eBay advised sellers about the USPS postage rate increase coming on January 27, 2019. “The eBay shipping calculator and eBay labels are updating as rate changes take effect. Make sure you adjust shipping prices on your active listings accordingly,” it explained.
For sellers who use its shipping calculator, eBay advised them to review their listings for accurate package weights and measurements. “Your listings will show the new rates automatically, once they take effect,” it said.
Not everyone opts to use the eBay shipping calculator to have their listings display shipping costs based on the buyer and seller’s locations. For example, some sellers charge a flat-rate shipping fee on listings. For those sellers, eBay advised: “If you charge a flat-rate for shipping, review your listings to see if your flat rate covers the price increases. You may have to raise your flat-rate charges to maintain your margins.”
And sellers who choose to include the cost of shipping in their prices by offering so-called “free shipping,” eBay advised: “If you offer free shipping, review your listings to see if your prices can absorb the extra costs, or if you should make adjustments.”
Many sellers use third-party solution providers, which have published detailed guides on how the USPS rate hike will impact shippers.
eBay also advised sellers to prepare for USPS changes known as dimension-weight (DIM weight) that impact larger, light-weight packages. In November, the USPS postponed the changes to DIM weight until June 23, 2019.
See eBay’s full announcement on the eBay website.
It’s just going to slow sales even more. People in my market just can’t afford shipping. I don’t see how some of them collect anything between that and the desert that physical retail has turned into. At this point, I think once I run thought what’s left of my shipping supplies, that’s it for me selling online.