posted on April 5, 2001 09:44:15 PM new
Why do buyers insist on this? In my C.G.'s, it states that I ship EVERYTHING USPS PRIORITY. It saves confusion, time and energy on my and my wife's part. I just received 2 checks today with out enough money in them, and both buyers wanted me to ship "bookrate, because there is no need to hurry and spend extra money". I think I am going to hurl, and if not that, send them back thier payments with a kindly "Please follow C.G.'s when you bid. I sold the item to the next highest bidder. Have a nice day." I wonder how they'd react to that?!?!
posted on April 5, 2001 09:50:24 PM new
In my experience, most book buyers are happy with book rate shipping and in fact enjoy the fact that they can save some money on postage.
Seems to me that it's pretty simple to package a book and mail it, unless it's a priceless antique or rarity and you want to take extra care. Maybe you could make an exception when it comes to books? Or is that all you sell?
I myself require very few luxuries (not into furs and jewels), but book buying is one of them. And I'd rather spend my luxury money on the books than on postage. Perhaps some of your buyers are like that, too.
Yes, I know you state Priority in your TOS. I guess you could add an emphatic sentence that it applies even to books?
When you send your EOA, do you reiterate that you send only by priority mail? You could put that in a P.S., which we know that everyone reads, even if they skim the rest!
posted on April 5, 2001 09:56:45 PM new
I do sell mostly books, however they normally are not "run of the mill" types. I catigorize most books as rare or uncommon, and do pretty well. I am now branching off into items, and they aren't doing too bad either. If I sold large lots (normally, a group of 5 or more) I would state it in the auction description that I would send it cheaper, but that is lots only, and always in the item description. These 2 items were books printed @1730, and quite uncommon to say the least, and I know when I spend $100-$200 on an item, I will not skimp on mailing. I even include the first $150 of insurance free. Just do not get it.
posted on April 5, 2001 10:13:39 PM new
Wow, you win! I don't get it either. If I were spending that much on a book, I'd want it to come priority, for sure.
Maybe someone else will have a suggestion for you on this problem. Good luck.
posted on April 5, 2001 11:05:45 PM new
I only ship by priority also.
Today I got a payment and the guy said:
"Only ship by Fed-Ex or UPS!!! Not US mail!"
It was a $3.00 item.
I was nice and professional, But if he gives me any trouble.
He gets his payment returned to him & a negative to his huge collection of 3 feedbacks.
This week I am not in the mood for peoples crap ^_^
posted on April 6, 2001 05:03:39 AM new
I used to have the same problems! I was shipping ONLY via PRIORITY & I would get at least 1 person per week P&M'ing about shipping!
So, about 6 mos ago, I added BOOKRATE (MediaMail) option to all my auctions. Now I get NO complaints about shipping! Surprisingly, MOST folks choose PRIORITY! I was shocked by that!
Anyhoo, it ain't that much work to offer 2 shipping options & it does keep the P&M'ing down!
posted on April 6, 2001 05:54:28 AM new
Hi,
I don't understand either. Though as a seller I offer both. When I'm buying; if it's just something to read, I want media mail, but recently I bought a HTF novel that I knew was worth 3-4 times what I was paying for it and I paid priority. I didn't want it banging around for a few weeks. If I spent a couple of hundred dollars for something that old I probably would have paid for overnight, or even picked it up if it was close enough to reduce handling. To each his own I guess.
Jay
posted on April 6, 2001 07:57:13 AM new
Hi ddicffe, I've just had a look at your auctions. I think If I were in your spot I would move the part about only shipping with USPS PRORITY up so it gets read with the line that states 'Shipping in the US will be $1.00'. TOS are fine print and right or wrong most bidders skim it, especially if they feel they've already read what they need to about shipping.
Just My 0.02 US.
posted on April 6, 2001 08:07:31 AM new
Offering S/H options is a difficult and time consuming thing. I understand how it is that you want to just offer one type of shipping. We do offer special S/H options, but all are extra cost.
Also it is best to use a flat rate S/H option. This is much simpler for the buyers and keeps thier nose out of you business. If you state actual cost shipping then they are the ones who pay for it so they shoud be able to decide how it's shipped. But if you state $4.95 Flat S/H, then thier is little room for argument.
I woul email those buyers who didn't send enough money and tell them that they need to send the rest of the money.
posted on April 6, 2001 08:18:14 AM new
When your customers are trying to tell you they want something - and it is as easy to accomadate their wishes as this is, it just makes good business sense to do it.
posted on April 6, 2001 08:52:19 AM new
I would have no hesitation about sending any book, old, new, valuable or cheap, through book rate mail. I have sent hundreds this way without a complaint and with a LOT of customer appreciation. If they're asking you for it, it means there's a demand for it, which means that if you supply that demand you'll most likely benefit.
