posted on August 31, 2000 11:26:23 PM
The point is moot, as the originator of the thread is naru, somewhat due to the type of screaming nonsense posts above............ I've never posted any lengthy TOS, accepted personal checks, and have had 1 out of thousands bounce in 4 years
posted on August 31, 2000 11:45:21 PM
Borillar - That is overkill on the checks my friend. However al sellers should note that in order to collect a NSF Check surcharge in most states the surcharge has to be clearly posted at the point of sale.
Since we are discussing TOS's here's my standard TOS's from my old ebay auctions.
Winning bidder to prepay winning bid plus shipping/handling charges of $5.00. UPS shipping is available please email for quote. International and Foreign bidders are welcome but please email for a shipping quote to avoid shipping shock to deliver item to you.
We accept Personal Checks subject to a 5 day hold before shipping. Money Orders (next business day shipping) and credit cards via paypal and billpoint (next business day shipping). Please email for a special Billpoint invoice to make your payment.
NSF checks are subject to a $25.00 NSF fee and collection cost if required. This disclaimer is required under law to legally collect the fee.
All items will be cheerfuly refunded or replaced should they not meet our auction description or your satisfaction. We require notification within 4 business days of delivery for this policy to remain valid.
That was my TOS, if I got any comments about the $5.00 charge for a $3.20 priority. This was my reply.
The shipping charges include handling of $1.80 to cover packing materials and delivery confirmation to ensure your item arrives safely and undamaged in transit. Since many of my items are the only one in my inventory the charge ensures your package arrives safely and undamaged. The delivery confirmation is used to verify date of receipt for return policy purposes and ensures that your item can be tracked should the Post Office not meet their 2 to 3 day time for priority mail.
Over 200 completed auctions and not single complaint about shipping, not a single return, and not a single lost package. Had one bad check for $146.00 and collected on it plus fees of $175.00. Wound up waiving the fees when the seller declared bankruptcy, but got the base $171.00 check plus $25.00 NSF Fee.
posted on August 31, 2000 11:57:24 PM
overworked - What exactly does being NARU have to do with an intelligent discussion about TOS's. Let me guess you spent so much time playing in the sandbox that you have lost your ability to do nothing but insult.
Go back to the sandbox you might find the company more suited to your liking Ooops, ebay is suffering a slight outage your pigpen isn't functioning right so you came here to cause confusion. ebay engineers please at a minimum keep the Q and A functioning properly so the regulars there won't come here to cloud intelligent discussions with innuendo and nonsense.
posted on September 1, 2000 12:21:28 AM
I always read TOS if I don't like them, I pass. If I have questions, I write the seller, if it's late in the auction, I still write seller, if I don't get a response before it ends, I don't bid. I haven't seen anything on ebay that I buy, that hasn't come up again. But I do have one problem with some TOS - It usually reads either - Payment must be received within 7, 10, 14 days after the auction ends or payment must be received 7, 10, 14 days after close of auction and then the seller takes their full 3 days or if it's over a weekend 5 days to contact you. I always contact seller on second day if I haven't heard from them. I don't know if they're waiting for EOA from ebay notices or what, but if you put in a time limit, you need to be faster on contacting buyer or have your TOS state that the time limit starts after contact from seller. I have started writing sellers for an explanation of these TOS after a seller with 7 day limit waited 3 days to contact me and expected payment within 4 days. I always send out payment the day after I receive mailing info, but I can't even guarantee they'll get it in 7 days, let alone 4. Seller suggested I send it overnight express.
posted on September 1, 2000 03:07:29 AM
I just needed to get my 2 cents in. When I read a TOS that is long, demanding, too specific, I back right out. I still feel accused of being a thief almost, I make a note of that sellers id so I will not even go past that part of one their auctions again. Some sellers act as though they are the only honest person in the world, yeh, right! These are the same sellers who gouge shipping, poorly package items, and should wear a neon sign above their head that reads God Walking Here!!! If they are that distrustful, get outta the business.
posted on September 1, 2000 06:23:01 AM
whereistheprophet: I am sorry to hear that you are not able to do things that some of us have the ability to do. Some may not appreciate the fact that we can. Best wishes for you!!
Apparently the sellers feel good about their TOS. I see that many of you have said they have mostly POSITIVE feedback. That tells a tale in itself.
We all have different opinions. Some are right, some are wrong. It's through our mistakes that we learn. It's good that we can share our experiences and opinions ~ some of us learn that way too.
