posted on February 15, 2008 04:23:22 PMIt's people who charge $15.00 to ship an item that cost them $3.00 to ship. It's gouging and it makes ALL sellers look bad.
Why didn't you just say you were psychic? That changes everything!
You're right. Obviously the problem here is that everyone misunderstands you. Or could it be we understand you all too well?
posted on February 15, 2008 06:57:51 PM
This subject keeps coming up, but for me the point is missed. I could care less if I had four or five stars. But when Ebay says they will punish me for having all fours by placing my items at the end of search engine now we have an issue.
As I have said before, when people are asked to rate you on a scale of 1 - 5, there is a psychological principle that says that 3 is average, 4 is above average and 5 is perfect and nobody’s perfect so I’ll give ‘em a 4. I think it is totally wrong to punish us for things that are out of our control. I charge exact postage within $1 and mostly get 4 stars for shipping cost. I send next day priority and get rated mostly 4 stars for shipping time. My shipping costs are stated in my auctions. There is no way I can change this and there is no way I can maintain a 4.5 average so...
I am a very small seller and I am not sure how this is going to effect my sales but just the concept makes me nuts.
By the way merrie, it’s not always about spellcheck, it’s about editing. There and their are spelled correctly. I have a friend that uses will in the place of well, it drives me crazy but telling him does no good. Spellchecker doesn’t always know either and I spend a lot of time with a spelling dictionary in my hand and reading and re-reading and I still miss stuff. My English teachers would be proud, or maybe in disbelief :=) .
posted on February 15, 2008 09:47:23 PM
Fluffy, if the postage on a package is $3.00 and I paid $15.00, I think I'm being gouged. If you don't agree then you must be really rich.
posted on February 16, 2008 10:03:21 AM
Don: the spell check remark was for "reasonable", not their, there or they're. I understand how spell check works but think that adults posting on a board or writing an Ebay description should know the difference between these guys. Just a personal gripe of mine. I am not talking about obvious typo, etc.
they're = they are
there = here or there (place)
their = pronoun
posted on February 16, 2008 10:06:31 AM
to merrie:
Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a total mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh?
posted on February 16, 2008 10:18:46 AM
rhpepsi: My daughter will be glad to hear that, she did not do well in English comp but is still quite successful. She does have an assistant proofread her documents prior to publication.
But, I am uncomfortable trusting a seller that does not take the time or effort to write a grammatically correct description. If they are that lazy about their listings, I do not have much confidence in their ability to deliver a decent product in a decent manner.
Just one of my many obsessive / compulsive traits!!
posted on February 16, 2008 11:05:54 AM
So, I'm still curious. For those of you who have been eBayers since the early days, am I misremembering that everyone paid/charged exact postage?
posted on February 16, 2008 11:26:19 AM
throughhiker, why would you say nobody is perfect. It is not perfection we are after it is what is reasonable to mail a package.
I charge 50cents more than the postage for my packages. Which includes a new bubble envelope, a box if it is jewelry. Always wrapped in tissue paper surrounded by bubble wrap. I think that should be a 5 but it isn't. I mail the same day or next day. I think that should be a 5, which it is.
No I am not perfect by no means but 50 cents higher does not rate a 4 it should be a 5.
posted on February 16, 2008 11:29:19 AM
birgittaw: I have been selling on Ebay since almost the beginning. Things were much different then. For the most part, it was not new items, but antiques and collectibles. There was no PayPal. It certainly was more person to person type transactions. Postage was considerably cheaper, no zones and no dimensional shipping. I found some of my old listings and I charged close to actual shipping. Today, I still charge close to actual shipping, IMO.
It was mentioned in an earlier thread that if you buy from someone on the east coast and you live on the west coast and the item weighs 2 pounds, even if the item only cost 1.00, actual shipping is 10.55. That is only for 2 -3 pound package. Yes, you can use flat rate if it fits in that box,but it is still 8.95. If the buyer pays via Paypal and you charge actual shipping, you are LOSING money on shipping.
The point needs to be, if shipping is stated, then decide whether the total transaction is valuable to you. If the shipping is too high based on the item's value, pass it up. If the total of the item and the shipping charges are a bargain for you, then go for it. I don't think this is that hard to understand.No shipping stated, no sale to me.
