posted on April 8, 2001 04:43:35 PM
What I find ironic, I just discovered this guy's ebay id and saw that he is a seller too. I check out his stuff and he charges more for shipping than I do. What a hypocrit!
posted on April 8, 2001 05:14:13 PM
Redskinfan: As a former English teacher, I feel compelled to point out that the correct spelling is "hypocrite". LOL. Sorry, I couldn't help myself!
posted on April 8, 2001 05:36:37 PM
I don't understand why you don't just use the free supplies from the PO. Order them online and they're sent to your home for nothing. Get the Video size box, pad with newspaper or some other discard you have around the house (plastic grocery bags, junk mail, whatever). Your postage charge would then be $4.60 with insurance, saving your bidder $2.15.
Edited to add...
OOPS! Sorry, I just realized the person who charges $6.75 isn't the originator of this thread. My apologies!
[ edited by joanne on Apr 8, 2001 05:38 PM ]
posted on April 8, 2001 05:40:11 PM
violetta:
"Huh? Who said that? Although I see indications that some think his/her shipping and handling costs are too high -- I don't see anyone saying that s/he shouldn't charge more than it actually costs ...."
It was his buyer:
"Why is the shipping so much in the USA shipping for a cd is only 1.18 I should know I bought plenty of them. reply soon thanks"
posted on April 8, 2001 05:51:01 PM
I've never seen a cd only ship for that low of amount anyway. The post office website even quotes a higher price for just the basic shipping method.
posted on April 8, 2001 06:05:53 PM
"In a perfect world, the buyer would pay your relatively high s/h fee and leave you a neg for same to warn others."
..and the buyer would get a neg by the seller to warn other sellers how difficult this buyer can be.
posted on April 8, 2001 06:22:14 PMredskinfan I'm not arguing for the bidder, but you can ship cd's frst class for either $.97 or $1.18. I've done it several times along with paperbacks - I've never had to use media rate with a single CD as it is always under the $1.30 minimum for media rate. (And I use bubble envelopes.) But then I don't know if it has anything to do with zones either - I live in the midwest, so both coasts are equal distance. It may be different if you ship from one coast to the other.
That said - I agree that if the bidder doesn't like your stated shipping - they shouldn't bid.
posted on April 8, 2001 06:24:16 PM
I pay the P.O. 76¢ to ship one CD, two CDs ship for 97¢. Of course I ship mine in the white paper envelopes instead of jewel cases.
posted on April 8, 2001 06:53:43 PM
Microbes -- OK, now I getcha.
Although I have shipped CDs for less than that (in 2000 it was either $1.01 or $1.18 for my shipments), I don't think that Redskinfan's rates are really out of line. I would do as someone else suggested, and subtract the shipping from the maximum I'm willing to pay, and bid accordingly. And I see no reason at all that s/he should have to argue or try to justify them with a potential bidder. Just say, "That is what I charge." and perhaps add that it includes the costs of your supplies (if you feel like it).
Violetta
(Not known by this nickname anywhere but here.)
posted on April 8, 2001 09:21:41 PMI check out his stuff and he charges more for shipping than I do.
I'm sorry, I just had to laugh when I saw this.
I had a powerseller buy 3 items from me this evening on BIN, then proceed to DICTATE to me how they WANT the shipping combined & wanted it based on ACTUAL shipping costs & nothing else.
Out of morbid curiosity, I went & check out their "ME" page & in the smallest type known to man were their long list of terms, starting w/don't try to negotiate terms after the sale..dire warnings if you didn't pay in a nanosecond & a zillion other negative comments.
Oh, and they have a handling fee as well but want ME to make sure I use ACTUAL postage & nothing else.
posted on April 8, 2001 09:29:25 PM
Based on the responses posted regularly here on AW, it must be written somewhere in eBay's User Agreement that if you are a seller, when you buy something from somebody else through eBay, you are allowed to dictate the terms of sale, and anybody who doesn't run their auctions the way you run yours is fair game for all the criticism you can manage to heap on them.
And you don't really have to run your auctions the way you say you do as long as you are a powerseller or you have a feedback rating of a bajillion or so.
posted on April 8, 2001 09:36:35 PM
Hi Redskinfan ...
It should only cost $1.18 to mail a CD in a bubble mailer, on first class mail, and you can do much better than ~$1.00 for a single bubble mailer (check eBay for good prices!) I usually charge $1.65 S/H to mail CDs and that covers all the associated costs. It's my opinion that $3.00 is a little high, but as usual, the total cost is really what the bidder should consider.
Now Having said that....
I still have people ask me similar type questions and complain that I charged them a shocking 47 cents more than actual postage. As you said, bubble mailers must be free in their world!!
The fee was stated and clearly posted. Regardless of anyone's opinions about how high it may or may not be, the bidder agreed to pay it when they bid.
My advice is don't waste any more effort or time on them. Compose a brief reply, and they will either pay it or not, end of story.
posted on April 8, 2001 11:37:30 PM
This is different, from what I experience.
I sell a lot of fragile items.
I always over pack which raises the shipping charges.
Plus my extra expenses are included.
Not once did a buyer complain about my fees.
Most of my feedback's have; great packing ( or something similar ) included.
Many repeat Customers.
I can't see wasting any time on a person like this buyer.
( who hasn't bought anything )
Yes, answer all questions directed to you, form your auction.
