E-Bay sellers and shipping charges.

MadMarty · February 19, 2003 6:26AM

Sometimes I am such an idiot!!!
Bid on a coin.
Frankie
Then after looking real hard I see that the seller has a $15 shipping charge. I send him an E-Mail saying that $15 is quite high, and would he reconsider maybe a $6 shipping charge.

After the auction ends. I get an E-Mail that I should retract my bid. Followed by an E-Mail that said:

<< It's people like you that ruin it for everyone else on e-bay. The shipping
charge IS POSTED IN THE E-bay listing I have - you should read the ad before
bidding. I am going to make a report to eBay fraud unit for your actions. You
are not being honest - please do not bother me with any additional e-mail
response...I dont want to hear from you and I dont want to sell you anything. >>

I'll pay for the coin, with the $15 shipping fee, but I'm going to NEG the seller anyway (I'll even take the retalitory NEG). I asked in a very nice way about the shipping charge, and if he would have gotten back to me before the auction ended I WOULD have retracted my bid. But that is no way to write an E-Mail back to a BUYER!

littlewicher · February 19, 2003 6:29AM

This is his first ever ebay sale under this name. $15 is way unacceptable. You could make a counter-claim in the fraud department. "$15.00 for packing, shipping and insurance. Ship in U.S. only. " I would love to see receipts to send this item that add up to $15, absolutely unbelievable.

Lori · February 19, 2003 6:30AM

Wow, that seller seems a tad sensitive. Very rude. I think he should be reported to ebay for charging such an outragous shipping charge for a small coin. I didn't think you could do that and that ebay was clamping down on sellers that sell items cheaper but nail you with shipping to make up for it.

Lori

flaminio · February 19, 2003 6:32AM

Report him to eBay for Fee Avoidance. $15 is ridiculous.

maddox · February 19, 2003 6:33AM

Somewhere I found a mention that excessive shipping charges are a viloation of ebay rules, let me se If I can find it again.

MadMarty, you are always causing problems

MadMarty · February 19, 2003 6:36AM

It's a catch 22 for me, the official E-Bay policy is that if you buy it you pay the shipping. My only out may be that I tried contacting the sell but he did not respond until after the auction ended.

baccaruda · February 19, 2003 6:37AM

i always wondered why people didn't list an item that should sell for $1000 for $1 plus $999 shipping charges to avoid ebay fees. there are still many items where sellers do this.

MadMarty · February 19, 2003 6:43AM

I did report him to E-Bay and included my status as a "Power Seller". I still think I'll pay for the coin and neg him!!!

dlshaw · February 19, 2003 6:47AM

Just wondering, can you put a link in the feed back line?

K6AZ · February 19, 2003 6:56AM

While I agree the $15 is outrageous, I am curious why you bid since it was stated in the auction. The first thing I do is look at the shipping if I am interested in a coin, if it is out of line, I pass on the coin.

agfox · February 19, 2003 6:58AM

No, you can't put a link in the feeback lines. Man if you could they would be full of them.

Russ · February 19, 2003 6:59AM

What's with the annoying yellow box that keeps sliding on to the screen?

Russ, NCNE

K6AZ · February 19, 2003 7:03AM

Russ, that is annoying javascript. If you don't want to see it, you can set eBay up as a restricted site in internet explorer, and use custom settings for the ebay site, then disable java.

Russ · February 19, 2003 7:04AM

<< No, you can't put a link in the feeback lines. Man if you could they would be full of them. >>

Actually, that's one of the best ways to get a feedback removed. Put a link to a page, let's call it say "scumbagseller.html" and list all the details of the transaction, seller's eMail address, etc. If eBay finds it (which of course they will, because you have a bud report it for you), they send you a "please don't do it again" warning, and than they remove the entire thing including the retaliatory from the slimeball seller.

Russ, NCNE

K6AZ · February 19, 2003 7:04AM

By the way, this will also defeat the juvenile "no-right-click" javascript.

banknote1 · February 19, 2003 7:24AM

I think we have another ebay seller to avoid! A seller can charge just about what he wants to for shipping, but he doesn't have to be rude! Yes, of course, $15 for shipping is to much for that coin!

Bulldog · February 19, 2003 7:26AM

Marty,

I would like to see the box it comes in, if I like it, I "might consider giving you $7.50 for it, with free shipping. Imagine: Bulldog has a POP 1, box.....LOL

I see everyone jumping on this seller, but I read very clearly $15 bucks to get it to your house.

To combat this, either you don't bid, or you make a shipping deal before the end of an auction.

Not to be insensitive here, but I get annoyed when someone wants to make a deal, after the deal has been done. Marty, chalk this one up as education. Caveat Emptor. Give the seller a neg if you feel right about it, but he did nothing wrong. He offered, you accepted!

Seems like a deal to me.

Is your NEG, worth a NEG for you?

Bulldog

NumisEd · February 19, 2003 9:57AM

You guys are missing the bigger picture here: Madmarty is a fool for paying $46 for a crappy slabbed Franklin. The $15 shipping fee is nothing compared to the money he will lose on his 1/2 ounce silver round that pretends to be a coin. Also, Sadmarty should learn to read.

