LtRay
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posted on July 16, 2006 05:49:56 PM
I've been looking for an 1877 shield nickel for a friend. I know I can't afford the real thing and a copy will work for the joke I am doing, but jeeze, some of the shipping prices in the coin category are outrageous!
6 shield nickels $10 and no combined shipments. Yikes!
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irked
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posted on July 16, 2006 06:03:39 PM
This is the kind of A-holes that need reporting. Probably will send first class for a dollar something. at best the priority would cost $5.40 if it didn't go over 50 bucks. Jeez is right. OH well.
I did some listings today not launched yet and I guessed on shipping for them but will be real close I imagine probably not over a dollar over if that. Guess I should have looked at my chart but was just too lazy to do even that today. But I do refund differences over a dollar 99% of time if I am way off, mainly because I don't want to be a ship-jerk overcharger.
**************
You're just jealous because the voices only talk to me!
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LtRay
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posted on July 16, 2006 09:53:59 PM
I usually don't worry about 1,2 or even 3 dollars on an order such as this. I think the seller's time is worth something. But this one really bugged me for some reason.
The $10 Priotity Mail. So he is probably using a free flate rate envelope. Total packaging time 10 minutes if he is slow. Locate item, print packing slip, some bubble wrap perhaps. What the heck is he charging for, his appraisal time???
If he is paying an employee, I'd be happy to do his shipping for a cut on that action.
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sparkz
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posted on July 16, 2006 09:59:12 PM
He's most likely planning on stopping off at a tavern on his way back from the Post Office.
If Murphy's law is correct, everything East of the San Andreas Fault will slide into the Atlantic
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pixiamom
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posted on July 16, 2006 11:51:14 PM
My guess is that he has neatly fallen below the radar of shipping gouging. He is shipping priority insured. His time is worth something. Clearly, he is making a very good profit on shipping but I have seen much worse.
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pmelcher
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posted on July 17, 2006 06:23:28 AM
He is also charging $3.00 for optional insurance!
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on July 17, 2006 08:01:20 AM
I guess I don't see the problem here. I was expecting this to be a 99 cent auction, but no, it's $17.99. I don't know coins, so maybe this is still incredibly cheap, but from a fee-avoidance standpoint (like pixiamom said) I've seen much worse.
Maybe it's a perception thing.
Ever since I've known my sweetie, some 14 years now, he's complained about the cost of diesel fuel. This is for a passenger car, mind you, that typically requires one fill-up per MONTH.
After 14 years of hearing this lament every time we pass a gas station with diesel, I finally asked, "What's a fair and honest price for diesel? What are you WILLING to pay?"
He had no response.
So I take it that as long as diesel is priced more than $0.00, it costs too much.
Must be why people love free shipping, even when it costs them more.
fLufF
--
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WashingtoneBayer
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posted on July 17, 2006 08:44:24 AM
Diesel should be no more than a $1/gal as it is a byproduct for making gasoline.
The coins are overpriced but that hasn't stopped some bidders before and after all items are actually worth what someone pays for it.
He is gouging on shipping and if you lived in Canada it really would make his day if you won.
Ron
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eauctionmgnt
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posted on July 17, 2006 01:03:22 PM
I just don't really see this as being that excessive for a shipping charge. He's shipping it priority mail... so it could be either a $4.05 flat-rate envelope... or possibly a flat rate box.. which would be $8.10. (some coin dealers don't like shipping in envelopes, since it's too easy for a coin to fall out, or be recognized as money and "disappear" . Regardless of his method, he's also probably using some other sort of packing material to protect the coins (holders, foam sheets, bubble wrap). Then add in his time... it's not "cheap" s/h... but I don't think it's outrageous. This is where I start to get worried about eBay becomming too actively involved in policing excessive s/h charges.
1) They don't know how much I paid for my shipping supplies
2) They don't know how much time it takes me to pack something
3) They don't necesarily know the exact shipping method used (like in Priority mail where it can be shipped flat-rate box, flat-rate envelope, or the standard priority)
4) They don't know if I'm "averaging" the s/h charges. By this, I mean that shipping something east-coast to east-coast is certainly cheaper than east-coast to west-coast. However, most buyers want an EXACT s/h quote... so if you average it, it might need to be a bit higher to cover the west coast s/h... even though it will cost considerably less to ship to the east coast.
Bottom line is there's going to be a lot of upset sellers if eBay starts nickeling (pun intended) the sellers stated s/h charges...
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WashingtoneBayer
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posted on July 17, 2006 01:14:48 PM
1) They don't know how much I paid for my shipping supplies
As a buyer I don't care. That is your expense not mine.
2) They don't know how much time it takes me to pack something
Again as a buyer I don't care.
3) They don't necesarily know the exact shipping method used (like in Priority mail where it can be shipped flat-rate box, flat-rate envelope, or the standard priority)
We really know it is going to be shipped cheapest way possible.
