@fourms (fourms) posted a new topic, subject "Help with shipping". It read:

   I am a new seller-can someone explain shipping to me. Do I pay the 3.99 shipping or does the buyer? Should I print Amazon's shipping label or take it somewhere else? Please help!!!

@eyes2c (Eyes2C) replied

    in general, you should use amazon's “buy shipping”.
    
    have you actually made a sale yet, or are you just asking ?

After which, @fourms (fourms) added

    I made a sale and now tomorrow I am shipping-since this is all new to me I just wanted to know what to do. Thanks for your feedback.

To which @eyes2c (Eyes2C) replied

    fourms:
    
    > what do you mean? I just want to know who pays the shipping
    
    YOU pay the shipping, but amazon gives you the 3.99, so if the item costs less than 3.99 to ship you come out ahead, if it costs more than 3.99, you lose money on the shipping…so hopefully you make enough on the sale itself so that overall, you have a profit .

To which @dommie (Dommie) replied

    Oh boy…
    
    I think you leaped without looking. You may be in over your head.

@ceasesmith (ceasesmith) replied

    Yes, if this is your first sale. Follow the instructions in the “sold-ship now” e-mail from Amazon.
    
    If you have a printer, using Amazon's postage is really easy. I'm totally inept on the computer, and I learned it.
    
    You will need to print or write out a packing list. Was it a book you sold? I usually wrap books in bubble wrap and tape the packing list to the outside of the bubble wrap (that's in case the outer package gets destroyed – which does happen. With a packing list, the  
    PO will rewrap the package and deliver it. Otherwise, goes to “Deal Mail” office!)), and put  
    the whole thing in a box.
    
    Print out the label and tape it to the box.
    
    I believe if it's over 13 oz. you still must hand it to a postal employee, rather than dropping it in a blue box to be picked up.
    
    There really are a few things a seller needs before their first sale – tape, bubble wrap, scissors, stuff like that!
    
    cease

After which, @vending_toy_pride (Vending Toy Pride) added

    Amazon collected $3.99 from the buyer to help pay for shipping.  
    The $3.99 might not be enough to cover the actual cost of shipping, in which case you will need to make up the difference.
    
    You can print shipping from Amazon, purchase postage from other on-line sources or take the package up to the carrier. If you take the package to the post office and pay for shipping you will be charged the most. If you print shipping yourself you can get .20¢ tracking (free with first class and Priority Mail) and save a little money. Printing your own postage is the best way to save money.
    
    Once you print a shipping label (or ship from the post office) you confirm shipping. At this time, Amazon will credit your account with the sale including the $3.99 shipping. If you purchase shipping from Amazon the confirming shipping is automatically done for you. Plus if you purchase from Amazon, the cost of shipping comes out of your settlement.
    
    So in short, the buyer pays for shipping. You then take that money and often times add more to it, purchase postage and ship the package.

After which, @fourms (fourms) added

    what do you mean? I just want to know who pays the shipping

@selg_inc (selg) replied

    Short answer: Buyers pay shipping of 3.99 on books. You get paid only part of this by Amazon.
    
    You need to ship the book your customer ordered, no matter what it costs. Use USPS Media Mail for shipping books. You can buy and print postage through your Amazon account, pack the book in a box, and take the package to your local post office, and drop it in the self-service hopper.
    
    Going to the PO counter or buying any shipping supplies from them will always cost you more.
    
    Ship books, or anything else you might have sold, in well-padded boxes.

Then @eyes2c (Eyes2C) said

    fourms:
    
    > I made a sale and now tomorrow I am shipping-since this is all new to me I just wanted to know what to do. Thanks for your feedback.
    
    use the amazon shipping , and then see what is put into your account under your payments tab, then it will be very clear how much you made ( or lost ) .
    
    once you buy shipping through amazon, the postage is all paid ( assuming you entered the correct weight ) and you just drop it off at any p.o. …unless you have pick-up where you live

Then @eyes2c (Eyes2C) said

    when you use amazon for postage and the shipping label ( or other on-line services ) , you +can+ drop pre-paid packages over 13 oz in the boxes or slots…they do not need to be handed to a clerk…unless some random USPS employee does not know the regs.

So @eyes2c (Eyes2C) replied

    fourms:
    
    > since this is all new to me I just wanted to know what to do.
    [code] 
          .
        
    [/code]
    
    …and hopefully if this is a book, you graded it correctly.
    
    and when you pack it make sure it can't slide around inside the envelope or box you put it in …internal movement within the package itself can damage things or cause the package to break if the p.o. handles it roughly.

To which @astargatis (astargatis) replied

    So I guess then here's the question, with Amazon not being willing to really compinsate a seller on shipping, then what is the motivation to even sell on Amazon rather than somewhere else? Often I see books listed for as little as a penny, so then isn't this a loss to the seller to even bother with Amazon as thier selling medium? I just sold several books on here and only little more than broke even after shipping cost with purchasing packagin and shipping. It really soured me to even bothering being a seller here.

To which @foliobooks (foliobooks) replied

    Amazon's shipping allowance for books is adequate to cover the cost of mailing most books. For heavier books, you need to be able to add a little extra into the price to cover the difference.
    
    When you list a book, Amazon tells you exactly how much you will receive if it sells. That is a good point to stop and not list the book, if you don't like the bottom line. That way there are no nasty shocks in the sale notification.
    
    Amazon is not a good place for individual non-PM sellers to sell cheap books. If you want to know more about how some sellers can make a profit selling penny books, there's a long thread on these boards that goes into the issue ad nauseam.

@trietminh_treasures (trietminh_treasures) replied

    Some things are just not worth selling on Amazon. As previously mentioned there are a ton of threads regarding penny books. There is actually a very good thread about it in this forum.
    
    Keep in mind:
    
      * Just because you can doesn't mean you should.
      * A little common sense goes a long way.
      * Read the Seller's Participation Agreement
      * Read the forums and glean from those who have gone before you.

@system (system) replied

    


{'source': 'discourse', 'url': 'https://sellercentral.amazon.com/forums/t/help-with-shipping/226552', 'title': 'Help with shipping', 'views': 78, 'has_accepted_answer': False, 'word_count': 1177, 'like_count': 0, 'reply_count': 9, 'participant_count': 10, 'posts': 16, 'tags': '', 'author': '@fourms (fourms)', 'participants': '@fourms (fourms), @eyes2c (Eyes2C), @dommie (Dommie), @ceasesmith (ceasesmith), @vending_toy_pride (Vending Toy Pride), @selg_inc (selg), @astargatis (astargatis), @foliobooks (foliobooks), @trietminh_treasures (trietminh_treasures), @system (system)', 'image_url': '', 'created_at': '2013-05-20T02:37:41.000Z', 'last_posted_at': '2018-02-23T09:41:30.888Z'}