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Shipping charges were $3.95, when item arrived...

alohaetalohaet Posts: 454
in Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum
the envelope had $ .73 postage stamped on it. Not a bad profit on a $2.99 item. Do these sellers have any idea how quickly they lose a new customer when they do this? NO! He actually made more on the shipping charges than on the item he sold me. image

Recently I sold three cards on ebay and the shipping charges I stated in my listings were $3.00 and $4.00. My actual shipping charges I ended up with was $4.85 and $6.50. I did not request the buyers to cover this. I always use 1st Class Mail, insurance and return receipt (my choice). No wonder there are so many complaints about shipping charges on bulletin boards.

Ed
email address: alohaet@hotmail.com

Comments

  • helionauthelionaut Posts: 1,555 ✭✭
    I hate that. No reason for it, other than padding profit. If you charge a premium price for shipping, give value for the money. There was a card I was about to bid on yesterday that had no postage listed in the auction, but in the S&H slot at the bottom it said "Buyer pays for all shipping costs". It was a tough card that I've been wanting, but it's not expensive, under $10. I wrote to ask shipping costs and the guy said shipping was $8. I wrote back asking,"How do you ship, Fedex?" I got no answer. I did not bid on that auction and won't bid on any of his cards. I know it's tough to make money when PSA graded cards sell for less than $10, but making it up on the shipping end is a giant turn-off. If I think someone's overcharging for shipping, like $5 for one card not including insurance, I won't bid, even if the total of the bid plus shipping is still a good price.
    WANTED:
    2005 Origins Old Judge Brown #/20 and Black 1/1s, 2000 Ultimate Victory Gold #/25
    2004 UD Legends Bake McBride autos & parallels, and 1974 Topps #601 PSA 9
    Rare Grady Sizemore parallels, printing plates, autographs

    Nothing on ebay
  • GoSoxBoSoxGoSoxBoSox Posts: 1,103
    That's why it's called shipping and handling. You have .73 in the shipping bucket. Then you have .35 (for arguments sake) in the packaging bucket.

    The rest of the money is the handling salary the guy pays himself. As long as he states the fees in the auctions he basically know how much he feels his time is worth.

    I just subtract S&H charges from the total price I'm willing to pay for an item. That takes the emotional part of it out of the equation for me.
    There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness"
  • mercurynutmercurynut Posts: 3,207
    You are right!
  • ctsoxfanctsoxfan Posts: 6,246 ✭✭
    Boy, is this topic well-worn. But, it remains a poor selling practice for more than half of the people who sell on Ebay (despite it being against their policy). Until they crack down on it (no chance of that), just do what gosox said, and figure it in to the total price you are willing to pay.
    image
  • HomerSimps0nHomerSimps0n Posts: 7
    Just my Two Cents worth.

    I would rather bid $10 on an item with a $2 shipping charges, then bid $5 on the same item with $7 shipping charges. Perhaps it is just a personal thing, but it seems to me that the person with the more reasonable shipping charges would, in the long run, be easier to deal with if any problems occur.

    - Homer Simpson
  • ranchranch Posts: 341 ✭
    Yes, I can't stand sellers who count their pennies and nickels. Not once, but many times, I have won a card on ebay for say around $80 and paid around $7 for shipping and handling, the seller would then put my card in a regular envelope and ship it out to me using regular mail! How much would it cost to buy a bubble mailer and send it via registered mail? Around $7, right? And isn't that why I paid around $7 for s&h? Sheesh* The Frenchies in the province Quebec are the worst! Stay away from them!
  • murcerfanmurcerfan Posts: 2,329 ✭✭
    It is NOT against e-bay policies to charge Shipping AND Handling
    It's right there on the bottom of every single auction under "Shipping and Payment Details".
  • toppsguntoppsgun Posts: 787 ✭
    Let someone start a thread on "Sellers with low/reasonable shipping costs" and another thread on "Sellers with high/outrageous shipping costs" and see what we turn up.

    LOW = norty (setbuilders = Joe Tauriello) $1.00
    HIGH = ra-15 (PREMIER SPORTS P.O. BOX 15 DRESHER, PA. 19025) $8.00 for money order payments, $9.00 for paypal payments.
  • pandrewspandrews Posts: 7,598 ✭✭✭
    i charge $2.95.. all my cards are shipped securely in cardsavers and bubble mailers.. yeah, I probably "profit" $1.00 or maybe $1.25 on each mailing, but I also get delivery confirmation to cover myself, and I also feel like my time stuffin envelopes and going to the post office is worth something.. i start all my cards at $1.00, so nobody can say anything about me profiting from $2.95 shipping/handling.. they either BID or they dont, i couldnt care less.. i've sold enough PSA 9's for $1.00 each that I deserve a little "profit" now and then..
    ·p_A·
  • BasiloneBasilone Posts: 2,492 ✭✭

    Low - Me $2.00 plus $0.50 a card ($5.00 max) A flat for $2.00 insurance that covers all cards no matter what the total cost.

