How to Add eBay's Shipping Calculator to Your Listing

By Marsha Collier from eBay Business All-in-One For Dummies, 2nd Edition

If the item that you send an eBay buyer weighs two pounds or more, you may want to use eBay’s versatile shipping calculator to determine your flat shipping-and-handling cost or to quote a calculated shipping cost. Using the shipping calculator has these advantages:

It accounts for variable rates: Because UPS and the U.S. Postal Service now charge variable rates for packages of the same weight, based on distance, using the calculator simplifies things for your customers (and you). Be sure you’ve weighed the item.
It includes your handling amount: The calculator allows you to input a handling amount and adds it to the overall shipping total — but does not break out these amounts separately for the customer.
It calculates the cost of insurance: The calculator also conveniently calculates the proper insurance amount for the item.

The results of checking out the shipping costs.

The above figure shows how simple the calculator is. You may select up to three levels of shipping per item.

You can also check out the fees for different shipping services by using the full eBay shipping calculator. The calculator appears on the item page so that prospective buyers can type their zip codes and immediately know how much shipping will cost to their locations.

Follow these steps to have eBay calculate the charges for you when your buyer supplies his or her zip code:

In the shipping section of the Create Your Listing page, choose Calculated: Cost Varies by Buyer Location from the drop-down menu, as shown here.
Select your package’s weight and size from the drop-down lists.
Select a carrier from the drop-down lists.
In the Seller Zip Code box, type your zip code.
In the Packaging & Handling Fee box, type your packaging fees.
- When adding your packaging and handling charges, don’t worry that the buyers will see these individual fees. eBay combines this amount with the shipping cost and shows the total as one shipping price.
- If you selected the U.S. Postal Service as your carrier, be sure to add the cost of a delivery confirmation (if you use one) when you figure your packaging and handling fee.
Select the appropriate options in the Shipping Insurance and Sales Tax drop-down lists.

If you require the buyer to pay for insurance, or even if insurance is optional, be sure to indicate it. eBay’s calculator will give the buyer the actual insurance cost based on the final bid.