redskinfan
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posted on April 8, 2001 08:44:52 AM
I received this email from one of my bidders:
Why is the shipping so much in the USA shipping for a cd is only 1.18 I should know I bought plenty of them. reply soon thanks
This is my response to her. What you think? I haven't sent the response yet, put it in the drafts and figured I'd run it through here first.
When I ship first class I'm usually charged $1.89 for shipping, then I include the cost of the envelope. I can send it media mail for cheaper if you prefer, but I've always prefered first class. The one time I've sent a cd media mail it was a little over a $1, but don't remember exact amount. It could be the amount you quote. Actually, according to www.usps.com the amount of media mail up to 1 pound would be $1.30. Bubble envelopes cost $.87 plus tax. Which brings it to $2.22 for media mail, then I add 25 cents to each package to cover the cost of driving to the post office. That would make it $2.47 for media mail delivery. The $3.00 I list in my auctions is for first class. Priority will be $4.00 if you prefer it shipped that way.
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lovetosell
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posted on April 8, 2001 08:56:58 AM
Personally, I don't see why you have to justify anything to the buyer. If it was in your auction TOS, she bid, which means she agreed to pay. I wouldn't explain anything to them. I no longer sell on eBay, but I do buy from time to time, and if I don't like the shipping, I move on. Period!
Teresa
[email protected]
[ edited by lovetosell on Apr 8, 2001 08:57 AM ]
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fdavidm
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posted on April 8, 2001 08:57:52 AM
i think your response is good.
In each of my auctions, I have a link that customers can go to that describes the reasons that I charge $6.75 for shipping.
The priority postage is now $3.50; insurance (which is NOT optional but mandatory) is $1.10; the heavy-duty calumet containuer is $1.25 each, and the tape and FRAGILE DO NOT BEND stickers also cost money.
I further explain that there is nothing more exciting that getting a collectible item that i've always wanted; but it sure is disappointing when it arrives damaged.
My point always gets across!
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CleverGirl
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posted on April 8, 2001 09:00:20 AM
What does your TOS say -- fixed charge for shipping?
There are plenty of people here who will support your handling charges, but I'm not one of them.
But in any case, I doubt your bidder is going to care about all your various excuses -- er, reasons. If your auction says "fixed charge" for shipping or specifies that you charge handling fees, great, simply reiterate that. If not, then I frankly don't know what you should say. But I'll give ya dollars to donuts your buyer will grate over the money for going to the post office (if not the other charges as well). I certainly would -- and then you'd go on my "don't buy from" list.
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redskinfan
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posted on April 8, 2001 09:03:44 AM
So I'm supposed to pay for the envelope out of my own pocket?? The buyer is already getting a $14.00 cd for 50 cents.
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CleverGirl
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posted on April 8, 2001 09:11:46 AM
So I'm supposed to pay for the envelope out of my own pocket?? The buyer is already getting a $14.00 cd for 50 cents.
Whose fault is it that the buyer is getting a $14 CD for 50 cents? Did the buyer set the minimum bid? Why don't you set your minimum bid to COVER your costs?
Again, what does your TOS say?
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gs4
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posted on April 8, 2001 09:12:59 AM
If you stated shipping cost up front they have no reason to whine about it after the fact.
Do not get into a e mail war with them. Just send them the total cost, end of story.
[ edited by gs4 on Apr 8, 2001 09:22 AM ]
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dman3
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posted on April 8, 2001 09:15:16 AM
First You dont argue shipping costs with buyers.
You set your fixed price you put it in your listing what the fixed cost is for shipping your CD is.
something like
This item can be yours for your winning bid and just $1.89 Fixed shipping inside the USA.
You include at the bottom of your listing what your Fixed shipping is inside the USA
some thing like.
Fixed Shipping will be USPS Fristclass Mail inside the USA.
