akamich
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posted on July 10, 2001 12:27:36 PM
Hello all. I could really use a round of discussion and your thoughts on my situation. I recently won an item on auction, something about the size of an average book, which closed for $12.00. The object is in Scandinavia. The seller requested funds of $36.00 (in cash) to cover the bid and shipping. I, to my discredit, had failed to ask about shipping costs to the U.S. before the auction ended. My bad, I know! So...am I on the hook? I realize I should have checked, yet this seems kind of high, do you think? Input requested.
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gs4
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posted on July 10, 2001 12:35:54 PM
 Yep, you should of asked first. How were they going to ship it?
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brie49
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posted on July 10, 2001 12:44:09 PM
A bit high I think.
If I were you I'd e-mail them and tell them you thought $24 was a little steep for shipping/handling and ask them if there was a less expensive way to ship the item.
It's worth it to ask, who knows, maybe they will quote a little less expensive shipping fee. If they are not cooperative be sure and tell them that you feel you are being ripped off and will never bid on their auctions again.
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computerboy
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posted on July 10, 2001 12:49:49 PM
Just because a buyer doesn't ask for shipping costs in advance, does not give the seller the right to gouge a customer. Period. I'm a seller and would never think of doing this to a buyer, as the practice is bad business.
I recommend that you send an email to the seller and ask them the size and weight of the package. Armed with this information, go to the USPS website and use the International Postal Calculator to determine the actual cost of shipping the package. Then, take this information and email it to your seller asking them to ship via this method. If they want a few dollars extra for handling, fine. If they still want to gauge you, tell them it's a no go until the problem is corrected.
These types of sellers need to be removed fro the eBay website.
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mar30
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posted on July 10, 2001 12:53:20 PM
computerboy,
Would shipping FROM another country TO the U.S. be the same as if we were shipping to that country? I have no idea if that price is high or not, but postage rates in the other country may very well be different from ours? ??? I'm not 100% sure checking the USPS website would be totally accurate. But I don't know for sure.
Is there a postal site for that country on the web you can look at? What country in Scandinavia is the Seller in? Here's a site with Denmark postage rates (I just found it...don't know how current it is) ....depending on the weight of the book, that rate might not be off-course at all.
http://ravn.net/music-sale/postage.htm
[ edited by mar30 on Jul 10, 2001 12:56 PM ]
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engelskdansk
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posted on July 10, 2001 12:59:42 PM
Going to the USPS rate calculator is NOT how one determines postage from another country to the US!
(And Airmail rates from the US to other countries are not exactly inexpensive -- i.e., a 2 lb book would cost $13.30 airmail to England.)
You need to find the post office of the country in question. For example, the Danish post office seemed to indicate that 2 lb book would cost around $12.00 airmail. (That may not be totally accurate though.) $16 might not be out of line; $24 seems a bit high.
But, as the US sellers are quick to announce on these Boards, there's the cost of going to the post office and gas and fees, etc.
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computerboy
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posted on July 10, 2001 01:03:23 PM
Generally, the Postage should be about the same, as their are Postal agreements in place within the international delivery system.
I'd use the figures on the USPS site to approach the seller.
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Capriole
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posted on July 10, 2001 01:08:38 PM
Cost me anywhere from $20 - $40 to get loot from Europe.
I don't think it's out of line if it includes insurance and it's not coming over by boat.
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engelskdansk
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posted on July 10, 2001 01:12:32 PM
computerboy--The postage is NOT the same and advising someone to use the USPS rates as comparison is poor advice. Why would you expect another country to have the same postage rates as the US?
If a bidder from another country asks you to give him the same rates as he pays locally (less than your cost), would you consider that reasonable?
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peiklk
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posted on July 10, 2001 01:14:48 PM
It was GOOD advice. It was not offered as an exact comparision. But as a benchmark.
If I was being charged $24 for shipping FROM Scandinavia and shipping TO Scandinavia was $15-20, then the $24 wouldn't seem so far off.
The lesson here is: Don't bid on anything without shipping information first.
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computerboy
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posted on July 10, 2001 02:01:18 PM
engelskdansk:
The above recommendations were to be used as reference to initiate discussion with the seller. Please refer back to my posts.
You may wish to refrain from accusing someone of giving bad advise, before you fully understand the intent of the message.
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eventer
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posted on July 10, 2001 02:09:20 PM
Hard to know until you learn exactly how they plan to send the item. Could they be using International Express? Are they including Insurance or will it be Registered (VERY expensive to & from Europe).
Until these types of questions are answered BY THE SENDER, everything else is speculation.
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akamich
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posted on July 10, 2001 02:16:03 PM
Thanks for all your responses. I did check the rates from here to there for a benchmark. It seems the $36 quote would cover priority, registered and insured, which I'll try to decline as the item itself cost $12. The real lesson is to always check shipping, I totally agree. But it was also nice to have my feelings of surprise and suspicion that I was being taken for a ride understood. Apreciate it. I'll wind this transaction up and chalk it up to expensive lesson. Someone had suggested (not on this board) that I report the seller for fee avoidance. That might be a bit strong, but it does suggest how this shipping charge would strike someone. Not a great business builder.
