posted on May 2, 2000 01:31:40 PM new
I was looking for some magazine's I collect and there was one listed for $2.00 and $2.85 shipping. The magazine weighs less then 2 oz. I just got a shipment of 4 for $1.13 bookrate and just mailed out one for $.77 first class - even if I'd have opted to have it certified - it would have been $2.17. So I left a question asking what kind of shipping they were using?
Did I overstep my bounds for pointing this problem out or do you feel that other people should be made aware of people trying to make extra $$ off of shipping costs?
posted on May 2, 2000 02:31:38 PM new
I wont say you over steped your bounds asking questions its always best when confused to ask.
What I will say since I am a seller I under stand what goes on in the back ground. frist is this when I put togeather my listings and my terms of service there is always a good reason for every term
since the shipping was stated that is what you aree contracting to pay most people admitedly or not change a handleing fee the more well thought out terms will state shipping and handleing
my tos does state that the postage you pay may be less then is on a package you receive cause I always state buyer pays S/H of what ever.
none the less 90% of the time I take a beating on shipping and end up paying up to $1 to $4 more then I state.
for every auction I over estimate shipping I have 15 I lose on.
From my perspective $2.85 seems a reasonable price for shipping. in fact if I was to ship a magazine it would be sandwhiched in cardboard to stiffin the item to pervent any cressing and would more then likely weighted enough it would have cost $3.00 and would be able to send book rate .
posted on May 2, 2000 03:00:47 PM new
There is nothing wrong with using ask the seller a question to get details about ship method, cost etc. It's smarter to do it before you decide to bid rather than making an issue of it after you win.
I have seen several ads which state "I only ship priority, add $3.20". If I know it's a lightweight item I ask if I can get a rate for 1st class or bookrate. (I see no use in priority since it rarely arrives any faster). I prefer sellers to be flexible and opt to save me money if they can.
$2.85 does seem high, like Dman said he may be using lots of cardboard or could be using a large size bubble or photo mailer which can get pricey. I'd find out first, he may plan only using a manilla envelope with .77 postage & pocketing the difference.
posted on May 4, 2000 10:51:44 AM new
Yes it does seem high. If I were you, I'd just not buy from the seller. Sellers set their own TOS & many sellers make money from shipping. As for me I have a flat rate policy for books. This is great for large volume buyers & encourages people to buy more books to take advantage of my low shipping. For example you can order as many books as you wish for $3.85 shipping/insurance.
What happens is that I end up paying for the difference but my profits from a large sale more than covers it. Its hard to really say that a sellers shipping cost is too high or too low because there is also mailing cost involve. Envelopes, boxes, postage etc. all cost money. When you buy from Amazon.com, they have really high shipping cost that pays for overheads & also labor. So its hard to say that this seller is being unreasonable. Eith e-mail him or simply move on.
