posted on October 17, 2001 07:37:44 PM
think that they have the right, AFTER an auction ends, to start to dictate terms of an auction. I state right in my auction, shipping is calculated by zip code. Please write to me before bidding. They win the auction and then try to dispute the weight of the item being shipped to them. 2 have said..."either recalculate the shipping or relist it." Dammit I have had it with these idiots. They have a handful or no feedback and then try to dictate terms, when they are clearly stated. I have had it with them. Pay up, or get a neg. No more nice gal here. *grumble* *grumble*
posted on October 17, 2001 07:42:39 PM
I wonder if it would make your life easier if you determined the maximum it would cost to ship the item [to the farthest zip code] and put that in your auction. Then, if anything, your buyer might get a pleasant surprise afterwards if you said it will actually be cheaper than that to ship to their particular zip code. Meanwhile they will already have a general idea of the price, and by bidding will have indicated that they should have no problem with paying that much, at the most.
posted on October 17, 2001 07:44:57 PMfurkidmom...
I second that emotion! It absolutely drives me nuts when some buyers do this - then have the nerve to leave you a negative if you file for FVF on the auction THEY bid on,THEY won, and THEY refuse to complete...
posted on October 17, 2001 08:09:37 PM
"I wonder if it would make your life easier if you determined the maximum it would cost to ship the item [to the farthest zip code] and put that in your auction. "
That's what I do. And no, they don't get a discount if they live next door! By bidding they have "indicated that they should have no problem with paying that much."
posted on October 17, 2001 08:12:12 PMWould it be possible to state a shipping range, minimum to maximum?
Yeah, it's possible. I sell outboard motors, and UPS charges on 5 to 6 hp motors have run anywhere from $20 for a close by buyer to $150 for one that went to Hiwaii.
Want to bet if I said UPS charges will be between $20 and $150 that I would still have to give quotes? (and that the $150 would scare the heck out the 99.9% of the buyers that are in the lower 48?)
posted on October 17, 2001 08:14:04 PM
Yea wait until I respond because it usually takes me all of 10 minutes to do so. Anytime I get a question about one of my auctions, people get an answer and quickly. The thing with putting in an amount that might be the farthest shipping point amount, might just be the cost that causes them to pass right by and not bid at all. They could use some common sense when a seller says..."shipping is based pon zip code destination." Duhhhhhh whatpart of that is so hard to comprehend? Shipping in my own state is sure going to cost less then having to ship to Canada or across the country. And then come the emails and you continue to try to be nice and smiley in the mail, explaining why it is like it is, spending 3 days debating $.60 but not giving in just because of principle, and finally I just want to say...Hey lady...kiss my grits wouldya huh?
posted on October 17, 2001 08:35:00 PM
What about putting something in your listing stating shipping is based on weight of X and being shipped from zip code XXXXX. To determine shipping amount please use the USPS site...........
Can you put a link in for the USPS site? I don't even know if that is allowed anymore.
If so, put a link to the USPS rate calculator page.
posted on October 17, 2001 08:47:45 PM
This is why I went to fixed flat rate! This and the fact that too many times it was costing me becuase I goofed.
I suggest to take the weight and calculated what shipping to Alaska is. That plus rounding and use that as your shipping. Call it fixed rate and your problem is solved. If you do not like getting that little bit extra, you can always give them some change in their package.
posted on October 17, 2001 08:55:28 PM
toollady I have the following in all my auctions and I run between 200 - 500 auctions at alll times.
Shipping weight is 1 1/4 pounds from zip code xxxxx
Shipping is $5.20 by priority mail.
Click Here For A Zip Code Calculator
I give the customer weight, shipping cost, how I ship and the zip code calculator all in one. It cuts down on the deadbeats for the customer knows up front how I ship and the cost and they have a calculator to check it for themselves.
I've been selling for three years and have to ship daily or I couldn't keep up with it, so providing ther zip code calculator has been a plus for me.
posted on October 17, 2001 09:05:43 PM
I do what capostato does. I live in Michigan, and when I have several things of the same weight and design, I take one to the PO fully packaged and ask for the
shipping price to California. I haven't had a complaints about this yet. And no discount for next door, next town, or next state either. Works for me!
posted on October 17, 2001 09:17:46 PM
The problem is here you want it to go all your way & that's not going to happen.
