posted on January 19, 2001 11:44:52 PM
!@##$%^*&(*
I listed a fragile widget with a FIXED postage & handling charge of approx US$12.00 above 'actual postage', clearly declared.
Now I am faced with protracted emails from the successful bidder, FB 600, against my 100 no negs.
He is demanding I charge US$20 instead of the US$32. What can I do with him?
Those of you that charge 50c 'handling' for fragile items must do a lousy job packaging.
A local buyer I know paid $1000.00 for a vase recently, miraculously it got here in one piece, it was in a cardboard box with 1" of bubble wrap all around. Don't people realise that the postal service handles items as heavy as 2 or 3 computer towers, which can be gently DROPPED on top of their fragile items.
Isn't it true that ebay has an interest in seeing that people do not charge ANY handling fees because they don't make commission on it.
Is it possible that ebay have anti-handling fee-propaganda merchants surfing the chats.
Those of you that disagree with 'handling' deserve to get your fragile goods in a 10c package, with 2 minutes labour.
And don't tell me I'm already making money on the item; how would you know?
And don't ask me to go searching for free boxes and packing materials, why not go the full hog and search for free stock to - that' possible too.
posted on January 19, 2001 11:48:40 PM
Just file for NPB with eBay, as buyer won't live up to the terms of your auction; then file for FVF refund; then...
posted on January 20, 2001 04:25:03 AM
So if the bidder leaves negative FB, you respond with a factual "Refused to abide by TOS" or something like that. Don't let that bidder get away with bullying you into doing something you may regret(and I don't care about how much more FB the bidder may have. FB does NOT indictate level of manners).
As for the person who paid a grand for crappy shipping-they wuz robbed.
posted on January 20, 2001 04:45:10 AM
If you clearly stated that there would be an extra packing fee, due to the fragility (or whatever) of the piece ... file NPB and FVF and leave them a negative.
posted on January 21, 2001 10:12:42 AM
Don't think it's fair to judge other sellers' practices based upon no specific knowledge! Some people that are able to ship fragile items without charging high handling/packing fees are able to get packing supplies really cheaply or for free.
posted on January 21, 2001 10:13:33 AM
Your terms are your terms, and as long as they are clearly spelled out in the auction listing, the bidder must comply with them. And yes they can still neg you after you file for FVF. Unless of course they get naru'd by then.
posted on January 21, 2001 10:17:07 AM
If you're price gouging on shipping...then maybe you deserve a neg.
Of course it's your TOS and the bidder should abide by it, but doesn't mean they can't lodge a "complaint" to let others know.
Ain't Life Grand...
posted on January 21, 2001 10:29:16 AM
How can you possibly be "price gouging on shipping" @ 10.00 when it takes an hour to package the thing. After expenses, how much would that leave you?
In some countries there are laws against paying people bellow a certain hourly rate but it seems these rules don't apply on the net.
Try and get a professional packaging company to package a porcelain figure for 10 or 20 or 30 dollars in a manner which could reasonably be expected to survive a 40 pound item dropped onto it.
You do know that the postal service will accept heavy items, don't you?
posted on January 21, 2001 10:36:04 AM
Yep, I believe they accept up to 70lbs. I think that is what insurance is for though...
If you need to use that money for safe packaging fine, but then I see it come for 1/3 of the cost or less.... you would be getting a "complaint" from me.
You must not realize that us bidders don't care about your overhead. Just how cheap we can get the item.
Ain't Life Grand...
posted on January 21, 2001 10:41:14 AM
Shoshanah, When you say "shipping and insurance charges at cost", do you mean shipping to be 'postage'
How much do you charge to double box a WATER BUFFALO CREAMER and ship to the next state.
Could it reasonably be expected to survive a 70 pound item gently DROPPED on top of it?
Edited on the advice of twelvepole from 40 to 70 pounds.
[ edited by costa on Jan 21, 2001 10:48 AM ]
posted on January 21, 2001 10:45:00 AM
twelvepole
Have you ever bothered to read the insurance policy.?
Do you know if it provides for cover against damage to goods of a FRAGILE NATURE in transit?
The big joke is that I do care.
posted on January 21, 2001 10:54:19 AM
costa, yes it does cover "fragile" items. Just read the back of the receipt and it will tell you what it covers and for how much.
You seem pretty occupied with a heavy item dropped on a fragile item...why? I have received many fragile items and none damaged so far.
AND I wasn't gouged on shipping.
Ain't Life Grand...
posted on January 21, 2001 10:55:39 AM
Why not take it to Mail Boxes Etc., or the like, to have it professionally packed. That would cost MUCH less than $12.00.
And yes, postal insurance covers fragile items, as long as they are packed sufficiently.
posted on January 21, 2001 11:00:36 AM
Costa, I agree with you on the handling fees. Buyers get what they pay for. But, next time tell the buyer that if they don't want to pay the handling fee, you'll put the object in a plastic bag and ship it to them, and you're not responsible for damage. That's what I say, in different words, but the same effect, and some say "OK!" Others give in to the fee.
