ebaypromoted-listingsfree-shipping
eBay Promoted Listings and Shipping: How Free Shipping Affects Ad Performance
Does free shipping boost your eBay promoted listings? Learn the connection between shipping strategy and ad ROI.
January 9, 20262 min read54 views
The Promoted Listings + Shipping Connection
eBay's promoted listings algorithm considers multiple factors. Shipping strategy is one of them.
How Free Shipping Affects Visibility
eBay Search Algorithm Factors:
- Price + shipping total
- Free shipping filter preference
- Best Match ranking signals
- Conversion rate history
- Many buyers filter for "Free Shipping"
- Free shipping listings appear in more searches
- Higher visibility = better promoted listing ROI
Promoted Listings + Free Shipping Data
Conversion Rate Comparison:
| Listing Type | Avg Conversion | With Promoted |
|---|---|---|
| Paid shipping | 3.2% | 4.1% |
| Free shipping | 4.8% | 6.2% |
| Lift from free shipping | +50% | +51% |
Calculating Your Optimal Strategy
Scenario: $30 item
Option A: $30 + $5.99 shipping
- Promoted fee (5%): $1.80
- Total visible: $35.99
- Conversion: 3.5%
- Promoted fee (5%): $1.80
- Total visible: $35.99
- Conversion: 4.8%
- 37% more sales, same cost
Best Practices
The Atoship Advantage
Lower shipping costs = easier to offer free shipping:
- USPS rates 15-20% below eBay labels
- More margin to absorb into price
- Better promoted listing ROI
Higher margin → Free shipping viable → Better conversions → Lower effective ad cost
Optimize both shipping costs and ad spend for maximum eBay profitability.
Ready to save on shipping?
Get started with Atoship for free and access discounted USPS, UPS, and FedEx rates. No monthly fees, no contracts.
Create Free Account
