As an eBay seller, shipping costs can quickly eat into your profits – especially if you need to send every item separately. Fortunately, strategically combining shipping for multiple eBay orders can lead to major cost savings.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll cover everything you need to leverage combined shipping as an eBay seller:
What Is Combined Shipping on eBay?
Combined shipping refers to the practice of shipping multiple eBay orders together in one package, instead of individually. For example:
- A buyer purchases 3 t-shirts from your eBay store
- Instead of sending them as separate shipments, you package all 3 shirts together in one box
This allows you to take advantage of discounted shipping rates for heavier packages. So instead of paying 3 x the shipping for each t-shirt order, you‘ll pay less than if you had shipped them separately.
When Can You Combine eBay Orders?
As a general rule, if a buyer purchases multiple items from you, you can combine them into one shipment as long as:
- The items fit together safely in one box
- The combined weight does not push the order into a higher shipping price tier
However, there are a few caveats:
- International orders may have customs restrictions on combining
- Large or heavy items may need to ship solo
- Buyers can request separate shipping
So assess each order carefully before combining.
eBay Combined Shipping Cost Savings
To demonstrate the actual cost differences, here is a comparison of shipping rates for 3 t-shirt orders:
| Shipping Method | Shipping Rate | X Qty | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Separate Shipments | $4.99 | 3 | $14.97 |
| Combined Shipment | $6.49 | 1 | $6.49 |
As you can see, combining the 3 orders into 1 shipment saves $8.48 in this example!
Other savings examples:
- 5-10 small items could save $15+
- Bulky/heavy items could save $20-30+
The more you combine, the more you save!
Best Practices for Combined eBay Shipping
If you want to implement combined eBay shipping smoothly, be sure to follow these seller best practices:
1. Check Buyer Addresses
Confirm all orders are going to the same address before combining. If not, do not combine them!
2. Weigh Packages Carefully
Weigh each package meticulously to get accurate shipping quotes. Oversights here can negate savings.
3. Use eBay‘s Bulk Shipping Tool
Bulk Shipping lets you easily combine orders, print labels, mark shipped in one step.
4. Pad & Pack Items Securely
Use padding to keep individual items protected within the combined box.
5. Communicate with Buyers
Let buyers know their items ship together + share the tracking number.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
While combined shipping seems straightforward, there are some important pitfalls to avoid:
- Not checking buyer addresses first
- Incorrect weight calculations
- Packaging items together unsafely
- Failing to communicate with buyers
Following the tips in this guide will help you steer clear of these issues.
Success Stories From eBay Sellers
To inspire you, here are some real-world examples of sellers benefiting from strategically combining orders:
"I saved over $500 in 3 months by combining multiple clothing orders going to the same state!" 👚
"Combining heavy items like dumbbells into 1 big box has been a total game changer for my fitness store‘s shipping." 🏋️
"Got my average shipping cost per jewelry order down by $2.35 after focusing on combining." 💎
The results speak for themselves!
No matter what you sell on eBay, leveraging combined shipping effectively can make a huge impact on your profit margins.
So put these tips into action and watch your savings add up over time. Your wallet will thank you!