Why would you even consider buying from someone you think is taking advantage of you?? The stars are stupid when it comes to shipping charges. I would never buy from someone that I thought was gouging me, so I would never have the "opportunity" to leave less than a 5 on shipping charges.
posted on February 16, 2008 11:32:52 AM
Libra63: you said it, your prices are REASONABLE, a 4 in Ebay's description is REASONABLE, a 5 is VERY REASONABLE. Who decides what is REASONABLE vs VERY REASONABLE??
posted on February 16, 2008 11:44:57 AM"You're also free to think there are monkeys flying out of your butt."
Once again, Scruffy brings up another good excuse for having a COLONSCOPY after age 50: Acute Primate-Polyps Epikaakaaitis, AKA: "APE"
Far more embarassing than laughter-induced "leakage," monkees-flying-out-yer-bottom, especially during such inopportune times as board meetings or "intimate" moments with one's SO can be psychologically crushing...
DON'T DELAY! SEE YER PROCTOLOGIST BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE! And, for Richard Gere fans, have him check for stray gerbils while he's up there...
posted on February 16, 2008 12:24:03 PM
I also think that if you accept PayPal and the person pays you in PayPal the buyer should pay the fees. You can't go to any ATM machine and draw out money unless you pay their fee of $1.50. Then because you used a bank that wasn't yours your bank charges you another $1.50 for a total of $3.00 Why can't I charge the same as that. I am not the one using paypal the buyer is. Why do I have to be out fees because the buyer doesn't want to send me a money order? I do accept money orders and Personal checks. Paypal finds it easier to charge me than the buyer so why not pass that on to your buyer through s/H.
_________________
posted on February 16, 2008 02:26:01 PM
Wow,I just checked out Bidtopia which claims to have left Ebay,a pair of lab grown saphire earrings starting 99 cents ,shipping is 11.95.
*
Lets all stop whining !
posted on February 16, 2008 02:43:49 PM
I recently bot some supplies from a seller who claimed he cannot ship both the tapes and the envelopes togther,but they came together.
I gave him a 2 for dishonesty.
*
Lets all stop whining !
posted on February 16, 2008 03:18:46 PM
Geez, I have read this topic twice and while several of you are defending shipping prices (I feel I am in that category - I charge a small handling fee), and some are upset about the star system (I do not like it, either), I do not understand some of the hostility towards kraftdinner. Maybe they purchased knowing what the shipping was (I can't remember), but they are just airing a complaint. Many of us do that and that is what this board is for. Kraftdinner does not need to be attacked, especially with monkey butt jokes. They have a legimate complaint ($15.00 charged and actually $3.00 to ship). What is the Problem? Why attack?
Stone, I thought the statement you made about delivering was funny. Thank you.
posted on February 16, 2008 03:38:42 PM
I charge a flat rate for all auctions and clearly note that in the description. My feeling is that if a potential customer thinks it's too high, he/she shouldn't bid. If he/she DOES bid and win the auction, he/she shouldn't complain about the shipping and handling charges. But is that too logical? My shipping star rating is 4.8.
[ edited by blueyes29 on Feb 16, 2008 03:39 PM ]
posted on February 16, 2008 03:54:39 PM
I've been charged high shipping on magazines but just put this into the cost of the total order. It is a little too passive agressive to buy something knowing the shipping & postage and then complain.
That said, got to agree that kraftdinner is just venting. Most of us have done that.
Stone is always funny and did not disappoint here.
Note to rhpepsi: Aslo it si hrad to wirte lkie taht.
Beth
posted on February 16, 2008 06:35:22 PM
It si atculaly pterty esay to wtire lkie tihs. The fsrit setp is ot dorp yuor kyebroad on teh folor. Senocd setp si to rplecae teh kyes rnadmoly bcak otno it. Aethnor wya wloud eb to rnu yuor slepl ccehk porargm in resreve.
Hye…Vintage….tihs mya eb a wya to BYSAPS KYEORWD SMAPNIMG in teltis???!!
posted on February 16, 2008 07:28:34 PM
And its the buyers that assume it cost $3.00 to ship because thats what the postage says on it. So they used all kinds of packing supplys and drove 20 miles to get to the post office to send that nice item that the buyer bought for 99 cents. Isn't wonderful that the Seller got to list that for nothing and not pay any fees. But it would be a sin if that seller tryed to save on fees by listing their items for 99 cents and tryed to get some of the money back on the shipping. Could you just imagine anybody being that dishonest.
**********************************
Just wanted to let you know about this new website that pays us up to 36% of the seller's fees whenever we buy something on eBay.
