posted on July 2, 2002 05:50:18 PM
Thanks to the USPO I now ship by UPS only. Below is my new TOS. Please note that I sell and ship heavy cast iron products. Constructive criticism is appreciated.
Please Read The Small Print.
Shipping costs will be calculated based on destination and weight. After I receive your full name, physical address and zip code I'll send you an End of Auction notification with the total amount due.
All items are shipped from zip code 36206.
Merchandise is shipped NLT the day after payment is received. I ship exclusively by UPS. The USPO increases are exorbitant and due to the weight of the items I sell it's no longer feasible for me to use their services. I have a daily UPS pick up account and will combine shipping on multiple auctions won on the same day only. Bidder pays UPS ground shipping plus $1.00 handling. "Shipping to Alaska, Hawaii and the U.S possessions will be by Priority mail only". "All others are strictly UPS.". By placing a bid you agree to
these terms. Please do not request changes!!! Ask any/all questions before placing a bid.
Items not paid for within fourteen days will be relisted.
INSURANCE: Insurance is free with UPS on items valued up to $100. Tracking of your UPS package is also free.
posted on July 2, 2002 06:52:46 PM
Spell out "no later than" instead of using NLT. Same for USPO--it's USPS, but if you use that people will get USPS and UPS confused. Use 'Post Office' instead. Drop the quotation marks--you aren't quoting anyone.
posted on July 2, 2002 08:26:36 PM
That "will send invoice once I receive (your) address/zip" is already giving ME problems. Bunch of auctions ended Sunday evening...sent everyone a "please email me your zip" message...still have four people who haven't bothered to respond (and sent all a 2nd notice...still nothing). How long before I chalk these up as deadbeats and move on to the 2nd bidder?
posted on July 3, 2002 04:46:14 AM
Hello,
I've done a bit of work on your TOS.
My thinking is taking a dig at the PO won't change anything, although it does feel good! Also the mention of different shipping services, even though you say you don't use them could be read out of content. Stating the handling charge isn't neccessary. I left a blank for the max amount a bidder might pay for an item. My not eBay business charges 10 bucks for small item ups, 20 bucks for big item ups, not sure how that rule would serve you. I only offer suggestions!
"Due to the size weight of my items I only ship by UPS "United Parcel Service". I offer no other options. UPS has the best rates for my items. UPS also offers free tracking and insurance up to $100.00.All orders shipped next day after payment arrives. If you have problems receiving UPS shipments I would ask that you not bid on my auctions. Actual shipping cost will be determined when I have your name Phy address and zip code. However, Shipping & Handling should not exceed $00.00. Please contact me for shipping details if you live in Hawaii, Alaska, or US possessions.
Payment is expected within 14 days. Please email us if you have additional Q's.
Fixed rate shipping would not work well for me. Some items I sell weigh five pounds and some weigh twenty five pounds or more. Besides the UPS Worldship program calculates the shipping cost for me and adds in the handling fee so it's no problem sending the total due with shipping cost once the address is received.
cougarls88
I'm sure everyone has this problem to a degree, but eventually they have to come across with their address to be able to get the item they bid on.
alldings
Stating the handling charge isn't necessary but I want my customers to know up front what their total cost are going to be. I try to break even on my shipping cost.I have the following in all my auctions; Email your Zip code for a shipping quote. It takes seconds to calculate shipping cost using UPS worldship. It also gives me the opportunity to tell the potential customer what the post office would charge them for priority mail or parcel post. UPS & FedEx now beats the competition hands down in most cases especially if you consider that free insurance and package tracking is in the shipping cost.
I appreciate everyone's input. I also want to state that my sales have held very steady during the summer slump and increased on the heavier items I sell so making the change to Only UPS shipping has enhanced my sales. I feel the customer is very conscious of the increases in shipping cost and will look for a savings in this area. UPS and FedEx is providing these services.
posted on July 3, 2002 06:48:59 AM
Personally as a seller and a buyer your Terms give way to much information.
as a seller you should never put in your listing the words "increases are exorbitant "
as the seller you will not be paying the costs at all and buyer must be the one to make the choice of whats to much cost and whats not.
as a seller my self I go with fixed prices not actual shipping.
up to 2lbs $4.05 will pretty much cover the shipping donot state how the Item will be shipped just standard shipping will be USPS.
from 2.1 to 4 LBS $8.05 will get an item where it is going.
4.1 to 6 $12.05
and up Keep in mind with this system you may be short on shipping a nickle or so on some item but will make it back on others.
Some of your Items will be able to ship priority some parcel post and yet other media mail.
BUt never complain in your listing to your buyer about the cost of anything its there money being spent not your and your ad should make them feel at ease to the point that they feel free and safe to bid as much as posiable.
posted on July 3, 2002 08:08:47 AM
I also ship between 1-3 pounds. The difference in shipping rates per zone make it impossible to set fixed rates without flaming the buyers or cutting myself too much. If I start purchasing boxes, I will add that into the postage calculator.
I tried to post my calculator on here recently, but didn't do it right. The bidder enters his zip, and it brings up his zone. He can choose which price he wants to pay (priority, parcel, UPS). All 3 are on one calculator. I made 1 calculator per pound. Some of my auctions still have my old shipping chart, but eventually all of them will use only the calculator.
