posted on February 25, 2001 06:18:38 PM new
As some of you might already know, I have a thing about ridiculous shipping rates...
I've been doing eBay for about 3 years now and in all that time, I've only had about 10 packages arrive with the same shipping rate as quoted. Most are at least double of the actual shipping cost.
Now, I've started asking Sellers if they can do better on the shipping rate...ie: Parcel Post, and it seems to offend most I ask.
If I'm the one paying for shipping, why can't I have an item sent to me the way I want? If a Seller is going to pay for my shipping, then they can send it any way THEY want, but isn't it the Buyer who should decide about shipping??
posted on February 25, 2001 06:42:50 PM new
I guess, if I had any questions about the shipping rate being charged, I'd ask the seller *before* I bid. If you don't get the answer you are looking for, don't bid. Asking after you bid is attempting to alter the terms of sale after the fact. I'm not saying you should not get a better shipping rate, I'm just saying that if I were the seller, I'd want to know before you bid that you were bidding with the understanding that another (lower) shipping rate would be charged. Another reason some sellers get upset is that often the same people who insist on parcel post rates still expect the package to arrive as though it were Priority rate handling and then neg the seller for slow delivery. Just a thought.
posted on February 25, 2001 07:15:51 PM new
I guess I should have mentioned that I'm in Canada, so it's almost impossible to ask for better rates beforehand.
I'm talking about Sellers (I sell too!) that insist on a huge amount shipping to Canada, only to have the rate be much less than the actual cost.
I'm pretty much aware of the rates now, so I've started asking if item(s) can be shipped more reasonably, and try not to offend anyone, but it seems to be a touchy subject.
Is it appropriate to ask for better rates, or should I just drop it??
posted on February 25, 2001 07:38:38 PM new
You have been eating too many macaroni and cheese dinners. I cannot send Franciscan dinnerware or a Prada backpack via media mail. It's cheaper but it's not a book, CD, or video.
posted on February 25, 2001 08:07:49 PM new
Personally as a seller I like to ship priority because it is Efficient, reliable and CONVENIENT. I don't have to rustle up boxes to fit each item which is a major pain. Shipping rates by mail order are much higher than most on ebay. Just a thought.
posted on February 25, 2001 08:12:01 PM newYou have been eating too many macaroni and cheese dinners...
What does THAT have to do with tea in China? or was that meant to be a pun on kraftdinner's ID?
Sometimes, as she stated, it is difficult to get a rate quote from/to a foreign country. And YES, some Sellers way-over charge when shipping to Canada. Last year I shipped 2 pieces of Nippon there, combining the shipping...I quoted $29 and some cents, and my customers were in heaven! They told me they had been paying very high rates for much smaller, single pieces, less heavy than what I was sending them...
I do however, include the link to the Postal Calculator in my listings, and give out the weight and my ZIP CODE...That way, customers can verify my quote.
Edited for UBB
********
Gosh Shosh!
About Me
[ edited by Shoshanah on Feb 25, 2001 08:13 PM ]
posted on February 25, 2001 08:32:11 PM newShosh......
nofishing.....I sure understand if shipping breakables (glass, porcelain, etc.), but the stuff I buy is usually paper mache....light weight and small. (between you and me, I can't stand Kraft Dinner.....the name really just implies my my social standing since starting eBay!)
I just wanted to know an easier way to ask for something that seems to be carved in stone, that's all.
posted on February 25, 2001 08:39:18 PM new
Ask away, Lady... Leave no stone unturned...no question un-answered...Paper mache...What kind of items?
********
Gosh Shosh!
posted on February 25, 2001 08:49:03 PM new
My two cents worth...It's always better to ask about varying shipping methods BEFORE bidding. And on priority vs. parcel post? Once the cost of tape, labels and other assorted materials is factored in (all stuff that is free with priority), it's probably cheaper to ship priority. Plus, as has been stated, I think it's probably a bit safer too. Finally, personally, I'd rather ship a fragile porcelain vase than a "light" paper mache item. I've shipped similiar "light" items and found I've had to use MORE packing/bubble wrap to protect the item against possible crushing and damage. This additional packing requires, of course, a larger box and subsequently, higher postage rates. "Light" doesn't necessarily mean "cheaper."
posted on February 25, 2001 08:53:26 PM newShosh...I collect German paper mache doll heads..the ones with the side-glancing eyes....can't get enough of them!