We can also get cash back at other retailers and earn extra cash when other people shop.
Just use the link below to check it out and let me know what you think!
posted on February 16, 2008 08:05:04 PM
Kraftdinner is certainly free to vent (BTW,had you for dinner tonight). An example on what buyers/sellers might have differing views on: A seller pays an average of $5.00 wholesale on items that average $40 retail. He lists it on auction with starting price 99 cents, no reserve - with a shipping/handling cost of $7.00. Actual shipping is only $1.50. He loses a little money if it sells for opening bid. The only time the buyer loses money is when it is bid up to retail value. EBay loses FVF's when it sells low - but then, maybe it should - it isn't delivering the traffic.
posted on February 16, 2008 08:39:15 PM
If a seller lists for $.99 and that is the only bid they get, that is a risk they take. That is NOT the buyers fault, nor is the buyer's fault if you have to drive 20 miles to the PO, maybe you should build this into a reserve price. I am mostly a seller but this logic is crap.
posted on February 16, 2008 10:16:26 PM
You're right, Deichen. It's not the buyer's fault and he's not being punished for it. He's getting a $40.00 item for $7.99. If the s/h was clearly stated in TOS, he shouldn't feel gouged. If it was a consignment item and the consignor is only paid a portion of the 99 cents - that's another story.
posted on February 16, 2008 10:33:50 PM
deichen
posted on February 16, 2008 08:39:15 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If a seller lists for $.99 and that is the only bid they get, that is a risk they take. That is NOT the buyers fault, nor is the buyer's fault if you have to drive 20 miles to the PO, maybe you should build this into a reserve price. I am mostly a seller but this logic is crap."""
I agree , deichen, but it's the new business "ethics"...if you haven't got anything worth more than .99 make up for it by charging higher postage.
It isn't the buyer's responsibility to help a seller make a profit.
However, it IS the buyer's responsibility to hit the "back" button when they see this type of auction. If they bid, they shouldn't complain.
posted on February 16, 2008 10:42:56 PM
I always, but always, add item bid or BIN + S&H = Total Item Price, and the total is what I make my decision on. If I don't like it, I don't bid.
And if I do pay high S&H, because the Total Item Price is otherwise acceptable, I don't care what it says on the package, because chances are if I wasn't getting a good deal, I wouldn't have bought it.
Who am I to tell a seller how he/she might ship and/or insure a package to get it to me with some combination of cheaply, safely, and quickly?
Even Woot.Com ships some items by a lower-cost "SmartPost" method which they admit is slow by adding a "SmartPost" logo with a snail on it at the bottom of such item listings. Surely, using SmartPost allows them to reduce item prices on select items, as they normally charge a flat $5 S&H fee. But they simply advertise this to the buyer, and then the informed buyer can take it into account when making a purchase decision.
http://www.clickauction.net/
http://www.limitedtimedeals.info/
posted on February 17, 2008 02:00:33 PM
You sweetheart Deichen. Actually, these people are the coolest. They put up with a lot from me over at the Round Table so it's just a territorial thing - like a dog peeing around the perimeter of his property.
posted on February 18, 2008 11:46:52 AM
I buy more than I sell. The majority of buyers will not complain about shipping IF it's broken down for them. People in general don't like it when they think someone is trying to "sneak" something past them. If shipping is $15.00 and the package arrives with $5.00 postage, I'll be upset. If the description says "$5.00 postage, $10.00 materials/handling charge", I'm fine with that. If the postage is high, buyers think the item is being sent priority mail. It does upset buyers to pay much more than actual postage and have the item arrive in a free priority box or pay more than enough for priority and find the item was sent parcel post.
The new FB system will at least allow buyers to notify other buyers of a seller's shipping practices without fear of reprisal.
posted on February 18, 2008 12:06:34 PMIf the description says "$5.00 postage, $10.00 materials/handling charge"
...then 8 out of 10 buyers will say, "Oh, just throw it in a bubble mailer so I don't have to pay that much." Or "Put it in a business-size envelope and stick a stamp on it."
posted on February 18, 2008 12:20:31 PM
Fluffy - don't forget that if it gets broken then you, the seller, must file an insurance claim which is likely to be denied due to improper packing.
Actually, these people are the coolest. They put up with a lot from me over at the Round Table so it's just a territorial thing - like a dog peeing around the perimeter of his property. 