Shipping discounts

When you set up shipping discounts, the discount will automatically be applied at checkout or displayed on your listings in Live events.

How combined shipping discounts work

To offer combined shipping discounts, first you'll need to set up combined shipping rules in your Shipping Preferences - opens in new window or tab and then apply them to your listings. Once the rules are applied to your listings, the shipping cost will automatically be adjusted when a buyer purchases multiple items from you.

eBay Live sellers will see a simplified experience for creating and managing shipping discounts.

Tip
eBay Live combined shipping eligibility is anchored to the event start time. Find out more in our article about Offering combined shipping. Promotional shipping rules (except Max. shipping cost) don't apply to items in a live event.

Flat rate shipping rules

With flat rate shipping costs, all buyers pay the same amount. You can set up your rule to either add or subtract from the shipping cost for each additional purchase.

• Add a fixed amount for each additional item purchased. For example, if the shipping cost on the first item is $5 you could choose to charge just $2 in shipping for each additional purchase
• Subtract an amount from the shipping charge for each additional item purchased. In the same example as above you could choose to charge $1 less than the initial cost (i.e., $4) for each additional purchase. If you're an eBay Live seller, this option isn't available for new flat rate shipping rules

To create a flat shipping rule:

1. In Shipping Preferences - opens in new window or tab, select Edit beside Combined shipping rule.
2. From the dropdown menu, choose whether to add or subtract an amount for each additional item purchased.
3. Enter the amount to add/subtract.
4. Enter a profile name to give your policy a descriptive name.
5. Select Save.

To create a flat shipping rule for eBay Live items:

1. In Shipping Preferences - opens in new window or tab, select Edit next to Combined shipping.
2. On the 'Create shipping rule' page, enter the name of your new rule.
3. Under 'Choose rule type', select Flat cost.
4. Choose the shipping cost for additional items, or select Free shipping.
5. You can also choose to add Max. shipping cost under 'Optional rule settings'.

Calculated shipping rules

When you offer a calculated shipping cost the amount a buyer pays varies based on their location. You can apply rules for combining items into a single package:

• Automatically combine the weights of all the items in one package. For example, if a buyer purchases three items that weigh 4 lb each, you can set up a rule that charges shipping for a single 12 lb package
• Automatically combine the weights of the items in one package and subtract a weight amount (in ounces). For example, if a buyer purchases 3 items that weigh 4 lb each, you can set up a rule that combines the items in one 12 lb package, and automatically deducts 16 oz from the total weight. This option isn't available for eBay Live sellers

To create calculated shipping rules:

1. In Shipping Preferences - opens in new window or tab, select Edit beside Calculated shipping rule.
2. Choose either Combine all item weights, or Combine all item weights and subtract an amount.
3. Select Next, then specify a rule for your handling costs from the dropdown menu.
4. Enter the amount to be added or subtracted for each additional item.
5. Enter a profile name to give your policy a descriptive name.
6. Select Save.

To create calculated shipping rules for eBay Live items:

1. In Shipping Preferences - opens in new window or tab, select Edit next to Combined shipping rules.
2. Select Create combined shipping rule.
3. On the 'Create shipping rule' page, enter the name of your new rule.
4. Select Calculated as your rule type.
5. Specify your handling costs, if any.
6. You can also choose from extra discount options under 'Optional rule settings'.

Calculated shipping rules apply only to listings for which you specify both calculated shipping and combined shipping discounts.

Promotional shipping discount rules

With promotional shipping discounts, you can create a rule that offers your buyers a discount based on the conditions you set. For example:

• You can set a maximum shipping cost if buyers buy more than one item
• Free shipping if buyers spend more than $25

Buyers will see these discounts highlighted in your listings. Promotional shipping rules apply to all listings with a combined shipping discount, and the promotional rule overrides any existing flat and calculated shipping rules.

Promotional shipping rules don't apply to items in an eBay Live event, but you can choose to add 'Max. shipping cost' when you're creating a flat shipping rule.

To set up a promotional shipping discount:

1. In Shipping Preferences - opens in new window or tab, select Edit beside Promotional shipping rule.
2. Fill in your conditions and select Save.