What's your passion? Maybe you can start a thread at the RT to find out what others collect, or is that against the rules too? Ha! Ha! Ha!
posted on February 25, 2001 09:15:25 PM new
What a CHEAPSKATE!!
Shipping usually involves SHIPPING AND HANDELING.
Just about EVERY COMPANY does it. As far as the buyer saying how they want it sent. Fine. The way we ship is the way we are most comfortable shipping. If a buyer wants SPECIAL TREATMENT then they should pay a surcharge.
We always charge a fixed S+H rate. That includes actual shipping, packaging, loading, unloading, trip to PO, wait in line ETC.
If you are too cheap to pay it then run all over town and burn up your gas and time checking prices at your local shops. That way you PAY NO SHIPPING AT ALL.
***********************************
The more PEOPLE I meet.........
posted on February 25, 2001 09:20:05 PM newwhine....who's the cheapskate here? Me who's asking if I can get something shipped a bit cheaper, or you who adds up every single "expense" and adds to the shipping charge???
posted on February 25, 2001 09:31:44 PM new
I use to work at kraft...
But, I'm Vegetarian so I did not eat their cheese...
No matter what, you should ask the seller first before bidding. I don't mind when bidders contact me and ask me for a cheaper rates. Especially when its Canadians who tend to be lumbed in the epensive "International" catagory. I am guilty of lumping you guys too. I need to fix that.
What I do mind though is when bidders tell me what they are going to pay. I also don't like when they get mad when you wont send an item cheaper rate. 90% of the time I will send something media mail if asked. But not if the item went over a certain price because I don't want to take any chances. No matter what, I do have to factor in expenses including packaging, etc. Some of my packaging is really expensive. For photos I spend about $0.99 per package and that is wholesale rates!
It really depends on their post office too. Most bidders recieve things fine but I have had a few complain about their post office. Different post offices treat packages differently.
On that note, I use to work for UPS. I wont say anything about UPS though becuase that would be libel...
posted on February 25, 2001 09:31:45 PM new
Kraftdinner... I ran into a few problems re: shipping costs while i was selling on ebay. I was one of the newer ones & i didn't do this as a businesses. I would try & come as close to the actual shipping cost as i could, but it wasen't always possible. The difference between me & some of the others i have delt with who over charged for shipping (accidently ofcorse) was that in most cases when the bidder contacted me before they bid & asked if i'd be willing to come down in my shipping cost, & told me what they thought it should cost to ship. If it dounded like they knew what they were talking about, i'd submit & lower the cost for them. Your right.. It is you paying for the shipping & you shouldn't have to over pay for it. The only time i would get upset by the request to do so was after the auction had closed, & the winning bidder all of a sudden wanted to argue over the costs. That seems wrong to me (& rude).
There was a couple time also when they paid thru paypal that i sent 50 cents back, or $1. I would have done it a couple other times if not for the fact that by the time i spent money on a stamp, envelope, check, time, etc.. The cost just sky rocketed & i'm out a lot more than 50 cents, $1. Like i said.. This was a hobby for me, not a job. It didn't feed my kids, just gave me a few extra bucks to play around.
I only refused one time to send back shipping charges that were over charged & that was because the guy had waited over 5 weeks to pay for the item & right in my Payment/ Shipping policy i state that if i have to wait more than 2 weeks to be paid that i have the option of tacking on a Handling fee of $5 for every week after the 14th day of the auctions closing. I know not many (If any) would pay it by i gave myself the option anyways because i don't charge hadling fees in most cases.
[ edited by call1 on Feb 25, 2001 09:32 PM ]
posted on February 25, 2001 09:33:20 PM newKraftdinner
I too live in Kanada, and I must say that it's best to ask *before* you place a bid, and not after. It doesn't hurt to ask, but you must realize that many sellers have a preferred method of shipping, and most of them prefer that method for a reason.
Until the goods have been received safely from the buyer, they are still the property of the seller.
If something gets lost or damaged between point A and point B, the buyer will be the first one to remind the seller of that small, yet very important detail.
posted on February 25, 2001 09:36:18 PM new
Personally, if I didn't have a profit margin big enough to cover my time spent packing and at the PO, I wouldn't even list the item unless I just wanted to get rid of it.
