MemoryHole
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posted on February 18, 2001 01:12:02 PM new
outoftheblue: "I just don't get it. Why on earth do people actually bid on an auction like that? Rather than turning the seller in, people should just not bid."
As long as the shipping charges are made clear before bidding why would the bidders care? They take shipping into account when they make their bids. It's eBay that's taking it in the shorts.
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magazine_guy
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posted on February 18, 2001 01:12:56 PM new
I think that more likely, if this issue is divided neatly into "two groups," the groups may be the casual "hobby" sellers and the folks who sell for a living.
Some folks are just convinced that a "handling charge" is wrong. I don't see it that way. My time is valuable- and I charge for it.
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oxford
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posted on February 18, 2001 01:19:36 PM new
vargas -
How so?
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dixiebee
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posted on February 18, 2001 01:20:03 PM new
amy: You are making an assumption that the seller is shipipng via Priority Mail.
So..if $4.99 was unreasonably high shipping charge for one item, what would be a reasonable shipping charge?
I don't think the ebay rep dropped any ball on this. Priority shipping for a 1 pound package is $3.20. $1.79 handling charge is not excessive. If the package will weigh more than 1 pound, the handling charge is even smaller.
You know what happens when you assume. I personally know exactly how this auction is working because I once bought a piece of software from a person running a dutch auction just like this. They had 100 or so copies and the shipping stated was $5.95. I figured in the cost of shipping when I was bidding for a final price of the item. What frosted my chops was that when the software CD arrived, it was in a plain manilla envelope -- no padding/bubblewrap -- with a $1 postage stamp on it. You bet your sweet bippy that I turned them into eBay for excessive shipping and handling charges and, guess what? They are no longer running auctions on eBay.
I have spent the last month investing in cardboard shippers, bubble wrap and other packing materials just so I can charge $1 or $2 to ship an item. I cannot, in good conscience, list Priority Mail as an option in most of my auctions.
I guess there are those who are always going to try to get around the system. They are the ones that are contributing to increased listing fees. I hope they get caught.
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ExecutiveGirl
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posted on February 18, 2001 01:22:31 PM new
I checked the seller's feedback - they obviously ship 1st class - see my last post on page 1!
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magazine_guy
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posted on February 18, 2001 01:23:45 PM new
dixiebee:
Your beef on the CD was inadequate packaging, and you could have addressed that by a feedback comment. You paid the amount for shipping that you agreed to- what's your complaint? Did you think it would come Priority when it came first class? If so, why did you assume that?
S.
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MemoryHole
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posted on February 18, 2001 01:23:47 PM new
I think the most important thing about S&H is being honest and upfront about it. If I say 'actual shipping' in my auction then its immoral to charge more. If I just say 'buyer pays shipping' then the buyer has the right to demand actual shipping. BUT if I say 'buyer to pay $5 S&H' then the buyer has no right to complain when they get it and it only says $4.
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oxford
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posted on February 18, 2001 01:26:30 PM new
ExecutiveGirl -
sort of OT - I always enjoy your posts/threads!
The types of comments in the seller's feedback really do prove my point - their are 42 unhappy bidders there - and I bet a number of them won't be back to eBay. And I bet most of them have talked to others about how they got ripped off on eBay.... not by this person or that person.... they'll just say "I got ripped off on EBAY!"
Ebay knows this too, and part of the reason for not allowing unreasonable shipping/handling charges is fewer bidders remain or come to ebay.
AGAIN - we the sellers are all affected and we are the ones who need to stop this trend.
[ edited by oxford on Feb 18, 2001 01:27 PM ]
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magazine_guy
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posted on February 18, 2001 01:27:13 PM new
Correct, MH. If the terms are clearly stated up front, the buyer has the choice to bid and comply, or not. But don't complain about the terms after the auction closes.
If you've got a question and need to clarify shipping method, ask the seller!
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LindaAW
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posted on February 18, 2001 01:29:07 PM new
justbijou,
It seems the seller has been identified and I must lock the thread until the requirements listed in the CG's are met.
http://www.auctionwatch.com/company/terms.html#mesg
Linda
Moderator
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vargas
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posted on February 18, 2001 01:30:12 PM new
oxford-
One cannot assume how another seller conducts his/her own business by the opinions they post on this issue on a message board.
There are not two neat little groups. Nothing is that black & white.
I see many honest, never-overcharge-for-shipping sellers defending sellers in some of these alleged "ripping off eBay" threads.
It depends on the specifics of the case, which usually are not fully contained in the original posts in these threads.
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