posted on July 30, 2001 02:38:43 PM
as a buyer i want to know the S/H charges before i bid. to the sellers who says they only charge mimnimum S/H charges...????...i feel uncomfortable with this option. please be honest with S/H charges. make me see it!! thanks.
posted on July 30, 2001 04:24:47 PM
You get my lots shipped by Air Mail from UK for $3.00. Combine lots and only pay one shipping. This is not my trading name.
posted on July 30, 2001 06:06:32 PM
As a seller, I =always= put the exact shipping amount in my auctions. To me, this is just good service and proper procedure! The only exception is for very heavy or oversized items, where I offer the buyer a choice of shipping methods. Even then, I post the approximate packed weight of the item and my zip code so there are no surprises.
I realize that many people are perfectly comfortable with telling buyers they should write to the seller for shipping charges (and virtually everything else), and if they don't like the answer (or don't hear back in time)...don't bid.
I can't agree with that. Why should the buyer have to email for such basic information? I've even seen a few threads here where it was suggested that buyers are somehow responsible for not asking about hidden damage and other stuff that IMO is strictly the seller's responsibility to disclose up front without having to be petitioned via email.
I strive to make each listing as complete and question-free as possible, but when I do get a request for information, it gets answered within an hour or two if at all possible.
posted on July 30, 2001 06:54:28 PM
As a seller, I always list my shipping charges.
As a bidder, I LOVE sellers who do not list their shipping charge!!!!
Why? Because of all the people who are too lazy to send an email; last minute snipers are rare; there's no competition. One or two bids will take 'em most every time.
Thank you sellers who don't list your s/h Chances are you don't read here which is even better
posted on July 30, 2001 06:55:22 PM
Judging from the email questions I receive, hardly anyone reads the listings, and mine are small and basic, something a fifth grader could read and understand.
Even though you may want to know the s/h, many people don't, they don't want to know all the technical information, it would pop their bubble of illusion. I used to have listings with just the title and bidding was excellent. Look at USPS auctions with their dismal information and good bids. "3 misc cookbooks," no other details and bidding is good.
posted on July 30, 2001 08:04:30 PM
Hello everyone, Normally I only read the boards but this thread hit a raw nerve. I very rarly will email for a auctions shipping and handling charges, I consider my time as valuable as the sellers. If the basic shipping and handling is not posted with the auction I just go to the next auction. Having the shipping and handling stated with the auction describtion is just plain good business sense. It is not difficult to do the shipping and handling at the time of listing, you will be happy you did when the item sells. There are many sellers that have lost my bid over some thing so simple. Sellers Please list your total costs with your auctions. I buy and sell, and always list the total costs. I don't want my buyers to have any unpleasant surprises, and I don't want any unnecessary stress. I buy under a differnt username. This post is meant to be informational and not confrontational. I am Fathertime
posted on July 30, 2001 08:21:03 PM
Up to 4 or 5 lbs, I use a fixed rate, over that it's UPS charges + a fixed handling., and it's stated in my auctions that way.
Kind of hard to fix a rate on a 60 or 70 lb item, when the ups charges could be any where from $19 (close by) to $150 (Hawaii)
Unless the folks in Georgia want to pay the same as the folks in Hawaii.
posted on July 30, 2001 09:43:51 PM
I always have (and always will) state my exact fixed shipping charges in my auctions, and generally steer clear of those who don't.
Last year I bought several items from a seller who sells items I'm interested in, and because it was several items they combined shipping at a very fair rate. I recently bought one item from this person. The auction did not list the shipping charge but they did select the option of "Buyer pays Actual Shipping Charges" so I thought nothing of placing a pretty high snipe bid.
I won and was then presented with their EOA stating shipping of $4.00. I assumed this was going to be Priority Mail since the item only weighed about 2 or 3 ounces. I even emailed them my assumption so that they didn't think I just fell off the Tulip Truck (i'm dutch and don't like turnips I would have much rather paid first class, but 'what the hey,' I thought.