I do my best to charge actual shipping .. off by a dollar or less +/- from time to time. Once in a while I'll have something that I can't just 'find' any old box for and I'll add a handling fee .. not often though and it's usually a dollar or two at most for a $60+ item.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have wept in the night, for the shortness of sight
That to somebody's need made me blind;
But I have never yet, felt a tinge of regret
For being a little to kind. Anon
posted on February 25, 2001 09:38:15 PM new
Kraftdinner.
Yes I charge for every expense incurred with shipping and handling a package. If you don't then that's your perogative. I'm not in business to lose money. If you are then GOOD LUCK.
Expenses are EXPENSES!! If the buyer wants to buy Online or mail order then deal with it or shop locally.
KNOW what the S+H fees are BEFORE YOU BID and add it into the price. It's NOT brain surgery!
Does the Canadian Government subsidize your shipping TOO!!!
Do you REALLY EXPECT Ebay sellers to offer you a choice of shipping options???
Why don't YOU open your own FedX account and send a FedX pickup if YOU want to dictate how the item is sent. That way YOU have to make ALL of the arrangements and pay all the fees. The Seller just waits for FedX to show up and pick up YOUR PACKAGE.
If YOU want to do all that FINE. If you want the seller to do it then PONY UP the $$$.
Heck, you dollar is only worth 60 cents anyway. No wonder you're peaved.
WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!
***********************************
The more PEOPLE I meet.........
The more I like my DOG!!
[ edited by whinecooler on Feb 25, 2001 09:44 PM ]
posted on February 25, 2001 09:48:08 PM new
It's pretty easy to check on this, even to Canada! The US Postal Service has a great rate calculator. I think the problem is with sellers who try to make a profit out of the postage fees, and not the item itself.
I often see a sportscard (I collect them) that I want, and it is at a good price (25 cents) but there is a $2 or $3 shipping charge. Now I know that if I were to buy it, it would be sent with a single stamp. I just avoid those types of auctions.
posted on February 25, 2001 09:50:29 PM new
Tuition.
We aren't talking about profit margins here we are talking about a practice that is used by almost EVERY MAJOR RETAILmail order business and has been for years.
micro managing EVERY shipment would cost FAR MORE than having a Standard shipping proceedure, as most sellers do.
If some Cheezewhiz fer brains wants to pay the difference for the trouble of sending it "his way" then fine but that kinda defeats the purpose doesn't it??
***********************************
The more PEOPLE I meet.........
posted on February 25, 2001 09:54:22 PM new
Hi call1 & digitalmaster & tuition44years!...thanks for your intellegent responses! P.S. Are you SURE there's real cheese in that orange powder??
And thanks too reddeer...you made a VERY good point I hadn't even thought of.
I'll try asking BEFORE I bid from now on.
whine....maybe you didn't notice this, but AW is made up of people....if you like your dog better, then this isn't the place for you......rough, rough!!
posted on February 25, 2001 10:00:48 PM new
Whinecooler .. I do have a standard shipping procedure...priority/insured (their cost) delivery confirmation (my cost). I rarely get requests for lower shipping but if I do, I check it out. Only takes a few minutes with a scale and USPS online. Makes for happy customers and repeat business.
BTW .. I'm not a mail order business. JMO
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have wept in the night, for the shortness of sight
That to somebody's need made me blind;
But I have never yet, felt a tinge of regret
For being a little to kind. Anon
posted on February 25, 2001 10:20:15 PM new
RE: High rates to Canada
I think that a lot of people charge ridiculously high international rates to discourage people from bidding on them. I always see auctions where someone charges more than it would cost AND THEN tack on another $5 "handling fee". Why else would anyone do that?
Then there are probably those who guesstimated a S&H cost once and got burned because they came in low. Those 1/2 ounces add up fast and I admit I've done that. So now those folks either got a scale or they wayyy overestimate now!
It can never hurt to politely ask and see what the seller is willing to do.
posted on February 25, 2001 10:26:36 PM new
wbbell, there is an explanation to why sellers like myself charge high rates to international customers. I charge higher rates only when they pay by money order. The reason is, my bank "Wells Fargo" charges me $3.00 to deposit international money orders. It's a charge that they added last year. You can check and verify this.