Russ · February 19, 2003 10:00AM

Now, now, eddie, that's not a very nice thing to say.

Russ, NCNE

MadMarty · February 19, 2003 10:04AM

Eddie is correct, I should learn to read. As for the crappy slabbed franklin, that's a matter of opinion. The seller and I have been exchanging E-Mail and I think we will work out a solution to the shipping. But yes, I should learn to read!!!

mr1931S · February 19, 2003 10:05AM

Is asking for a few bucks for standing in line at the post office asking for too much?

MadMarty · February 19, 2003 10:10AM

Hey, I have no problem with a few bucks. But 10-12 extra is a bit too much!!!

airplanenut · February 19, 2003 10:47AM

Wait... he says "$15.00 for packing, shipping and insurance. Ship in U.S. only."

This means that he will spend $15 on the packing materials, postage, and insurance. Ask to see the receipts- if it does not add up to $15 or more, then he did not spend the shipping fee as he said he would, thus he committed fraud.

Neg him

doops · February 19, 2003 10:57AM

<< Sometimes I am such an idiot!!!
Bid on a coin.
Frankie
Then after looking real hard I see that the seller has a $15 shipping charge. I send him an E-Mail saying that $15 is quite high, and would he reconsider maybe a $6 shipping charge.

After the auction ends. I get an E-Mail that I should retract my bid. Followed by an E-Mail that said:

<< It's people like you that ruin it for everyone else on e-bay. The shipping
charge IS POSTED IN THE E-bay listing I have - you should read the ad before
bidding. I am going to make a report to eBay fraud unit for your actions. You
are not being honest - please do not bother me with any additional e-mail
response...I dont want to hear from you and I dont want to sell you anything. >>

I'll pay for the coin, with the $15 shipping fee, but I'm going to NEG the seller anyway (I'll even take the retalitory NEG). I asked in a very nice way about the shipping charge, and if he would have gotten back to me before the auction ended I WOULD have retracted my bid. But that is no way to write an E-Mail back to a BUYER! >>

$15 BUX IS EXTREEEEEEEEMLEY EXCESSIVE,CONSIDERING IT CAN BE SHIPPED FULLY INSURED FOR ABOUT $2.20 IN A BUBBLE MAILER. THEN AGAIN,LOOKING AT THE COIN BEING A STRONG STRIKE 53-S PAYING DOUBLE BID OR SO FOR IT AS LONG AS IT'S NOT A BAIT AND SWITCH AND THAT IS THE COIN YOU ARE BUYING IT STILL COVERS YOU. OTHERWISE, YES FRAUD CHARGES ARE IN ORDER....RECORD THE SLAB # AND/OR "FINGERPRINT" CHARACTERISTICS....BAIT AND SWITCH IS RAMPANT TO GARNER FRAUDULENTLY HIGH BIDS

K6AZ · February 19, 2003 11:05AM

<<<$15 BUX IS EXTREEEEEEEEMLEY EXCESSIVE,CONSIDERING IT CAN BE SHIPPED FULLY INSURED FOR ABOUT $2.20 IN A BUBBLE MAILER. >>>

Word of warning, I have lost two slabbed coins in the last couple of months by someone slitting open the side of the bubble mailer. I no longer ship any slabbed coin in a bubble mailer, but use small boxes instead. Much safer.

kaleidoscopic · February 19, 2003 11:06AM

P Doops, where have you been? Missed ya........

ScarsdaleCoin · February 19, 2003 11:48AM

I disagree...you may not like the $15 charge and you may not like is email but he is right...if that is what he wants to charge he can....you probably should retract your bid...and dont leave the NEG, he did nothing wrong except be rude

ScarsdaleCoin · February 19, 2003 11:51AM

there would be no fraud your statement below......This is his first ever ebay sale under this name. $15 is way unacceptable. You could make a counter-claim in the fraud department. "$15.00 for packing, shipping and insurance. Ship in U.S. only. " I would love to see receipts to send this item that add up to $15, absolutely unbelievable.

Is wrong...anyone who has a brick and mortar business would have no problem showing $15 for shipping a package...the postage alone using P1 with insurance could be $5-$10 plus all other expenses.... I agree its a lot but you should not beat up the seller....if you want this item make your bid amount less $15 dollars...otherwise dont bid and move on

dwood · February 19, 2003 11:56AM

I wouldn't have bid on it simply because of the shipping fees. I've been burned before and now I check shipping before I place a bid. I have a feeling Marty will be doing the same now

And Marty, I think its a good looking coin too! If I'd seen it, and if the shipping fees were appropriae, you might have had some competition

littlewicher · February 19, 2003 11:57AM

<< Is wrong...anyone who has a brick and mortar business would have no problem showing $15 for shipping a package...the postage alone using P1 with insurance could be $5-$10 plus all other expenses.... I agree its a lot but you should not beat up the seller....if you want this item make your bid amount less $15 dollars...otherwise dont bid and move on >>

I charge $3 for insured shipping, and I still make about 5 cents profit. $15 is just way unacceptable and shouldn't be tolerated on a coin less then $50. Postal insurance only costs $1.30 up to $50 coverage, although private insurers are more appealing.

