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Last week in eBay Watch, we discussed paperless payments and how sellers were reacting to the announcement that eBay was going digital with payments. This week we look at the recently announced limits on shipping and handling charges for eBay's media categories.

In October, eBay will enforce limits on shipping and handling charges for what eBay calls its most competitive categories: Media - Books, DVDs & Movies, Music and Video Games. Sellers listing these items, after the limits go into effect, will be required to offer at least one shipping option within eBay's specified limit. Sellers may also provide other options that are above the maximums for expedited or international shipping. These maximum shipping charges apply to the first flat-rate shipping service within or into the U.S. Merchants are required to offer at least one shipping option within the maximum.

Lorrie Norrington, President of eBay Marketplaces, has previously said that enforcing shipping limits is designed to protect buyers from excessive shipping charges.

But one of the biggest concerns expressed by sellers is that they will lose money with set shipping limits, as not all CDs and DVDs, for example, are the same size. At times, vendors may have a specialty box set, or an antique book, for instance, that will require them to go beyond the set shipping limits for those types of items.

EBay has addressed this concern in a public announcement discussion forum by saying that sellers with an unusual media item that is too heavy or too valuable to fit within the shipping limits can use the Shipping Calculator instead of the shipping max limit.  When listing an unusual item within a media category that will require extra for shipping, sellers will need to clearly describe why the item is non-standard to prevent having the listing removed for excessive shipping.

Lastly, we all know that shipping is tied to Best Match search results. And while eBay has accommodated sellers who list unusual items in media categories, they have not changed Best Match search functions to "forgive" sellers with these unusual items in a category that requires higher shipping charges. In the public discussion forum, an eBay spokesperson posted the following regarding Best Match and higher shipping:

"If your item has expensive shipping compared to other items in your category, and you are seeing the red warning message about your shipping cost as you list your item, your item is likely getting bumped down in Best Match based on your shipping cost. (Note: it will still show up, just lower.) Bear in mind Best Match takes a number of factors into consideration — including your DSR scores, item relevance and item specifics, so if those are high your item may still do OK."

What Are The New Media Shipping Limits?
Starting in October, the limits on shipping and handling charges for the first flat-rate shipping service within or into the U.S. are as follows:

Vangie Beal is a seasoned online marketplace seller, frequent contributor to ECommerce-Guide.com and avid online bargain hunter. She is also managing editor of Webopedia.com.