I hate the fact that they did this because it really hurts sales with international customers. 90% of the transactions with international customers went from being Money orders to cash and I hate getting cash in the mail.
posted on February 25, 2001 10:33:16 PM new
near the end of my selling on ebay i had to stop shipping out of the country because i felt like i was ripping people off with shipping costs. I sold books/ Magazines, & someone who buys books doesn't want to pay (In one case)$19 for shipping & that was the 4 to 6 week wait cost. I think the USPS has a great racket going. Charge an arm & a leg for the shipping & walk it accross the ocean (they walk on water ya know)..
Rhodes Inc.
M Rhodes (CEO)
posted on February 25, 2001 10:50:45 PM newdigitalmaster...you've talked about your shipping rates before and I don't find them to be out of line at all. P.S....That asking for change thing is a total hoot!!!
I'm talking about buying items that weigh about 3 - 5 oz's.....the cost is usually around $3.50 on average. Not Priority as that's not available to Canada....just "regular" Parcel Post. And I don't mind paying for "Handling" as long as it's not unreasonable. But 8 times out of 10, let's say, the shipping price I've paid is double to triple the actual shipping cost.
Most Seller's don't post "International" rates in their TOS, so I'm kind of at their mercy at the end of the auction. I don't want the Seller to feel like I'm not abiding by their terms by asking for a better rate....I just want to have the shipping rate be a fair one, and don't know how to go about it "properly". Your input is always VERY MUCH appreciated!!!
posted on February 25, 2001 11:01:21 PM new
All sellers operating their Ebay auctions as a BUSINESS raise their left hand.
All sellers operating their Ebay auctions as
a NON-PROFIT CHARITY raise their right hand.
All sellers operating their Ebay auctions any
all which way without a care about costs because you're hubby or wifey is independently wealthy...just sit down and hush up.
For those of us who raised our left hand...congratulations. We're smart business people and we know that shipping + handling =
Postage Cost
Box/Container (No free Priority Boxes for International)
Tape
Tape Guns
Bubble Wrap
Packing Peanuts
Clean Blank Newsprint for Void fill
Envelopes
Air Pack for Breakables
Staples
Fragile/Breakable Labels
10% Upcharge for stamps.com or PB Postmeters
$5.00 weekly UPS Pickup charge
Plastic Bags for waterproofing contents
Avery Labels for Addressing.
Laser Toner to print labels and packing slips
Labor Costs to pack
Labor Costs to drive to post office
Labor Costs to stand in line at Post Office
Labor Costs to fill out Customs forms by hand
Labor Costs to fill out Insurance forms by hand
Auto Expenses (gas/mileage) to drive to post office.
Admin Labor Costs to track shipment, send shipping notices
Now tell me how I'm making a 'profit' on a $5.95 shipping and handling charge???
Folks, Ebay ain't no private garage sale anymore. It's business. If one doesn't want to pay shipping and handling charges just don't buy online or by mail-order. Shop your local thrift stores, garage sales and brick and mortar stores. Pay for gas, and whatever local sales tax your town charges.
There's a reason why Record clubs charge $2.65 per CD, book clubs charge $2.50 to $3.50 per book and some Mail Order operators charge 10-15% of your order for shipping and handling. It's expensive. Shipping supplies are not free. Most likely you are not paying 6-7% sales tax for out-of-state mail delivery. I provide professional, secure and fast shipping. I don't ship my goods out in recycled baby food boxes with crumpled up used newspaper. As for the high rates to Canada...petition your Canadian Postmasters...according to my Postmaster, that's why the rates are high. Canada would much prefer that you bought Canadian.
Also I've noticed differences between the online USPS rate calculator and what the actual rate turns out to be.
[ edited by tapatti on Feb 25, 2001 11:03 PM ]
[ edited by tapatti on Feb 25, 2001 11:08 PM ]
posted on February 25, 2001 11:02:27 PM new
kraftdinner
IMO the way to go about it is to ask *before* you place a bid. Simply ask the seller if they will be charging you "actual shipping charges", or of if they charge a "handling" fee on top of the shipping cost.
Speaking as a buyer, I *never* bid on an item unless I know ALL the costs up front. I also never bid on auctions with handling fees [unless they're VERY small fees].
I don't have a problem with sellers that charge a handling fee, as long as they mention that fact in their auction.
Then, if the seller decided to gouge me after the auction was over, I'd leave them a neg letting all their future buyers know what kind of gouger they were.
I've yet to get stiffed on extra shipping fees. Then again, I tend to buy mostly from fellow Canucks.
Leave no stone unturned...no question un-answered...Paper mache...What kind of items?