posted on January 27, 2001 01:04:22 PM new
Ok, I know this post will make me a bit unpopular with some people but here goes...If you see an outrageous shipping charge for an item, you are under no obligation to buy it! I see posts all the time from people who are complaining about big shippig charges and how "unfair" they are or "how can we stop this guy?". There is nothing in this world I want so badly that I will pay too much for shipping. Geeze, vote with your wallet. If you feel that the shipping is too much, forget it, don't waste your time throwing a fit about it. We live in a (more or less) free market...if some knucklehead wants to charge 25 dollars for shipping on an item that obviously will cost only 3.50 to ship, so be it. If you want the item bad enough, you'll pay the 25 bucks, if not, relax!
Ok, thank you, got it off my chest.
posted on January 27, 2001 01:12:01 PM new
I understand your post, but you have to realize that this is not only a place to debate "particular instances" or "particular auctions" but also a place to discuss principles and auction ethics. While we may very well vote with our back-button on individual auctions, that doesn't mean we should just shut up about outrageous shipping charges in general, or other ideas that affect us in general. Each time a thread occurs here about outrageous shipping, such as the one I started a few months ago regarding 5.00 and 7.00 shipping for Beanie Babies, it hopefully affects persons who may not post, but who might stop and think "Geez---this person is avoiding my auctions for this reason. Do I really want to lose sales because of outrageous shipping?" I have no proof that anyone changes their shipping/handling pricing due to what has been written here, but I would imagine that some have been influenced by the complaints. How many is not really important to me. Having worked in retail, I know for a fact that complaints are often the main thing that causes merchants to change certain practices.
posted on January 27, 2001 01:41:38 PM new
I agree that if $7.00 shipping is listed in TOS, I have the choice of bidding or not. But, if $7.00 shipping is listed and my package comes with $1.00 shipping label on it, I have every right to complain. That is not whining, that is bit#**ing about being robbed.
In my sales I list approx. shipping charge, it I miss by more than $1.00, I refund that extra shipping charge.
posted on January 27, 2001 01:46:30 PM new
What I've found was that the tool categories shipping fees are outrageous compaired to book charges, and similar merchandise. The weight aside. It seems as though $12.00 is an average cost of shipping with no real definition of how the items are shipped.
posted on January 27, 2001 01:49:03 PM new
Having been reading here for over a year, I sometimes think "Oh, not ANOTHER one..." when a new thread opens about shipping and handling charges.
But... once upon a time, I was pretty new at bidding, and I am GLAD that there were those threads, making me stop and think and READ before I clicked that button to bid.
And if any of the contributions here make sellers stop and think too, then so much the better!
posted on January 27, 2001 02:33:05 PM new
I agree with getbent,if the charge is too high don't bother bidding.Some sellers though will tell you the cost after the auction.I guess in that case to you could e-mail them ahead of time for a quote or estimate.I find alot of buyers just understand that there is a high price on some items to ship and pay it regardless because they want the item.I really think it is hurting internet auctions though and alot of the low end stuff just cannot be sold anymore.To bad but what can you do the Postal system wants more like everyone else! My Bit
posted on January 27, 2001 03:56:22 PM new
I have purchased many items through auction houses such as Sothebys.com, Christies, etc. and never have I paid less than $25 shipping and handling on any item. This is not unusual. In one case, three lots were combined in one package weighing less than two pounds. The total shipping and handling was over $80. (I was offered the option to drive to New York and pick them up for free) Before I bid on those lots I added the bid amount, the buyers premium, and the shipping cost. This is what told me what I was willing to bid.
I have purchased many items from Speigle and other mail-order companies over the years. Typically, the shipping and handling charges far exceed the cost to mail it.
Some of the distributors I buy from charge a handling fee ranging from $10 to $30 if you fail to meet the minimum order requirement. So I consider that when I place an order. Would I stop buying from them because of this policy, or call them to complain about the charge when my order arrives. Of course not, it was there in black and white on the order form.
Home Shopping Network and QVC charge a handling fee on every order. In many cases the fee is 2 to 3 times the actual cost of shipping. The same is true with almost every company that does mail order including JC Penney and Sears.
In fact, most companies charge a handling fee to defer the cost of the labor to pack the items. The thing that most Ebay buyers overlook is that even though it is Ebay, the person you are buying from may be a business and that business needs to charge a handling fee to pay their workers. Not everyone on Ebay is selling from their basement.
Look at the TOS and add up all the costs. Then either bid and be happy, or don't bid. If the auction states $10 shipping and the package requires only $2.00 postage you have no right to complain. You agreed to pay it.
posted on January 27, 2001 04:19:06 PM new
I never put shipping and insurance charges in my TOS because 1)most of my buyers win multiple auctions and 2)auction can end up with a final price of over $100. I've never had a customer complain about how much I charge for shipping/insurance in my two years of selling on eBay.
However, as a buyer I have a question. Most auctions I bid on the sellers don't give the exact shipping either. I can bid on similar items and get quoted various shipping costs, but the variation is never more than a few dollars so it doesn't bother me. If I know that the seller is new to selling and didn't charge me enough I let them know and I send a few more dollars to make up the difference. But ... I don't know how to react when I win an auction for under $50, I know positively the item when packaged weighs under two pounds and I am told shipping/insurance is anywhere from $10 to $15. What do I do in such a situation?
posted on January 27, 2001 04:50:49 PM new
I would agree that once you have bid, you have agreed to the seller's price, even if it is outrageous. I have no great sympathy for persons who failed to read clearly written TOS. However, if you're smart enough to NOT bid on an item with an outrageous handling fee (like $7.00 to ship a 4.00 Beanie), I think it's perfectly fine to come here and tell others about your refusal to pay those kinds of prices! In fact I think it's important for newbies to know that handling fees are NOT universal and NOT something they should just go along with as if they were sheep.
I am 90% a seller, but I happen to believe that consumer empowerment/education benefits EVERYONE.
Also, since when is "the other guys do it" a reasonable excuse? How flimsy. And yes, I am just as outraged when big firms do it as well--and I'm not the only one. That is one reason that sites such as mycoupons.com, where consumers can go and find free-shipping coupons or codes for thousands of online stores and catalogs, are so popular.
posted on January 27, 2001 05:05:55 PM new
Good points are brought up. I believe that education of the buyers is important and concede that it is good to post information like that to help out people who may not know better.
I always post my shipping fees and ask people to email me with questions. As a buyer, if there is no shipping rate, I email for a quote before I place a bid. To me that only makes sense.
(edited to fix a UBB code thing)
[ edited by gettbent on Jan 27, 2001 05:06 PM ]
