posted on November 27, 2006 02:55:48 PM new
I have been toying with the idea of offering free shipping for anyone who buys 1 or more items that total $100.00
Any thoughts?
posted on November 27, 2006 03:00:54 PM new
It's likely to be ineffectual. Three years ago, maybe. Now lots of people and companies offer free shipping or very cheap shipping (Overstock.com). I ordered some books and DVDs from Barnes and Noble this morning. A $25 purchase was all it took to get free shipping.
posted on November 27, 2006 06:08:51 PM new
I think it depends on what you're selling and what the percentage shipping is on your invoice total. I always try to buy postcards from a seller with combined shipping and will search all their listings for additional buys. I offer 2nd buy - shipping at no additional charge and 3 or more ship free and believe this has resulted in more sales.
posted on November 28, 2006 06:24:47 AM new
Key Buying Criterion: the criteria used to make a purchase decision.
Every seller should know the criteria used by his/her customr. I believe you will find that your customers fall into two groups: intangible and tangible criteria.
The tangible criteria group is concerned with price, will buy the cheapest and is looking for a good deal. Free shipping will appeal to them.
The second group is more concerned with intangible criteria: selection, quality, variety, reputation. They are willing to pay extra for these and care little about free shipping. These are the best customers because it is hard for them to value intangibles.
posted on November 28, 2006 06:27:03 AM new
Ebay has a promo for 2 days if you offer free shipping you get free border and subtitle, or something like that.
posted on November 28, 2006 08:05:21 AM new
I agree with you, Vintage, as I'm both "types" of buyer, depending on what it is I'm buying.
There are some things, like paperback books for my own reading pleasure, where I seek the cheapest and most for the buck. For gift-giving and resale, however, I seek the best quality v. price. And for the latter items feedback makes a LOT of difference.
posted on November 28, 2006 08:33:07 AM new
Thanks everyone. What prompted my question... I am selling only vintage jewelry for a couple weeks. I was looking around yesterday (at jewelry) and someones page caught my eye. She said, buy 1 to 20 items from me for the same shipping charge. $4.50! It made me take a look at ALL she had to offer. I usually sell bulkier items and would not use this "ploy" but with jewelry, heck why not. I am going to give it a try and see what happens. If it translates into 1,2,3 people buying another piece they may not have noticed... "heres for the home team"! I will let you know how it goes.
PS I will do ins to cover actual purchase price...
posted on November 28, 2006 08:51:32 AM new
I combine any number of items for the same s/h fee (as do most postcard sellers). I really think this encourages buyers to look at other listings before paying.
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posted on November 28, 2006 11:18:05 AM new
REcently we were getting rid of lots of common paperbacks and some old magazines we had here. I listed one book at a time, or sometimes two or three books by the same author, added about a dollar to what I'd ordinarily ask for them, and put "free shipping" in the title. Sold most of them. This was just to get *something* for the ones we didn't want and clear them out of here fast. I didn't get much, of course, but I take great pleasure in seeing that books we don't want get into the hands of readers who will really want them. (That's my intrinsic reward for making very little $$.)
But I also sell on Amazon, and there were many (from the 6 large cartons of books) that I knew had more value; these I listed on Amazon, and many sold overnight.
posted on December 5, 2006 09:12:45 PM new
An artcle in today's Wall Street Journal (12/5/2006), Section D1, should give you pause before you jump into "free shipping."
In short, the article: "Retailers Cut Back On Free Shipping," relates the demise of free shipping by the largest online retailers.
The article states that the offers of free shipping "come loaded with conditions, and deadlines as companies try to push shoppers to buy early."
Of course, what it all boils down to is profitability - "Investors are worrying about the impact of free shipping on profitability."
I find the article interesting. While the real business world worries about profits, it appears that ebay and many ebay sellers are now amoured to the concept of free shipping.
Now ebay doesn't give a hoot about seller's profits, and apparently many sellers are willing to squeak by on lower margins, just to make a sale. Free shipping is a curse for ebay sellers.
Raise the selling price to include shipping and chance being overpriced in the marketplace. Include shipping without a price increase, and have a lower margin made even lower when FVF eats further into the profit.
If ebay wants free shipping in the marketplace, let it give a reduced FVF, or eliminate the FVF to the seller. Otherwise, you might just as well save the work, and just throw your money out onto the street, instead of driving to the post office.
posted on December 7, 2006 08:25:52 AM new
I do all shipping for $3 (I sell Olympic pins, usually less than 1 oz packed in a bubble env). If someone buys 50 pins for $300 or so, I will still charge $3, even if it costs me $20 to ship it. My thinking is that the pins that I sold for $300 cost me about $10, so it helps to build loyalty and extra bids on my other items. Besides, I ship enough $.52 packages for $3 that in the end, I still come out ahead.
posted on December 7, 2006 10:02:39 AM new
Got a catalogue fromm LL Bean last week. They are offering free shipping but their profit margins probably allow for it and most of the stuff is winter stuff which they do not sell all year round.
buyhigh
posted on December 7, 2006 01:40:00 PM new
I do that fairly frequently with good success. Usually not on Ebay though. Keep in mind that feebay charges their fees based upon your closing total bid, which in this case would include your shipping costs.
