Does shipping method matter with free delivery?

[Mummmers]

Does it even matter what shipping method I show in the listing if I’m offering free shipping? Can’t I just decide which is least expensive when it sells? The buyer doesn’t have a choice, right? Is there a problem if the listing says priority mail and I use a flat rate box when I realize it’s cheaper with packing material etc.?

[MDC Galleries & Fine Art]

Close.
When you set up your shipping policies, we use the lesser cost method. We select “Parcel Post Package” as the Free Shipping choice, then we also list 3 or 4 other methods besides. Ebay allows you up to 4 [I think], so we always use all four of them. Next we list, Priority along with UPS and FedEx.

Then when a buyer checks out, if they want Free Shipping, it defaults to the Parcel Select, but if they want anything else, it shows to them as options and if they decide to choose any of those, they will see the cost to “Up Grade from Free Shipping and will be charged the extra.

We have only had a few cases where the buyer selected to upgrade to faster shipping, usually due to a deadline or special need for their purchase to arrive quickly.

If you haven’t set up your shipping policies you can do so from your account preferences or do the manually when listing, but policies is way faster, easier and a one time investment in time.

Mike at MDC Galleries and Fine At.

[Old Dad]

You can select Economy Shipping without specifying a carrier, or Expedited Shipping, etc. To me, that’s better than showing a specific carrier and then shipping by a different one (although I used to do that and never had any blowback from it).

[Amatino]

I didn’t know that option existed! Thanks, Mike!

[Anonymous]

thanks for posting that Mike – I never knew that
very useful

[Jay]

If yu offer Free Shipping, the buyer has zero say in how it gets to them or how long it takes. You just have to ship within your handling time.

[Sharyn]

If you have free shipping and you are showing priority in your listing, I’d think the buyer could complain if the package came as parcel. eBay uses your shipping method to calculate an estimated delivery date, and a parcel package could take significantly longer to ship across the US.

If you have parcel but send it FedEx, I would think that would be OK. The delivery times between those two methods are similar. They are both considered “standard” methods of shipping.

[Jay]

True. You’re correct.

But if you offer Free Shipping, it’d be crazy to offer an expensive shipping option, unless its a very small item that has a predictable cost across the country.

[Retro Treasures WV]

There are two ways to offer free shipping:
1. Create your specific calculated shipping profile as usual and just click the “free shipping” button.
This shows the buyer exactly what service they will be receiving and their expected delivery date.

2. Change the shipping type from “calculated” to “flat”. Once you have chosen flat shipping cost from the dropdown menu, you get access to generic shipping methods of “economy”, “standard”, and “expeditied”. The shipping time ranges on each of these are broad and will affect the anticipated delivery date shown to the buyer. This will allow you the greatest leeway to chose the shipping method of your choice.

I do both as needed. If the item is obviously a first class item, I just leave it on first class. If I know it will ship in a padded flat rate mailer, I leave it on priority. If it could fall into dimensional weight I will chose flat cost “standard” delivery and ship either parcel, priority, or Fed Ex – whichever is cheaper for me depending on the buyers address. If the prices are within a few cents, I’ll always upgrade to priority over parcel. It’s worth it for the insurance and makes for a happier customer.

[Author]

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