posted on November 15, 2000 10:54:15 AM new
Hello!
I have set up some marketplace book sales.
In another thread i asked if bookrate is ok.
I mention it in my 70 letter description.
One book sold and I see the customer was charged $3.20 by Amazon.
Uh oh
does this mean bookrate is now not so good?
I got 5 dollars for it, so unfortunately priority would eat all profit, small though it may be, and I am kind of worried.
Any help would be appreciated.
One more question...can you use the 70 spaces to link to another page with better description and pictures?
posted on November 15, 2000 11:41:43 AM newNote: Amazon.com is crediting you $2.03 in addition to your net sales price to help cover shipping costs. This amount is adequate to cover standard shipment of most items (remember to send books, CDs, DVDs, and videos "Special Standard Mail" to secure rates of 2.03 for items weighing as much as three pounds!)
posted on November 17, 2000 06:56:47 AM new
I have been trying to understand what Amazon is charging sellers to sell on the marketplace. I've yet to put up an item there.
Something does not seem fair about charges for shipping, and unless I put up an expensive book, I may end up in the hole after a lot of work.
Is it true that Amazon charges sellers 15% of the $3.49 they charge the customer. Which, if my math is correct, means we get $2.03 shipping from Amazon less $.52 or that we get only $1.51 total shipping fees from Amazon?
I believe that if a buyer pays $3.49, they will want priority shipping. Also, items need to be insured or tracked for proof of shipment. Insuring cost an additional $.85 and you can only track an item if it is sent priority or it weights at least a pound.
Proof of shipment is another expense that the seller will have to absorb or they cannot prove they shipped an item.
Unless I can recoop enough to ship priority, with tracking or insurance, I don't want to get involved.
I'll need to list only my more expensive books based on the above.
posted on November 18, 2000 12:54:24 AM new
watafind: Amazon charges sellers 99 cents plus 15 percent of the sale price. And, no they don't charge sellers 15% of the $3.49 they charge the customer for shipping.
You don't need to ship insured and priority to get proof of shipment. When you mail a book rate package at the window, they give you a receipt with the date and recipient's zip code on it. That's your proof of shipment, and its free.
Insuring a book is a waste of money. If packed properly, they can't get damaged. And how many get lost? One out of 500? That's $425 worth of insurance for that one lost book.
And delivery confirmation is also worthless. It doesn't prove what was in the package.
posted on November 18, 2000 08:11:58 AM new
Thanks for your response.
This statement you made is unclear to me:
>>Insuring a book is a waste of money. If packed properly, they can't get damaged. And how many get lost? One out of 500? That's $425 worth of insurance for that one lost book. <<
I have had a number of items lost, and as they are generally insured, the Post office pays the buyer instead of me. Folks will tell me they do not have the item, right up until they have to sign the Post office's form that they did not receive the item.
For $.85 worth of Postal insurance (covers $50 of item), a seller guarantees that the buyer will get the item paid for by the Post Office (and not the seller), and a lot of peace of mind. That is priceless to me and many others.
Damage to books - Oh Yes, it can happen. We have received just the tops of the box of books in which the book was bubble wrapped with cardboard around it inside a box from the Dead letter office before. We have also been notified that buyers have gone back on the insurance from the post office for damage - and we wrap books, use cardboard & either bubble envelopes or boxes. It can happen - You've been very lucky, or not sent as many out as we have.
Also, I was unaware that you could give Amazon or a buyer as proof of shipment, only a copy of a receipt from a post office that you sent something to that state on a certain date. In all of my reading of seller's discussions and Amazon instructions, that option has never been provided before. If I were the buyer, anyone could send anything to my state around the time I purchased something and call it proof. I personally don't think that "proof" will fly.
The Tracking number is not worthless, it is considered acceptable as proof to Amazon and buyers that item was shipped and received. It has saved me paying for item that seller contended did not arrive, out of my pocket. The tracking number will let us know exactly where the package is, and when it was received. For $.35, this is a wonderful way to prove you shipped. The problem is, you must ship Priority or package weigh at least 1 lb. to use it.
Regarding Amazon 1-click payment fees. Currently, Amazon puts the entire amount to be charged, amount of winning bid & Shipping & Handling on the customer's card - This is exerpt from one of my sales:
Based on fee charged, they are definitely charging for amount they charge for shipping & Handling. Someone has to pay this amount.
