posted on February 27, 2004 06:45:58 PM new
Hi All,
Kinda venting alittle.
I have found so many seller that over charge on there shipping that it's making me sick to even bid on there auction.
I usually don't care if they over charge by a few dollars, (which all the sellers that sell what I am bidding on seem to do) but they are making the same amount it cost for them to ship. example: priority shipping is 3.85, & tracking.........so charge me 5.00 or 5.50 a little to cover your newspaper and broken up box you ship this very fragil item in.........lmao......
And I email the sellers if they don't have shipping listed before I bid and I get emails telling me how honest they are, and how they are a special ebay seller!........lol..........Well I don't usually question anyones shipping charges, if I don't like it I dont bid if possible but tonight I had to email and question this seller................less then a 1lb weight for this item the seller is asking for 10.00 shipping........"I asked him how much is shipping to my zip code area"???????.......I'm still waiting for his reply.
I couldn't help it, I told him I would rather pay more for the item then to know I'm being ripped off on shipping............I think I am finally discussed with how they are trying to gouge us buyers with inflated shipping prices, its totally uncalled for and Ebay is letting it happen, ..........Or is it us Buyers who is letting it happen..........
I do see lots of sellers with very fair shipping costs, but it just anoyes me when I see how some of the other sellers just don't care.
I have been a seller for over 5 years and I worry if I made a mistake on shipping costs but they are doing it knowing they are over charging...........
posted on February 27, 2004 07:02:20 PM new
Buyers are the ones who control that, if you don't like the shipping as listed just don't bid... maybe drop the seller a line and simply state " think shipping is too high"
Once again only the seller knows what it costs to ship an item... do you count your time in packing the item? Some people do, after all that is time spent on getting it shipped...
posted on February 27, 2004 07:24:14 PM new
On perhaps the majority of items that sell on ebay for under $10 the s/h may be higher than the final price. That about doubles the final price and often makes looking for the item locally a necessity.
-------------- sig file ----------- *There is no conclusive evidence that life is serious*
posted on February 27, 2004 07:26:43 PM new
tonimar1, If I am reading your post right I think you are fair in your thinking about shipping cost. A lot of sellers pad the shipping cost way too much and yes they are stuffing their pockets. I ship a fair amount of fragile stuff and used a lot of bubble wrap and other material. I just ordered 200 hundred boxes to ship single plates in, they cost with shipping over $200.00. I hope you find it fair if I charge 1 or 2 dollars more then shipping cost to cover my cost. I would think that sellers that way over charge are only hurting their sales. Am I right about this or are the buyers asleep.
posted on February 27, 2004 07:31:54 PM new
I've written too, and usually I get no response, or one with a lot of hostility. If shipping is $10 on a $2 item, then you could probably report them to ebay if you wanted to for fee evasion. $10 for under a pound is definitely excessive.
posted on February 27, 2004 08:25:55 PM new
hi,
yes, BIGPEEPA.........I would gladly paid extra for the extra packing of the item, I don't have a problem with anyone covering there expenses, I wish I would cover mine a little better then I do. But lots of the items im buying are priced differently and the sellers of these items seem to follow what each other seller of the same item charge for shipping so its making it where you either bid or dont bid and I just don't think its fair to the buyer.
Tonite I have bid on 10 items and only 2 of these items had a fair shipping cost and the shipping was not listed I had to contact each one of them.
I'm still hopeing to hear from the guy who is asking 10.00 for a 1lb item, its sad because if they were a little fairer with shipping I could bid higher on the item but I just wont do that when the shipping is so High.
The last batch of itmes I bought the same thing happend and I was anoyed then too but for some reason tonite its really making me crazy!!!!!!!8-}...........
PLUSSSSSSSSS, I paid right away with paypal or bidpay whatever they say and its been two weeks and still 3 items didnt get shipped yet..........lol......
posted on February 27, 2004 08:36:18 PM new
This is an ongoing argument here at vendio that we sure can't settle in one thread. I agree that some sellers really pad their shipping costs. None of the commercial catalogues or companies, even QVC, that I buy from charge $10 to ship a 1-pound item. Not one.
I have, however, started adding into my media mail charges, for books, the cost of the padded mailers I use. I didn't use to, for fear I'd get complaints, but it's just actual shipping plus bubble mailer cost, as of now. Usually under $2.50 total.
If I can't sell for enough money by getting what the buyer is willing to pay for a book, then I'll get out of selling on Ebay. I have to face myself in the mirror every morning, and I want to like the person I'm looking at.