Ron
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mikes4x4andtruckrepair
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posted on July 17, 2006 01:38:49 PM
1) They don't know how much I paid for my shipping supplies
As a buyer I don't care. That is your expense not mine.
Umm, no it's your expense. You bought it, you want it shipped to you, you pay for all shipping fee's and related cost. That is what shipping and handling charges are afterall.
2) They don't know how much time it takes me to pack something
Again as a buyer I don't care.
Once again it does not matter if you "care" or not. As a buyer you pay for it and I say again that's what shipping and "handling" charges are afterall.
3) They don't necesarily know the exact shipping method used (like in Priority mail where it can be shipped flat-rate box, flat-rate envelope, or the standard priority)
We really know it is going to be shipped cheapest way possible.
Wow, you must be telepathic or something to know that before you even get the package. It might just supprise you that not all sellers use the cheapest method there is. I often times upgrade the shipping method over what a buyer sellected and paid for at my expense.
It's rather simple. If they tell you what the shipping and handling fee's are in the listing what are you complaining about. You know how much it's going to cost so just figure that into what you are willing to bid. I agree there is alot of excessive shipping on ebay but I'm talking about people charging $200 to ship something and having a buy it now price of 99 cents on the item. That is a clear cut case of ebay fee avoidance.
There's also this amazing thing you can do if you don't like there shipping charges. IT'S CALLED DON'T BID.
 1 out of 4 people are mentally unbalanced. Take a look at your 3 closest friends. If they seem alright, you're the one! - Kyle Stubbins, CMS
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eauctionmgnt
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posted on July 17, 2006 01:47:08 PM
Thanks Mikes... I couldn't have said it better!
Although... just worth pointing out... as a seller, it doesn't really concern me if a bidder "doesn't care" about all the expenses involved in s/h. What I DO care about, it the possibility that eBay may start deciding HOW MUCH I can start charging for s/h.... based on THEIR opinion of how much I should be paying for shipping supplies, the method of shipment they would pick versus what I might pick, how much time I should spend on packing my items, how much I should be paid for that time, and a host of other things that they have no business interfering with. If I feel I deserve to be paid $10.00 an hour for my time packing... is it fair for eBay to tell me I can only get paid $5.00 an hour? I don't think so!!!
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stonecold613
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posted on July 17, 2006 01:59:35 PM
He is shipping priority insured.
But he is charging an extra $3.00 for insurance that costs $1.35. Another eBay no-no.
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WashingtoneBayer
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posted on July 17, 2006 03:50:01 PM
Wrong Mike.
As a seller you have your s&h listed. Do you really think a buyer cares how you came to that amount?
As I buyer I don't care how much you have to pay for YOUR shipping supplies.
As a buyer I don't care how long it takes YOU to pack the item you are going to ship to me or how far you have to drive to have it shipped.
What you sellers are forgetting is that as a bidder/buyer we only care about the amount we are going to pay for an item which includes s&h.
You are right that I don't have to bid and when looking to the next seller, report what I see has overinflated shipping thus avoiding ebay fees.
and if it comes to a point you don't want eBay to tell you what you can charge for s&h then you had best be looking at the s&h charge closely because now a bidder does have a recourse for someone with overinflated shipping.
does every seller inflate shipping? Nope and I never said they did, but do you see good news mostly on tv or bad? How many stories of great good eBay sellers have you seen compared to those who were scamming?
Ron
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WashingtoneBayer
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posted on July 17, 2006 03:53:26 PM
wanted to add that what I think will come about is that every seller will have to use "calculate" for shipping and it will have set limits.
especially if some bean counter gets in and sees how much eBay is losing in lost fees.
Ron
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eauctionmgnt
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posted on July 17, 2006 05:06:14 PM
Ron,
I agree that bidders don't care as much about HOW we come to create our s/h charges... as the do WHAT the actual s/h charge is.
However, when you click on one sellers auction and then find another sellers auction with substantially lower s/h charges... does that mean that the original seller was overcharging on s/h. NO!! Not necessarily!!! I would say that many eBay sellers actually UNDER value their s/h charges. And if you DON'T know how much cost is actually involved... then YOU aren't qualified to determine that the original seller is overcharging. And neither is eBay! Many sellers are probably only paying themselves $1-2 an hour for their packing time. If they want to work that cheaply... that's their decision, and your gain.
As for limits... who decides them? Who dictates what fair packing supplies should cost? Who determines how long it should take to pack items? Who is going to decide that a boat motor should be as easy to pack as an equally heavy bag of bricks? These aren't easy questions to answer.
eBay should continue to go after the obvious fee avoidence issues (like the ticket w/ $250 s/h charges). But when you're dealing with small items (like the one referenced in the begining) where there isn't that much $$ in the s/h charge to begin with... eBay should STAY OUT OF IT! (and don't even get me started on how stupid it is to let bidders have a "report this item" button on all our auctions...)
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WashingtoneBayer
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posted on July 17, 2006 06:13:20 PM
No those are not easy questions and unfortunately the small seller may end up taking in the shorts.