How about not condemning a person just because we don't happen to agree?
posted on September 1, 2000 06:38:33 AM
Heres my TOS, long and lenghty, but you must spell out the terms to prevent misunderstanding, when I am biddings on others auction I DO READ their TOS as I want to know what's expected of me and terms which I am buying along with the product! I dont delay shipment of items due to personal checks, as it usaually takes 2 weeks to get a bad check back from bank, thank goodness i havent had any!
SELLERS T.O.S : Buyer pays ACTUAL POSTAGE, HANDLING(1.00) and INSURANCE(.85 cents for items under 50.00, 1.80 up to 100.00 and up accordingly to final value) I ship USPS PRIORITY and would be happy to give you an actual figure based on your zip code if your e mail me your zip. Personal checks accepted but must clear before shipment of item. Money Orders and Cashiers Checks ship upon receipt, I also accept MasterCard and VISA via Paypal and have a verified account status. CLICK HERE . Seller reserves right to relist after 10 days of close of auction if payment not received, unless prior arrangements are made, just keep me informed. Thanks for looking and check out my other ongoing auctions, Happy Bidding! NOTE : Items are in stated condition and as descbribed when sent out from here, it is reccomend that you insure item(s) If you choose not to insure, and they arrive damaged your purchase price will not be refunded unless insurance is purchased, as we can can not be responcible for damage during shipping.
posted on September 1, 2000 06:44:23 AM
$1.80 for handling? That's quite a mark-up on a 35 cent delivery confirmation feature. You'd be seen as a "gouger" by the originators of some of the current threads on the shipping and handling topic!
posted on September 1, 2000 06:52:23 AM
Thats for the insurance,.85 cents < 50.00 and 1.80 >50.00, no confirnmation, dont charge for that , i consider that my responcibily. Handling is 1.00 to cover the cost of new bubble wrap and packing materials (I ship almost exclusively glassware)If items are small and not require alot of packing materials , I dont charge the customer and tell them so in EOA notice.
posted on September 1, 2000 07:44:36 AM
Sorry jpfnatl, that wasn't meant for you. That was for networker67, who says he charged $5.00 for a $3.20 priority package with delivery confirmation.
posted on September 1, 2000 07:58:58 AM
Networker, what if I bounce a check to you and decide that you really meant to put $2.50 instead of $25.00 as your NSF fee ?
Or maybe I think you're entitled to only $5.
Maybe if I'm a foreign bidder I don't have time to email you before I snipe. When I win your auction, I might decide that an extra $1, not $1.80, over priority is all you need to get the item to me in good shape.
Hey, I can always neg you if you don't let me make up what I think is fair after the close of auction, right ?
By the way, my TOS:
Winning bidder to pay $2.00 s&h (USA) or $3.20 priority if desired. THANKS
I have a paypal button just below.
Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside a dog, it's too dark to read.
posted on September 1, 2000 08:32:47 AM
cathammer - You might not be aware of this. But in order to collect a NSF Fee and or collection fees for NSF Checks in most states the fee and charges must be posted at the point of sale. If you make that argument, all I do is send the courts the auction page with an affidavidt from ebay that says it is a true copy of the auction page as it appears on their servers. You get stuck explaining to the judge you misread it. And in court it won't matter because the fee was clearly posted. I know this is how it happens because I had to do it to an ebayer in Oklahoma over a $146.00 check. After fees, penalties, and court cost that check cost him over $300.00. I actually collected $171.00 before he went into bankruptcy. I am reading a motion about his bankruptcy as I type this.
Next off our International ebayers are not as silly and try to get over natured as our American ebayers. They know nothing gets to them Priority for $3.20, only a nickel and diming American thinks to try and get over on everything everychance he/she gets. That same nickel and diming American will inflate shipping to outrageous levels. And other things that are slowly destroying the medium.
Sellers cry and moan over NPB when in essence they have lost very little except that quarter to list the auction. Buyers get jumped on when they cry and moan over sellers profiting to the tune of 150% markup on shipping. NPB is a seller concern shipping inflation to the point of fraud is a buyer concern.
yankeejoe - payment within 10 postal days isn't exactly unreasonable. I never felt the need for such a term but I see it alot on ebay. I do however take exception when the seller has such a line in the TOS and then proceeds to waste three of my 10 days by delaying in sending me the EOA with their address. I make it a point to mail the payment 3 days after that email arrives. How canyou demand 10 days and then waste three or more of them.
