posted on December 17, 2001 08:31:39 PM new
Has anybody else encounterd buyers that take it upon themselvs to change the shipping terms? Do people really think it costs less to ship multiple items? Do people think when you sell somthing for $0.29 you are charging exact postage? Do people think shipping suplies are free? Are we allowed to make a profit? Thanks , I needed that
posted on December 17, 2001 11:46:52 PM new
I've had a few buyers demand the item be shipped at an x amount. I tell them I can do that but I will sacrifice in packaging. One buyer actually said that's fine, so I wrapped it in brown paper wrap and sent it off.
Some buyers are ignorant. One guy said I overcharged on shipping. Lets see Business 101: seller charges enough to cover expenses and make a profit. Whether that is built into the price or shipping is decided by the seller. How does the buyer know what my expenses are to say I overcharged?
Another buyer said she had been looking for this item for months. However, she complained about shipping, and I never heard from her again. Guess she didn't need it that badly. That extra buck for handling was badly needed for her next meal, I guess.
posted on December 18, 2001 03:59:40 AM new
I'd love to tell these time wasters: Dear bidder, the price is now higher since it costs money to argue over the cost.
To be fair, if you don't state your exact shipping charges in the auction copy, you are begging for lots of these.
posted on December 18, 2001 05:09:04 AM new
When I have somebody complain about my shipping terms(which are clearly stated in my ads) I just tell them they can cancel the deal since they must not have read my terms...99% say they'll go ahead an take it....
posted on December 18, 2001 06:06:17 AM new
Here is my approach, which has worked 100% of the time:
I don't offer complainers a chance to back out. I simply restate to them the fixed amount for shipping that was stated in the auction. They always pony up the money without further complaint.
posted on December 18, 2001 06:16:00 AM new
i have seen one dealer on rubylane who quoted almost 9 dollars to ship a silver charm.he claimed he hired someone to do the shipping.
posted on December 18, 2001 08:26:50 AM new
My favorite is a Foosball table on Yahoo auctions. $.99 for the table, then in the small print at the bottom of the description, shipping and handling for $195. Thats one way of keeping those auction fees down.
posted on December 18, 2001 10:21:26 AM newin the small print ... shipping and handling for $195. Thats one way of keeping those auction fees down.
ROTFLMAO! What a great ploy. One wonders what ebay would think of this and if you get any bids that way? Personally I think that s/h should be approximately revenue neutral. I ship PB books for $2.50/3.50/5.50 for media rate, 1st class, and priority. I should charge a couple bucks for filling out those stupid postal insurance forms, but I don't - service to the buyer, I guess.
Typical PB book is $1.33 for media rate + $0.60 for the bubble pack envelope + 5 cents miscelaneous tape and book bag. So, I could be making upwards of 50 cents per trip to the post office, but ooops! there's gas and transport costs plus my time at a nickel an hour.
I'm still waiting for my first neg (knock on wood), but some idiot in Canada whined on a pos that I'd "ripped him off on shipping". Jeez, filling out a customs form and charging a buck for doing that and standing in line at the post office. With profits like those... Whew! Move over Donald Trump!
posted on December 19, 2001 08:00:30 AM new
Since I'm right across the street from the Post Office, and I use the Priority Mail envelopes that are free from the PO, I only charge actual shipping charges.
That only seems fair on my end. But there are those of you that it does take time and energy to ship out a package and you should calculate that into the total price.
If you want to keep you prices down and make it up on the shipping charges,maybe you could state in your auctions "shipping AND Handling" charges. That way, if a customer complains that your shipping was too high, you can state that part of that includes the handling fee.
My supplier charges me a 2.50 handling fee if I order anything under $25.
Time is money, and if it takes you an hour or more to package up and send an item, even at minimum wage that can add up. After all, the time you spend shipping is taking away from your marketing.
posted on December 19, 2001 04:08:02 PM new
The best one I had was in a case where a buyer had purchased $75 worth of small fragile items. I quoted her $5 for postage, including insurance, (back when 2 pounds could go priority for $3.50) and carefully packing everything in a box with bubble wrap. She waited 3 weeks after auction end, then sent $2 for postage, and said to just send them first class. I did still box them and insure them, even though I lost money, because I thought I was doing her a service. But I sent the package parcel post, (it was too big to go first class) and it took her 8 days to receive it. So she negged me and filed a complaint with Paypal. Never again. You pay what was quoted, or I keep the package. If you can't read my auction listing, you're too stupid to be on eBay and you deserve what you get.