___________________________________
Give a person a fish and you feed him for a day; teach that person to use
the Internet and he
won't bother you for weeks.
posted on February 27, 2004 08:42:52 PM new
How very true Roadsmith........Thats how I feel also about my selling here on Ebay.
Thats why it bothers me to see what some are doing and there doesn't seem to be anything that can be done except .......don't bid,..and thats just very sad.
posted on February 27, 2004 09:25:18 PM newThats why it bothers me to see what some are doing and there doesn't seem to be anything that can be done except .......don't bid,..and thats just very sad.
Yes, it's still a free country and you can't invoke the authorities to close down another seller just because they do business differently from you. Thank heaven.
People ARE going to do what is in their own best interest. Get used to it and get over it.
[ edited by fluffythewondercat on Feb 27, 2004 10:50 PM ]
posted on February 27, 2004 11:49:45 PM new
::None of the commercial catalogues or companies, even QVC, that I buy from charge $10 to ship a 1-pound item. Not one. ::
Since every fulfillment company I have ever dealt with bases shipping charges on the dollar amount of the order as opposed to weight I am betting that statement is not correct. Just to check... I pulled out the Victorias Secret catalog I recieved today and if I were to purchase two bras from them, definitely under a pound, shipping would be $10.95.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on February 28, 2004 12:42:09 AM new
Ebay's fee structure affects my shipping fees which are fixed and clearly noted in the description.
If I want $15 for an item that costs $5 to ship, I will list it at $9.95 (fixed price listing) with a fixed $10 shipping charge.
If I want $35 for an item that costs $5 to ship, I will list it at $24.95 and $15 fixed shipping charge.
That's technically ebay fee avoidance but it sometimes takes 4 or 5 times before an item will sell and listing fees eat away profits.
I don't work for free or for a loss. If everything sold on the 1st or 2nd try, I would be glad to list things at higher prices with lower shipping costs.
As long as fixed shipping costs are clearly noted in the description, then the buyer has nothing to complain about. If I'm willing to pay $50 for a 1 lb. item and the seller has a $.01 Buy-it-now price with $49.00 fixed shipping, I'll buy it and not whine about it.
posted on February 28, 2004 04:30:40 AM new
Toni, as a buyer, I used to feel like you do. But as a seller, I know I can spend all morning and maybe most of the day depending on what I am shipping out, just packing, printing receipts and getting to the po. There has to be some compensation for your time involved -- as well as just a little more than a few dollars profit on the item. It gets ridiculous to even do it otherwise.
posted on February 28, 2004 04:52:26 AM new
Snicker away, Classicrock. It's a free country! ;D
___________________________________
Give a person a fish and you feed him for a day; teach that person to use
the Internet and he
won't bother you for weeks.
posted on February 28, 2004 05:03:40 AM new
I turn people in who I think are practicing fee avoidance or over charging for s&h. let eBay sort'em out. Last person had 50 auctions up, eBay wack them all!!
In any business there is the cost of doing business this cost is not extra postage. It should be part of the selling price or asking price. My cost of doing business is roughly 3 bucks per item, thats the box, the packing material, the scan, the writing, the drive to the PO, printer ink, coffee, etc.
So you have Wholesale Cost of Widget + Cost of doing Business + Plus profit margin = asking price. Then add S&H. A decent handling charge is no more than 2 bucks.
posted on February 28, 2004 05:22:47 AM newallding-dongs provided the following morsel of moronic doo-doo:
"A decent handling charge is no more than 2 bucks"
Says who?? Says where in eBay's TOS??
If you don't like a seller's TOS & shipping and/or payment policies...DON'T BID!
Seems pretty simple -- the market will level the field.
What we donna need is more sanctimonious self-righteous holier-than-thous playing feeBay-cop, P&M'ing all the time to Mama Meg
CNBC: "Unless the economy adds at least 2.3 million jobs by the end of the year, Bush will go down as the first president since Hoover to preside over a four-year term in which total employment fell."
posted on February 28, 2004 05:27:11 AM new
There isn't a lot of logic to handling charges when items are only available shipped and not for customer pickup (i.e., they are not providing a service they don't normally give to all customers). But sellers of all sorts (catalogs, eBay, etc.) like to keep handling charges separate because it can make the price look more attractive. Some hotels are starting to do this sort of thing, allowing them to keep the posted room rate competitive, while trying to squeeze some profit with "extras". One I found has a "housekeeping charge" (I was tempted to call and ask if I could avoid this by picking up after myself).
