Are we being forced to offer free shipping now?
We keep getting messages that our shipping prices are too high at $4 and that they aren't going to allow buyers to select our offer unless we lower them...we've noticed that all the listings that they send us this warning for have other sellers offering free shipping.
It's obvious that you can't ship anything for $4 or less anymore (especially with the latest USPS price increase) so the only conclusion is that we are being forced to offer free shipping whenever another seller on the listing does? has anyone else had this issue and does anyone know if they really do block your listings for this or if it's a bluff?
19 replies
Seller_kIukTwdhvntAp
Sadly, even if you convert to "free shipping" it will probably still be blocked.
I have a lot of items that are blocked due to 'high price errors' priced at $9.99 when the shipping alone is about $4.50.
I'll just let them sit while I sell them elsewhere. Maybe inflation will get high enough Amazon will relent!
Seller_D0VEe0ela1AKl
You can charge whatever you want. Amazon, as a service to you, and to allow you to win the featured buy box, is simply letting you know where you might not be competitive when compared to other sellers on the same listing. They want competition on the items sold on its website and feel this is the best for the customer.
In terms of free shipping, we all know that there is no such thing, but that doesn't mean that we don't want it. Consider that if you have a listing with a ship-charge and another has one with "free" shipping, even if the total landed price is the same, most will opt for the item with the free shipping.
KJ_Amazon
Hello @Seller_ZDUFw1qRNIbgB.
Have you filed a support case requesting a review of that warning? If so, please share that Case ID so I can take a look.
For low-cost shipping rates, the notification may be due to the rates set for multiple quantities, and not the initial "one item" shipping rate.
The notification can also be caused by incorrectly entered package information, especially weight.
Seller_ToPPYvOWlyp9j
We've been wondering the opposite.
We ship nearly everything, except our heaviest/oversize titles, with free shipping for the exact reason @Relevant_Concepts mentioned.
Got a load of Price Alerts dumped on us yesterday/ this morning. Forced to relist w/ $3.99 or $4.99 shipping (as a pro-seller, we use templates), because the BOTS refused to accept our free-shipping price, even if the price was less than other listings on the title. UNTIL WE ADDED SHIPPING COSTS.
One of these titles has returned to inactive 4 times today, can't figure the reason. The listings (less than 20) haven't changed; AFA I can tell, none of those listings have sold, either. Guess I'll just put it aside for now. SIGH!!
AMAZON is well-known for BOTS GONE WILD & A.I. may have worsened the situation.
Seller_ToPPYvOWlyp9j
Dear KJ_Amazon:
We never set up "multiple quantity" shipping options on standard "free" shipping(Media Mail) though we have it on Expedited(which isn't free).
Have already handled our issues through relisting. Used "Advance Search" and google repeatedly. These were older titles, mostly vintage sci-fi Mass Markets, 20-50 years old, which do sell to collectors and folks who want a FIRST or ORIGINAL EDITION.
AMZ wants sellers to offer for a paltry .95 -$2.99--the original cost of the title when published. The most stubborn were hardbacks published in 1950 and the oldest, 1936, which I mentioned up thread. Who knows if they'll ever sell, hidden in the back of the search.
A newbie with less experience would probably have tossed the titles(that's what we would have done) or listed on another, less-infuriating, platform . That hurts the corporation since won't get the fees and customers who can't locate RARE, older titles might not return.
I know this is not your purview but not going to sell a book for less than $11.00, period!! We're not a MEGA and we're not a non-profit. You might mention to TPTB that their BOTS are flawed/ outdated. They may be interested since they're now facing a price-fixing class-action lawsuit.
Seller_Eu7SDX0Q0YIE2
Everything we sell is hazmat, so we have always charged shipping. Everything is $13.98 or higher based on order value. We do subsidize partially, as our average shipping charge is almost $19 now. Have never had any issue with Amazon on shipping charges.