The item arrived a few days ago, shipped first class (used 2 x 34 cent stamps) and a plain envelope.
I will NEVER buy from this person again, which is too bad (for both of us) because they've got a lot of items I'm very interested in. Furthermore, I've spread the word in the associated newsgroup that this person charges ridiculous shipping for his items. He's listing like crazy, but the bidding is suddenly very slow.
posted on July 30, 2001 10:11:38 PM
Sorry, but I think its to each its own. I have heard over and over where a Seller will put down another Seller for added a shipping Charge to there Auction, Or lessen to another Seller Brag how they use a fixed rate of shipping on all of there Items, get real! folks, think the post office use's fixed shipping rates? It varies from state to state over a certain weight of your package, is this a new wake up call? I would love to have a Nickel for every bidder who I have read complain about a Handling fee, do they really think the bubble wrap and peanuts are giving to us for free? NOT!!! we buy them, and its not cheap, So on large Items I will add on an extra 1.00, to cover my expenses to make sure there Item arrives safe and sound, and don't feel that needs to be stated in an Auction.
posted on July 30, 2001 10:22:46 PM
"I will NEVER buy from this person again, which is too bad (for both of us) because they've got a lot of items I'm very interested in."
That essentially means that if more people felt as you do, then you and the rest will all buy from other sellers, right? Less sellers means those sellers can drive the price up. Is that what you had in mind?
Belive me, pinching every penny is not the best answer. What ever happened to getting the most value? I can undercut every seller on shipping, if I ship the items in a plastic bag. Hello!
posted on July 30, 2001 10:25:57 PM
"High" is a relative term, I suppose. For this particular item, the amount of the bid I placed was high. No it was not very much money, however principle and ethics very often have more worth than dollars and cents.
In other words, I was willing to bid about $8 for this item and I assumed shipping would be about $1, maybe $1.50 for a total of under $10. As I stated, this assumption was based on a prior dealing with this seller, otherwise I would have emailed first.
Instead of under $10, it was suddenly over $12. Had that been because the seller insisted on using Priority Mail (some can't resist those 'free' supplies) then I could fault no one but myself. BUT, when less than $1 is spent on postage and supplies and yet the buyer is charged $4, I call that greedy.
I've seen this argued over and over and over and over on AW and it will continue to be argued. But, what it comes down to is buyers that quit bidding on all auctions because of the sellers who hit them with surprise excessive shipping charges. It used to be stories of the great finds and great deals found on ebay. Now I hear more rip-off stories than anything.
posted on July 30, 2001 10:27:03 PM
On items that weigh less than 5 pounds I state shipping charges on other items I state that I only charge what the postoffice charges me.I don't pack items before they are sold incase someone asks a question about the item or if it doesn't sell.Some items might weigh 18 pounds but by the time you get them packed up good to ship safe they weigh 20-23 pounds.
posted on July 30, 2001 10:34:02 PM
"It used to be stories of the great finds and great deals found on ebay. Now I hear more rip-off stories than anything."
Reread and reread what you just said until you understand how hypocritical it is.
Essentially you said, buyers used to rip sellers off by getting good deals, but now sellers are getting smarter and not allowing themselves to be ripped off.
posted on July 30, 2001 10:54:02 PMbecause of the sellers who hit them with surprise
If I'm reading your post right, the problem was the auction said "Buyer pays Actual Shipping Charges", and you where charged $4 when the postage was 68 cents.
I never check that box. I've seen sellers that say that "actual shipping" isn't the same as "actual postage", and they are right, but so many people take that to mean "actual postage" that I wouldn't check off that box.
I check off the box that says "See item description for shipping charges". Then in the description I either say s&h in USA is $x.xx (for lighter wieght items) or s&h is ups charges plus $x.xx for packing and handling (for heavy items)
but I would have adjusted the amount of my bid.
I do the same. And when I'm buying, it matters not to me if 75% of the total "to my door" price is s&h, or if the seller is doing "free shipping". The grand total is what matters.
I would have much rather paid first class, but 'what the hey,' I thought.