Home › Forums › Shipping: The Final Frontier › Shipping options hidden on some items. I asked Ebay and they said…
- This topic has 15 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 2 years, 4 months ago by
Sigilini.
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05/07/2019 at 5:27 pm #61441
Just FYI
Being on the West Coast, I usually provide a couple of shipping options so that my customers can choose the best shipping rate for their zip code. But lately I noticed shipping options are hidden from view on some items. I contacted Ebay (on facebook):
Me: I noticed that even when I put shipping options sometimes only the lowest priced option is made available. This is new… is that intentional?
Ebay: Great observation! This is new and it is intentional. Right now we’re just testing it out on the site. Essentially, we’ll only hide shipping services that are more expensive and offer the same estimated delivery date as a service of lesser cost. So if a more expensive item has a better delivery date, it will still show for your customers.
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05/07/2019 at 5:38 pm #61442
If true, that’s cool. They show the fastest shipping. If the First Class shipping is the same speed as Priority, then they show the First Class so its a better deal.
That’s cool.
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05/07/2019 at 5:43 pm #61443
Not exactly according to my observation.
I just listed a heavy bowl. I provided both Expedited and Parcel select options. The only one showing is the parcel select no matter which zip I put in.
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05/07/2019 at 7:12 pm #61448
Understood. Is the parcel price similar to the expedited price at the same expected delivery date?
I agree that it should show both options.
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05/07/2019 at 7:20 pm #61450
I am not able to tell on this item (bowl) because of the hidden expedited option –it only shows the parcel select (very heavy bowl) which would be the lower cost option. It also shows parcel select when I put my local zip code.
Here is my bowl: https://www.ebay.com/itm/163680593892?&shqty=1&isGTR=1#shId
What does it show for you?
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05/07/2019 at 7:47 pm #61451
I get one option:
US $23.46
United States
Economy Shipping (USPS Parcel Select Ground®)I’m in NJ, and the listing says it’s in CA. If you offer priority, then I don’t have the option for faster shipping.
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05/07/2019 at 8:02 pm #61452
I’m getting the same single option to DC that Sharyn is. Are you giving a Priority flat rate large or medium box option for the bowl? Either one would be cheaper than $23, even at full retail.
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05/07/2019 at 8:27 pm #61455
Sharyn, exactly. I do have priority as an option and it won’t show up.
Temjudgin, this item is look large and too breakable for a flat rate box. The shipping to someone in California is less than $8.00. I usually get local buyers on larger items because the shipping is so much less for them.
Thank you both for your input. I appreciate it.
Have you checked your own listings to see if this is something that is universal or just random?
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05/07/2019 at 8:51 pm #61456
Yup, I got three shipping options on this and only parcel is showing:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/183765763439You wouldn’t expect eBay to release a “feature” without there being a glitch, would ya?
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05/07/2019 at 8:54 pm #61457
I looked up your listing, Sharyn and I got this: all your options show up for me.
When I put in a NY zip, I got one option only.
Oh Ebay!
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This reply was modified 2 years, 4 months ago by
Sigilini.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 4 months ago by
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05/07/2019 at 9:04 pm #61459
So, it’s working for my listing, but not yours? Huh.
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05/07/2019 at 9:06 pm #61460
I appears so. But you should be able to see all your options as well when you put in your zip. Except that
Ebay is trying this new thing — so you can’t. -
05/07/2019 at 9:21 pm #61465
I expect that if I ship it to myself, the cheapest way is through parcel and the shipping time wouldn’t be much different than priority or fedex.
If I would ship it to you in CA, then priority & fedex would be much faster, so they would offer all three options.
Doesn’t that make sense? I’m thinking it’s working the way that they planned.
How big & heavy is your bowl? Could priority shipping be prohibitively expensive for a cross-country trip? Just thinking it through.
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05/07/2019 at 9:27 pm #61466
Thank you Sharyn, yes, it would be too heavy and big and the cost would be about double or more to ship to NJ for example. It’s heavy and will require additional packing to secure.
But if a person WANTS it faster, then what? They would have to write to me to change the shipping option to priority because they can’t see it right now.
My thoughts: Amazon has all the shipping options right upfront and you can choose the one that is best for you. My opinion is that Ebay should be the same. Ebay is choosing for the buyer the “best” option but it might be what the buyer needs or wants.
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05/07/2019 at 10:14 pm #61468
So true. They should be adding the other options for your bowl for longer distances, just like they did for mine. I wonder about the strategy.
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05/08/2019 at 11:22 am #61499
Update: I referred the Ebay rep to this blog and this thread and showed her our comments. She had some other questions which I answered and I suggested:
ME: Just another suggestion: Right now, Ebay is making shipping choices on behalf of the buyer. Comparing this to Amazon where they give the buyer about 3 or 4 choices on check out of which shipping they prefer.
EBAY REP: I can definitely pass along the feedback. As this is just a test, it’s not a change that you will see 100% of the time. We often times try things out and see what results yield from it. If overall the experience doesn’t appear to be positive, then it’s unlikely for it to be a permanent change. We’re always here to help with anything we can on our end.
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