tictictic_OnEbay (enthusiast)
04/24/07 07:59 PM
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Is the Shipping Calculator accurate?
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Can the eBay shipping calculator be relied on for UPS quotes?
I just listed a large item. In AW, I used Calculated Shipping in Shipping Options; Custom Weight of 65 pounds; Very Large Package (Oversize 2 -- it will be about 30" x 32" x 36"); Packing/Handling of $10.00; and I selected only UPS Ground.
When I go to the auction page and plug in a New York zip (10025, with the "home" zip being 92130), I get a very reasonable $80.40 (please check and see if you get the same figure -- auction ID is 140111652084). But when I enter all the same info at the UPS web site, I get $194.60. What gives?
I'm going to have to remove the shipping info or risk under-collecting.
Any ideas?
Thanks, Sue
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bluepennylady (old hand)
04/24/07 08:09 PM
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Sue,
How do you have your UPS preferences set up on My eBay? There are two options. UPS on demand or daily pickup. The two rates are substantially different.
Judy/blue
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bluepennylady (old hand)
04/24/07 08:15 PM
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Sue,
I came up with $80.40 as well at eBay. I used two different options on UPS, commericial was around $145.00. While the residential was the same as you came up with.
did you include the dimensions in the shipping options? as well as selecting Oversize 2? I know you did, but just double checking.
Judy/blue
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tictictic_OnEbay (enthusiast)
04/24/07 09:53 PM
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Hi Judy,
In my eBay Preferences, I found a place to create a Calculated shipping rule, but it didn't apply to this situation -- nothing about UPS.
The only other info I found was that "A $5 handling fee will be added to the shipping charge for "irregular or unusual" pkgs. I didn't select that in AW.
Judy, where do I set up my UPS preferences?
Thanks, Sue
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tictictic_OnEbay (enthusiast)
04/24/07 10:01 PM
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$80.40 -- that sounds like way too little shipping for a huge, 65-pound box, right?
Yes, I included the dimensions in the AW set-up. Here's what it looks like:
http://members.dslextreme.com/users/emailshere/AWShipUPS.jpg
Am I just not seeing something??
Thanks, Sue
Edited by tictictic_OnEbay on 04/25/07 01:27 AM (server time).
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bluepennylady (old hand)
04/25/07 05:21 AM
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Sue,
The options are in Combined Shipping discounts in your Preferences. There is a edit button next to "Offer UPS at this rate" Click the Edit button and then the two options are available.
$80.00 isn't too high to ship something that heavy and big as it is Oversize in two ways. The weight is oversize and so is the package itself. Smaller boxes can go 70 lbs. But a box that big I believe the limit is 40 lbs. I'll have to check today and see about t 40 lbs but that is what stickes in my mind.
You can't adjust the $5.00 charge. That is added by UPS. And depending on where the package goes, there could be an additional fuel surcharge assessed as well. Your packaging fee should take care of any fuel charges should there be any.
Judy/blue
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bluepennylady (old hand)
04/25/07 05:26 AM
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Sue,
I don't think you are missing anything in AW2K. I think it may be connected to your UPS preferences. Once you get your UPS rates adjusted see if it works better.
You can't tell in all reality about the $80.00 charge. It could be right on the button. It certainly isn't too high. We send out 50 to 60 lb boxes that are almost that big for around 60.00 or so. But those are going to business addresses. Which are always cheaper. I have a huge heavy box going out today. I'll have my staff be sure and give me the charges for a comparison.
Judy/blue
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tictictic_OnEbay (enthusiast)
04/25/07 11:13 AM
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Hi Judy,
You wrote: "The options are in Combined Shipping discounts in your Preferences."
Ok, I'll look for that right now.
"$80.00 isn't too high to ship something that heavy and big as it is Oversize in two ways."
No, I agree. What I was saying was that $80 was too low. When I go to the UPS online calculator, I get a figure well over $100.00.
Sue
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bluepennylady (old hand)
04/25/07 11:17 AM
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Sue,
After you edit your UPS preferences, allow a bit of time, then check the calculations again.
Sorry, I misunderstood you. Geez, I was not doing well last night! I was being harrassed the entire time I was typing---- by my husband. He wanted to sit in the hot tub. And he kept standing behind my chair poking on me asking when will you be done, over and over again. He was trying to "theraputically stimulate" me as he calls picking on me. I refused to show any signs of agitation. But I certainly was not paying good attention with all the poking.
Isn't that against the law or something???? Harrassment, that is!
