posted on August 17, 2002 04:38:57 PM
I charge a standard 'approx.' US$10 above actual postage cost on all my items, but I don't actually spell it out as I'm about to, I just tell'em that 'some' of the money goes toward handling. Is that being deceitful?
I say aprox. because I often over charge a little because I go up the next weight bracket in my calculation if I think it's marginal.
I can estimate the postage before I pack because I use several sizes of standard boxes.
That money is partly for packing materials and, just in case you think it's fee avoidance let me tell you I pay my grandma to pack the boxes {.{I don't pocket the money}.} But I make her work very hard for your packing dollar.
She has used as much as US$1.00+ on packing tape alone (1 porcelain tea set)
Rigid foam boxes cost US$1.80 - US$3.00 each. Bubble wrap US$0.50 - $1.00
Thin particle/ mdf/ chip board cladding on foam box US$0.60
Phone call to customs sometimes avg./item US$0.03 - $0.04
Fax to customs nearly every time US$0.11
All wrapped up in thick brown paper because my customers are important to me and I like to demonstrate it to them. US$0.15.
No charge for genuine epson ink to print out label with name, no charge for 'fragile' stickers. No mention of pens, disposable blades for cutting, petrol to post office or phone call for credit card authorisation etc.
MUST I spell it all out. Is that being deceitful?
That means that my poor old grandma gets to work for under US$4.00 per hour for her packing because I charge her a little rental for the corner she uses in our laundry to do her thing in. But don't worry I'm not too soft on her just because we're related, I make her throw in delivery to the post office in her own time in my car. She gets to drop off 2 at a time, it's easy on her and besides she says she doesn't mind because she loves me…It's not like I'm ripping her off..
I don't tell the customers that my Granny is getting some of the money. Is that being deceitful? You see I think some of them get upset when they know the post office isn't getting to keep all the money.
It's not a wonder the small business person is being driven out by larger companies. Some people and it seems most, will stand in cue at the large department store, bank, large post office, and grin and bear it but when you try and let your grandma earn a whopping US4.00 per hour !#$%^&*.
If you feel your that right kind of person, can arrange all of that in any quicker time than my grandma & are prepared to work for just a little less, let me know.
......................
I have been so snowed under by work lately that I have asked my grandma, at no extra charge, to fill in the 2 page customs export clearance application and fax it to customs.
I charge her next to nothing for rent, and she doesn't even appreciate the ALMOST US$4.00 per hour I'm paying her. It's not quite $4.00 because I charge her a nominal amount for electricity she uses in the laundry. I should make her use a 25W light but she reckons it's too dark in there, personally I find it romantic working by the ample moonlight which comes in through the large window.
Can you believe the ungrateful old b%^&# is complaining that an extra 10 minutes of her life is being waisted. For all the money I pay her you'd think she could throw in a little effort to fill in a customs form.
Every time I get my Porsche serviced, the dealer throws in delivery and even picks me up and drops me off
And that's got nothing to do with the money I spend, it's the principle.
Without prejudice,
austbounty
posted on August 17, 2002 05:30:16 PM
My point??
was to clearly demonstrate to those that resent paying handling, that there are genuine costs assosiated with preperation for shipping.
OR
If one does not wish to pay S&H,
grab a torch and hit the garage sales.
OR
Don't bid on items you want, DOH!
Bid on items that don't charge handling.
[ edited by austbounty on Aug 17, 2002 05:32 PM ]
[ edited by austbounty on Aug 17, 2002 05:34 PM ]
posted on August 17, 2002 06:23:01 PM
$10.00 ON EVERTHING YOU SELL??? GUTS!! AN NERVE. AND YOU TELL THEM "AFTER" THE THEY HAVE MADE A PURCHASE? YOU ARE THE REASON FOR SO MANY OF THESE,,,,,,HOW MUCH IS SHIPPING 76434.
IT'S PEOPLE LIKE YOU THAT PUT THE FEAR OF POSTAGE RIP OFF IN EVERYONES MIND AND I FOR ONE PAY THE PRICE IN TIME TO ANSWER THESE PEOPLE. GET REAL,TELL THEM IN YOUR AUCTION YOU WILL BE GETTING $10.00 OVER THE PURCHASE PRICE. (OF COURSE I AM NOT STUPID YOU ARE NOT GOING TO ANYWAY) OTHERE WISE AT $10.00 YES YOU ARE IN FACT VERY DECEITFUL AND THAT IS PUTTING IT MILDLY. WHAT YOU HAVE BROKEN DOWN HERE IS CALLED THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS...YOU HAVE TURNED THAT COST INTO A BUSINESS.