[ edited by networker67 on Sep 1, 2000 08:39 AM ]
posted on September 1, 2000 09:00:16 AM
Networker... So your assertion is that since you can enforce your posted $25 fee through the courts, it is somehow less "outrageous" than a seller charging $5 to ship an item that actaully costs $2 (150% markup) ?
My point was that you seem to want to set the terms for your own autions (as you should), yet alter the terms of other sellers' auctions when you are the buyer.
Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside a dog, it's too dark to read.
[ edited by cathammer on Sep 1, 2000 09:01 AM ]
posted on September 1, 2000 09:13:46 AM
ALL SALES ARE FINAL - not if you take credit cards!
I put a few "disclaimers in" because over the last 5 years on eBay I have discovered a multitude of buyers who only look at pictures and never read anything about the item. I don't feel responsible for a buyer's lack of reading. We don't use long "terms" area, but I do feel a buyer is responsible to read about the item before they purchase/bid.
As a seller, "if I were a buyer" and that is the position I try to put myself in when writing an ad, and in our "terms" area, I would be highly suspicious of any seller who only accepts MO's or Cashier's Checks, or who states "All Sales Are Final." I would immediately question "WHY?"
Regarding accepting checks, in our thousands of sales on line via eBay, Yahoo & a large Web Site, in the past few years, we have only had 2 checks bounce, and one of those was immediately paid. Certainly, we accept checks.
Regarding shipping costs, if the shipping "seems" high, we send the buyer, our zip, tell them the weight of the packed item, and send them the link to UPS to check shipping costs for themselves.
posted on September 1, 2000 09:18:58 AM
On "Bidding down, maybe it's your TOS". Some sellers TOS do keep me from bidding on an item I'd like to own. The things I enjoy collecting are varied, but most can be purchased from another seller who's TOS are not quite so restricting.
What I've noticed lately, is that more sellers seem to be offering a 100% complete satisfaction on their items. BUT they then go on to state they will only refund the bid price. So if I am purchasing a small cost item I avoid bidding, because *should* the item not be as represented, I absolutely refuse to pay shipping costs both ways. The only reason I have ever asked for a refund has been when the item was not as described (had a defect, not mentioned in the description). When I bid, I want that item, and I have never had 'buyers remorse'. I have had items arrive with defects the seller has 'overlooked', and I refuse to pay for their mistake that they didn't take the time to look over their item carefully before listing it for sale.
The sellers TOS is very important to me and makes all the difference in the world as to whether or not I place that bid.
posted on September 1, 2000 09:22:27 AM
In my TOS I state mailing of 1st class with insurance for $2.00 or Priority Mail $3.20 insurance is extra if wanted. Shipping is buyers choice. I like shipping first class and most of my buyers use that but if they use priority and not ask for insurance I put the insurance on but I don't tell them that until after they answer my first email. I will not ship a package without insurance I would rather lose 85 cents than the price of even a $6.00 item. If I would ship an item without insurance in my guarantee which is on my About Me page I refund their money plus shipping. But I insure. I know that I pay the USPS and extra 85 cents but if they don't deliver they owe me a whole lot more.
posted on September 1, 2000 09:52:18 AM
Maybe its just me, but when I am in a "shopping mood" I don't want to spend my day reading a bunch of "legalese" as some one called it. I am fairly sure that my bidders don't either. I try to keep the spirit of the "trade" in mind, and remember that *most* people are on the up and up, and will trade fairly, without every last detail spelled out. Things like shipping costs, where you will ship, what forms of payment you will take, those are important. But making your buyers read a 10 paragraph contract, thats just too much in my opinion. Heres what my TOS looks like:
Satisfaction Guaranteed
U.S. Bidders
Shipping ONLY $1.00!
*Combine wins and save!!*
Pay Options: Check, M.O, Paypal
International Bidders
Exact shipping using Global Priority
(5.00 to most countries)
Pay Options: U.S. Funds, M.O.