These are the Terms and since choice auctions are aginst Ebay rules you can write your buyer who has the complaint and tell them that these are the terms you have fixed in your listing and it is against ebay rules to offer Choice auctions you and them both must live up to the term originally set in the auction.
They will either live up to the terms they agreed to by placeing there bid or they can cancel there order you can file NPB .
Ebay is not the home of haggle your price.
END of Story
http://dman.Dman-N-Company.com
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gravid
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posted on April 8, 2001 09:31:04 AM
I would not itemize the costs for the buyer.
Some people seem to have a difficult time with this because they think you are unfairly nickel and diming them. It saves a lot of petty argueing if you just roll all the costs involved into one price that is included in your opening bid. Then it is covered and there is nothing to argue about. Sonmetimes it is even easier not to list ANY shipping costs but name one price shipping included. If they are not bright enough to compare the total cost of other competing auctions then you have not lost much except a pain in the butt bidder.
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dubyasdaman
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posted on April 8, 2001 09:33:19 AM
redskinfan:
You have no responsibility to justify your shipping charges to your bidders. If they're stated in your TOS and they bid they pay the price quoted. End of story. I AM curious about one thing however. Where are you buying your bubble mailers? You're getting reamed!
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wbmodrrsupaolcom
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posted on April 8, 2001 10:46:19 AM
Your shipping charges are still lower than many C.D clubs or other mailorder operations, if you posted 3 dollars shipping/handling in your auction the buyer should honor it. There is nothing wrong with trying to charge enough to cover your expenses. Your a business, not a give away program.
James
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sharkbaby
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posted on April 8, 2001 10:49:48 AM
redskinfan: Man, you're sure getting screwed around this week, aren't you? Sorry to hear that....
Agree with the others that you have nothing to explain and are doing nothing wrong.
Good luck!!!! shark
PS...Atleast you've done your good deed for the week and helped get a scumbag NARU'd!
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triplesnack
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posted on April 8, 2001 11:53:50 AM
fdavidm - IMHO $6.75 is WAY too much to charge for shipping a single CD.
Priority mail and first class delivery in most cases are virtually indistinguishable from one another. The reason priority mail costs more is because of the "free" boxes. If you're not taking advantage of using the "free" box, there's no reason to ship priority. Even if the profit's not ending up in your pocket, you're double-charging for packing materials.
Priority mail boxes are sturdy enough to ship CDs in without damage. If you're really concerned about damage, use one of the large boxes and pack some newspaper around it.
Plus, if you're sending a CD in a special, heavy-duty container, why do you need "FRAGILE DO NOT BEND" stickers on it? A special container should be resistant to this type of damage from the PO. Otherwise why use it?
[ edited by triplesnack on Apr 8, 2001 11:54 AM ]
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Microbes
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posted on April 8, 2001 12:00:39 PM
your buyer already wasted $3.00 worth of your time.
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Libra63
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posted on April 8, 2001 12:15:50 PM
If you are charging a handling fee I think you should state that. i.e. Shipping $0.00. Handling $0.00. I cannot see charging for a fragile do not bend sticker when that can be written, printed or even a small mailing label can be used. The USPS can stamp the fragile on it. Instead if it was me I would state actual S/H and start my bidding a little higher. I can't say never but I very seldom bid on high shipping charges. Some are so inflatted you pay more for the S/H than the actual widget. I think the buyer is obliqated to buy your CD since she did bid on it. If you bid, and win then you must pay.
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Zazzie
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posted on April 8, 2001 12:55:31 PM
A fixed shipping price is just that---includes everything.
Tell the buyer it is not worth your time or money to have this discussion--if they want the CD they can pay the orgininal shipping price as quoted in your TOS...and that is more than reasonable with no 'INFLATED' costs attached.
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redskinfan
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posted on April 8, 2001 01:23:30 PM
sharkbaby,
just a bad week lol. it's gotta get better lol
now the weird thing...this person isn't even my winning bidder and the auction hadn't closed yet. last i checked it was for fifty cents and when i got that email i thought it had closed. now it's up to nearly $5. i don't think that person is gonna bid anymore on my auctions...just wish i knew her ebay id so i could cancel her bids if she came my way again.