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seyms
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posted on July 10, 2001 02:19:07 PM
Do yourself a favor and take a deep breath.
Inquire if the $24 is for surface or air post. I buy/sell scandinavian glass on ebay and the sellers in Scandinavia are at great disadvantage. An average glass item worth maybe $60 frequently involves a $20 air shipping charge. I am forced to pass on these items. Ask politely. I doubt they're ripping you off.
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peiklk
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posted on July 10, 2001 02:22:16 PM
I stumbled across someone's auction the other day where the item was maybe selling for $1 and they were charging $9 shipping/handling. Item was that large as I recall.
Talk about fee avoidance.
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akamich
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posted on July 10, 2001 02:26:43 PM
seyms: thanks for the info.
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Triggerfish
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posted on July 10, 2001 02:27:07 PM
If the item weighs a few pounds and is being sent by airmail, $24 doesn't seem that far off at all. Keeping in mind that the parcel's country of origin determines the mail system that will be used to ship it, the sky's the limit as, in many countries, shipping costs are much higher than the U.S.
Rule of thumb, well you know that now! Ask before bidding. 
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mrlatenite
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posted on July 10, 2001 02:47:16 PM
I wouldn't consider it high at all. I just shipped an old 1980's mini computer to someone in Germany. 2 pounds 14 ounces in a 12"x10"x5" package...
$16.75 for air mail, actual cost.
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amy
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posted on July 10, 2001 02:55:37 PM
Akamich...you can't use the US postal service's rate charts for a benchmark for any shipping rate other than for a US shipper.
You say the $24 would cover priority, registered and insurance and you will try to decline that as the item is only a $12 item...except that the country it is coming from may not have a priority rate, a registered rate or insurance.
Instead of wasting your time looking at the US rates contact the seller and ask what the rate includes. Also, ask, politely, if there is a cheaper way they could send it.
Please don't even consider reporting this seller for fee avoidance...there is no proof they have been avoiding paying fees.
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Microbes
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posted on July 10, 2001 03:37:24 PM
But, as the US sellers are quick to announce on these Boards, there's the cost of going to the post office and gas and fees, etc.
Depending on where in scandinavia this is, that petrol could be close to $5.00 a gal.
Who Need's a stink'n Sig. File?
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barrelracer
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posted on July 10, 2001 05:20:49 PM
I am amazed that hardly any international bidders mail me for shipping info until after the auction is over and they won.
I can't imagine bidding on something from another country unless I asked, or I wanted the item very much and didn't care.
I am also wondering at all the comments suggesting the seller is ripping off and telling him that since what do we know about this country's postal rates?
When this is a US seller and bidder isn't the advise usually
{b] Well, why didn't you ask before you bid? [/b]
~Not barrelracer on ebay, don't pick on them!~
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firecracker
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posted on July 10, 2001 05:32:07 PM
http://ircalc.usps.gov/
This is the USPS internationl rate calculator
[ edited by firecracker on Jul 10, 2001 05:32 PM ]
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hwahwahwahwa
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posted on July 10, 2001 05:36:44 PM
cost of living and standard of living is high in scandinavia.
shipping would be expensive,also where is the dealer,if he lives in area where he has to travel good distance to mail your package,it may be included there,or he could be using some kind of mail service.
western euorope is different,there are so much going back and forth between usa and western europe.
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stamper3
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posted on July 10, 2001 06:48:34 PM
I used to buy a lot of bulk stamps from Scandinavian dealers and know for a fact that shipping is VERY high. They do have lower rates for surface mail, but it can take up to 2 months to receive it. I really don't think the shipping charge is out of line. I do think though that the seller should have stated the International charges and also, as Akamich has admitted, the buyer should have asked. I am glad to see that you are going to complete the transaction. If you aren't in a hurry though, I would ask them to quote surface charges.
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wranglers
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posted on July 10, 2001 07:09:03 PM
Are they asking for 36.00 US or in their currency?
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akamich
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posted on July 10, 2001 07:23:34 PM
$36 U.S. cash.
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kiawok
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posted on July 10, 2001 07:37:35 PM
Eventer & Amy gave the best advice, the USPS rates don't mean jack squat, even as a benchmark.
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akamich
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posted on July 10, 2001 07:42:58 PM
I am going to complete the transaction and let it go. Thanks to all who added some insight.
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sulyn1950
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posted on July 10, 2001 07:45:41 PM
What does the sellers FB look like? Are there any comments that would indicate the postage charged was out of line with what/how the package was shipped?
My only real complaint would be having to send the cash!
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getalife
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posted on July 10, 2001 07:56:55 PM
I would send the seller $12.00, tell him to keep the item, figure I had saved $24.00 and chalk it up to experience. And, I'd give him positive feedback.
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