kerryann
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posted on September 5, 2000 07:24:47 AM new
I have been looking for a paperback for a while and have found that there are 19 copies of it on half.com at varying prices.
The shipping stated is $1.95 for Book Rate. I've shipped a single paperback First Class for under $1.50.
My real concern is that I'm in New York and the few times that sellers have sent me anything Book Rate, it's taken no less than 40 days to arrive. It's not worth it to me if it's going to take that long.
Can you pay more and have it shipped First Class? I'm not sure how it works. I thought buyers had no contact with the seller and everything was done through half.com.
Thanks.
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borgt
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posted on September 5, 2000 07:37:19 AM new
The $1.95 is determined by Half, not by the seller. Some sellers allow upgrades to Priority Mail. The problem is that you have to add the item to your cart before you can tell if it's available from a specific seller. Sometimes it'll take several add & removes before you find one that offers it.
FWIW: I sell mostly books (about 100/wk), and use book rate 95% of the time. Average delivery time is about a week. Occasionally it'll get close to 2 weeks, and on very rare occasions it'll go longer. But they've always made it. I can't say the same for Priority Mail!
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dixiebee
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posted on September 5, 2000 07:41:33 AM new
Some sellers only sell book rate (special standard mail) and others offer both SSM and Priority. You can click on a seller's name to see if they offer Priority.
You do have a choice, I just cannot remember where in the order process this is.
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nowwhat
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posted on September 5, 2000 08:03:29 AM new
kerryann ~ I've shipped books all over the country via Book Rate and I've never had it take 40 days. The only choice you have at Half.com is between Book Rate and Priority.
Trying using the 9 digit zip code. That might help things arrive sooner. I've been using it on all my orders since borillar suggested it and I have found it helps move things along.
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kerryann
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posted on September 5, 2000 08:05:22 AM new
Thanks for your help. I'll see if I can find a seller that will send it first class.
I never had a problem with Book Rate until I ordered a paperback and it took 46 days to arrive. I figured it was a fluke, but it happened the next two times as well, 38 days and 36 days. Since I'm in NYC, with the volume of mail, I figure they're not gonna go out of their way to quickly process the Book Rate packages.
Not Kerryann on eBay
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kerryann
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posted on September 5, 2000 08:06:40 AM new
Thanks for the advice about the 9 digit zip code. I think I will do that as a test and see how long it takes to arrive.
Great idea!
Not Kerryann on eBay
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guyuellas
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posted on September 5, 2000 08:18:20 AM new
I buy quite a few books on eBay and I always have the seller send it bookrate and I have yet to have any orders take more than a week to get to me. It usually gets here within 4-7 days not much different than priority. I live in Georgia.
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radh
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posted on September 5, 2000 09:38:10 AM new
KERRYANN: There is NO first-class mailing offered by ANY sellers at 1/2.com
When sellers register, they are informed that they MUST ship by USPS BOOKRATE, and they are asked if they will also ship via Priority Mail.
So, you have one of two options:
1) SPECIAL STANDARD MAIL (Used to be called BOOK-RATE)
2) PRIORITY MAIL
Not all sellers will ship priority mail, but NO sellers ship via first class.
ALL SHIPPING RATES ARE DETERMINED BY 1/2.com
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ploughman
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posted on September 5, 2000 09:44:14 PM new
Well, of my first four items ordered through Half.com and shipped book rate, 3 arrived within about a week and one is at 2 weeks and counting.
Is return postage guaranteed on book rate?
I can see why they want to standardize and mandate book rate as part of the business model for Half.com, since it's a real achilles heel to have to pay multiple shipping charges.
But just wait 'til the holidays when unwary people put in orders Dec. 6 for Christmas gifts and don't get them in time because of book rate! Newspapers will start calling the PR flacks at eBay, who'll gently blame the customers for not upgrading to Priority (meanwhile, AW is rife with stories of Priority Mail packages still outstanding after 2 weeks!)
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timetosell
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posted on September 5, 2000 10:00:10 PM new
Even though you pay $1.95 book rate, the seller send its book rate & it usually is alittle lower. Half.com makes some money by charging you the higher shpg rate, the seller pays the actual & gets reimbursed for a lower amt than what you pay. its a shame buyers & sellers can't "talk" we could probably work this out alittle better. I have both bought & sold on half.com & have no problems. The seller has two days to confirm your order & must ship next day after confirming.
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nowwhat
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posted on September 5, 2000 10:04:29 PM new
ploughman ~` Believe it or not, last year during the holidays Book Rate packages were arriving faster than ever. I was concerned about it for no reason. One person got their book in 3 days.
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litlux
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posted on September 5, 2000 10:29:13 PM new
Since I sell more cd's on half.com than books or videos, I will share a little secret that has earned me a loyal following of customers who check my new offerings periodically.
I ship all cd's via first class mail! It floors the buyer to get it within a couple of days after ordering, and it usually costs less than book rate! (99 cents vs. 1.13) Sometimes it costs 1.21 but I don't care, half.com reimburses us 1.58 for p/h. My cd bubble envelopes (30 cents each) are spectacular too - white with THICK bubbles.
Think good packing and shipping methods aren't important? Go to half and look at the feedback for me or anyone, it's all about shipping!
You can tell I am pleased to have found a way to work within their anonymous framework to develop repeat customers. Remember you are not allowed to put any promo materials or notes etc in with the book or cd. Just the item and a packing slip. But my return address on the package includes my seller name and email address.
I just got a check from them today so they are good about timely payments, too.
Larry
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dixiebee
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posted on September 6, 2000 03:29:52 AM new
I am having to make my first return on a half.com item I received. I ordered a CD from a seller with perfect (5.0/5.0 - over 70 items sold) feedback. Lots of good comments like fast shipping, packaged great, etc. Who would have thought that I would have received the correct cover for the CD I ordered but the CD inside was something totally different?
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dejavu
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posted on September 6, 2000 05:14:39 AM new
As a seller at half.com I put delivery confirm on my book rate sales (60 cents) It speeds things along and I know the buyer got the goods. I consider it sellers insurance.
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auctionblitz
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posted on September 6, 2000 10:44:11 AM new
I'm a seller on Half.com, and i also ship my cd's first class (like Litlux). Even though we seller's only get reimbursed $1.58 instead of the $1.95 that is charged the buyer(what's up with that?),shipping the item 1st Class will make your customers extremely happy.
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