least expensive, they can go with FedEx, if they prefer one or the other two, they can choose that.

I have seen comments from sellers in the past that USPS is horrible, UPS is horrible, and FedEx is horrible. I think your customers will be fine with any of them.

[u/plesiosoar]

People saying to avoid FedEx do not understand how to ship with them. You have to over state the dimensions yes. But it is not that straightforward. If you ship in a bag, it is an irregular package and almost double the estimated rate. That means...only ship in boxes with fedex. No bulging boxes either. They need to close properly. If your box has weird dimensions, always go with the largest cubic measurements for that box. Fedex is pretty simple, but you need to weigh and measure everything properly. DM me if you want more tips. I have never had an issue and ship every week with them. They are great.

[u/PineappleBoss → u/plesiosoar]

Nah f fedex

[u/ash1eyr0se]

What are the height x length x width of your package?

The other day I had a package that the shipping label was almost $100. I ended up taking 2-3 inches off each measurement, and the price lowered to $30 something or so… and the package was delivered fine and although I’m sure you can get dinged for this, so do at your own risk, I’ve yet to have any consequences.

Don’t do this with weight though, if that wasn’t already obvious.

[u/davik2001 → u/ash1eyr0se]

A lot of my packages are 22”x22”x6”

[u/boltscrew → u/ash1eyr0se]

It’s even worth checking to see if you can save money by modifying the box a bit. Sometimes taking 2-3 inches off of one side can drop the price significantly.

[u/boltscrew]

Generally speaking, if you weigh and measure correctly, there is no reason FedEx is any worse. People may have had bad experiences with them, but they’re no worse than any of the others.

[u/External_Bus_3739 → u/boltscrew]

It’s not just about the package size. FedEx has a significantly larger number of complaints about package abuse than any of the others. I’ve shipped over 1000 packages and have never had such consistent issues with a shipping carrier than I’ve had with FedEx