New Shipping Options

By alexwberg
Posted on December 07, 2010 37 comments

 Hi everyone – I’m happy to announce some new free shipping options which are rolling out of our experimental features ‘sandbox’ and are now into a live BETA.  

They are entirely optional right now so if you don’t want to ‘kick the tires’ you don’t have to.  To be super clear, there’s nothing at all you need to do.  We didn’t change anyone’s existing settings, rates, or anything about their items.  

At a high-level there are three features of note.  First is the ability to set different shipping services and prices.  Second is a newly enhanced shipping calculator.  And third is the ability to set a preference for how and where your packages are dropped off (or picked up) for shipping.  There’s a lot to cover here so I’ll take these one at a time.

Different shipping services and prices:  for each item you can now set multiple shipping services to give buyers more choice.  Want cheap shipping?  We have an option for that.  Want to offer expedited shipping?  We have an option for that too.  Each choice comes with the ability to set your own price of course.  For example, if you want to set one item at $5.00 for USPS Parcel Post and offer UPS 3-Day for $15 you can do that too.  By default your item detail pages will list the least expensive option.  Want to take a look?  Just edit any of your items and explore the options in the drop-down menu after the ‘buyer pays fixed price option.’   

If you want to offer your buyers a second choice (or third…) just select ‘Specify additional shipping service choices’ and a new menu selection will appear.  Be sure to click ‘save this item’ when you’re doing adding any new options.

New shipping calculator: we’re happy to offer an improved version of our shipping cost calculator at no cost to you.  For those of you who opt to use calculated shipping we now offer estimated costs to ship your packages to three geographical areas for multiple shipping methods (speeds) for USPS, UPS and FedEx.  As many of you know, calculating shipping costs for different carriers, package sizes, and destinations, is, well, hard.   There’s a reason many of our competitors don’t even bother trying.  However, we’re keen on giving it another go as know it’s important to some of you.  

To use the new shipping calculator just select ‘buyer pays calculated’ in the shipping details when editing any item.  From there you can choose UPS or FedEx, enter your item weight and approximate size to get an array of estimates to different regions.  The calculator factors in your zip code to estimate costs.  Want even greater accuracy on your costs?  Check out the package drop off (or pickup) preferences below.

Pick up or drop off?  Available at the very bottom of the ‘Advanced Settings’ page is a set of preferences for drop off or pick up for UPS and Fed Ex.  Obviously, getting a carrier to do a one-off pick up at your home (not regularly scheduled) is the likely the most expensive option.  For example, rates for UPS can vary by up to 30% depending on drop off type.  Set these preferences and they too will be factored into your shipping costs.  

Wondering what all the fuss is about?  Calculated shipping isn’t for everyone.  In fact, less than 5% of our merchants use this feature currently.  So, if you’re content enough with the current options feel free to ignore this blog post and the new feature.  Of course, if you’re this far down the page it’s probably a little late for that.  Thanks to everyone for their patience as we worked on integrating this exceedingly complex feature.  If there’s one thing we know for sure – this feature isn’t and probably will never be perfect; certainly not to the penny.  We probably should have called it the ‘Shipping Estimator’ instead, but there’s no going back now.  

If you have bugs or feedback regarding any of these features please be sure to be as specific as possible in your emails to support.  

- Alex 

 

Comments: 37 comments
Category: Main blog
Tags: shipping calculator, calculated shipping, OMG

37 responses to New Shipping Options

  • Maud_thumb128

    VINTAGECHIC817 says:
    12/07/10 at 11:59:14

    Great job…thanks

  • Dude_thumb128

    Sofy'sSeasonal says:
    12/07/10 at 12:36:43

    Alex..has Bill said if FedEx is straightened out since he and I talked yesterday? Also, do we need to do shipping profiles? Thanks!

  • Dude_thumb128

    Sofy'sSeasonal says:
    12/07/10 at 12:42:29

    oops another ?? When there are rate increases will the calculators take care of that?

  • Av4_thumb128

    Alilbirdy2 says:
    12/07/10 at 12:44:28

    It is great that there are so many shipping options, it is a shame Digital shipping could not be added to those options.

  • Newbonzpic3_thumb128

    Lisas_TX_Treasures says:
    12/07/10 at 13:02:23

    Woooohooooooo!! Go Alex!!!!

  • Bookbinavatar_thumb128

    BookbinEtc says:
    12/07/10 at 13:12:12

    This should make some sellers happy, and if it works well, will probably increase the percentage of sellers using calc. shipping.

  • Starav_thumb128

    starshinin says:
    12/07/10 at 13:15:52

    works great as i’ve been editin booth my booths. great job!!!

  • Alex_2b_thumb128

    alexwberg says:
    12/07/10 at 13:20:57

    @Sofy’s Seasonal – we are passing them the right data and they are providing what you see. We are communicating with them, but don’t have an ETA on any changes on their side.

  • Alex_2b_thumb128

    alexwberg says:
    12/07/10 at 13:23:21

    @Sofy’s Seasonal – they sure should! It’s really in the shipping carriers’ hands to provide back the right data to us.

  • Woman3_thumb128

    Vintagemaven says:
    12/07/10 at 13:55:56

    Is this new shipping calculator going to remain free or is there some point at which there is a charge? Thank you

  • Alex_2b_thumb128

    alexwberg says:
    12/07/10 at 14:01:50

    @Vintagemaven – no plans to charge for usage.

