micheneraddict
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posted on March 29, 2001 10:55:46 PM new
Hello,
I've gone out of the book area of ebay and have made myself wonder if people, i.e. sellers, are nuts.
I'm in the market for some more RAM for my computer. I figured I would see what was on ebay and started opening some ads to see about prices versus retail.
What makes by wonder is the shipping and handling fee. I can understand handling on RAM, kind of sensitive and all that. What I can't believe is people charging $12.00-$15.00 for one stick of RAM sent priority with no insurance. A RAM stick doesn't weigh more that a few ounces. If I tried to attach a shipping fee to a paperback, I wouldn't sell anything.
Then I found a couple of people with $12.00 or so for the first stick and $6.95 for each additional stick. I don't know how many you can get in a flat rate priority mail envelope, but I'm sure its quite a few.
Your opinions, please.
Micheneraddict
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tabbs
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posted on March 30, 2001 12:42:54 AM new
Those are the people that make money off of shipping.
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phbroz
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posted on March 30, 2001 01:55:28 AM new
Those kind of sellers give the good a bad name and should be barred for life......JMO 
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spazmodeus
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posted on March 30, 2001 02:23:08 AM new
Then I found a couple of people with $12.00 or so for the first stick and $6.95 for each additional stick.
You should politely tell them where to RAM it.
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phbroz
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posted on March 30, 2001 02:26:57 AM new
Rotflmfao@Spaz
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noteye
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posted on March 30, 2001 02:41:14 AM new
Be thankful they tell you of the shipping price on the front end .. and be aware when they don't tell you at all.
But, yes, I think that is way high.
noteye
My thoughts on this issue have gone 'Un-Surveyed' and may not be of importance to the P.T.B.
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abacaxi
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posted on March 30, 2001 02:54:00 AM new
Any chip, like RAM or a CPU, needs static-free foam and a static-free envelope to keep them from ESD, and more protection during shipping than a priority envelope gives ... but that still doesn't add up to $12-15.
My guess is that the sellers are cutting their prices to the bone and building their profit in on shipping.
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granee
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posted on March 30, 2001 02:59:03 AM new
What bid price were they asking?
They might have started bidding very very low and put a high shipping charge to cover their cost on the RAM. That used paperback you can't charge high shipping on probably cost you 25 cents (or less).
No one is able to get new RAM dirt cheap like you can used books, so they have to recoup their costs SOMEHOW when the bidding doesn't drive the price up to a profitable level. They're probably charging high shipping to keep from LOSING MONEY on the sale.
You have a choice: You can pay $35 plus $4 shipping to one seller or $25 plus $12 shipping to another seller for the same thing. Just do the math and bid where you get the best deal.
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Meya
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posted on March 30, 2001 03:56:56 AM new
The last time we checked ram prices, Crucial beat even the lowball auction sellers. I ordered a 64mb stick for my Solo portable, and had it within 5 days. I don't remember the price, but I think it was under $50 at the time.
It might be just me, but after some trouble we have had with bad ram, I wouldn't buy it anywhere but a reputable business where I could return it if there were problems.
As far as the shipping goes, yikes, $12 to ship something as light as a ram module? Holy Smokes!
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grayowl
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posted on March 30, 2001 04:58:55 AM new
Hi
I charge for shipping too. The cost involve is the box paper tape gas to the post office
and many e-mails
Outside my country I try to keep the weight
under 500 grams and the parcel size has to be under 90cm in total. My items are well packed and arrive safetly. For china items I charge $9.95 for ground and not one piece has broken.
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eventer
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posted on March 30, 2001 05:59:42 AM new
You can pay $35 plus $4 shipping to one seller or $25 plus $12 shipping to another seller for the same thing. Just do the math and bid where you get the best deal.
Unfortunately, granee, it's not the same to ebay. Using large shipping charges to cover your "costs" of the product CAN be considered fee avoidance by ebay.
To the buyer $25 start bid & $15 shipping is the same as $35 start bid & $5 shipping. But ebay can see the $25 start bid & $15 shipping as a way of avoiding paying FVF on the $10.
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cin131
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posted on March 30, 2001 06:22:50 AM new
My husband buys/sells computer parts on ebay. He does not price gouge on shipping, and does not deal with those who do. I asked him about this before responding, even though I was pretty sure what the response would be:
Priority, up to a lb, with insurance is $4.60. You can get several RAM wrapped in bubble wrap and static protection for this. If you mail it parcel post, postage can be less than a dollar. Insurnace is still 1.10.
You can easily fit 1-2 RAM in a 5X7 envelope and they weigh next to nothing.
Anything over $5.00 for 1-2 RAM is price gouging, IMHO.
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cabledogii
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posted on March 30, 2001 06:42:04 AM new
cin131
Whenever I need something for on of my computers I always check out ebay first. I usually get turned off by the shipping price. This is one section where people always overcharge for shipping. Would you care to let me know your husbands ID so that I check his stuff out first?
[ edited by cabledogii on Mar 30, 2001 06:42 AM ]
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jujudee
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posted on March 30, 2001 07:58:31 AM new
Is it possible these people are drop shipping? Maybe that's the way they are charged by the people they buy from. I know if I decide to drop ship from the company I buy my products from, the shipping is always UPS, and an extra $1 drop ship fee is added to each item. I personally don't drop ship, but I would if I didn't have the room to store items, or if my volume increased.
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yisgood
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posted on March 30, 2001 08:14:54 AM new
I always found this a little silly. You overcharge on shipping to save a 25 cent ebay fee but you anger your bidders and as a result you lose business. All over 25 cents. There's one seller on ebay who sells smartmedia cards which weigh an ounce. His shipping is $8 for the first 2 and $5 each additional. I won four. I emailed him that per his TOS, I would pay $16 shipping and expected him to send them in two different boxes. Of course, I would be happy if he put them all in one box but then I expected a reduced shipping cost. He very nicely put them in one box and charged me just $8. I have made several purchases from him since. It never hurts to ask or to point out a logical solution.
http://www.ygoodman.com
[email protected]
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