posted on February 13, 2002 04:23:22 PM new
Very few people have contacted me about shipping method, and this is out of thousands of items sold. I don't think most people care. Granted something sent media mail that did not qualify is wrong, but there is basically no difference between 1st class and priority mail - It is a nice scam the post office has running to get you to think you will get special treatment. Stuff gets loaded on the truck and plane the same way, there is no guarantee that it would even get there in 2 or 3 days. I have had priority mail take a week to get to me. The difference is on a 3 ounce package, you pay $3.50 instead of 80 cents, and get some nice red, white and blue packaging.
If the shipping method is not listed in the auction, you need to inquire (it is irrelevant that it is the last minute, I have been burned before like that too, but what choice did I have) - I don't feel any need to give buyers too much info. Hasn't hurt me, and I think the more complicated your terms, the less likely they are to bid. I've seen some really long and obnoxious terms of service before.
posted on February 13, 2002 04:28:25 PM new
I don't see how stating your shipping method would make things overly complicated. If you say "$5 for Shipping" it's not a huge leap to say "$5 for Priority Mail Shipping" or "$5 for First Class Shipping" just to clarify.
posted on February 13, 2002 04:59:36 PM new
I don't think it is something that needs to be clarified. If I am asked, I will answer, but I can't remember a single person asking me beforehand what method of shipping, or what class of mail the item is going. I think this is an issue that seems to be of more importance to sellers than buyers.
posted on February 13, 2002 05:08:46 PM new
You're probably right, it only matters in this type of forum where sellers get obsessed over the finer points of auctions. However, I'll continue to state my shipping methods - it may not make a difference to my bottom line, but I prefer to spell out the terms for the bidders upfront, and I manage it without an overwhelming TOS.
posted on February 14, 2002 05:26:04 AM new
It just occured to me while I was looking at a listing that at the bottom of the ebay listing page you see SHIPPING/HANDLING and the amount the seller put in when he/she entered the listing. I guess that would solve the problem of the seller himself using the term HANDLING when writing his description. I never really noticed that before!
posted on February 14, 2002 06:13:22 AM new
One of the reasons I don't bother with a breakdown of costs for a bidder is that something is a good deal all totaled or it's not whether it be at a store or online. If a bidder thinks I am charging too much, he only has to hit the back button which is infinitely preferable to an email debate over my business practices which always strive to give the bidder a fair deal no matter how the pie is cut.
posted on February 14, 2002 09:00:45 AM new
Problem is, what matters is not what the seller thinks is fair, but what the buyer thinks is fair. Many buyers object to paying a handling fee not stated in the ad. (In fact, eBay prohibits fees not stated on the auction page, but whether shipping includes handling is another debate.) Unhappy buyers can litter your feedback with red marks, even if it is for a reasonable $1 handling fee to cover expenses.
The worst of this type of buyer will look only at the actual postage. The cost of packaging materials and time (not to mention your other fees) are of no interest to them. It's better to idiot-proof your auctions and let the buyer decide.
The only fixed part of your auction is the shipping/handling fee. I usually prefer to build all my fees into the S/H, then offer the item at my cost. If the price goes higher, great. My auctions state "Winner add $X for shipping and handling." Even so, I still get complaints about the handling fee.