Judy/blue
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tictictic_OnEbay (enthusiast)
04/25/07 11:36 AM
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On Demand (no monthly billing) is the default, and that's what My Preferences are/were set for. So the calculated figure should be correct. I'm going to call UPS and see if I can figure this out.
Sue
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bluepennylady (old hand)
04/25/07 11:42 AM
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Sue,
Please let me know what you find out. We have not experienced any difficulty with the calculator.
You might try logging into eBay and trying Live Help. There could be a glitch.
Judy/blue
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tictictic_OnEbay (enthusiast)
04/25/07 01:00 PM
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UPS couldn't help at all. They have no training re the interface between UPS and eBay. They could only confirm the results I get at the UPS online calculator.
EBay Live Chat said there are no known glitches in the calculators, and they suggested I contact AW2k.
I'll let you know what Thom says.
Sue
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bluepennylady (old hand)
04/25/07 01:03 PM
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Sue,
I'll call the Power Sellers line. Sometimes the Live Chat doesn't have a clue what's going on. And other times they are right on top of it.
Judy/blue
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tictictic_OnEbay (enthusiast)
04/25/07 01:07 PM
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Thom's amazingly fast reply:
I do not have any idea what the problem might be. AW2000 passes the values entered in the shipping options to eBay when an item is listed. You should be able to verify the shipping options on the listing by revising the listing on eBay. eBay's page for revising items should show the shipping options as they are stored in the listing. If they match what you selected in AW2000, then the problem is not with AW2000.
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tictictic_OnEbay (enthusiast)
04/25/07 01:12 PM
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Here's what the shipping options show when I click to Revise:
................................................................................. Ship-to locations: Will ship to United States. Shipping costs: Charge shipping cost based on where the buyer is located Services Available UPS Ground Shipping insurance optional Calculated Shipping Details (not shown to buyers): Package weight: 65 lb. oz. Package size: Very Large Package (Oversize 2) Packaging & Handling Fee: $10.00 Seller ZIP Code: 92130 Shipping discount: Not offered. .................................................................................
All looks good to me. I think I'm just going to have to remove the Calculated Shipping from this auction and invite people to contact me for a quote.
Sue
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bluepennylady (old hand)
04/25/07 01:12 PM
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Sue,
Check out the auction in the revision page and see. I have a couple of Oversize items listed so I have checked the calculator. The rate is correct.
This is weird. I think I have a couple of Oversize 2 items so I am going to check those rates and see. Let you know shortly.
Judy/blue
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tictictic_OnEbay (enthusiast)
04/25/07 01:13 PM
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Will be anxious to hear what the Power Sellers say.
Thanks, Sue
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bluepennylady (old hand)
04/25/07 01:53 PM
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Sue,
WELLLLL,, eBay is experiencing a bug with the UPS calculator. Especially on Oversize packages. New listings are the ones that are affected. Relists do not seem to have the problem.
The tech's suggestion is to revise the listing and remove the UPS option. Add to the description that UPS is available and to email for a quote. He said they did not think the bug would be fixed this week. He said you could try simply revising the listing. removing the UPS option, then revise and add it again to see if it worked.
Judy/blue
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tictictic_OnEbay (enthusiast)
04/25/07 02:25 PM
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Ahhh.....ain't it a good feeling to know yur not nuts?!
Ok, thanks, Judy. I'll revise the auction.
Sue
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bluepennylady (old hand)
04/25/07 02:31 PM
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Sue,
Yes it is!! I wish to heavens eBay would post all the tech problems so the sellers would know. Technical issues just happen and most sellers know that. And knowing about the issues would most certainly make it easier to manage the impact on our auctions.
Judy/blue
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bluepennylady (old hand)
04/26/07 12:53 PM
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Sue,
Just a note, not all the charges are coming back too low. Some of the shipping charges on my Auctions are returning rates 50% higher. We have been receiving prospective buyer inquiries for two days asking if the shipping calculator is right. Or they checked a rate yesterday and today the rate is different. Then they want to know what I did to "your shipping calculator" LIke I own the thing
Judy/blue
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tictictic_OnEbay (enthusiast)
04/26/07 01:30 PM
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What a mess, huh?
So I suppose eBay will take a couple weeks to acknowledge the problem, then a couple months to fix it.
Is it still just a problem with UPS and Oversize packages?
Sue
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bluepennylady (old hand)
04/26/07 01:31 PM
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Sue,
No the problem seems to be now encompassing random auctions. The auctions I had affected this morning were only 2 lb Priority packages. I bet you anything this is related to all the USPS changes. I bet eBay is testing code changes.
Judy/blue
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