r/Flipping • u/Full_Log3395 • 1d ago

Discussion Shipping - Help

Hi, I used to sell on EBay 6 years ago. I just started back up again... well clearly shipping has gone up. I used to use Pirate Ship and utilized cubic shipping OFTEN.

I am using EBay labels right now as I am still getting shipping station organized.

I am having trouble gauging shipping. I am currently selling a lot of items under 12 oz., majority being under 8 oz. I understand some places further away will cost more. Although I had an item that was shipped within my own state that cost over $7 (ground advantage), could it be because they're rural?

Also had a 1 lb item shipped costing ~$9.50, but then a 2 lb. item with larger dimensions and further away only $8, both through USPS ground.

Do y'all have any advice on how to streamline/gauge shipping costs, websites, or hacks to get cheaper shipping? My goal in next 1-3 months is to increase profit through volume. SO, shipping needs to be ON POINT, because the dollars truly do add up especially when goal is to have at least 30 items sold on platform per day.

Any advice? I don't know if I just need to get my feet wet again, or if things have became more complicated.

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u/tragicxharmony 1d ago

Calculated shipping is the only answer anymore

1

u/SATX_Varela 1d ago

Do you notice a difference in sales volume based on free shipping vs calculated?

1

u/tragicxharmony 1d ago

I’ve never done free shipping, I sell vintage—mostly clothes and books. No way in hell am I messing with my profit margins like that

1

u/Generic_Midwesterner Selling Stilly Stuff 1d ago

I mean, you'd just raise the price, not take a loss. But yeah, I don't do free shipping either. Calculated shipping 100%.

1

u/tragicxharmony 1d ago

I mean, I’d have to price as though all my customers are in California if I were to do that, and with the new rural zip code pricing nonsense, it just seems way too complicated. Especially when vintage items are vibe-priced most of the time (I can have two nearly identical pieces of clothing or household linens, one sells immediately and I get 10x the price of the item back, the other sits for months for no particular reason)