On other seller's board, it was explained that under Buyer Paid Shipping & Handling on Marketplace, Amazon is listing amount buyer paid - $3.49, and deducting 15% from seller's total. That was my concern. Not having used Marketplace, I was unsure if this was what was happening. I was looking for someone who used it to let me know.
Also, I have a merchant account and do not pay the $.99 - Thank Heavens! For selling 40 items, one could have a merchant account pay for itself!
posted on November 18, 2000 10:33:54 AM new
My experience is completely different than yours. I have bought and sold about 600 items on eBay/Yahoo/Amazon, virtually all paper (books, brochures, maps). I have never had any loss or damage, either sending or receiving. I never suggest that a buyer pay insurance, and none have asked me for it.
In fact, during my entire lifetime, I cannot recall ever sending or receiving a package in which the contents were damaged in transit. I'm sure it happens, but it is extremely rare. Why do you think the post office pushes insurance so hard, and charges so much for it? They make a TON of money on it.
Is it possible that when a seller suggests or insists that a buyer pay insurance, that plants a seed of mischief in the buyer's mind? Does he or she reason that by claiming something is lost or damaged, they can get something for nothing, at the expense of the government?
Do you make a big deal about insurance in your auction TOS? Do you include any language which demonstrates distrust of the potential buyer? Threaten bad feedback? Insist that you won't be held responsible? No returns? I think such statements turn off honest people, who might feel insulted that they are branded as potential cheats before they even bid. That leaves only dishonest people to bid, and those people are more likely to claim that something didn't arrive or was damaged.
posted on November 18, 2000 01:22:37 PM new
Based on your comment that you have bought and sold approx 600 items, I have determined that perhaps my problem is not insulting customers with insurance and tracking, but that I have had more experience in direct sales thru on-line auctions than you.
For information, I have sold approx 10,000 auctions on-line. I just checked, and have exactly 2425 positive comments combined on ebay, yahoo & amazon. Many of my buyers are repeat and their comments do not count again, a lot of folks cannot figure out how to leave comments, and many folks just do not leave comments.
I believe insurance and tracking is only prudent for sellers (and buyers), and is offered as a valuable service, not to make the Post Office rich.
Given enough on-line experience, I think you will come to this conclusion also.
posted on November 18, 2000 07:42:42 PM new
I don't insure or track except for very expensive items. I agree with decpage that a well-packed book is hard to damage. Only a very small percentage of items are lost in the mail -- and when I ask buyers to sign and mail a claim form, many items arrive the next day! I got the claim form from a poster on Ebay Outlook, just changed the identifying text (http://www.valeriet.com/claimform.html). Amazon has never asked me to prove that I shipped anything, so I don't understand that reference.
If you price competitively against Amazon in Marketplace, rather than against other sellers, you will get enough to ship Priority.
posted on November 18, 2000 09:16:39 PM new
Hi Valeriet!
I agree with your pricing theory. What I find strange is that today I listed a lot of books in marketplace - for first time. When I went back into look at them, I saw something strange - Most of my books are older, interesting and Out of print - yet Amazon will show a very low price - maybe $5.95 listed and shows book as being available. It makes my price look terrible - yet when I click on their $5.95 price - Amazon clearly shows there are none available - but mine shows as available. Maybe this is good.
I like your claim form. I'm a little leary of using it personally, but it sounds officious.
I get a number of folks who tell me the item has not arrived until I send the claim form for insurance. In addition, the Post Office actually pays out for claims also. As I stated before, just this past month, we received from the Post Office's dead letter office, the top of a box from a book (well wrapped and in a box) that we sent - fortunately insured. We were reimbursed and have sent money to buyer.
Regarding Amazon's need for proof - this arises from their Guarantee of delivery. This is an excerpt from their guarantee:
The Amazon.com A-to-z Guarantee
What is the Amazon.com A-to-z Guarantee?
When you buy from Amazon.com sellers, we want you to be safe...
The key to your security is the Amazon.com A-to-z Guarantee.
When is a buyer covered under the Amazon.com A-to-z Guarantee?
1) The buyer provided payment to the seller, but the seller failed to deliver the item.
---
Based on this guarantee, I believe it is important an Amazon seller be ready to PAY, prove delivery or have insurance so that the Post Office Pays.
That Guarantee, and my shipping experiences, are why I have moved to using insurance or tracking. I just can't afford to pay whenever someone tells me they have not received an auction item.
We self-insure only on the very lowest cost items that we feel we can afford to readily pay the buyer if they claim they did not receive it.
Based on current income, when I list an item, that amount varies