I ship my own jewelry, so I can't speak for those who deal with the horrors of high shipping costs. Every package I have ever sent is 77 cents on the nose. The rest of that shipping dollar pays the cost of the jewelry box I ship it in, and the bubble mailer. I still "absorb" about 25 cents per sale because the shipping materials add up to more than 26 cents. But to me its worth the extra to get a happy repeat customer..
and I haven't had any complaints about my excessive shipping hahaha
posted on September 1, 2000 09:52:31 AM
OK who ever it was that beleaves the antiques and collectables most sell in online auction are a well under retail value will need to go see Micheal J Fox and go back in time :P
Value they maybe below retail they are not when I sell a record from the 30s that more then likely retailed for .05 or so and my starting bid is $10 to $50 .
the old postcards we sell for $1 or more each use to sell for a penny and the werent used then :P .
stop compareing online auctions to walmarts for god sake and even if you wanted to the most tos you will find there about checks is that is this there is a fee of $25 for Returned checks .
Networker:
you are right to neg for way over inflated shipping rates and to correct by haveing it figured out within a dime or so.
But you lost my support the min you wrote you figure in resonable profit buyer has no way of knowing what the sellers over all cost and over head is
reasonable profit for me to run these sales is .90 cent to $1 for every dime or quarter I spend some are happy to make a dollar or .50 over there cost.
besides in the mail order world postage isnt part of a TOS its a fact of the business.
Honestjohn:
I know that I could get a postage scale for $25 or so and it would be a great investment.
but I have a family of 6 here, my entire auction business here was started with $25 that didnt come out of the family income and it continues to run on that same $25 2 years later .
its doing well and about 50% on it way to being full time. as soon as we can feel safe to set up a weekly salery and still have money to operate we may do that.
#1 rule in starting a business is work your butt off to make your sales better but never take a risk with the amount of money doing it that will put you out of business if it fails.
the other #1 rule when running bussiness is that you have two pockets you have to resist the temptation of takeing money from one pocket to fill up the other.
last thing I need is for my wife to have to say to one of my kids, Sorry you will have to wear them ratty pant or go to gym class and play in your socks, dad took the $30 to buy that all so much more important to are life Postal scale that he used 3 times this week to save some stranger a nickle worth of stamps.
I dont want to sound sarcastic or anything but I have learned the hard way as one of the people from the 80s who took the advice of the large company he worked for in bad times who said "Please stick with us make the sacrifices thats needed to regrow this business it will pay off for us all in the end"
here I am 8 years later working with the same people the companys been sold three times since. I made the sacrific worked the hour did with out the incresses in pay killed all my credit nearly lost my home to missed morgage payments and unpaid taxes.
The company is in the same or worse shape but I am smarter and wiser even if not better off.
I learn a lot from my employer most of the best investments they have ever made has always nearly put them outa business and still to this day just sit there unused not makeing them a dime.
I think all of us know that in business the investment in your self and the people who are helping you is the more valuable investment a business can make.
the investment in any man or woman with two hands and skills with a will to help is always going to be more valuable.
So I know the investment in my family who stands behind me and suports what I do in every way with excitment for every bid we get is far better then the temptation I might feel to invest in more or better equiment at this time in my business
posted on September 1, 2000 09:55:03 AM
cathammer - Before I answer you where in America do you live that $25.00 NSF Fee is outrageous. Heck where I live not only can they collect that fee but they can go to court and a Judge will award up to 5 times the face value of the check plus costs and fees. Like my TOS says the statement is there because in order to collect a NSF Fee the fee has to be posted at the point of sale. Unlike many ebayers I follow the rules of business and fairness. My TOS isn't overbearing, and is upfront.
Have never altered a sellers TOS. However if seller is being unfair he gets called on it. He either accepts he is wrong when furnished with the facts or we don't do business. I bet you pay 18.9% on your credit cards because the bank says that's what the rate is per the cardholders agreement. I pay 10.9% on mine because I have the power of taking my business elsewhere and exert it freely. I apply that same concept to ebay auctions, YOU THINK A BID IS BINDING CONTRACT BECAUSE EBAY SAYS SO, I KNOW IT ISN'T A BINDING CONTRACT UNTIL THE FINAL TERMS OF DELIVERY ARE AGREED UPON Then and only then do you have a legal contract duly enforceable in a court. Does that mean I can bid then negotiate a lower price? NO I set my price terms when I bid. Does that I mean I agreed fully to pay whatever shipping you stated in your TOS? No It doesn't because no shipping contract is complete until the destination is declared thus that is negotiable until we agree on what is fair and where you will deliver it, how it will be delivered and so on. Does that mean I can nitpick every little detail of your shipping charge. Actually Yes it does But prudence and mutual good business practice dictates that I shouldn't and won't if you are fair about it. [b]If you aren't fair about it expect to be nitpicked about it and run the risk of eating your listing fee, begging ebay for FVF credit, and relisting the item.
