One listing with multiple packages, how do I show the shipping cost?

Sorry but no one in their right mind would read all that text and buy from you it gives the wrong impression i.e. that you are too lazy to work it out.

Note I said 'impression', if you were lazy you wouldn't be asking.

So for goodness sake don't put all that in your listing, what do sellers of similar items do, have you scanned ebay completed listings to find out ?

In the UK postal rates etc are very different but the principle would be similar 'keep it short and simple'.

For most items I sell I only give the UK rates and ask all other buyers to contact me for a quote for which I always give fixed price.

Hopefully a US seller can add some more USA specific information.

P.S. in my opinion giving automated discount for multiple items is only any good when they are all the ssame size and weight, otherwise work it out manually I do.

P.P.S the more I look at your text e.g. "30 pounds and then just multiply by four" I go eeek gives you the appearance of rip-off merchant why 4 ? what's it for ?

Calculate your p&p don't guess it for you own sake !

I understand what your saying and that is why I am looking for an option.

First of all, the auction is for a DJ set up with cases, turntables and a mixer. The Turntables have to be shipped in two separate boxes and the cases in two more. The reason I have to ship four boxes is that I must avoid charging the buyer the outrageous over sized package fee of something like $60 when the wait exceeds 45 pounds.

If I do a flat fee to Texas, right near me, I will loose money shipping to farther away destinations. If I choose a flat fee to the furthest US states, I over charge any buyers who are closer. What do I do?

And as far as "email me for a shipping quote" I don't have all day to go online and check all the possible shipping rates for each possible buyer. Not to mention the lose of sales possibilities anytime you don't list the shipping up front. I know that I will usually pass any such hassle by when I am looking to buy.

Also, I have watched the Turntable listings on eBay for a while and cannot find a similar listing with any type of listing resolution that I could use.

Somethings I sell go in multiple boxes to avoid similar nasty jumps from rate to rate patrticularly when sending by air but to the buyer that is still one p&p cost so one total price regardless of the number of packages.

Ok so you cannot do flat rate if flat rate applies to all of the USA for these items.

Quote "And as far as "email me for a shipping quote" I don't have all day to go online and check all the possible shipping rates for each possible buyer" you are getting rather anti-customer focus with your tone.

Just do it as and when they ask not have it all prepared in advance.

You have two choices swamp the buyer or get them to ask, why not put 4 examples next door, 2 intermediates and furthest and specific quotes on request.

What about sellers of similarly large items, how do they do it, I cannot believe you are the only one selling sets of items that are bulky !

Strikes me you are more concerned about your 'perceived' hassle in sorting out the postal rates than what a customer would see as hassle, surely these items together are worth a significant amount and worth the effrort ?

quote:

You have two choices swamp the buyer or get them to ask, why not put 4 examples next door, 2 intermediates and furthest and specific quotes on request.

I guess I could look up every zone in the states and then offer a shipping rate for each one, but geeze that's a lot of work. Isn't there some way to make this process easier?

quote:

I guess I could look up every zone in the states and then offer a shipping rate for each one, but geeze that's a lot of work. Isn't there some way to make this process easier?

You quote me but don't read me, I give up.
OK, I'm done too !

Dude, I see what your saying, I'm being lazy by not searching out other ways of finding a solution to my problem. However, I feel that I am trying hard to find a solution, but have not found one yet. Thanks for your input, but your not really offering me any solutions. My question to you is how do I offer a simple shipping option to anyone who may buy my lot of 4 packages in the USA? Whether they be in Maine or Seattle.

This is the response I got back from Auctiva

Hello,

There is no way to have the shipping calculator calculate the shipment for multiple items. As the shipping calculator is a per item tool that only can show the price to ship that item.

Most users set up a shipping discount rule for multiple items purchased through their eBay account. That way if multiple items are purchased the shipping is combined on all of the items and given a discount. You would sell your items with the shipping on the items individually. Then when someone purchases multiple items they will pay for all of the items shipping but get a discount. These rules are set up through your eBay account. For help or information on how to set these rules up please refer to eBay's help pages.

No help at all. Why do people go on at lengths about options that will not solve the problem you are trying to resolve? I know about multiple item discounts, what does that have to do with trying to get a lot of items to be processed by the calculator. It's like this choo choo guy, he keeps going on about what others do in situations that are similar without focusing on the issue I have presented. I appreciate the offer of help, but if you live in tiny little ol' England, a great Country, but small, how are you going to help me to figure out shipping across the vast United States? Anddddddd.... He didn't help, just basically basked in his abundant knowledge of everything close to but not touching upon, my problem.
Ahhhh, the complexities of shipping.