posted on October 13, 2001 09:48:28 PM new
I hate to drag up this old topic again, but I guess a lot of sellers just don't want my money. I have a Paypal account full of funds ready to spend. (Can also do Billpoint or send a money order.)
I was browsing and searching Ebay tonight, hoping to pick up a few bargains for Christmas presents. I found a lot of great stuff and some good deals.
There are 24 items that I would have bid on if the seller had simply listed a shipping amount in thier auction ad. Yes, I emailed these folks, but most of these end soon. I know from past experience that very few of these sellers will answer in time for me to bid, if they answer at all. (None of these items had bids yet.)
All of the items I looked at were small (under 1 lb.) and could easily have a fixed shipping rate. They could at least list a weight, handling charge, shipping method that will be used and have a link tho the USPS or UPS rate calculator for the postage.
I often hear the excuse: we don't list shipping because many people win more than one auction. Well, I don't buy that argument either. Just have a flat hate for the first item and a rate for each extra item. Heavy items are another story, but for small items, it's not difficult figure out a flat rate.
Wake up sellers. I'll bid, but I want to know the total cost of getting the item in my hands before I'll bid. I don't mind a handling charge as long as it's listed up front, so I can consider the entire price and bid accordingly. I want to bid now - not email you and go back and bid a few days later. (If you even bother to return my email.)
Is it lazyness or do a lot of folks want to rip you off with inflated shipping when the bid doesn't get as high as they want?
I just don't get it - and even worse - there's at least 24 sellers out there who won't be getting a "You've got cash!" email from Paypal in my name this weekend...
posted on October 13, 2001 09:54:19 PM new
I guess you didn't find any of my auctions, since I ALWAYS include the shipping fee. But then, I only have one or two auction up on ebay at the moment.
I include in my EOA notice, that anyone bidding on more than one item, or other multiple purchases to e-mail me for combined shipping charges. Since I drastically reduce shipping, or even give free shipping, for good multiple purchase customers, everyone is very happy to oblige me in my request to be e-mailed for this purpose.
posted on October 13, 2001 10:11:40 PM new
I do not know what you are buying but you missed my auctions too!
I also state the flat rate I charge in each auction. I currently have 110 up and running. And if you email me a question to the seller I will answer it! I am 99.3% of the time on for at least 2 hours before my auctions close. Face it I am on this computer about 20 hours a day Monday - Thursday when I have auctions closing. And in and out the other days of the week.
You must not be buying clothing for gifts this year. Too bad for me!
posted on October 13, 2001 11:14:02 PM new
Just to clarify:
When you say that the auctions end soon, how soon? As I ship internationally and sell everything from spoons to furniture, It is much too labour intensive to list every possible shipping charge to each country and area. (I am not based in the United States)
I always answer email and in well over 1000 transactions have only missed sending a shipping quote twice (emailed within minutes of the auction ending) I do not consider myself lazy, I put in insane hours to make sure I have thorough listings, good photos and fast shipping.
You also mention a bit further on that you don't want to email and then bid a few days later. Why not? If you have a firm quote by email and a link back to auction is it really that much of a hardship?
posted on October 13, 2001 11:32:32 PM new
I too list my shipping charges clearly, because I get annoyed when the seller does not state it clearly. I usually hit the back button quick! But one time, I found a Star Wars widget that I just had to have for my Star wars widget lovin' nephew. It listed an vague statement about shipping charges "calculated" after auctions end. This item is about 10 oz, so I emailed her asking for a more definate number. Please note that this item would easily fit into the small video mailer. So in my head I fugured, 3.50 priority + oh, say a buck or two for handling (even though I do not charge handling when I get supplies for free, but heah, its a free country). So she actually emails me right back, saying that the number couldn't ~possibly~ be figured out before the auction ends. Why, I ask, and she replys back that it all hinges on the final bid price. Why, I ask again, and she gives me a long drawn out story about how many fees sellers have to pay to offer this item to "you, the consumer". I explained that I also sell (and I am MORE than aware of the fees sellers have to pay!), but that I have a good idea about my shipping charges BEFORE the auction ends, and then she tells me that if she only gets the minumum bid, she pads the shipping for a make up. In her first email, she estimated the cost at about ...$9.00, but then settled at $8.75, for me "a fellow seller". Needless to say, the auction ended with no bids!