If someone were to buy 2 cds i'd ship them priority for just a buck and half more. no need to make the p.o. rich.
Bubble envelopes cost a lot around here. you can only get them at walmart, kmart or the post office.
my shipping is right in the auction description. Everyone knows it upfront.
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mcbrunnhilde
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posted on April 8, 2001 01:34:27 PM
Redskinfan, go to the "search" function on eBay and click on "find members." Type the e-mail address under "UserID History." You'll be asked to provide your eBay password to access the history. If that e-mail has been connected with her eBay userID, the history will come up.
BTW I feel like it doesn't hurt to ask for a cheaper way of shipping (anything to save a buck!), but I don't put up an argument if the seller won't make any changes.
Without eBay, I might have a real life... 
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eventer
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posted on April 8, 2001 01:46:52 PM
redskinfan,
If bubble envelopes are that expensive around there, you might want to check some of the on-line supply companies.
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ecom
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posted on April 8, 2001 01:54:57 PM
In a perfect world, the buyer would pay your relatively high s/h fee and leave you a neg for same to warn others.
Instead, the buyer is giving you a chance to reconsider.
Suggest you do so.
[ edited by ecom on Apr 8, 2001 01:56 PM ]
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redskinfan
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posted on April 8, 2001 02:13:40 PM
"In a perfect world, the buyer would pay your relatively high s/h fee and leave you a neg for same to warn others.
Instead, the buyer is giving you a chance to reconsider.
Suggest you do so."
What's to reconsider??? those are my costs to send a cd. I could always put it in a plain brown envelope and save him a buck but then it'll get busted up on the way and the buyer would complain about that for sure. And what is there to warn others about?? If the buyer is so stupid he/she can't read he should invest that money on an education instead of a cd.
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mrpotatoheadd
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posted on April 8, 2001 02:53:16 PM
In a perfect world, the buyer would pay your relatively high s/h fee and leave you a neg for same to warn others.
Warn others about what? A shipping fee that the buyer thinks is too high, which is disclosed in the auction description? That the buyer wants to bid and win, and then expects the seller to change their terms to whatever the buyer thinks is fair?
In a perfect world, a buyer would have sense enough not to bid on an item if they don't like the terms of sale.
Unfortunately, this is not a perfect world.
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violetta
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posted on April 8, 2001 03:08:15 PM
Redskinfan -- You don't have to reconsider anything -- but there's a lot that you COULD reconsider. 1. You don't actually need a bubble-mailer to ship CDs. Take old used corrugated cardboard boxes which have large areas of flat cardboard and cut a mailer that will fit snugly around the CD (like the music clubs use). Cost = $0.00 and a little of your time. Sometimes the plastic jewel case will crack when shipped that way -- but replacements only cost 50 cents or less when bought in bulk. (Perhaps your bidders might be willing to take that risk and replace the jewel case themselves, if necessary?) 2. CDs are eligible for the Media Mail rate, which (whether it's $1.18 or $1.30) usually saves quite a bit over First Class. 3. I bought bubble mailers from a seller on ebay for less than 50 cents each. Your local stores aren't usually the best option for business supplies. 4. I think that "Fragile" or similar stickers are superfluous -- at best they decorate your package, and at worst they get the postal employees to treat your package more roughly. (So, I'd eliminate that expense.)
You don't need to justify your expenses to that bidder. But I don't see why you're so ticked at her just for asking if you could do better. Obviously she CAN read -- or she wouldn't have asked about it before the auction ended.  Banning her from bidding on your auctions seems rather extreme considering that she has done you no wrong.
Violetta
(Not known by this nickname anywhere but here.)
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Microbes
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posted on April 8, 2001 03:14:55 PM
I just love these threads, always some one who thinks sellers should pack and ship stuff for exactly what the shipper charges.
