If eBay Business Policies have ever felt “too technical,” this post is for you. They’re actually the fastest way to keep shipping consistent, save time, and make one change that updates many listings. Instead of choosing calculated shipping over and over, you’ll create a small set of reusable policies (Payments, Returns, Shipping) you can apply while listing—or in bulk later.
Below is a friendly walkthrough based on our Listing Party session. We’ll focus most on Shipping Policies for 2025, because a simple flat/tiered setup is what makes day-to-day listing easier and updates painless.
What Business Policies are (and where to find them)
Business Policies are templates for:
- Payments (how buyers pay you)
- Returns (how long, who pays return shipping, replacement vs. money back)
- Shipping (service, price, handling time, exclusions)
You’ll find them in My eBay → Account settings → Business policies.
Set them once, reuse them everywhere, and bulk-edit later when your strategy changes.
Payments: set it once and move on
- Use eBay managed payments.
- Turn on Immediate payment for Buy It Now.
Most sellers only need a single Payments policy.
Returns: simple settings that support your goals
- 30-day returns help listings qualify for Top Rated benefits.
- Free returns (30 or 60 days) can qualify for Top Rated Plus in eligible categories.
- If you sell multiples of the same item, consider allowing replacement as well as “money back.”
Keep one default you’ll use most of the time, plus a second policy for special cases.
Shipping in 2025: flat/tiered instead of calculated
Why sellers are switching:
- It keeps your workflow consistent—no re-thinking shipping on every listing.
- Buyers see a clear total up front.
- It’s easy to bulk-apply and bulk-update across many listings.
Use calculated sparingly (it’s still useful for a few situations, like very heavy international orders).
A simple, reusable tier ladder (adjust to your costs)
Domestic
- 1–8 oz → USPS Ground Advantage
- 9–16 oz → USPS Ground Advantage
- 1–2 lb → best-value service (you can label this “Standard Shipping”)
- 2–3 lb, 3–4 lb → best-value service
- Media → Media Mail
International
- 1–8 oz → First-Class International Package
- 9–16 oz → First-Class International Package
- Over 4 lb → Calculated (this flips to Priority International)
Practical tips from the session
- Keep one clear option per listing. If someone needs expedited, create a one-off policy for that listing when asked.
- “Standard Shipping” lets you choose USPS/UPS/FedEx at label time—as long as you meet the promised delivery window.
- Add a small “each additional item” amount to encourage multi-item orders.
- Skip rate tables unless you have a very specific need—they add complexity and can confuse buyers.
eBay International Shipping (EIS): turn it on
For most catalogs, enable EIS so eBay handles customs, returns, and issues once you ship to the domestic hub. You can still self-ship certain listings or destinations—just not on the same order. Many sellers use EIS for the bulk of items and self-ship special cases.
How to switch without overwhelm
- Create or tidy your three policy types (Payments, Returns, Shipping).
- Start with new listings today. Apply your new policies going forward.
- Bulk-edit existing listings in batches (by category or likely weight).
- Clean up duplicates and rename policies with clear, sortable titles.
- Watch for pending offers/auctions—those can temporarily block updates. Re-apply once they expire.
- Refresh old carrier names (for example, change “First Class” to Ground Advantage).
Common seller questions (answered)
Do I need multiple carriers on every listing?
No. One clear option is simpler. If a buyer requests expedited, make a one-off policy for that single listing.
Will “Standard Shipping” limit me?
No. It gives you flexibility to choose the cheapest label at ship time, as long as you meet the delivery estimate.
Can I manage Business Policies in List Perfectly?
Business Policies are created and managed on eBay. Use them alongside your List Perfectly workflow when you Crosslist to eBay.
What about Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. territories?
With modern zone-based pricing, most sellers don’t need special surcharges. Keep it simple unless your item truly needs exceptions.
When should I still use calculated?
A good example is international shipments over 4 lb (Priority International). That’s a sensible exception.
Quick checklist to get it done
- Create 1 Payments policy (managed payments + immediate payment).
- Create 1–2 Returns policies (default + edge case).
- Create 5–7 Shipping policies (domestic tiers, media, international tiers; use calculated only for heavy international).
- Apply to today’s listings.
- Bulk-edit an initial test batch of existing listings.
- Clean duplicates and rename for clarity.
- Review results after a week and adjust price points if needed.
