Sunday, October 02, 2005
Tips: Combined Payments For Shipping
Lots of buyers like to save on shipping by purchasing more than one items from you and having it shipped at one time. This options is called a Combined Payment.
As sellers you can offer combined payment options to your buyers in two different ways:-Calculated (Actual) Rate or Flated Rate.
1)Calculated (Actual ) Rate:- In an actual rate combined payment, you calculate the actual rate to ship the combined items using eBay's shipping calculator, which appears on the Sell Your Item form. You use the combined weight of the tiems to calculate the actual shipping cost. You can then subtract from this to offer your buyers a discount. Combining the shipping weight usually works when the items are small and can be packed together easily.
2)Flated Rate:-Some sellers prefer to make things easier by charging a flated rate for shipping rather than calculating the shipping to different parts of the country. Such sellers can still provide buyers with discounts for combined purchasers. They can try one of the following approaches:-
a)Suppose you charge a flat $6 for shipping and handling . You can tell your buyers that, if they buy two or three items from you,they can pay $6 shipping for the first item and perhaps $1 or $3 for each additional item.
b)You can charge a slightly higher $9 for first item and offer the other items for free shipping. This incentive is sure to attract more buyers
c).You can charge $6 for the first and take $2 or $3 off the shippiing cost for other items purchased.
You set up these shipping discounts up front, before you put up items for sale.