There are millions of quality buyers who want it to arrive safe, as
opposed to saving nickels and dimes.
posted on April 9, 2001 07:22:48 AM
don't know about the shipping stuff, but last time I sent a cd the p.o. charged me $1.89. It was for a toni braxton cd, very light weight. When I used to live in Virginia I could sent cds back to columbia house for 3 postage stamps, but that was years ago.
the p.o. tried charging me $3.45 for book rate on a john grisham book too. If others are paying cheaper...maybe p.o. up to something here?? I sent off a vhs tape a few months ago and they charged me $10.00 for priority mail. I figured it was because of the weight....I'm not very good at guessing weight on stuff.
Don't guess, buy a postal scale. What you spend on a decent, reliable one will pay for itself very fast. If you are losing that kind of money on postage, you NEED a scale so you can correctly calculate it at the beginning.
Office Max, Office Depot, Staples, even Sam's Club have scales. And if there isn't one in your city, you can order from their internet sites.
posted on April 9, 2001 07:53:18 AM
Hey.... Redskin (have you tried Curel?) That is a point I had never thought of..... Toni Braxton's lightweight music shipping for less. So I checked out a CD of serious music, and you're right! Lesley Gore ships for $1.30. See, I didn't take physics in school, wow! what if I tried to mail an Ethel Waters CD? That would be SOME bucks!
I don't sell CD's often, charge $2.75 s&h, packed carefully in jewel case in cardboard (cut to fit) box. Last buyer wrote "love it do you have more of artist?". Put her on my wish-list, may make another sale, some day.
Mom, sometimes an acronym for Making Our Misery.
[ edited by immykidsmom on Apr 9, 2001 04:15 PM ]
[ edited by immykidsmom on Apr 9, 2001 04:17 PM ]
posted on April 9, 2001 07:59:44 AM
$10.00 to mail a single vhs tape? C'mon. Somethin's fishy. You can mail a package up to 5 lbs. priority for $7.55. I can't imagine your tape weighed that much more. Maybe your postal employees have a little thing going on there?
In fact, here are the priority raters:
Up to 1# $3.50
1 - 2# $3.95
2 - 3# $5.15
3 - 4# $6.35
4 - 5# $7.55
above 5# you need the other zip to calculate postage.
There's a postage rate calculator at http://www.usps.gov
posted on April 9, 2001 08:55:11 AM
ya know this is becoming a real hassle, two items i had up for bid this week both with a $5.00 flat rate shipping in the tos, and both with email replys, im not paying $5.00 ill just deadbeat and leave negative feedback if you do so for me, so im now relisting and dealing with safe harbor, wish me luck.........................................................
every 20 seconds in america a woman is giving birth:SHE MUST BE FOUND AND STOPPED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.................................................................
>a $5.00 flat rate shipping in the tos, and both with email replys, im not paying $5.00 ill just deadbeat and leave negative feedback if you do so for me
They would get a neg from me. I WILL take a neg before I put up with someone "blackmailing" me. I have 2 negs from bidders like this. I also emailed safeharbor about "feedback extortion", but they would do nothing. Good luck.
posted on April 9, 2001 09:18:34 AM
I use $2.25 as the cost to ship a CD. This is for bulletproof packing sent first class.
CD cases break a lot. Most of the music clubs and internet sellers charge more and do not pack as well.
People who complain about shipping costs are a giant pain. If you don't like the cost, don't bid. When you find it elsewhere for less and it arrives damaged, and or much later, tough luck.
posted on April 9, 2001 09:48:56 AM
I sure don't understand why you, redskinfan are being attacked for setting a reasonable shipping cost. The only "person" in the wrong here is the bidder who is choosing to bid on the item then challenge your TOS...
Good luck! And, remember, this is a new week! yippee!
posted on April 9, 2001 05:52:52 PM
Redskinfan - $10 to ship a video?! I think maybe they shipped it Express Mail rather than Priority. Something does sound kind of wacky with your post office. Make sure it is a real U.S. Post Office and not one of those convenience shipping stores. Those places charge extra for postage and shipping.
I agree that you should get a scale and actually weigh your packages, then check with the USPS site to see what it should cost. If you can, even print off the page from the online rate calculator and take it with you when you mail it, so if there's much difference you can question the clerk. Elsewhere on the USPS site are publications that give more postal and shipping info. The URL is http://postcalc.usps.gov/
Scales can be relatively inexpensive. I got a 2 pound postal scale for -- I forget how much but less than $10. Then I found a 1 pound postal scale just like it at the thrift shop for 75 cents. I also got a household scale at the thrift shop and use it to weigh my packages that are over 2 pounds (it weighs items up to 25 pounds). It's not as accurate as the postal scale, but it comes within 2-3 ounces of the scales at the post office -- and at those weights the rates don't change for that small of amount anyhow.
Violetta
(Not known by this nickname anywhere but here.)
posted on April 9, 2001 06:35:54 PM
I just paid $20.94 for 100 bubble mailer envelopes (CD size) and that included the
priority shipping! I won them on eBay - do the math! Just search for them under "bubble mailers" and 6 X 10 is usually a good size
for CDs.
I charge $2 for first class shipping - which is about $.97-$1.18, and the envelope is about a nickle. Again - do the math!
If the bidder doesn't like the shipping charges and wants to argue, I just cancel the auction. But then again, no one has...
posted on April 9, 2001 07:41:25 PMI'm only charging $3.00 for first class.Now if the person wants to paya buck more it'll go priority.
Wow, I guess I throw good money away. I would of paid the $4 and not thought anything of it.
Then I see shipping $2.25 by someone else...
I only get pissed when I pay over $5 and it comes media class... that will get you neg from me and I don't care if you didn't mention Priority Mail.
Ain't Life Grand...
[ edited by twelvepole on Apr 9, 2001 07:44 PM ]
Maybe your postal employees have a little thing going on there?