People, it cost more than just postage to ship stuff. Are there ways to cut down on the cost? Sure, but in order to cut down on cost, you have to spend time "scrounging" supplies. Do you want stuff sent (as redskinfan said) put it in a plain brown envelope and save ... a buck? Do you want the seller to pay ebay fees on that buck? (that's what happens if the cost of packing and handling is built into the opening price)
Can people gouge on s&h? I've seen what looks like it to me, but it was in the auction that way, and I just subtracted it from my mental maximum, and let 'er rip, all other things considered.
If it isn't in the auction desciption, that's another story. If you want it bad enough, email the seller. Don't get an answer, don't bid.
If you bid, and the s&h wasn't in the auction, and you didn't ask (silly thing to do) and you get burnt on outragous handling charges, maybe you should warn others in feedback, but compaining about terms that where posted in the auction is... well...
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eventer
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posted on April 8, 2001 03:22:12 PM
mrpotatoheadd,
See you made it here in time for the shipping fee thread! 
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jalleniii
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posted on April 8, 2001 03:26:44 PM
Just wanted to comment on one item that Violetta mentioned. While agreeing that fragile stickers placed on packages should not be included in the shipping costs I disagree with statement No. 4. "I think that "Fragile" or similar stickers are superfluous -- at
best they decorate your package, and at worst they get the postal employees to treat your package more roughly. (So, I'd eliminate
that expense.)""
Whatever the P.O. does with your package is out of your hands and to assume they will treat it worse because it is marked fragile would be hard to prove. Considering it decorative is fine, because my main objective is to let the buyer know that I have taken all precautions to avoid damage to this item.
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violetta
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posted on April 8, 2001 03:45:02 PM
Microbes -- Huh? Who said that? Although I see indications that some think his/her shipping and handling costs are too high -- I don't see anyone saying that s/he shouldn't charge more than it actually costs him/her. Some other ways of looking at the situation were given, however.
Jalleniii -- I didn't say that it WOULD cause employees to treat it worse -- I said "at worst" it might. I didn't view it myself, but there was a news segment run back round last Christmas that showed postal employees beating up on packages marked "Fragile." I know that shipments I receive which are marked "Fragile" ARE usually more banged up than ones which aren't marked. Regardless of what you put on the outside of the package, it is at the mercy of the shipper and will be treated however the shipper treats it. So I personally do not see any justification for the additional expense of printing/buying "Fragile" stickers. (It would be different if it was REQUIRED by the shipper, on fragile items.) That is in the interest of keeping MY business expenses low -- and not particularly about what cost I charge my customer.
Violetta
(Not known by this nickname anywhere but here.)
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mrpotatoheadd
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posted on April 8, 2001 03:47:20 PM
eventer-
I'm trying to quit (at least, I've been telling myself that I should), but it's not as easy as it might seem. 
Now, where's that feedback thread...
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eastwest
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posted on April 8, 2001 04:33:21 PM
I think i know who you are ???
If you use vrane...and i think you do!!!!
Make your template up to explain your shipping cost...thats what i have done..
The other thing you might want to do is this
Hi xxxxx Thanks You for your ebay purchase
BARE NAKED LADIES CD
auction # 8888888
Your Bid $4.99 (Normal Price $14.99)
Shipping $6.47 (Normal Ship $ 7.00
Stories Total $21.99+ tax
Your Total $11.46 NO TAX
Thanks for your bussiness as you can see from above you saved big ON THIS CD. Our choices for payment are below..
Tell me what you think ...I HAVE TONS OF OTHER IDEAS
[email protected]
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dubyasdaman
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posted on April 8, 2001 04:34:11 PM
In a perfect world, the buyer would pay your relatively high s/h fee and leave you a neg for same to warn others.
Warn others about what? Being stupid enough to bid on an auction with shipping costs that are too high (in your opinion) even when they're clearly stated up-front? Give me a break!
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