NOW WHEN I HAVE AN EXTREMELY BIG ITEM LIKE A 80 POUNDS GENERATOR,,,,I SAY RIGHT UP FRONT ADD $30.00 TO PACK IT UP OVER AND ABOVE ANY ACTUAL SHIPPING CHARGES, IF THEY DON'T LIKE THAT DON'T BID. RIGHT IN THE AUCTION ......THERE IS NO PROFIT IN IT BELEIVE ME. I AM NOT GOING TO GO INTO DETAILS ABOUT THE ELELCTRICTY FOR THE SAWS, THE NAILS, THE WOOD ,THE GAS, THE LABOR, THE PAPER, THE CELOPHANE,,,,,,THE HELP!! SOMETIMES. NOT TOO MENTION ALL OF YOUR NORMAL EVERYDAY FRIVOLOUS MENTIONINGS.
BOTTOM LINE FOR ME $2.00 IF IT GOES BY THE POST OFFICE AND $4.00 IF IT GOES UPS.
OBVIOUSLY YOU ARE HAVING MANY COMPLAINTS OF YOUR TACTICS THAT'S WHY YOU ARE VENTING ON US.
posted on August 17, 2002 06:51:54 PM
I AM TOTALLY WITH JACKSWEBB ON THIS SUBJECT. YOU MUST BE UPFRONT AND SAY A $10.00 HANDLING FEE. I SELL ON EBAY FULL TIME AND I BELIEVE ON BEING STRAIGHT WITH MY BUYERS- IT IS THE HONEST THING TO DO.
posted on August 17, 2002 08:44:50 PM
Maybe it is late but this post has me LOL. What a riot... you give it to Granny, austbounty
Yes, it is a rather useless thread but the way JACKSWEBB gets all wired up like the person who started this really charges $10 over the postage is the funniest.
goodness, we sure like to get it all riled up in here today don't we?!
posted on August 17, 2002 09:14:14 PM
I don't pay my Mexican workers anything. My American workers wouldn't work for slave wages. They're going to go on strike unless I pay them a nickel an hour. But I can't afford to because my buyers whine about paying a nickel more. Oh well, too bad, at least my buyers are happy.
posted on August 17, 2002 09:26:43 PM
ALWAYSFUN,,,,,,,,SO YOU ARE SAYING THIS IS SOME KIND OF JOKE???? ALL THAT WAS SAID AS A JOKE? WELL IF THAT'S TRUE WHY WASTE MY TIME TYPING ANY RESPONSES??? FOR THAT MATTER WHY SHOULD ANYONE? I THOUGHT THIS WAS HERE FOR LEARNING AND PERHAPS TEACHING OR AT LEAST GIVING EXAMPLES OF PAST IF NOT VERY PRESENT SITUATIONS. IF THIS IS NOT A JOKE HOWEVER, I STAND BY MY STATEMENT,,,,,WASTING MY TIME QUOTING PRICES BECAUSE OF NON DISCLOSURE OF INSANE FEES AFTER THE FACT. OTHERS HAVE BEEN BURNT BY THIS PERSONS TACTICS NOW THEY E MAIL EVERY SELLER FOR SHIPPING CHARGES. GETS OLD REAL FAST.
I WRITE WHIF A KRAYON, I AM ALMOST 5.
posted on August 17, 2002 09:40:50 PMThat means that my poor old grandma gets to work for under US$4.00 per hour for her packing because I charge her a little rental for the corner she uses in our laundry to do her thing in.
I see you are not a skilled businessman. I've tapped into a very dynamic work force and found them most economical, and I couldn't be happier with their work.
There is an elementary school near my home, and these children are very skilled with sissors, glue, and tape. I've used rewards other than actual 'money' to keep my work force thriving. For just a pack of cigarettes I can employ 10 of these children for 2 hours (you do the math.) They are thrilled to play with the sissors and tape, and the added bonus of having a cigarette dangle out of their mouths makes them act very adult and very professional. It warms my heart to watch them.
I have also used other methods of rewarding these children. Once a week I tell them what a great job they've done, and as a treat we go on a drive and they can play "dumpster diver." My efforts at securing packing material through this method have been so successful that I've begun selling my surplus packing materials.
Keeping my shipping cost down is a serious mission for my business. I feel I've introduced many children to the world of commerce through my vision. Everyone wins.
posted on August 17, 2002 10:00:29 PM
ADIOS,,,THIS IS,,,,,,IN FACT NONSENSE I WILL BE MORE CAREFUL IN THE FUTURE,,,,,SEE THERE ARE LESSONS TO BE LEARNED HERE. POOF.....NO LONGER FOLLOW THIS THREAD......
posted on August 17, 2002 10:25:25 PMDear valued customer, Our shipping rates do include components that go toward packaging materials, postage and handling. We may determine that the piece to be posted requires a wooden or wood-lined box. The rate we offer takes into consideration such requirements and not simply the weight of the item. Cheaper fragile items are given careful consideration too and the fact that an item is cheaper will not mean a cheaper method of packing. An item posted locally will also need as much preparation as an export. We acknowledge that in some instances our shipping rates may appear more expensive than some others, but by fixing them at a predetermined amount you are able to accurately vary your bid accordingly.
