posted on February 19, 2001 09:41:49 PM
OK. I got my reply back from Ebay about the high shipping fees on a .25 cent dutch auction item.
"Thank you for taking the time to write to us regarding the
inconsistencies that you are seeing in the enforcement of our polices.
I apologize for the delay in getting back to you. I would like to
explain eBay's position on this situation.
When we receive a report, we review the auction from all angles. Once
reviewed, a determination is made on whether the item is in violation of
our policies. When a violation has been committed, we will take what we
feel is the appropriate action for that item.
On determining if shipping costs are excessive, we look at the listing
as a whole, and not just the shipping price. On dutch auctions, with
starting bid prices of less than $1.00, we feel that shipping over $5.00
is excessive."
I guess that is it. I think many Ebayers can save a lot of money on their listing fees and FVF if they change some of their dutch auctions around. I have a stack of matted cards that I used to list for $4.00 each with $1.00 shipping. I guess I could list them now at .25 cents each and $4.99 shipping. I could save a lot of fees to Ebay in the long run.
I wonder if it would be OK to explain the high shipping costs in the item description?
I personally think Ebay is missing the boat here. Any idea what they consider "excessive shipping" on a regularily listed item?
Is there a percentage ratio?
posted on February 19, 2001 10:03:54 PM
Now you understand how ebay works. No ethics, morals, or good business sense. The words you should be looking for are "greed" and "screw".
Here's the best part. You heard it from the horse's mouth.
The next time you want to bring up an ethical issue go to church. The next time you want honesty, go to your kids. The next time you want a lesson in real life, go to ebay. And take the words "greed" and "screw" with you.
edited to take out a reference to the medical community.
posted on February 19, 2001 10:33:20 PM"On dutch auctions, with starting bid prices of less than $1.00, we feel that shipping over $5.00 is excessive."
Well that makes no sense. When trying to determine if a shipping charge is excessive, they should be looking at the size and weight of the item, and the actual cost of shipping it. Just because an item costs less than a dollar doesn't mean it isn't necessarily large and heavy.
posted on February 19, 2001 11:19:38 PM
"It's OK to screw eBay, just don't SCREW eBay!" I had a similar experience as you re: unreasonable shipping costs. I bought a CD for a Christmas gift. CD was $12.00. No shipping charges were mentioned in the listing. Then I get charged $6.00 shipping and $1.00 for using PayPal! On the message screen of my PayPal payment form, I told this relatively new seller that I thought his S/H charges were outrageous, etc. etc. Never heard anything back. Supposedly, my CD was being sent FED EX. It came 1st class for $.44! I left neutral feedback for this seller who shot me off a nasty e-mail stating what he chooses to charge is his business and I should have asked before I bid. I guess Polyanna me thinks everyone "should" try to help the other guy out by keeping shipping to a minimum and I believe that paying to be able to accept PayPal is just part of doing business. When I use my Visa card to make a purchase, stores don't charge me extra for doing so! Sooooooooo, I got left a neutral feedback from this seller as retaliation. Guess I forget there are small minds and greedy people lurking out there. One jerk pales in the light of the many wonderful buyers and sellers I've done business with on eBay. Remember, no system is "perfect". Just keep your side of the street clean.
[email protected]
posted on February 20, 2001 08:22:40 AMcodasaurus-talking to PP is the same as eBay, depends on who you get. I was told months ago by a PP rep that there was nothing in the TOS that would prevent me from charging someone for using PP. It WAS against eBay's policy, but not theirs!
They did add, if I did charge, I probably wouldn't be a very popular seller with by buyers!
posted on February 20, 2001 11:20:23 AM
Whose to even say the intentions of this seller is to screw ebay? I think the seller is trying to draw buyers in with a low price and recover it costs on the handling. Nothing wrong with that as the buyers can agree or disagree by either placing a bid or not.
Would I be screwing ebay by placing a BIN .50¢ over my costs and not allowing ebay to make more on FVF by having the bidding go higher? If that is my business practice for high turnover, too bad for ebay. Don't run your business just so ebay can make more money off you.
posted on February 20, 2001 10:42:30 PM
Quickdraw29 - Would I be screwing ebay by placing a BIN .50¢ over my costs and not allowing ebay to make more on FVF by having the bidding go higher?
No. But how about if you listed that item at a BIN for .25 cents and charged the rest of your cost in "shipping?"
posted on February 20, 2001 10:50:25 PM
If ebay doesn't think it is being scr*wed out of its fees, then obviously it is not. They are the ones who make the rules about what constitutes fee avoidance, as it should be since it is their fees that would be avoided.
They say they are due no more fees that what they got in this situation so why should there be any question on it?
posted on February 21, 2001 12:03:32 PM
dear Papoola, you should be wiser to know those sneaky sellers who don't list shipping prices are more likely than not to try something like that! Further, to have shipped it 1st class instead of priority mail (at least) is outrageous!!! I would have posted negative feedback not neutral, caring little about any "retaliatory" feedback from seller. Lesson: always ask shipping charge if not listed to avoid any unpleasant surprises. Also feel free to contact your state's attorney general's office as well as that of the state where the shipped lives. It is ILLEGAL to charge a surcharge of any kind, direct or indirect through a special handling fee of any kind in most states. You may offer a cash discount, and NO a cash discount is not the same as chargng more for the use of a credit card. Also realize that offering a discount for cash purchases to avoid paying a credit card fee is no the brightest of ideas. What if no one paid by credit card?? then you would always recieve 2% less than the full purchase price. better to keep full purchase price and simply not acept cc's. Yes you may attract less bidders, but if no seller takes them (like the old days LOL) would that be such a bad thing?
posted on February 21, 2001 12:14:06 PM
I agree with Amy on this one. To call eBay "greedy" because they don't think shipping is excessive makes absolutely no sense.
I was going through the listings last night, because several of my competitors for a particular item are selling bootlegged copies. I noticed one seller was listing at $.01 cent with $6.99 shipping. Yes, I notified eBay, because the item is illegal, and also in competition with my own items. It's obviously fee avoidance, as well as "excessive" shipping.
My own personal feeling is that if shipping and handling fees are plainly stated in the ad, a buyer has no reason to complain later about a $.50 stamp on the bubble mailer.