Scenario 1: seller has TOS which state shipping based on zip code & buyer should check in first.
Pros:
1. Seller can charge exact shipping.
2. Buyer pays lowest rates to their zip code.
Cons:
1. Buyer has to email & ask up front. Problem is, we are living in an "instant answer" world. Buyers don't necessarily LIKE having to email, they want to know up front, right there. And they've been burned enough times by sellers who don't answer in a timely manner to make them not want to bother.
2. Buyer, if they do email, still pass you by because it's more than they wanted to pay. But now you've spent your time answering their question rather than having it in the TOS.
3. Buyer too lazy to check in first discovers cost afterward & wants to argue. You spend your time answering emails & getting aggravated & probably the buyer ends up aggravated as well.
4. Aggravated buyer doesn't pay, causing you to have to run the NPB process, waste MORE time and end up in a potential swapping of negs situation.
Scenario 2: Put an average fixed shipping for all zip codes in TOS.
Pros:
1. Buyers know up front the shipping
2. Seller doesn't have to answer emails & less probability of dealing w/unhappy winning bidders after the auction is over.
Cons:
1. Seller makes money on some, loses on other. If sales start to average out to the higher priced zip codes, seller loses money.
2. Some buyers may get aggravated if they are in the lower priced zip codes & see they paid more than necessary.
Scenario 3: Put in fixed shipping based on highest zip code.
1. Buyers know up front the shipping
2. Seller knows they won't lose money on shipping.
3. Seller can always refund the overage in postage making buyer feel even better
Cons:
1. May look overpriced for shipping to some buyers (keep in mind, if it looks overpriced BEFORE they buy, it's going to look just as overpriced after they buy if you choose scenario 1)
2. If you don't refund the overage, may aggravate some buyers at paying much higher than actual postage.
You mentioned your fear of having buyers pass you by if you put in a fixed amount. But have you considered how many people may be passing you by NOW because you don't have any rate at all, they've been burned in the past by people who say "actual shipping" then hit them w/hidden fees and those who pass you by because they don't want to waste time sending emails to find out how much something is going to cost to ship?
The problem I have with fixed rates is that almost everything I sell weighs no less than 1 1/2 pounds and some items as much as 19 pounds. I sell very heavy items. Most items are in the 6 -7 pound category.
19 pounds in zones 1,2,&3 is $12.05 from where I live in Alabama, but the same 19 pounds going to zone 8 is $29.25 by priority mail. Needless to say a fixed rate of $29.25 would cut down on the sales I have for East coast customers.
I also invested in a set of expensive digital scales that will read 000.00 to 150 pounds.
As I have customers that buy many heavy items and I combine shipping I found the scales to be necessary. I know when I go to the post office with ten - twenty packages exactly what it's going to cost me.
posted on October 18, 2001 05:02:50 AMThe problem I have with fixed rates is that almost everything I sell weighs no less than 1 1/2 pounds and some items as much as 19 pounds. I sell very heavy items.
posted on October 18, 2001 05:47:01 AM
rampaged, for items over 5 pounds or so, check the rates with UPS. They will do a one time pick up for a small fee. And, their rates for heavier items are MUCH lower than USPS, with the first 100 of insurance included, AND a tracking #.
Microbes:
For my heavier items, I quote a set shipping rate, but do place the disclaimer that AK, HI and Canada are higher.
That way, the high end of the shipping rate is not exhorbitant for those in the lower 48, and I don't lose out for bidders in AK and HI, and residents of those states e-mail first to ask what shipping will be.
posted on October 18, 2001 06:18:39 AM
I like the range idea. If you do it on an item by item basis, it can be inefficient timewise. What I did was make a chart starting at 6 pounds and going to 20 pounds. Then for each weight, I put in the least expensive rate (my state parcel post) and the most expensive rate (east coast Priority). I could then easily state the range in each of my auctions.
Then because I got totally tired of the same thing as the first poster no matter what I did, I started putting everything over 5 pounds in a b&m.
