posted on March 22, 2001 02:59:16 PM
Isn't this a bit high? SURELY it really doesn't cost anymore than 50 cents to ship a postcard, right? What have you got, a envelope and a stamp? I'm paying almost $12 Not counting shipping) for a postcard a seller has one state over, this seems like robbery to me.
[ edited by escandyo on Mar 22, 2001 02:59 PM ]
posted on March 22, 2001 03:04:36 PM
Not really. When you factor in cost of envelope and (hopefully) cardboard backing/bubblewrap to prevent bending and damage, $1.25 isn't out of line. Or, maybe the seller is using a padded envelope...and those aren't cheap! Anyway, the main question is did the seller state postage costs in the TOS?
posted on March 22, 2001 03:04:58 PM
Your seller may be sending it in a protective envelope, and those cost money. $1.25 seems reasonable to send a $12 postcard in a secure container. I wouldn't be comfortable just sticking it in just a plain envelope, and he probably doesn't, either. Photo/document mailers run about 50 cents and up unless they're bought in bulk, so that sounds about right.
posted on March 22, 2001 03:26:27 PM
To ship a postcard protectively, you should really use a stay-flat cardboard mailer. Unfortunately, they cost $$$ (usually $.50 or more) AND they add ounces to the postage! At $1.25, the guy COULD conceivably be losing money on the shipping! Remember that shipping costs don't come in the form of postage alone!
posted on March 22, 2001 03:33:30 PM
Any time I sell a paper collectible - Victorian trade card, post card, letter, etc. - I always use the cardboard photo mailers. No way would I send it in a plain envelope.
posted on March 22, 2001 03:38:25 PM
I sell postcards and covers and the most I charge to ship one cover or postcard is 55 cents. I place the postcard inside 2 manila protective folders (cut to fit the postcard; place it in a regular size envolope and then place that envolope within a larger size brown envolope and seal shut. I have mailed 1000s and have not had one complaint of lost or damaged items.
$1.25 to ship a post card is out of line in my opinion, but if that is what is stated in the ad, then the buyer has agreed to pay it up front and should follow thru. The most I would agree to pay is 75 cents for shipping unles the item is one that I cannot live without....oh well,
posted on March 22, 2001 03:48:44 PM
I understand your concern. If this is packaged correctly, $1.25 is not too high.
Did the seller list the shipping in the auction? I always do. If not, I would ask the seller how they will ship the post card.
Also, is insurance included or an option?
If you paid almost $12.00 I would think that you would want to get it in the same condition described in the auction. Paper items are easily damaged.
I myself sell paper collectibles, but I only ship them priority mail, since the box is the safest way to go. If I bought all the packing materials for paper items and shipped 1st class, it would be close to $2.00 or $2.50, to cover materials and postage, and then I worry that it still may get damaged in the mail. (2 years now on ebay and not a single damaged item, because I package so well.
If you email the seller, I would suggest a friendly approach versus being defensive.
Have you bought post cards in the past? I also find that the people who question my S&H are people who have never bought a similar item before.
As a seller, I am always happy to answer questions about how I ship. I even tell people how I ship an the "about me" page.
posted on March 22, 2001 06:29:01 PM
$1.25 is perfectly reasonable if you expect any kind of protection at all. I would be pissed if I spent $12.00 on a post card for my collection or resale and it arrived without any kind of protection against bending and moisture.
When I sell postcards or paper of any kind it always gets at least one sheet of corregated to help protect it from bending. It always gets sealed in a plastic sleeve too. How many times have you gotten mail that was either wet or had obviously gotten wet somewhere en route. The packing criteria increases with the value or scarcity of the lot. good pieces get sandwiched in two sheets of corregated oriented in opposite directions, valuable items not only get the stiffener but get sent priority in a box as well (as someone else who apparently cares about their merch has already astutely observed).
If I see a seller offering a post card with shipping stated under a ¢.75, I can safely assume that they could care less if it gets damaged and have no clue as to how to protect an item from the mail system. And just because I win an item for $2.00 ABSOLUTELY doesn't mean that it isn't very rare or valuable, and perhaps extremely important to me and irreplaceable to my collection. It just might only mean that no one else saw it or recognised it.
Texas, putting a post card in two or three paper envelopes affords little if any actual protection. One careless bend affects the grade and value of that card substantially. I don;t think you can disagree with that. If you have sent 1000s like that with no mishaps, you .must have a guardian angel. I would either not bid on a paper item with shipping stated so cheaply or I would request that it be done properly and offer to pay the extra. But would I trust a seller to pack it right if they didn;t know to do it in the first place?
I sold a small paper item the other day for over $140.00, Hmmmm, maybe the buyer would have left me a glowing feedback for saving him big bucks by just sticking it in an envelope with a stamp.
posted on March 22, 2001 06:37:32 PM
On the other hand, I would also be pissed if I paid $1.25 for shipping, assuming it was safely packed, and it arrived in nothing but an envelope!
Always prudent to ask I guess, and the manner of response you get can sometimes speak volumes for the quality of the seller your about to hand your money to.
BTW, Not long_gone on ebay or any form of the same.