I know that no one is going to change their minds about these charges, but I can understand why people get annoyed about what should be just a cost of doing business, and taken from the seller's gross. Sellers are entitled to whatever they can get for an item - just don't give me some illogical hooey about your charges.
posted on February 28, 2004 06:38:42 AM newSince every fulfillment company I have ever dealt with bases shipping charges on the dollar amount of the order as opposed to weight I am betting that statement is not correct.
True, except when the weight of the item is substantial compared with the dollar amount, then there is an additional surcharge noted in the catalogue. It will still cost you more to have a $799 Pottery Barn leather recliner shipped than a $799 pair of Tiffany 18k gold and diamond earrings. Cataloguers don't eat shipping costs like many amateur eBay sellers do. And if somehow they accidentally did, they certainly wouldn't feel that losing money is a sign of virtuousness!
posted on February 28, 2004 06:49:10 AM new
..i have been on ebay long enuff to know better..i am the ultimate educated consumer...HAHAHAHAH
---------
..the truth is i have allowd myself to be duped again..i realize that many of you have described bigger $ situations than the following-but i think i was the ultimate "screwed."
..recently, i bought a clothe L&N patch[2x2in]..."bidder to pay $2.65 s/h/i]"
..received patch in a USED envelope with new postage on it...cost to seller....37cents...the insult was not the 2.65, it was the used envelope!and the one stamp cost..
--------------------
..heavy hitter seller...i asked for refund in way of stamps..he did so..
-------------------------
myoldtoy
posted on February 28, 2004 09:03:53 AM new
To repeat - if the S/H is too high -just don't bid. There is a lot of this 'stuff' out there and it will come up again - unless it is a one-of-a-kind, just-won't-see-it-again item. In that case, bid if it is worth the extra shipping.
As for other companies not charging $10. I needed a belt for the Phantom vacuum clearner. 2 belts - shipping charges $10.00!!!! It wasn't worth it - so I gave the vacuum cleaner away. I had others and that one was given to me.
Bottom line - if it's worth it bid - if not don't.
I recently sold a vase for $6 - shipping to California was $8.50 - actual shipping - it happens.
Somehow, I have a problem with reporting on someone unless it is a serious infraction. I think we are all better off if we simply exercise our rights and put our money where our mouth/mind is. Anything else, usually results in added fees or restrictions being placed on all of us. Whether it be on Ebay or in the government.
Just an opinion and not meant to be argumentative.
posted on February 28, 2004 09:21:32 AM new
Goodmorning All
I just received a reply from the seller who is asking 10.00 for shipping.....his reply to me was.........."shipping is as stated in auction" which means its 10.00.
As a seller for many years I have always made my profit on my item price, I figure out my cost......my listing fees.....the cost if they use paypal......then that is my opening bid price.
In my shipping price I charge resonable handling fee to cover materials which is never more then 1.00 but most of the times its less then that.
And, I am finding out now also as I have been buying too that the sellers I have been dealing with are not quick to ship, but for the high shipping cost they charge you would think when a buyer pays with paypal or bidpay they would ship your item out quickly, but its the not the way they do it.
One of the sellers who is in Canada wanted payment with bidpay only .........ok, no problem, so it cost me 4.95 to make the payment .......7.00 to ship a 1lb item........and now its 11days later and he still didnt ship the item, I emailed asking when he is shipping he said, on monday 3/1...but with slow shipping it might take another 10days...............Well before answering his email I need more then one cup of coffee for this one........
Please tell me.......am I going crazy all along here.....or do I have company???????......
posted on February 28, 2004 09:44:48 AM new
tonimar1, if you paid with BidPay some sellers wait to receive the Money Order before shipping so don't assume that he hasn't done that. It would take about a week for him to get it.
Also in Canada the post offices are usually closed on the weekends. $7.00 to ship a one pound item isn't out of line.
posted on February 28, 2004 09:53:12 AM new
EBAY IS A FLEA MARKET.you are expecting sellers to behave the same as you or in line with you.
how you mark up your item and how much you charge for shipping,how fast you ship etc is not a standard every seller must follow.
if you are not happy with any specific sellers,dont bid on their items .
if you dont like ebay sellers in general,then stay away from ebay and buy your items somewhere else.
i recall one canadian cd seller would drive across the border to ship her cd so she can ship domestic media mail and make some money from shipping.i know there are some sellers who are disabled and cant get to the post office that often or rely on someone to ship for them etc etc.
some may have young kids they need to attend to or work two jobs.
best is to ask questions before you bid,if you dont like what you hear,then dont bid.
there will always be more coming.
-sig file -------the lobster in the boiling pot of water who tries to prevent the others from climbing out.