Carrier-specific discounts

Shipping carrier discounts let you pass some or all of your savings along to your buyers. You have two options:

• Set up a flat discount off retail or daily rates for domestic and international shipments across all carriers (USPS, FedEx, and UPS)
• Offer eBay discounted rates with USPS, FedEx, and UPS

The discounts will be applied to all active and new listings with a shipping cost. You can also choose to offer retail rates with no carrier specific discounts by selecting Don’t offer discounted rates to buyers. After saving your preference in shipping discount settings - opens in new window or tab, your updates will be visible to buyers within 24 hours.

When you use eBay labels to ship an item, you only need to pay the shipping cost and the cost of any shipping services you choose, such as signature confirmation. As the exact cost of shipping is detailed, you ensure that the full cost is covered in the sale price to your buyer. However, if you enable these discounts but then go to a carrier retail location to purchase labels (instead of using eBay to print labels), you could end up paying more than the shipping costs charged to your buyer.

To set up a flat discount across all carriers:

1. In Shipping Preferences - opens in new window or tab, select Edit beside Offer discounts to buyers.
2. Fill in your discount preferences by selecting Offer eBay discounted rates to buyers or Offer custom discount to buyers.
3. Select Save.

You can't specify different discounts for different services. The domestic discount rate applies to shipments to Alaska, Hawaii, US Protectorates, and APO or FPO addresses.

To set up eBay discounted rates:

1. In Shipping Preferences - opens in new window or tab, select Edit beside Offer carrier-specific discounts for buyers.
2. Select Offer eBay discounted rates to buyers.
3. Check the box beside the eBay discounted rates you wish to offer and then select Save.

To opt out of eBay discounted rates, deselect the boxes next to the rates offered and select Save. See our Seller Center page Shipping Services and Providers - opens in new window or tab for more information on carrier-specific discounts on eBay.

Tip
Make sure you've applied combined shipping rules to all listings in which you want to offer a discount.

How to apply shipping discount rules to your listings

For buyers to receive your shipping discounts, you need to apply your rules to the relevant listings. You can do this when creating or editing a listing, or using business policies.

Here's how to apply a shipping discount rule when listing an item:

1. In the advanced listing tool, go to the Shipping section.
2. Go to Combined shipping rule and select the rule you want to apply.

Here's how to apply a shipping discount rule to an existing listing:

1. Go to your Active listings - opens in new window or tab page.
2. Select Revise next to the listing you want to edit.
3. In the Shipping section, go to Combined shipping rule and select the rule you want to apply.

Here's how to apply a shipping discount rule to multiple listings:

1. Go to your Business policies - opens in new window or tab.
2. Select the shipping policy you want to edit.
3. Select the rule(s) you want to apply under Combined shipping rule.
4. Select Save.

The shipping discounts will then be applied to all listings with that shipping policy.

How to apply shipping discount rules to eBay Live listings

Once you've created your shipping rules, you can apply them when you're creating eBay Live listings from templates, using bulk listing tools, or by creating and editing individual listings. We recommend applying a single combined shipping rule or policy to all Live listings so your buyers can enjoy a seamless experience.

Listing templates

When using templates to create bulk listings, you'll need to first apply the combined shipping rule to your shipping policy. Once you've added the rule to your policy, here's how to apply it to your listings:

1. Go to Seller Hub and select Listings.
2. Select Listing templates.
3. Select Create or Edit a listing template.
4. Scroll to Shipping.
5. Select the shipping policy with the correct rule applied.

Bulk listing tools

1. Go to Seller Hub and select Listings.
2. Go to the focused edit view.
3. Select Bulk edit, then Domestic shipping.
4. Select your combined shipping rule.

Single listing

1. Go to your listing, and scroll to Shipping.
2. Select Flat or Calculated.
3. Scroll down to Combined Shipping and select the rule from the dropdown.

If you are using shipping rules, rather than shipping policies, the selected shipping services will need to match for combined shipping discounts to apply. This happens automatically for shipping policies.