posted on September 30, 2002 01:26:35 PM
I know this issue has been brought up a thousand times here, but I have a problem dealing with it. We all agree that whatever you state for shipping charges is what the buyer agrees to and therefore it is right. If you don't agree...don't bid. That's what I have the problem with, I just can not run an auction and try to make my money off the shipping charges and feel right about it. Yes I know thats o.k. and business and all that, but I almost won't sell on E-bay anymore because of it.I tend to take it to the flea market where I will make more off it and not pay all the fees. Just don't need the money that bad I guess.
posted on September 30, 2002 01:35:30 PM
HEY!! Whats wrong with that?? That is exactly how I do business. I charge the amount of cost of shipping plus $1.50 for the cost of the box & packing materials. I realize that some sellers don't feel that way, but am too daXX old to giveawy the product & rip the buyer off with the shipping so the seller can screw eBay out of commissions. I don't buy very often on eBay, I sure don't buy from those charge outlandish shipping charges.
posted on September 30, 2002 04:04:58 PM
I'm with tooltimes
I hate how the people who sell the electronics parts on Ebay over charge on the shipping. I know the couple of times I have purchased small electronics parts they come in a brown envelope and the actual shipping is like $1.45 and I was charged 5 times that amount and they are slow to ship the items.
posted on September 30, 2002 05:22:02 PM
You're right, you're just not cut out for business. Business is not about emotion and feeling bad about making back your costs. Plus when you figure the lower prices buyer's generally pay compared to alternative means, and the convenience of not having to run around town, why feel bad about buyers? It's works for them and it may as well work out well for the seller too.
What I don't understand about your post is, why worry about charging a handling fee? All businesses operate to get their costs back plus a profit, so what's the dilemma here? Forget explaining, like I said you're just not cut out for business.
posted on September 30, 2002 07:23:08 PM
mah645: You seem very confused. Perhaps you should seek professional counselling. No rational person would allow anyone else's business decisions to dictate how HE must do business.
posted on September 30, 2002 11:34:19 PM
MAH645
Yes it can be a problem extracting S&H fees from bidders even though they have 'CONTRACTED' to buy by 'YOUR TERMS'
The fact that there are many chats, which seem to promote an ethos of ‘charging actual packaging’ doesn’t help.
I have often wondered if it would be profitable for ebay to pay wages to people to just cruise the chat boards as trolls who could aid in the promotion of this ethos.
They may complain about $6 S&H fee on a RAM chip, but the fact is "THEY WILL PAY" in the great majority of cases, if handled correctly.
Charge as much as the market will bear!!
That is pure business LAW.
I have a couple of 'STANDARD' responses to e-mail criticism of S&H charges.
Make the letter as long as you like, in fact make it long and in great details, and state your case, even explain how you need to pay packers because you don't have time, also point out what the max. weight is which the couriers will accept.
Also point out the limitations in some insurance cover, if the item is deemed to be inadequately packaged.
Perhaps even, respectfully suggest that they reduce their 'BID AMOUNT' by the amount they feel your S&H charges excessive.
Give them a link to the following page.
http://pages.ebay.com/help/community/npb.html
It explains what can happen if they fail to complete the deal.
Good Luck.
A man’s word was once considered his bond.
But
Some “Low End Buyer$’ “ CLICK ain’t worth $hit.
posted on October 1, 2002 05:27:19 AM
austbounty: I have often wondered if it would be profitable for ebay to pay wages to people to just cruise the chat boards as trolls who could aid in the promotion of this ethos.
I have often wondered how much wrong information is given here for competitive
reasons.
When I started a few years ago I took note of all that was being posted. "Why bother to list cause nuttin' is sellin'" "Don't charge a handling fee because I WON'T look." "Leave off PP and lose customers!" "Don't use templates, even solid ones, because I WILL back out!"
Took me a year to realize I had to do my own thing. Items in my collectible lines are always selling. I finally took my own advice and after a year raised all my smaller First Class items to a flat fee. And most larger items I am adding a fair fee.
posted on October 1, 2002 08:26:57 AM
And after you have received that long email wherein the seller whinged about having to pay their packers, the woes of the couriers, the cost of gas and telephone services etc., get out your tiny little violin and play them a "so sad for you" tune.
posted on October 1, 2002 08:37:11 AM
I don't feel right about shopping "sales" or buying on ebay the closeouts because those stores lose profits on me. I'm going to start paying full price, and if I win something on ebay I'm going to demand that the seller charge me extra on handling to cover his full labor costs on shipping.
posted on October 1, 2002 03:40:24 PM
I sell an item at weekend faires that I make a decent markup on with the manufacturer's suggested retail. I met another vendor this past weekend who has the same exact item for 3x the price I sell it for.
Should I be mad because he is making more money than me on the item? I sell through more of them, so maybe I make more money in the long run...
Making your money on the shipping? I uses to purchase from an online and catalog company. I liked them so much that I would check their stuff first when I was looking for something. Then they went to a 'membership' program. That disgusted me. Why should I pay money just to have the 'right' to purchase from them. It made me so mad that I no longer buy from them and I don't even remember their names. I still buy stuff though. I found other companies to deal with.