Edited to add:
Shipping charges, fixed as quoted, include professional packaging and by airmail to : U.S.A.$20.00 Or to the U.K.$23.00 or within Australia.US$12.00 by surface.
+ Mandatory Insurance @ US$1 + 5% of sale.
posted on August 17, 2002 10:26:47 PM
JACKSWEBB
Chill-out
I'm not an accountant, but,
I see all these costs not as a cost to me as the seller for doing business.
BUT
as costs to the buyer for buying items that require packaging and dellivery.
And let us say that you did state a fixed$ above actuall shipping.
What if your out$, what do you then do?
I know what I do, and that is to honour the amount I quoted.
What difference to the buyer if I charge
$400 for an ounce of gold and $10 shipping
=$410
OR
$10 for an ounce of gold and $400 shipping
=$410.
So what you are trying to say, it's OK for the courier to get the money but not my granny.
As I stated earlier-
It's not a wonder the small business person is being driven out by larger companies. Some people and it seems most, will stand in cue at the large department store, bank, large post office, and grin and bear it but when you try and let your grandma earn a whopping US4.00 per hour !#$%^&*.
posted on August 17, 2002 10:31:05 PM
If your charges are for all of those supplies and it legitimatly costs that much for the supplies to ship your fragile items, then be up front about it and you won't have a problem.
JACK---
I want all bidders to ask me how much shipping will be and give me a zip code. It sure helps figuring actual shipping costs at the end of the auction. PS: DUMP THE ALL CAPS. IT MAKES YOU LOOK LIKE AN IDIOT.
posted on August 17, 2002 10:31:32 PM
Jack, that was not a new post. It's been posted many times before. Also, you missed the point, even after it was spelled out.
The point is that buyers expect a seller to simply absorb extra shipping and handling costs, even when those costs are significant.
posted on August 17, 2002 10:32:15 PM
slabholder,
that was beautifully worded.
Do you think if I put it to my customers that way, they would stop complaining about shipping??
What do you think JACKSWEBB?
posted on August 18, 2002 05:15:24 AM
austbounty,
have you considered using fed exp or ups,they dont show the shipping fee to your customer.
a porcelain tea set 10 dollars handling fee is okay,i bet grandma does a great job.
posted on August 18, 2002 12:29:55 PM
JACK, YOU WERE RIGHT ON IN YOUR FIRST REPLY.
I charge actual cost of shipping & if I use Priority mail boxes, that is it. If I ship by FedEx, I charge $2.00 for packing supplies, (boxes etc.) I do my own packing, & have oit packe as soon as the auction is over. I camn tell the buyer with certainty exactly what tge shipping charges are. I shi[ anything 2 lbs & under by Prioriyt mail, everything else by FedEX.
[ edited by sanmar on Aug 18, 2002 12:34 PM ]
posted on August 18, 2002 01:11:29 PM
I'm with Uaru all the way!
Wish he had pointed out all the mutual benefits - at least the fact that it keeps the little ones off the street and away from the drug dealers.
Not to mention the positive results of "applied mathematics" once the kiddies are trained...er, taught to weigh and calculate postage, especially with all the variables the post office has instituted. By the time they reach high school, they could be mathematical geniuses!
If given a little creativity in their packaging, some latent artistic talents may be developed.
And what Uaru is too modest to mention is that the neighborhood parents also sing his praises, as he only charges them a very nominal fee for his untiring and totally dependable after-school supervision of these youngsters.
posted on August 19, 2002 08:13:32 AM
Austbounty, your's is the best post justifying shipping costs I have ever seen. I don't blame buyers for trying to get something (shipping) for nothing, but I'm sure not going to give it to them.
posted on August 19, 2002 11:22:53 AM
its only deceitful if you do not include the shipping and handling charge in your auction or hide the $10 handling charge from your buyers. otherwise no its business.
posted on August 19, 2002 03:44:39 PM
I charge because I can.
Laise-faire (free market)
I charge as much as the market will bear.
Isn’t that the way of a free market in a democracy??
JACKSWEBB; WHAT ARE YOU?,
ANTI-THE-AMERICAN-WAY
SOME KIND OF COMMUNIST?
OR
OR ARE YOU SOME KIND OF TROLL WORKING FOR EBAY, PEDLING ANTI-HANDLING-CHARGES PROPOGANDA BECAUSE EBAY DON’T MAKE ANY FEES ON THEM.????
JACKSWEBB CAN HAVE ALL THE FRUGAL BUYERS,
I DON’T WANT THEM.