  • toppsguntoppsgun Posts: 787 ✭
    I've got you beat, John. I adopted the Norty model for all but high dollar stars. I charge a buck a card, insurance extra. I've had people thank me for it. Imagine that: I get paid for cardboard and they thank me.

    My time going to the post office is not an issue. I'm usually either picking up cards I won or checks coming in. Wouldn't want to miss either of those. One of these days, I'm going to sell a card I just received in the mail, standing in line.
  • iupkidiupkid Posts: 45
    Has anyone else noticed a general trend on Ebay of sellers increasing the "common" shipping charge to $3? When I first started on Ebay in '99 it seemed like a generally accepted shipping charge was around $1.50. Then shortly it shifted to $2...No big deal. Now it seems like every auction I look at regardless of starting bid is $3.

    A seller that I've dealt with in the last couple weeks (d-m-inc) states $2.50 shipping in his auctions. No problem with that. I win 3 auctions with BINs for a grand total of around $30. I ask him how much the shipping will be for the 3 auctions. I receive an email with a total response of $8.00. I think this is absolutely absurd so I respond back and state this. I get another email that states "$5.50 sorry." I think this is still ridiculous but figure I am going to get no where with him so I pay it. The envelope comes with a $0.60 charge on it. The guy couldnt' even bother with delivery conf or insurance for that amount. I shot him off an email that night and basically explained that I was very unhappy with this situation. I got a read receipt on my email about a week ago and the jerk didn't even respond with an explanation. My main point of my email to him was that it should have been listed in his auction about what his shipping policy was. He has a feedback of over 2500.

    I am seriously thinking of leave a "non-positive" feedback for him. He made $4.50 profit from shipping. It is a safe bet I will never purchase another thing from him. Am I overreacting here? What would others do about the feedback?

    Steve
  • pandrewspandrews Posts: 7,598 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Has anyone else noticed a general trend on Ebay of sellers increasing the "common" shipping charge to $3? When I first started on Ebay in '99 it seemed like a generally accepted shipping charge was around $1.50. Then shortly it shifted to $2...No big deal. Now it seems like every auction I look at regardless of starting bid is $3.

    A seller that I've dealt with in the last couple weeks (d-m-inc) states $2.50 shipping in his auctions. No problem with that. I win 3 auctions with BINs for a grand total of around $30. I ask him how much the shipping will be for the 3 auctions. I receive an email with a total response of $8.00. I think this is absolutely absurd so I respond back and state this. I get another email that states "$5.50 sorry." I think this is still ridiculous but figure I am going to get no where with him so I pay it. The envelope comes with a $0.60 charge on it. The guy couldnt' even bother with delivery conf or insurance for that amount. I shot him off an email that night and basically explained that I was very unhappy with this situation. I got a read receipt on my email about a week ago and the jerk didn't even respond with an explanation. My main point of my email to him was that it should have been listed in his auction about what his shipping policy was. He has a feedback of over 2500.

    I am seriously thinking of leave a "non-positive" feedback for him. He made $4.50 profit from shipping. It is a safe bet I will never purchase another thing from him. Am I overreacting here? What would others do about the feedback?

    Steve >>



    i think you're overreacting.. the main thing is that your card arrived safe & secure.. so he profited on the shipping and handling, big deal.. alot of people are in it for profit, and not for fun.. again, the shipping & handling charges are to be figured in when you're placing your bids.. I just won an auction last night, and the description didnt say anything about combined shipping, so I emailed the seller and asked if he would combine shipping. The seller didnt answer my email before the auctions were over, so I only bid on 1 item, because I didnt want to "assume" that the seller would combine shipping charges..

    whenever I receive a card in the mail, I honestly never even pay attention to see how much the seller has paid for postage.. as long as my card gets here safe, I'm happy..
    ·p_A·
  • estangestang Posts: 1,322 ✭✭✭
    I think it is reasonable to charge actual shipping and supply charges + a little extra for "handling" time or covering a 30 cent insertion fee for a low $ item. I've also taken losses on shipping and I no longer want to do that, as I don't sell in high enough volumes to garner a customer base to use it as a marketing/advertising mechanism.

    I've had some poorly packaged single ungraded cards come to me lately, but have remained unscathed. I've still given positive feedback, but reluctantly without mentioning the need for better shipping. It's not worth the possibility of getting a negative response for being card. This one guys sends me a Nm/MT or Nm/MT+ 1967 Twins card that looks like it just came out of a pack in a slightly padded envelope with a flimsy card saver 2 and nothing card to protect it. I just shook my head in amazement that the card makes it in such condition for 36 years and you do something like that. Laziness or don't care comes to mind.

    I make a point to ship in padded envelopes with hard plastic cases for team sets and hard/firm packing surrounding single cards.

