Calculated postage costs are based on the seller's and buyer's locations and the dimensions of the package. Buyers feel much more comfortable purchasing items if they know the postage costs upfront. You can list with calculated postage costs using the Sell Your Item form, Revise Your Item form, Relist form, and Turbo Lister.
Go to eBay Postage Centre and click on the “Postage Calculator” link to show you the costs for various services and locations.
How calculated postage works
eBay automatically calculates postage rates based on your buyer's postcode. The cost is displayed on your item listing, and charged to your buyers when they pay with any of your payment methods.
Amounts charged for postage
Pitney Bowes provides the technology behind the Postage Calculator. All you have to do is enter the information about your item and the calculator determines the postage cost.
We can't guarantee that calculated postage costs will always be correct. The following circumstances may affect the cost calculated: posting from some rural locations, multiple-item shipments, posting on non-business days, sending certain materials in the post and adding extra services. Occasionally postage costs may be a little high or a little low. If you're worried that the cost will be too low, you can enter a handling cost to increase the postage cost displayed to buyers. The handling cost will be included in the total postage cost.
Manual tracking information for posted items
The inclusion of tracking information on posted goods helps to manage buyers’ expectations as to when they can expect to receive goods. It also benefits sellers by helping to improve your efficiency which can contribute to buyer Feedback and DSRs you receive.
How to upload tracking information
These are the ways you can upload tracking information to your sold items:
To upload tracking information and delivery confirmation to My eBay:
In My eBay, go to the Sold section
Select the check box next to the item or items for which you want to add a tracking number
Click the Add Tracking Number button
On the Add/Edit/Delete Tracking Number page, enter the tracking or delivery confirmation number
If eBay can determine the carrier you're using, such as Australia Post or Fastway, we'll pre-fill that information in the Carrier box. Otherwise, enter the name of your carrier
Once you've uploaded tracking information or delivery confirmation, it appears in the following places:
Automated Order Update email
When you upload tracking, we'll send your buyer an email with the postage tracking number so they can be confident that their item is on its way
The buyer is then able to click through ‘tracking number’ on the item to open the postage details pop-up screen
The buyer can then click the tracking number to view the tracking information for the item
Automatically upload tracking numbers using the eBay AusPost Flat Rate Satchel through Click and Send
If you pay for postage and print labels for your eBay AusPost Flat Rate Satchel on Click and Send, tracking information is automatically uploaded to My eBay
You can also email your buyer the tracking number through Click and Send
To upload tracking using Selling Manager / SM Pro:
Go to the Sold Items section of Selling Manager
Select the check box next to the item or items for which you want to add a tracking or delivery confirmation number
Click the Add tracking number button
On the Add/Edit/Delete Tracking Number page, enter the tracking or delivery confirmation number
If we can determine the carrier you're using, such as Australia Post or Fastway, we'll prefill that information in the Carrier box. Otherwise, enter the name of your carrier
Upload tracking using eBay’s API
Pass the following required values: ItemID, TransactionID, ShipmentTrackingNumber, ShippingCarrierUsed fields
More information on the CompleteSale API can be found here.
Upload tracking using File Exchange
Go to File Exchange in My eBay
Create a download request
Create a “Revise Shipment Status” download job, and select all sold listings
Set Shipping Status to 1 to mark the item as posted. Add carrier(s) and tracking numbers in bulk
In the left navigation bar select Upload Listings and Updates
Click the Browse button to select your revised file and click Upload
Using additional postage services, such as delivery confirmation, return receipt
etc
eBay calculates standard postage rates for Australia Post. If you intend to use any additional services you should include a handling cost to cover the extra costs. This cost is not displayed to buyers, but is included in the total postage costs.
Services supported
We’ve updated and simplified our postage services offerings to provide the most relevant services for sellers. The following changes and updates to postage service offerings apply from 2 May 2011:
Prominent display of all postage options throughout the buying process – at the top of the item page, during checkout and on the order details page. Note: Later in 2011 it will become mandatory to specify the type of postage you offer
Updated postage services list. New service names replace existing services to specify the carrier and type of service (eg Regular has changed to ‘AusPost Regular Parcel Post’)
Addition of time values to all services (eg 1-3 days)
Removal of redundant services
Generic Standard, Express and Expedited services are offered for use with carriers not listed in the services selection drop-down eg Temando, Fastway, DHL or Smart Send
Introduction of Freight as a new method for large and bulky items. This method allows sellers to specify their own postage rates in the item description
View the updated list of postage services.
You can offer up to three domestic and three international postage services to your buyers.
Weight of the package
eBay recommends using a standard postage scale to weigh your item. Be sure to include the weight of the box and other packaging materials, as well. The closer you get to the exact weight of the package, the more accurate the rates will be. If you’re unsure, it is better to overestimate the weight.
Maximum package weight
For all Australia services, the maximum package weight is 20kg.
When a buyer purchases multiple items (for example, in a multiple item listing), the postage calculator determines the total weight of all the items. If this is over the weight limit for the postage service, the calculator assumes that the items will be sent in separate boxes.
Calculated postage costs work with all payment methods, including PayPal
Postage charges will be calculated whenever your buyer goes through the payment process on eBay.
Note:
For PayPal purchases, postage charges can only be calculated if a buyer starts payment on eBay or pays from a PayPal Winning Bidder Notification email, End of Auction notification, Post-Sale Manager invoice, or Smart Logo on a single item listing. On eBay, buyers can click the grey 'Pay Now' button on the Item Listing, End of Auction email, My eBay or other places, or they can pay through an invoice you send.
If a buyer starts payment on the PayPal Web site, postage charges will NOT be calculated automatically.
Changing the postage amount once the item ends
If you send an eBay invoice to a buyer or you enter payment details in Selling Manager, the postage charges you enter will override the calculated cost. The buyer will be charged the amounts you enter. You can send an invoice from the Item Listing, My eBay, and the End of Auction email.