[ edited by kckckc on Oct 13, 2001 11:33 PM ]
posted on October 13, 2001 11:45:46 PM new
Yeah, I can not blame you for passing those up. That is the worst situation to get yourself into, a binding agreement, and you are at their mercy for shipping and "handling" charges. I just don't bid anymore unless the shipping charges are clearly stated, and unless I REALLY want the item, I won't go through the hassle of contacting the seller either. Money lost...
posted on October 14, 2001 12:19:59 AM new
One other thing that really gets me here is that about half of these autions I want to bid on are from sellers that have been around for a while, including 3 sellers with 1,000+ feedback and one "power seller."
naru:
Most of these auctions that I'm referring to end tomorrow night. I can understand the difficulty in your case of providing a firm shipping quote since you are not a US seller.
Yes, it is a pain to have to email someone about shipping and then go back and bid later. Much easier to click on the 'x' and look elsewhere. The main problem is that there's just not enough time in a lot of cases. Many buyers - myself included - shop primarily the ending today or going, going, gone. Often, there's just not enough time to browse a whole catagory, so I'll just look at the auctions that are just about to end.
I've found that when I email a seller for a shipping quote, only about 60% even bother to answer the email - and only about 25% answer the email before the auction ends. You get to the point of, Why bother anymore? and just move on. I'll let you know if/how soon the power seller answers my email... That particular auction ends Sunday. How much you want to bet I don't get an email from them until Monday afternoon?
posted on October 14, 2001 12:39:22 AM new
You didn't find any of mine either. I always list shipping charges plus the way they are going to be shipped. I try and charge actual shipping but maybe I will be off a few cents either way but not by much. I just started a new job and I can get my bubble wrap free. My pay isn't so great but if I get my bubble wrap free, that's worth a lot. Just keep on looking you will find an auction somewhere you can bid on. and maybe if your lucky you will hit a BIN.
posted on October 14, 2001 05:29:09 AM new
I always list the shipping charges along with the method of shipping. It's not that hard to do.
Unless you run across someone like kckckc did who tries to put the "profit" in at the end. Disgusting! I wonder how that seller would react to being treated in the same fashion.
posted on October 14, 2001 07:27:36 AM new
Check out my auctions, too! I give several options on shipping to suit your preference--plus I don't charge a handling fee! I make sure buyers know how much it will cost to get it to them. If I over-estimate on postage, I always refund the difference.
posted on October 14, 2001 12:05:20 PM new
I agree 100% with gamecock. I found an auction just a couple of minutes ago that stated "Buyer pays fixed shipping charge - see auction description" up at the top, yet nothing was said at all in the description about shipping. It is a relatively heavy item (4-6 lbs), and I have gotten quotes in the past on similar items that range from $5.00 to $12.00 -or more. I would have loved to bid on it, but I just won't do it unless they give me a clue.
...if you email me a question to the seller I will answer it! I am 99.3% of the time on for at least 2 hours before my auctions close.
This also assumes that the buyer is online when the auction closes. This particular auction ends in less than 8 hours. I don't snipe and happen to work nights. I need the information within the next 30 minutes when I leave for work!
posted on October 14, 2001 12:50:22 PM new
I've been doing all my Christmas shopping on Ebay, and I'm in shock how some of these sellers can stay in business.
I've now had TWO sellers who did not state in their auctions when the ship. One shipped on the 12th day after I paid with PAYPAL. The other one said they only ship once a week - therefore, they shipped 6 days after I paid with PAYPAL. Neither of these were in the auction description. As a seller, I almost always ship within 2 days. And in most cases it's the very next day.
This topic has been beat to death a zillion times - but I'm seeing such HORRIBLE pictures!! If my pics were *that* bad, I would just describe the auction and not list a pic at all.
Everything I am looking for should EASILY have a shipping price quoted in the auction. 8 out of 10 of these auctions do NOT have a shipping price quoted. I email the sellers and OCCASIONALLY receive a response.
I recently purchased 4 items from one seller. Shipping for one item was $x.xx. He said he would combine the auctions for shipping right in his auction. So, I bought 4 items. He added up all the shipping charges ($x.xx times 4) and deducted 50¢. I received them the other day - - - and they ALL shipped together for LESS than the shipping charge on just ONE of these items!!!!!! I emailed him and he said "I'm sorry you are disappointed. I said I would combine. I didn't say how much."
AAAAAARRRRRGGGGGGHHHH!!!!! I have decided to NOT leave him ANY feedback at all.
posted on October 14, 2001 01:02:10 PM new
EG .... IMHO you should neg the jerk.
As to posting the shipping amount ....
I learned early on that the "vast majority" of buyers want to know the EXACT cost of the item prior to placing a bid. Some folks will take the time to ask, and some [for various reasons, some already posted] will not.
Most items can be ball parked very closely, and on the rest - you win some, and you lose some. In the end I believe the extra bids gained by posting the EXACT cost more than makes up for the odd one where you lose a few bucks.