A seller charges certain handling fees not just to cover their costs, but also to protect the item well because they are the ones who get blamed if the item is damaged. So if a byer balks paying for the handing, now it's the buyers responsibility.
posted on January 21, 2001 11:09:46 AM
Well, I give up.
My shipping charges are fixed and quoted, If you don't like them , don't bid.
And don't send me emails asking why there so high. Find someone that charges 10c. Ain't Life Grand
Do you think it's fair to assume that the person that gives great attention to packaging also gives the same attention to their descriptions.
If you had a vase to restore, would you use the 10c restorer or the reasonably priced one.
twelvepole " I have received many fragile items and none damaged so far"
My dog has crossed the road many times and hasn't been hit by a car so far. Do you think that is logical reason to follow his lead.
posted on January 21, 2001 11:17:00 AM
I've said it before but I'll say it again.
I charge a standard 'approx.' US$10 above actual postage cost on all my items, but I don't actually spell it out as I'm about to, I just tell'em that 'some' of the money goes toward handling. Is that being deceitful?
I say aprox. because I often over charge a little because I go up the next weight bracket in my calculation if I think it's marginal.
I can estimate the postage before I pack because I use several sizes of standard boxes.
That money is partly for packing materials and, just in case you think it's fee avoidance let me tell you I pay my grandma to pack the boxes {.{I don't pocket the money}.} But I make her work very hard for your packing dollar.
She has used as much as US$1.00+ on packing tape alone (1 porcelain tea set)
Rigid foam boxes cost US$1.80 - US$3.00 each. Bubble wrap US$0.50 - $1.00
Thin particle/ mdf/ chip board cladding on foam box US$0.60
Phone call to customs sometimes avg./item US$0.03 - $0.04
Fax to customs nearly every time US$0.11
All wrapped up in thick brown paper because my customers are important to me and I like to demonstrate it to them. US$0.15.
No charge for genuine epson ink to print out label with name, no charge for 'fragile' stickers. No mention of biros, disposable blades for cutting, petrol to post office or phone call for credit card authorisation etc.
MUST I spell it all out. Is that being deceitful?
That means that my poor old grandma gets to work for under US$4.00 per hour for her packing because I charge her a little rental for the corner she uses in our laundry to do her thing in. But don't worry I'm not too soft on her just because we're related, I make her throw in delivery to the post office in her own time in my car. She gets to drop off 2 at a time, it's easy on her and besides she says she doesn't mind because she loves me…It's not like I'm ripping her off..
I don't tell the customers that my Granny is getting some of the money. Is that being deceitful? You see I think some of them get upset when they know the post office isn't getting to keep all the money.
It's not a wonder the small business person is being driven out by larger companies. Some people and it seems most, will stand in cue at the large department store, bank, large post office, and grin and bear it but when you try and let your grandma earn a whopping US4.00 per hour !#$%^&*.
If you feel your that right kind of person, can arrange all of that in any quicker time than my grandma & are prepared to work for just a little less, let me know.
"He is demanding I charge US$20 instead of the US$32. What can I do with him?"
Fact is that there is no defense against a bidder who isn't intelligent enough to read and understand your auction description and TOS. I recently hosted an auction (title: "NCAA Football w/ box and manual", the description of which clearly stated that it was a game cartridge, box and instruction manual for Super Nintendo. When I contacted the high bidder, he said he'd thought he was bidding on an actual FOOTBALL!
Online auctions are full of people selling small, light items and charging a flat "huge" shipping fee (example: Smartmedia card weighing one ounce with a ten dollar shipping charge), but the fact of the matter is this:
The bidder should take the freight (no matter HOW much) into consideration as part of ther landed cost of the item, and bid accordingly. There has just been tooooo much gas passed about sellers inflating the shipping fees--- LIVE WITH IT! If it's too much for you, don't bid!
Costa, you've every right to leave the bidder a neg, and when he negs you in return, leave a short concise explanation. If your feedback is clean, it shouldn't hurt you.
posted on January 21, 2001 11:32:26 AM
The real issue here isn't if you overcharge for shipping, but a bidder attempting to change YOUR TOS after bidding on and winning your item. Don't let that happen! They knew ahead of time what it was, and didn't contact you to ask questions beforehand, did they? Tough! And, yes, you probably will get negged. Just answer it factually "refused to abide by TOS, shipping cost clearly stated in auction".
I also agree with "handling" being a bit much. RL businesses build those costs into their prices. I don't get charged an extra 5 cents for a bag just to take my purchase out the door.
posted on January 21, 2001 11:48:17 AM
~costa~ I'm not sure if I understand what you're saying? If he doesn't pay you what you asked for in your description, then you don't send him the item.
Sounds like you're trying to justify what your handling charges include.....maybe he just thinks it's high, and wants to know if you'll accept less? Just tell him "NO", and wait for his payment.
, the description of which clearly stated that it was a game cartridge, box and instruction manual for Super Nintendo. When I contacted the high bidder, he said he'd thought he was bidding on an actual FOOTBALL!