    Enjoy your collection!
    Erik
  • LongBallLongBall Posts: 28
    is it possible that those with set fees for all auctions, like $3 per auction, that they make money on some and lose money on others so it is a break even kind of thing? I know that when I ship out things other than cards I often charge less than it ends up costing me because I estimate wrong.
  • BasiloneBasilone Posts: 2,492 ✭✭


    << <i>Has anyone else noticed a general trend on Ebay of sellers increasing the "common" shipping charge to $3? When I first started on Ebay in '99 it seemed like a generally accepted shipping charge was around $1.50. Then shortly it shifted to $2...No big deal. Now it seems like every auction I look at regardless of starting bid is $3. >>



    Maybe some guys are feeling the pinch that their PSA 8 mid-60's commons are not selling for what they use to a couple of years ago.
  • TabeTabe Posts: 6,061 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Let someone start a thread on "Sellers with low/reasonable shipping costs" and another thread on "Sellers with high/outrageous shipping costs" and see what we turn up.

    LOW = norty (setbuilders = Joe Tauriello) $1.00
    HIGH = ra-15 (PREMIER SPORTS P.O. BOX 15 DRESHER, PA. 19025) $8.00 for money order payments, $9.00 for paypal payments. >>


    Next time you see one of ra-15's auctions listed with that s&h charge, report him to Ebay. It's a violation of Ebay (and Paypal) rules to charge extra for Paypal, not to mention being illegal in many states (like California).

    Tabe
    www.tabe.nu
  • toppsguntoppsgun Posts: 787 ✭
    tabe, I did contact ebay. Here is their response:
    Subject: RE: BP%B00212 Buying with eBay Payments [#US A10 ?01] (KMM102822147V79982L0KM)

    Hello,

    Thank you for writing to eBay. My name is Romie and I am a Customer Support Representative for eBay's SafeHarbor team. I understand your concern over this issue and I will be happy to assist you regarding item number 2781426815.

    The Seller is responsible for determining the shipping and handling charges on his or her auctions. eBay encourages Sellers to clearly describe the item and the shipping and delivery terms in the listing to avoid possible confusion.

    Before bidding on an auction, please be sure to contact the Seller with any questions you might have that are not directly answered in the auction's description. Understand that, once a bid is placed, the Bidder is entering into an agreement with the Seller to purchase the item, which most often means incurring shipping charges and may also include handling fees.

    Here was my retort (which may explain why nothing was ever done).

    Romie,

    From your response, you either didn't read my complaint or you are an ignoramous.

    The seller stated in the auction description "SHIPPING $8 PRIORITY MAIL."

    At the conclusion of the auction, he emailed me informing me shipping was $9. When I corrected him, he wrote, "PAYPAL $9, MONEY ORDERS $8," a distinction which was NOT disclosed in the auction description. Furthermore, it is against paypal and ebay policy to charge extra for paypal payments vs. any other form of payment. For doing that, he should be suspended.

    There was no reason for me to contact the seller prior to the auction end. The description was clear: "SHIPPING $8 PRIORITY MAIL."

    Anyway, I paid the inflated $9 shipping, as I paid via paypal. The item came by regular mail, not priority mail.

    After corresponding numerous times with the seller, he refunded me $4 for the failure to ship priority. But I'm still out $1 extra for his improper paypal charge.

    What are you going to do about that?



  • BigKidAtHeartBigKidAtHeart Posts: 1,799 ✭✭


    << <i>What are you going to do about that? >>

    You are just mean!

    You know dang good and well that Ebay
    is not going to do a single thing with this!

    You just enjoy stirring up trouble!

    **(that is why I like you so much!!)
    image

    ~jeff
    imageimage
  • toppsguntoppsgun Posts: 787 ✭
    BKAH, I thought it was my good looks.
  • ydsotterydsotter Posts: 500 ✭
    ...along this line...
    I have sometimes been discouraged to bid on an item when it's something of relative value like a psa 8 1972 Pete Rose and the seller says $2.00 first class shipping...
    I mean, please, assure me that this card is being shipped securely...
    I'd be happy to pay for it...
    Tell me that shipping is $10 and it will be layered in bubble wrap and carefully placed in a nice strong box with quick secure insured shipping etc... and I'll be a happy guy.

    If shipping is described irresponsibly or doesn't give me confidence I usually don't bid. Shipping is a very importat aspect of the auction.
    Bottom line for me is that the seller needs to instill some confidence that they will get the card to my door quickly and safely... Truthfully, like a few others said, I'll pay an extra buck or two for that.

    It's amazing how many times I have been turned off from bidding on an auction just by the way the seller lists an item or describes the shipping...
    If their auction title reads PSA BGS SGC GAI or has multiple "!!!" or the word RARE! etc in it... I usually take the seller for a squid.

    If the shipping appears inflated and the seller doesn't justify or acknowledge the partiuculars of their shipping, I often ignore the auction.
    image

    Click here to view my Knickstars collection and wantlist
  • ydsotterydsotter Posts: 500 ✭
    Perfect example of what a neurotic mess I am ;-)

    Seller looks pretty good.

    Shotty description...

    but what really makes me hesitate bidding is the shipping part.

    If this guys said something like: "Winner pays $3.00 for secure shipping in a bubble mailer. Insurance optional. Positive feedback left on receipt of funds etc"
    I would bid.
    Instead, the description tells me less than the title...
    (3 hours left... $29.99 no bids)

    Gai 9 1984 donruss mattingly
    image

    Click here to view my Knickstars collection and wantlist
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