Shipping from Canada? So what, same thing applies. You should be able to take a look at an item [or buy a scale] and know exactly how much both Surface and/or Air will cost for 90+% of your bidders.
Oversea bidders are the minority, and for those bidders I explain in my TOS that the cost will be more than quoted for North America. I think that's a given for International bidders.
posted on October 14, 2001 01:07:24 PM new
Regarding shipping - there is absolutely NO EXCUSE not to put in:
Either the exact S&H amount you are charging for this item
OR...
At the very least, list how much the item weighs and what zip code it is being shipped from.
On occasion I sell items that are quite heavy, and can't possibly put an exact S&H quote. But I *always* state how much the package weighs, how it will be shipped, and from what zip code it is being shipped from. I also state that if you want me to get you an exact quote, to email me your zip code.
posted on October 14, 2001 01:09:37 PM new
I agree totally.
I wish that the listings had icons showing which items have reserve prices or no s/h costs given so that I could scroll by without wasting my time, since I don't bid on either of these.
posted on October 14, 2001 01:17:21 PM new
I hear ya on that one, ragmop!
I have been looking for an item and finally found one on ebay - but the seller wants $6.50 for FIRST CLASS shipping that will actually cost him less than $1 to ship.
posted on October 14, 2001 01:21:55 PM new
I don't want to take away from this thread, but I'm fed up with this too. I just started another thread "Buyer pays S/H" and if I get more than three comments on it, I am going to start including links to both threads when I have to ask about shipping.
[ edited by BlondeSense on Oct 14, 2001 01:25 PM ]
posted on October 14, 2001 02:46:02 PM new
I've gone two years without shipping stated in my listing and one year with it stated and I don't see increased bidding since adding it. I actually think it hurts bidding because many people don't want the details up front, they figure the seller will charge a fair amount anyway. That goes to show theories are nice on paper but in reality don't mean anything until proven.
posted on October 14, 2001 04:10:51 PM new
At the moment there's no excuse to have shipping charges (within the USA) in our auctions, however, when the PO goes to variable rate shipping (by zones) it could get a bit confusing.
I'm thinking about putting the handling charge and a link to the domestic rate calculator. That way the customer can figure it out for themselves.
[ edited by outoftheblue on Oct 14, 2001 04:11 PM ]
posted on October 14, 2001 04:43:52 PM new
QUICKDRAW...I don't think it is a "theory" that buyers do want to know the details of shipping and handling charges. If it's just a nice theory, and your personal stats are correct, then why have we seen probably a hundred S&H threads and thousands of posts complaining about either (1) no amount mentioned in the auction and no way to figure it out, or (2) vastly inflated shipping charges tacked on after the auction is over with?
I'm a seller who does give exact shipping info in each auction. I'm also a buyer, who MIGHT email a seller about shipping info if there is time. But mostly I just pass these auctions by, because I rarely get a response and when I have taken a chance and bid anyway, the S&H usually is way too much.
posted on October 14, 2001 06:07:18 PM new
sonsie, you misunderstood. It's a theory that having the shipping stated in the listing will increase bidding. It may encourage or discourage bidders from placing a bid just as not having the shipping stated will encourage or discourage bidding. I would have to try both startegeies under different economic conditions to prove which is better if either, but it looks to be a wash.
Many of the bidders who want the shipping stated are low ball bidders who need to know their cost down to the penny. I don't see any advantage to attracting them.
It's irrelevant how many threads you see on this subject in relation to my results. People come to these threads mainly to rant or complain, and therefore don't see as many positive threads saying, "wow, I bought an item and it stated the shipping charge in the listing." It's unnewsworthy. It;s like the newspaper, you see more stores on crimes and accidents than good deads.
posted on October 14, 2001 06:27:29 PM new
I always state the exact shipping costs in my shipping if I can calculate it; otherwise I may give the weight and an estimate, and reiterate that we charge only actual postage and insurance.
But I know without a doubt that it can work against me, as well as for me.
Suppose I have a widget for 9.95, and I know it weighs 6 pounds before packaging. I advise that insured priority shipping will be $xx.xx.-xx.xx, depending on destination. Seller #2 has the same widget for the same price, etc., but just says buyer pays shipping. Inexperienced buyer thinks my xx.xx-xx.xx is high, so he bids on #2's widget, thinking it is the better overall deal.
Nothing we can do is right for everyone. I will continue to quote shipping charges in my auctions (although at times I'd rather not), appealing to the more sophisticated eBayer, but maybe missing out on some of the less experienced buyers' bids.