When you file for NPB watch me send ebay our emails about your unfair shipping and remind them that the shipping in a TOS isn't binding until destination, insurance, etc., is declared and agreed upon. And they might give you your credit but they won't hit me for a deadbeat bidder. Why because legally I am right.
We shouldn't have to cloud the issues with the courts and law. And we wouldn't have to if sellers would be fair and equitable about it. Instead they hide behind a TOS that isn't a complete contract, they have those padded charges and can't explain them except to say you bid you agreed which on the shipping isn't legally true. Then theyget mad and abuse feedback and NPB when al they have to dis acknowledge they got caught padding and closethe deal for fair shipping and handling.
Are there buyers trying to get over on shipping. You bet there are I have had people just send the bid and not the shipping. I email them on the oversight and depending on the item and the money involved just send the item. I don't waste time in business chasing dimes when dollars are lying there to just be picked up. I suggest more ebay sellers adopt that attitude. Some sellers waste so much time on piddly diddly concerns that they don't loo at the real cash going out the door. It takes the same amount of time to relist an item as it does to list one. Why debate with a buyer over a dollar that is being unfairly earned in the first place when you can spend that time listing a new item as opposed to relisting a sold item; that a petty catch on shipping which is 75% of the time just the inflated handling fees is the difference between a loss of list fee and time to relist or a closed deal without the extra handling.
posted on September 1, 2000 10:05:31 AM
Here's my TOS. It's worked for me. It is simple and to the point. I can't quote exact shipping charges as I sell things that have different weights. However, if I think the item may cost more than 4.30 to send, or it weighs more than a pound, I include the weight. Since I sell a lot of glass, some of it is fairly heavy.
'Winning bidder to pay actual shipping charges. I ship money orders and bank cashier's checks the next day. I hold personal checks for 5-7 days. However, trying a new policy with personal checks, favorable feedback of 25 and over will also be shipped next day. If a situation arises that you cannot remit payment within ten days, please drop me an email. Insurance is optional, but highly recommended.'
posted on September 1, 2000 10:14:48 AM
Here is an example of my standard TOS.
"Check, MO or credit cards thru PayPal.com. Email with any questions.
Buyer pays $1.95 for s/h in US. Thanks for your interest."
I modify it with higher priced items to include insurance. I refund bid plus postage both ways for ANY reason. I refund bid plus oneway postage for lower priced items and tell them to keep/dispose of item at their end. I give them the option of replacement or refund where possible. Incidents of some type of problem are less than 1% of transactions.
Items range up to about $150. with most transactions grouped in the under $20. category. Includes new and preowned items.
I check "all international sales" and deal with international postage etc. by email.
Would make the TOS shorter if possible but I think I'm about at the minimum. I examine each transaction that requires emails to see if it could have been covered in an expanded TOS but find, so far, that the specific circumstances are infrequent and not worth making everyone read paragraphs of explainations that do not apply to them.
This suits my style, products and manner of doing business. That others need to take alternate approaches is understandable and expected.
I consider my feedback to be an additional source of information to potential buyers for their "what if" questions.
I've considered adding "100% satisfaction guaranteed" or some other such statement but have yet to find just the right wording without inviting "on approval" buyers.
I benefit from the huge amount of goodwill that ebay sellers have created by the excellant products and services they have provided customers. I try to add to the positive attitude among most buyers whenever possible.
posted on September 1, 2000 10:37:59 AM
dman31 - I'll meet you half way on where I lost you. I will agree the ordinary buyer hasn't the knowledge to compute the sellers overhead. Well I have the knowledge to fairly to compute there is no overhead to the seller on shipping. Here's a good example of an instance of reverse computing what fair shipping is. Well use a Video Tape.
Video Tape fits in a priority mail box for $3.20, or goes first class for $1.75.
Insurance is 85 cents
Some kraft paper to wrap the tape is 25 cents for the amount used.
If we send it stanard mail we get 90 cents for the padded envelope.
fair gas and labor to mail the tape is approximately $1.49 for a single post office trip of mailing one tape. Hopefully the seller didn't waste resources to take one package to the post office. If he did well that's his loss. [i]That's computed at 6 minutes of labor to pack and mail the tape at $8.50 per hour. Which is 85 cents for the labor and 64 cents for the mileage.