MadMarty · February 19, 2003 12:02PM

Like I said, first I screwed up when I bid on the coin. I waited for the seller to answer my E-Mails and couldn't retract my bid. I guess you live and learn.

crito · February 19, 2003 12:44PM

I can't stand bidders who try and change MY terms of sale. I also can't stand bidders who tell me how I should do MY packaging (I don't use bubble mailers, I use a box). If shipping had been $3 instead of $15, someone else might have outbid you, too. Anyways, the shipping charge may be exorbitant, but the time and money wasted on deadbeat bidders (and people who can't read) eventually gets passed on to everyone else, through increased "handling" charges... and eBay doesn't refund listing fees, for any reason.

CThomas · February 19, 2003 1:02PM

I think we all agree that $15 is way to much to charge for shipping, BUT the guy spelt it out in his auction! There is no way in my opinion that you should not honor your bid and there is no way that you should neg the guy! Why! Because you didn't read his auction! Just my opinion but sometimes we get burned because of our own ignorance! It's happened to me to many times to count! I say you just send him a check marty and when you get the coin leave feedback for the coin not the shipping charge!

Chris

sinin1 · February 19, 2003 1:36PM

$15 isn't so bad, maybe he is going to ship it registered and thought it would sell for $1000.

Does anyone know off hand how much shipping costs to return coins from grading companies?

jadecoin · February 19, 2003 10:12PM

Hi guys! Interesting topic that we wrestled with long ago. Tried various obvious solutions, such as charging the actual amount, charging a flat fee, etc. etc. The best formula we ever came up with also turned out to be the simplest: No charge at all on shipping and materials, but charge just for the insurance fee. That is our policy on ebay items. We found that it attracts enough grateful bidders that it results in slightly higher final bids, which covers the costs.

On direct sales, we cover all incidental charges, shipping, insurance, packaging, etc.

jadecoins

LucyBop · February 19, 2003 10:21PM

Marty Marty Marty, your a Potato head! Didn't I tell you to avoid Frankies? First the 62pr66 fiasco, and now this blunder! Whats next? You need one more goof up for the trifecta! You didn't go to school just for recess, you went for lunch as well didn't you?

Your such a clown!

UncleJoe · February 19, 2003 11:08PM

This may very well be his first sale and has no idea what it costs to ship coins.

He has paid $16. and $20. shipping costs on 2 items he purchased and may be basing his charge on that.

(Oh yeah, READ the auction)

Joe.

CharlieB · February 19, 2003 11:25PM

If you had been buying this coin from a seasoned seller, with a
respectable number of feedbacks, I'll bet the chances would have
been a little better that your situtation could have been resolved
between the two of you.

MadMarty · February 20, 2003 2:15AM

Actually I just spoke to the seller and we worked out the shipping issue, He really does not sell coins and really did not know what the charges would be. He offered to just kill the deal and relist the coin. I told him I bought it and I'll take it. So it work out real well for both of us and there will be positive feedback all the way around. Also, I really think we both learned something from all of this...

K6AZ · February 20, 2003 2:50AM

Marty, I hope you explained how to safely ship a coin in a slab. I bought two Morgan Dollars a couple of years ago from a new seller, who just put the two slabs in a priority box with no packing. They arrived chipped and cracked, and I had to reholder both of them.

MadMarty · February 20, 2003 2:54AM

Yes, I think we are going to be OK....

ScarsdaleCoin · February 20, 2003 11:23AM

I ship hundreds of packages and we figure that our postage costs run about $8 bucks a box of course all are package go P1 with either insurance or confirmation....if I added in the time it takes to pack the coins, take the coins to a post office and someone has to be paid to do that, plus gas, plus parking meter, plus, plus, plus....I dont see where you guys come up with "it only cost me $3 to ship a package".....sure if your in this for just fun but the real players do have to pay people to get work done...sorry but this thread about leaving a neg on ebay really strikes a nerve!

zenny · February 20, 2003 12:15PM

<< Then after looking real hard I see that the seller has a $15 shipping charge. >>

There are two pictures of a coin and 5 lines of large type.

5 lines.

it was "hard" to find the shipping charge???

wait, make that "real hard"???

please

John, this crap happens all the time. people moan about shipping charges like you would absolutely not believe around here. It's especially ridiculous in a case like this where:

1: the shipping charge is pretty much as conspicuous as can be in the ebay description.

2: the buyer posted the actual link to the auction before seriously attempting to work out something with the seller.

3: the piling on begins.

4: the originator of the thread says, basically after the poor guy has been reamed for a full day, oh we worked it out, no problem.

of course the only problem is the poor seller has been hung out to dry for a day and numerous viewers, many of whom don't return to learn the seller turned out being a nice guy.

just my 2 cents

z

buy the coin, pay the shipping, shut up.

or, better yet, buy from Anaconda.

E-Bay sellers and shipping charges.

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