You see, I am a consumer. I do what is right for me. I am a seller on Ebay, I do what is right for me. If you don't want to be a seller on Ebay, then don't. But NO ONE told you that you have to pad your shipping charges. Do what is right for you.
posted on October 3, 2002 04:50:04 PM
TOBEN,,,,,YOU CERTAINLY SPELLED IT OUT CLEARLY. I LIKE THAT. DO YOU REALLY DO THAT OR ARE YOU JUST JOUSTING? DO THEY EVER BALK? YOU SAY IT RIGHT IN THE AUCTION? $7.99 S/H? NO SURPRISES TO THE "WINNER"? I GOT A TON OF .99 STUFF. BEEN STARTING AT $1.99 AND GAVE ACTUAL POSTAGE + $1.00. DON'T LIKE SELLING ANYTHING UNDER,,,,,,REALLY UNDER STARTING BID OF $10.00 BUT I GOT THESE THINGS AND I LIKE YER THINKIN'. PLEASE REPLY.
SHOOT!!! ON SECOND THOUGHT,,,,,,I AIN'T WAITIN' FOR NO REPLY,,,,,,I AM GETTIN' TO WORK! THANKS.
NOPE,,,,I NEEDED NOT TO WAIT. 5 AUCTIONS ARE NOW ON. .99 START. BUY IT NOW $1.99. ONLY,,,,,,ONLY,,,$7.95 S/H. SPELLED OUT RIGHT IN THE AUCTION. GREAT IDEA!!!!!! THANK YOU.
MAH645,,,,,GET TO WORK!!!!!HAHAHAHHA.
AND THE BEAT GOES ON.......
[ edited by JACKSWEBB on Oct 3, 2002 05:17 PM ]
posted on October 3, 2002 05:41:35 PM
Yes I do that a lot with old software I have.
1 CD for .99 cents + 7.95 shipping and handling.
Im in this for the money. I dont hide the s/h charge. Who cares if 7 of the 7.95 is my handling fee.
I also list those ebooks with free delivery since I dont have to pay for shipping since it is an email to a link to download.
Read the auction - buy what you want.
i have only had one complaint and that was legit - i charged $25 to ship 25 DVD's - I figured a $ a dvd was fair but the buyer didnt. then again it was on the 3rd line in the auction listing.
posted on October 3, 2002 05:42:52 PM
I have also gone to the dollar store and bought stuff to list for .99 cents plus $7.95 shipping and handling - so I make @ $6 after fees.
posted on October 3, 2002 05:42:59 PM
I have also gone to the dollar store and bought stuff to list for .99 cents plus $7.95 shipping and handling - so I make @ $6 after fees.
posted on October 3, 2002 05:49:28 PM
TOBEN88 IS A BUSINESSMAN! HATS OFF TO YOU! NO ONE EVER SAID IT MUCH CLEARER HERE THAN YOU. NOW MAYBE I CAN START MAKING SOME REAL MONEY!!! HAHAHHA. THANKS. I AM SURE OTHERS WILL FOLLOW IN YOUR PATH. TURN .99 INTO $7.95!!! YEAH! I LIKE IT, I LIKE IT!
posted on October 4, 2002 06:29:05 AM
Can't believe how some folks just dont vallue thier time. Head down the road to that factory, they will pay you over $20 for an hour of your time - and many of them are scrounging to find people to fill the position. If it costs me 20 minutes of packing and driving (proffesional drivers can make alot more than $20 per hour btw) to ship an item, plus the cost of materials whats that add up to? 20 minutes of my time for less than $7 is a bargain.
If people refuse to charge for their time, and give it away free they will eventually all quit selling because they will go broke. And then... Ebay will cease to exist. That's what I love about capitalism though, the folks that are willing to do what it takes will always come out on top of things.
If you want to give away your time, go have a yardsale or volenteer at the Red Cross. Call it what you want, selling on Ebay is a business no matter what some people want it to be.
posted on October 4, 2002 06:55:58 AM
Well said eagleedc!
It does seem to be a catch-22 situation, if you take the time to package well so the item arrives safe and sound; the bidder gets upset for paying for this.
If you just throw in a package and ship, they get upset because the item didn't get there in one piece.
I prefer having them b*tch alittle about high shipping, then to come an b*tch about something being damaged in shipment.
The real problem is that some sellers do charge high shipping and then still send it crappily packaged.
Ain't Life Grand...
posted on October 4, 2002 02:50:00 PM
If I can't sell something and make profit without lying about the product, or getting more on shipping and handling than the customer wants to pay for the product shipped I don't need the money.I have a great paying job and I make good at the flea market which I do as a hobby.E-bay is also a hobby. I really would say alot of people no longer buy on E-Bay because they don't agree with what everybody says is business and if you don't like it don't bid, I for one don't bid alot of times. If your business is better than ever, enjoy!
posted on October 4, 2002 08:07:48 PM
Have Fun at the flea Market !!!
I like walking to my mailbox for money - and no whining customers. Really the only abuse on the handling charge is the new computer systems and barebones systems. - they charge $99 s/h fee.
I enjoy tacking on $7 or so handling - when I put it up front in the auction I know I am being honest and making good money. So far my feedback is 71 - 2 - 0 so I must be doing something right.
