I noticed some Etsy sellers have an option where you input your zip code and shipping is calculated. Are there any Etsy sellers here who are familiar with that option?
I would like to sell some crystal (yes, @Thumper, try to sell it instead of give it to your charity shop!) and the biggest frustration with getting organized to list is figuring out shipping, how many permuatiatons and options there could be if some one buys 1-6 items, the boxing, the packing, it all feels like so much to figure out ahead of time.
Hmmm….people who do eBay should also be able to help you. My H sells lots on eBay but isn’t home at the moment.
You might have to do a little trial and error first. Yep, I also agree - buyer pays shipping. You have to figure in the cost of your shipping materials AND actual shipping. Actual shipping could be figured out by weighing your item(s) and then adding in a little weight for the shipping materials.
You also might want to limit your shipping to USA.
I work for a retailer. You do not want to do international shipping - it is a hassle. Stick to US. I find shipping rates on ETSY are usually high. I think it is because they want to make sure they cover the actual shipping costs, and estimate it higher.
Seller on Ebay since 1996. I have had direct contact with Ebay founding members, although not very active right now.
There are many different categories on Ebay which have different strategies on shipping. For general merchandise, such as small appliances and small household items, automotive and other, if you are a professional seller with new or multiple items, you should have shipping included(free shipping) in your pricing. If you are an individual seller that is infrequently selling used items, you could ask the buyer to pay for shipping.
I sell small, light weight collectibles on Ebay, in my experience, the buyers are very sensitive on shipping, so I normally keep the shipping low or make it free shipping on higher value items.
All I want to say is, that shipping is a soar subject for online shopping and you have to be careful about charging the buyer. It all depends on your pricing and subject matter. In addition, whether you ship to US only or International also depends on the subject matter, in my case, my market is international so I have to deal with it.