Frequently Asked Questions

Before you can publish listings, you need to set up your eBay Business Policies. These policies define your shipping, payment, and return terms.

Access your eBay Business Policy Page here:
eBay Business Policies

You'll need to create the following policies:

• Shipping Policy - Choose between calculated or flat rate shipping
• Payment Policy - Define accepted payment methods
• Return Policy - Set your return terms and conditions

Important: All three policies must be created and active before you can publish listings through BetterLister.

Calculated shipping automatically calculates costs based on package size and buyer's location:

1. Go to your eBay Business Policies page
2. Click "Create policy" and select "Shipping policy"
3. Enter a policy name (e.g., "Test Calculated Shipping Policy")
4. Add an optional description
5. Under "Shipping method" dropdown, select: "Standard shipping: Small to medium items"
6. Under "Domestic shipping" cost type, select: "Calculated: Cost varies by buyer location"
7. Primary service:
   • Choose a carrier (UPS Ground Saver, USPS Ground Advantage, FedEx Ground Economy)
   • Set handling time (1-3 business days recommended)
8. Additional services (optional):
   • Click "Add additional services" to include USPS Ground Advantage, Priority Mail, or expedited options
9. Handling cost (optional):
   • Add a handling fee if needed (e.g., $0.00 for no fee)
10. International shipping:
    • Toggle "Add shipping services" ON if you ship internationally
    • Choose eBay International Shipping (recommended) or set up your own rates
11. Preferences:
    • Set handling time (Same business day, 1-3 business days, etc.)
12. Click "Save"

Note: You'll set actual package dimensions and weight when creating individual listings. The calculated shipping will automatically determine costs based on those measurements.

Flat rate shipping uses fixed costs regardless of buyer location:

1. Go to your eBay Business Policies page
2. Click "Create policy" and select "Shipping policy"
3. Enter a policy name (e.g., "#2 – [$7] Fits in Clear Inventory Bag (13x12x1 Poly Bag)")
4. Add a description explaining your shipping method
5. Under "Shipping method" dropdown, select: "Standard shipping: Small to medium items"
6. Under "Domestic shipping" cost type, select: "Flat: Same cost to all buyers"
7. Primary service:
   • Choose "USPS Ground Advantage" (most common)
   • Enter your flat rate cost (e.g., $7.97)
   • Set "Each additional cost" (e.g., $2.00 for multiple items)
8. Check "Offer free shipping" if you want to include shipping in your item price
9. Additional services (optional):
   • Click "Add additional services" to offer expedited shipping options
10. International shipping:
    • Use "eBay International Shipping" for simplicity
    • Or toggle "Add shipping services" to set custom international rates
11. Local pickup (optional):
    • Toggle "Add local pickup" if you allow buyers to pick up items
12. Preferences:
    • Set handling time (Same business day, 1-3 business days, etc.)
13. Click "Save"

Pro Tip: Many sellers create multiple flat rate policies for different sized items (small items $7, medium $12, large $18, etc.)

Payment policies are much simpler now with eBay Managed Payments:

1. Go to your eBay Business Policies page
2. Click "Create policy" and select "Payment policy"
3. Enter a policy name (e.g., "Payment Policy For ALL Listings")
4. Add an optional description if needed
5. Under "Payment methods managed by eBay":
   • Check "Require immediate payment when buyer uses Buy It Now" (recommended)
6. Under "Allow offline payment" (optional):
   • Check "Cash On Pickup" if you offer local pickup
   • Check "Check" or "Money Order" if needed (rarely used)
7. Click "Save"

Note: eBay Managed Payments automatically handles credit cards, debit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and other payment methods. You don't need to configure individual payment types - eBay handles everything for you.

Return policies are straightforward to set up:

1. Go to your eBay Business Policies page
2. Click "Create policy" and select "Return policy"
3. Enter a policy name (e.g., "60 days money back - Seller pays return shipping")
4. Add an optional description
5. Domestic returns:
   • Toggle "Accept returns" ON if you accept returns
   • Choose return period: 60 Days, 30 Days, or 14 Days
   • Select who pays return shipping:
     • "Free for buyer, you pay" - Seller pays (builds buyer confidence)
     • "Buyer pays" - Buyer pays (standard option)
   • Choose refund method: "Money back" (recommended)
6. International returns:
   • Toggle ON or OFF based on your preference
   • Settings mirror domestic returns if enabled
7. Click "Save"

Pro Tips:

• Offering 30+ day returns helps qualify for Top Rated Seller status
• Free return shipping can improve search ranking and buyer confidence
• You can exclude certain categories like "Parts" from returns if needed