Ebay’s Fast and Free program may put you over the top when a potential buyer is comparing your item to others.

Qualifications

For an item to qualify for the Fast and Free logo, you have to meet certain conditions:

• Both you and the buyer have to be located within the lower 48 states of the US
• Delivery can be estimated to be 4 days or less
• Your default shipping service is offered for free
• Your default shipping service is not “local pickup” or a freight service
• Your listing is not a classified ad

How to meet the qualifications

That seems like a bunch of qualifications to meet, but it might actually be really easy.

First, if your handling time can be 1 day, please do that.  That gives you more time for the items to be delivered.

Second, if you can utilize USPS flat rate Priority Mail boxes cost effectively, you can easily qualify.  1 day of handling + 2 to 3 day delivery means your item will qualify.

Regular USPS Priority Mail will work, along with UPS and FedEx second day services.

Ebay will also automatically add the Fast and Free logo to your listings for people within a predictable service radius even if you don’t offer an expedited shipping service as your default option.  For example, if you ship small items by USPS First Class mail to someone in another part of your state, chances are very good that your item would be delivered within 4 days.  Ebay, based on previous transaction from your zip code to theirs, may add the logo in this case.

What’s in it for me?

• You get more exposure.
• You may get a leg up on your competition.
• It’s free.
• As long as you meet the requirements, you’ll automatically get a 5 star DSR rating on both shipping charges (because it’s free) and shipping time (because the item was delivered within the predicted window of time.

See if it makes sense for you to offer expedited shipping and quick handling times.  You may find that it is worth it.