We get a total of $4.80 for priority and $5.24 for standard mail. All fair cost are included, time is included, gas is included, everything is there. Your shipping has no overhead except the cost of materials and your time. Look a those totals priority which is faster cost less because the box was free.
If ebay sellers would stop chasing dimes and know what goes into what they are doing there would be no shipping discussions. The problem comes from assuming your fair cost can't be computed. If you incur more cost for that video than what I broke down. I highly suggest you consider another line of business or resructure your business because you are either paying too much for packing materials, live too far from the post office, or are not running your total operation in an efficient manner. Meaning you are making 5 trips to the post office a week to ship one or two items each trip. Want more profit cut your expenses and overhead and use your time efficently. Don't sit up and gouge shipping and use overhead as an excuse. If it exceeds my model above for the video tape then you are not running your business efficently and that is not your customers fault nor should it be their penalty.
Also your return expectations of 90 cents to a dollar on each quarter spent is unrealistic for any type of business once expenses are factored in. It is possible to see those gains from time to time especially on ebay when many don't invest in inventories they already own their base inventory. however as soon as that inventory is gone the profit auto cuts because now you have to procure inventory which costs money. Can you bargin hunt and find gems at estates and other type of sells. yes you can but once you figure in your expense and time to hunt for those gems your profit margin hits a realistic margin of post expense 50% profit or lower.
posted on September 1, 2000 11:07:36 AM
Well Network im glad you meet me half way but I now totally disagree with you
I sell video tapes and Cds and its not always $3.20 to ship.
last one I sold went out side the USA and the shipping cost was 16.54 only way it could go was air mail they wouldnt allow insurance at all the time at the PO was nearly 30 mins my time alone is worth $9 an hour.just a note the winning bid was for $16.99 on this video
I also in my business get paid up to $9 an hour just for typeing when I am doing web designs.
time invested in this sale for me 40 mins takeing photos 20 mins writeing ad up loading photos 120 mins over a 30 day peroid emailing back and forth with the buyer since it takes up to 30 days for this buyer to get his item when it hits customs even though he willingly paid 16.99 for third day delivery.
10 min trying hard to get him postive feed back .
time invested on this sale 3:10 good thing I dont charge buy the hour pluss.
as far as .90 cent to a $1 for every quarter being unrealistic its not some times its even more .
in this case the old video from 1982 was music memorabilia "new kids on the block"
we got the video at a garage sale for .75 cents it sold for $16.99 .
I spent 3 quarter on the Item I made 60 quater and 24 pennys above the purchase price on this sale can you calulator figure that out :P
and the buyer gouged by the US postal service on shipping not the seller.
I admit I have made mistakes and bad buys we all have but every business needs a plan and a goal and this is mine
posted on September 1, 2000 11:48:54 AM
dman - found it hilarious that the only transaction you could find was an international one. I find yourself revelation that one auction caused you to expend 3 hours and 10 minutes in time to list and close very revealing. That tells me you are running a very inefficent operation. Like the previous post said sure you can find those gems for pennies and sell them for dollars but don't build your business plan or expect that to continue for an extended period. If you do you have a very rude awakening coming your way soon.
With that level of inefficentcy in your business by all means don't quit your day job because your time management skills as they relate to effectively doing ebay are by your own admission are lousy. I hope you sit down and find ways to steamline the process before you get too caught up in the profits and do something rash like assume everyday will be a cake walk because the profits are high now.
Through with this thread too because I have formed the general opinion that ebay sellers are just that ebay sellers. You guys for the most part aren't business people. You are your own breed of business person which I will affectionately call ebay seller from this day forth.
posted on September 1, 2000 12:31:03 PMPSALM31 Thank you for making that statement. That is forgotten all too often on Aw of late it seems to me.
networker97: Your point that you made about being shortchanged on the shiping and just letting the matter drop if it is a small amount.
I believe that you are right on not considering it on the "principle of the thing." However, Sellers DO need to press for the pennies. I have found that those who shortchange me usually have 500+ feedback rating, not Newbies.
example:
I was experimenting with a Materials charge of 25-cents. I listed it in my EOAB and the Buyer, who had 818 feedback printed it out and purposely drew a line though where I had asked for 25-cents! And then I was shortchanged by that amount. How rude!
Should I have rewarded this type of behavior? Should I have encouraged this Buyer to do the same thing to other Sellers?
So it is not a matter of Principle, but a matter of Practical. Make'm pay up because if you don't, you'll encourage them to do it over and over again.