I sell also, so I do understand your concern because lets face it bidders can be a fickle bunch. I ran some auctions at a somewhat high opening bid and free shipping, few bids. I turned around and offered the items at .99 cents and shipping as the remainder so the amounts were equal and I had more bids. Shipping was at media rate and was stated so, with this new policy I would of been guilty of over inflated shipping. But it seems some bidders will look at shipping and some will not.
It is not an easy business.
Ron
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stonecold613
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posted on July 18, 2006 08:37:20 AM
One thing that seems to be lost in this whole thread, is the original item up for discussion. It was for coins. $10.00 to ship priority for one. No combining of shipping. In this case, they could ship literally 100's of coins for the same $4.05. That is clearly fee avoidance as far as I am concerned.
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eauctionmgnt
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posted on July 18, 2006 09:06:23 AM
stone...
Again, not necessarily. Different sellers use different methods. It is quite common for sellers to pre-package their lots, so that they can quickly ship the item after the auction ends. These sellers rarely combine s/h charges, because the packages are pre-packed and would have to be unpacked and repacked to ship in one package. Personally, I think it's a silly way to do things... but many swear by it.
If it is indeed just a different way of doing business, is it really right for eBay (or other bidders) to interfere in that seller's choice of how he/she conducts their business?
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ladyjewels2000
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posted on July 18, 2006 02:02:30 PM
One of his negative FBs is about over charging on shipping. No surprise!!
I've seen worst too but this is excessive IMO. But I think it's just as bad that he won't ship 1st class. He could ship all 6 coins in a lite weight box or padded envelope for about $1.00 - give or take. He could charge $6.00 still making his $4.50 profit(on shipping) but he would save the customer $4.00. You won't find me bidding on his items!!
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stonecold613
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posted on July 19, 2006 09:30:32 AM
These sellers rarely combine s/h charges, because the packages are pre-packed and would have to be unpacked and repacked to ship in one package.
Then I say to those sellers, get off of your lazy ass.
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gasolineguys
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posted on July 19, 2006 12:19:59 PM
How about this one.
RARE Taco Bell Chihuahua Dog Antenna Flag Viva Gorditas $0.99
$7.99 Buy it Now. This is paper about 2"x3".
She has a postage button with your zip. For me it was 3.92. This will mail for .39
don
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eauctionmgnt
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posted on July 19, 2006 12:29:08 PM
Don,
You've just illustrated my whole point throughout this thread!!!
That is NOT outrageous s/h at all! I am actually a seller of vintage paper ephemera. You can NOT safely ship paper in a regular envelope for $0.39!!!!
I spend an average of $0.60-1.20 on my specialty stay-flat cardboard mailers. These mailers are made of sturdy cardboard, which of course increase the weight of the overall shipment. (hence, higher postage cost). The cheapest postage is usually around $1.20 something... On top of that, I encase my paper items inside a plastic bag to ensure that there is no moisture damage. I'm also paying for stamping it with my return address, and don't fold or bend message, as well as extra tape to ensure the envelope doesn't open. My minimum cost on JUST supplies/postage is about $2.00. That doesn't cover any of my time for labor expenses. A $3.92 charge would not be excessive AT ALL.
GET A LIFE PEOPLE!!! STOP COMPLAINING ABOUT S/H!!! IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE TOTAL COST OF AN ITEM, DON'T BID? WHAT'S SO HARD ABOUT THAT?!?!
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mikes4x4andtruckrepair
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posted on July 19, 2006 01:17:48 PM
Sorry to say but some people are just hard headed and will never get it. The same people that will later complain about a seller that only charged .39 cents to ship their item because it was eaten by the USPS mailstream and that you didn't properly package it. It's just a never ending pointless argument.
1 out of 4 people are mentally unbalanced. Take a look at your 3 closest friends. If they seem alright, you're the one! - Kyle Stubbins, CMS
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stonecold613
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posted on July 19, 2006 01:53:40 PM
In Don's example, I would say it is very reasonable shipping. Yes, .39 actual postage. Then add materials and a little cushion for fees. The total would still be pretty even between costs and income.
It would have been a good example if the shipping calculator was in the $10 range or more IMHO.
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LtRay
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posted on July 20, 2006 08:15:47 AM
My original post was mainly because I felt a 6.00 handling charge was a tad high for coins.
Since I am the buyer, I chose to not pay that much for handling.
As a seller, I charge a handling fee. Depending upon the item it is usually .50 to $3.00. I have no problem with someone paying themselves for their time. The issue is how much someone is willing pay for that time.
I would rather make sales and turn over my inventory than to make a extra $$ in handling fees and lose out on the sales.
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toben88
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posted on July 20, 2006 11:40:44 AM
This is nothing. I once bought a watch for 99 cents and paid $17.95 shipping plus a dollar insurance to get it mailed to me in an envelope with a standard first class stamp on it.
I just updated my new website - give me your feedback on it.
http://gotflag.com
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