I know that I will not bid on an auction where the seller insisted on sending a 10 ounce book by Priority.
posted on April 6, 2001 03:23:32 PM new
Well, He got back to me ^_^
His letter, Not Email was sooooooo unclear.
It said nothing like this:
Hello Dave, Let me repeat what I had E-Mailed to you and read it CAREFULLY!
"My mailing address (U.S.postal) is P.O.Box xxxxx, xxxxxxxx, xx., xxxxxx.
Shipping address (UPS or FED-X etc.ONLY) to xx xxxxxxxx, xxxxxx,
xx., xxxxxx" This means if you send something by United States Postal
Service, send it to the P.O. Box. If sending by any other method, then to
the street address. But understand this: NO U.S. Postal DELIVERIES TO THE
STREET ADDRESS. OK got it now?
posted on April 6, 2001 03:26:57 PM new
So basically what it sounds like he is saying, is if you use the USPS (Priority Mail) to mail it to his PO box instead of his street address.
He coulda been a little nicer in his email though!
posted on April 6, 2001 03:44:16 PM new
Yeah, He coulda been ^_^
I think he is close to a burnout!
Because in the letter he wrote to me.
"That had me confused" His handwriting looked like a Madman's!
But I was nice & polite to him ^_^
Excuse me while I become sick ~_~
I used to work at a drugstore, The customers there were worse ~_^
posted on April 6, 2001 09:07:06 PM new
True, punkinhead, but I also state how much the US shipping will cost in the item description, and whenever it is more, I usually cover it with no problems (usually it is more because I will enclose an extra item or 2 that is relivant). But I am always grateful for any constructive .02!
gravid: Nice to see you in here!!! I understand about being accomidating, but I need something easy for us as well. I work 60 hrs a week in a "real"(what a joke that is) job, and my wife helps as much as she can. My brother and I just split everything up because he wants to leave for a while, and I right now can only do so much. But you are correct also...maybe I should offer both in my description. I will try this next batch we put up this month, and let you all know if I have kept what little hair I have on my head!
Thanks all for letting me vent.
In the begining, God created the heavens and the earth.
posted on April 7, 2001 11:26:39 AM new
I'm happy to pay Priority Mail but I won't pay unreasonable "handling fees." I won an item which would have cost only 3.50 to ship in a flat Priority Mailer but the seller wants $5. No way. I even went half-way to offer $3.95, but no dice. Fine, neg me.
posted on April 7, 2001 12:09:34 PM new
I see the same unthinking attitude among some posters here that I see in people who demand book rate mail.
You all seem to have this impression that book rate is no big deal. On the contrary. First of all, I have to come up with a box to send the book in. That means going out of my way to find or buy one. Either way, it eats up more time than just going to my ready supply of priority boxes and pulling out a fresh box. Next, I generally have to use more bubble wrap on book rate shipments because I know they are handled more roughly and for a longer period of time than priority items. Furthermore, I have to use more tape because unlike priority boxes, ordinary boxes do not come with adhesive already in place. Most times I'm also required to fill out and adhere a shipping label (on priority boxes, I just write on the clean white surface of the box).
Breaking my routine takes extra time and the extra supplies cost money. I don't build compensation for these into my opening bid because I plan on sending every item priority. But no one seems to care about how book rate affects me. They just want their book sent cheap and they bristle if you suggest a handling charge to cover the extra expense.
They remind me of people who go to a concession stand, order a coke and specify that they want no ice in it because they think they can get a half-ounce more soda that way.
I especially love the ones who have a standing feud with the post office and tell me they "don't want to give those crooks a penny more than I have to!" as if I'm the post office's public relations representative. I think there's a lot of anger out there towards the USPS -- unfortunately, we're the ones people direct it at
I'm with you all the way - you summed up my thoughts perfectly! It's the packaging! I have everything at need at my fingertips for Priority mail. If I have to track down another box like you said, it's a monkey wrench mental and physical when I have a lot of shipping to do.
If TOS says Priority - it's Priority! I don't take lower bids on shipping.
Thanks,
Dennis in TX
I got a haircut and I got a real job.
posted on April 7, 2001 01:26:57 PM new
I look at it this way.
Even when I'm right and they're wrong I still have to deal with the problems.
The easiest solution for ME is to make the execption and move on.
If I had to deal with them daily or weekly I would be firmer in establishing and maintaining my boundaries. But I find making the exception and completing the transaction is easier on me than the email exchange etc. etc. etc.
Sure they ignored what I clearly said and they are trying to enforce their choices on me but "so what". I would rather get them out of my life and move on than enter into a pi**ing contest with a jerk.
Same reason I don't punch everybody in the nose that deserves it that I meet in RL. Some people just arn't worth the bother.