  • Woman3_thumb128

    Vintagemaven says:
    12/07/10 at 14:07:37

    Thank you Alex.
    Happy Holidays.

  • Baby_birds_008_thumb128_thumb128

    grabadeal says:
    12/07/10 at 14:10:46

    Does this also work for calculated International shipping??

  • Avatar_1_thumb128

    TipTopMgr says:
    12/07/10 at 14:27:45

    Awesome news. Thank you!!

  • Alex_2b_thumb128

    alexwberg says:
    12/07/10 at 14:40:56

    @grabadeal – You can’t specify multiple shipping options for international shipping, but if you set a dropoff type in the booth’s advanced options, that will apply to domestic or intl shipping.

  • Avatar_7_23_thumb128

    DS520Diecast says:
    12/07/10 at 15:27:41

    Great news Alex! Multiple thumbs up!

  • Wecandoitsc_thumb128

    cdvdmart says:
    12/07/10 at 16:01:01

    Very cool! Thanks!

  • Avatar__2__thumb128

    AnnappleBonanza says:
    12/07/10 at 16:55:15

    Good deal! Will be starting to implement this on new listings. Thanks!

  • Aprilshowersbringmayflowers_thumb128

    HodgePodgeLodge says:
    12/07/10 at 16:55:51

    THANK YOU
    I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Avatar_from_peg_thumb128

    abbysattic says:
    12/07/10 at 17:24:04

    Phenomenal!

  • Img_0088_thumb128

    hazard2 says:
    12/07/10 at 17:34:22

    Very Nice. Thanks for the Efforts.

  • Double-purple-iris-logo_thumb128

    purpleiris says:
    12/07/10 at 17:53:41

    Most excellent!! I’ll have to check it out. One question, though, is the USPS not integrated into the calculated shipping part? Or do we have to use fixed pricing for USPS? I currently use fixed pricing, but have some items I’d like to be able to use calculated on and most of them would be sent via USPS. I do love having the ability to set multiple shipping options, though. Thanks!!

  • Bear_6_sized_for_avatar_thumb128

    CollectibleCorner says:
    12/07/10 at 19:00:48

    I’ve been using calculated USPS shipping ever since I joined 2 years ago. I’m not clear on whether I can still do so. Everything here mentions it’s available for UPS and Fedex. I’d like some clarificaiton.

  • Logos_thumb128

    MoldavitePlus says:
    12/07/10 at 20:28:19

    Are multiple shipping options up and running for shipping profiles and batch editing?

  • Baby_birds_008_thumb128_thumb128

    grabadeal says:
    12/07/10 at 21:42:29

    I love all the options, but I Ran into a little snag. I selected 1st class Parcel, and the box above it and below it are automatically being selected also, without me checking the boxes. I tried several times to uncheck them but they still check themselves… Here’s an item number if you want to see what I mean. #15403843 What I wanted to select is 1st class parcel and the Priority options, but it keeps changing to 1st class for $.98 instead of First Class Parcel for $1.56. Am I doing something wrong?? or is this a glitch? I am selecting USPS.

  • Bellavistaboutiqueavatar2_thumb128

    bellavistaboutique says:
    12/08/10 at 03:44:16

    Change is good! Thanks so much for the hard work!

  • Mask_thumb128

    collectableme says:
    12/08/10 at 04:02:49

    Wonderful. Maybe more sellers will start using the calculated shipping now.

  • Red_flower.jpeg_thumb128

    Teragatto says:
    12/08/10 at 04:35:02

    Excellent update!

  • 0210avatar_thumb128

    driver211 says:
    12/08/10 at 05:45:13

    wow, that is great. Thanks Alex!

  • Sunflower_antics_avatar_thumb128

    SunflowerAntics says:
    12/08/10 at 07:05:49

    Wow! Looks clean, simple quick to use. Will it work well with combined shipping discount set by Seller?

    Thanks Alex?

  • Alex_2b_thumb128

    alexwberg says:
    12/08/10 at 08:04:13

    @ purpleiris and CollectibleCorner – USPS is part of the calculated shipping choices it’s just missing from the pick-up and drop-off preferences.

  • Alex_2b_thumb128

    alexwberg says:
    12/08/10 at 09:51:37

    @MoldavitePlus – Shipping services are saved in shipping profiles, and can be applied with a shipping profile. They are implemented into batch editing to the extent that you can apply shipping profiles to multiple items en masse, but there isn’t a specific interface in the batch editor for setting shipping services.

  • Alex_2b_thumb128

    alexwberg says:
    12/08/10 at 09:52:05

    @Cheyenne2u – Sure. There is nothing in the shipping services that affects a buyer’s ability to get a combined shipping discount.

  • Alex_2b_thumb128

    alexwberg says:
    12/08/10 at 10:19:07

    @ grabadeal – we’re looking into this…

  • Alex_2b_thumb128

    alexwberg says:
    12/08/10 at 16:25:05

    @ grabadeal – we found the problem and will have a fix up in a day or two.

  • Dsc_0028_2_thumb128

    bradsglassart says:
    12/08/10 at 19:23:03

    Nice to have many shipping choices for our customers to choose from. Thanks for the good job on this.

  • Alex_2b_thumb128

    alexwberg says:
    12/09/10 at 22:27:49

    Thanks for all the feedback everyone. If you encounter any bugs please notify support!