Ebay seller's S&H costs

TZAHL

What do you all think about these? Say I win a $2 auction. Is a shipping charge of $2 or $3 too much? If I ask the seller to come down for the shipping cost (.60, a bubble mailer) should that seller feel obligated to?

detroitfan2

TZAHL,

Remember, shipping charges are just that - the cost to package and ship an item. Whether the item ends for a penny or $100, if it's a single card, $2 to $3 to ship in a bubble envelope is reasonable and customary. I would not recommend asking a seller to reduce a shipping cost that is clearly stated in an auction. The seller will not feel obligated and will most likely be upset.

Just my 2 cents.

Tom (detroitfan2)

EagleEyeKid

No, he is not obligated to go down. If he states it clearly in his auction and you think you're paying too much, then you should factor that cost into your bidding. By bidding, you are agreeing to his terms & condition. I think $2-$3 is normal for single cards in a bubble mailer. Anything higher than that, I just move on.
You may want to look into auctions that accept SASE at your risk if you don't want to pay shipping cost.

pandrews

correct.. if you emailed me and started telling me what my shipping costs are, i'd tell you to go float a boat somewhere..

WinPitcher

I think you should ask. what harm can it do?

If you buy a card for 2.00 then the shipping should be .83 at the most.


Steve

just don't ask Perry.

TZAHL

I agree, no harm in asking, but if seller says no and charges what is stated in auction then you pay it, right?

Check out this lovely neg. feedback I just recieved on Ebay!

"- seller charged $2.50 shipping. cost $.63"

I state terms fairly clearly and I get this from this guy!

Unbelievable.

halosfan

What wingnut out there thinks that the total cost of shipping is the price of postage? There are other costs involved and 2 bucks is nowhere near out of line.

TZAHL

My thoughts exactly Halosfan. Ebay can't remove it and this guy justified the negative to me!

EagleEyeKid

Yea that suks. I paid $4 shipping a couple weeks ago for a single card from Canada and it arrived in a regular white envelope with a toploader and .85 canadian postage stamp. Good thing the card arrived fine. Bottomline is, I agreed to that shipping price. BTW, who is this guy so I can block him?

WinPitcher

Fwiw I was just kidding.

I take the amt. of shipping into account of my bid. as long as i get the card I do not care what the seller spent.


Steve

PS that is the reason some sellers do not leave positive feedback first. cuz of lugnuts like that.

duner

Shipping is getting ridiculous....I love how it's becoming customary to charge $10-15 to ship a mini helmet these day.

TZAHL

digman8819

He paid promptly.....so I guess I can't b***h about that, but I had a nice string of positives going. Oh well is all I can say about it. Ebay can't do anything (can't investigate every case....ever heard that?) and my feedback is pretty strong.

BTW I'm bigred.unl on ebay. As I use these boards more I'll figure out how to add more stuff. I really like this board and the people on here seem like genuine card freaks!!!

halosfan

Dunner ... I agree with you. I also like how the cost of shipping (insurance an additional fee) increases with the price of an item. For example, a seller lists a card with an expected closing of less than say $10 then shipping would be $2. Same seller liists a card with an expected close of say $200 and shipping is $10 plus insurance. It still costs the same to send the card wether it is a 10 cent card or a grand a card. Just a way to recover fees and I, for one, pass on all of those listings.

TZAHL

If a seller requires mandatory insurance for say a $500 card, I can see $10 shipping. That's $.75 shipping, about $6 insurance, and hopefully priority...........

Snowball

<< <i>If a seller requires mandatory insurance for say a $500 card, I can see $10 shipping. That's $.75 shipping, about $6 insurance, and hopefully priority........... >>




Just make sure it's full insurance. I bought a graded card from a seller stated insurance is included in s/h. when I got the card he sent it in bubble mailer no added protection with del confirmation and insured it for only up to $50 (the card cost about $200+). Some charge $1.00 for every $50 and uses 3rd party and don't provide proof so who knows if it was actually insured.

For me $2.50 is fine -- bubble mailer, trip to post office. When I sell I take it to post office and drop in mail box even if I have postage in hand. I don't drop it in neighborhood's mail box.

schr1st

Anything under $3 at this point isn't bad at this point. I charge $2.00 for my auctions (US buyers), with each additional auction won costing $.50 more. For the $2, they get all new supplies (or graded card bag in the case of graded card sales), extra cardboard protection around the holders/slab, new bubble mailer, delivery confirmation, and direct to the post office dropoff within 24 hours of payment. For people that win bigger $ items, or who win a lot of auctions at one time, I'll upgrade them to Priority Mail for free and in some cases I'll even pay for insurance if they won't. Even still, I'll get the occaional email that my S&H fees are too high.

Too many sellers have turned S&H into a profit center, and it ends up hurting the rest of us.

onlyanumber

I just checked the auction in question you got neg'd on and that's a joke. He bought cards from a bunch of people and positived all of them--you're telling me your auction was the first one that came in costing less than charged in the auction??? Looks like this guy just had it in for you that day. Thanks for the info as I blocked him from my future auctions.

I do understand the mentality of feeling hosed by shipping charges, but never when I get charged only $2.50. I've been charged anywhere between $4-8 and i'll get the card in a regular envelope with a .39 cent stamp on it. Or I'll pay for insurance and the seller didn't get it insured...


On a side note, I typically charge $3.00 for shipping/insurance. That covers first class mail, delivery confirmation and insurance--average is $2.82 at the post office. But after reading these boards on shipping preferences, I think I'm going to change that up soon.

bri2327

About 2 years ago I purchased a 1960 topps Roger Maris A.S. card from a guy in the same state as me. The card was in absolutely impeccable condition, clearly visible in the scans. If my memory serves me correct he charged me $5.75 shipping, which he stated included insurance, so no biggie, right ? Well, the card arrives in a plain white envelope ( and one of those tiny ones too ) with the .37 cent stamp, no insurance, and NOTHING protecting the card inside. Well, as expected, the card was dinged up so bad in one corner I wanted to cry. What a shame to have a 45 yr old card that otherwise would have been a very high end PSA 8, possibly a 9 just get ruined by some fools laziness. I write the nobel prize winner asking him why the hell he shipped it like that and telling him the card was ruined, only to get some explanation that was completely incomprehensible. He went on to tell me his life story, and every misfortune along the way, but just couldnt explain his shipping charges and packing strategy. In the end I got a refund, but to this day I look at that card and get upset knowing what t could have been.

tkd7

I typically charge $5 for shipping by Priority Mail in a mailing box with delivery confirmation. I charge one fee no matter how many cards a person wins at auction. That is within 50 cents of the actual cost.

I like to think if a person is buying a vintage PSA graded card, he will be happy with the card being shipped in a box and not a bubble mailer. I've heard lots of stories here about PSA holders getting damaged in shipment. I actually received one that way. An $850 card shipped in 2 bubble mailers was left on my doorstep with another box of cards on top. My guess is the box on top cracked the holder. Luckily the card wasn't damaged and I was able to get it reholdered by PSA.

alnavman

I don't think $2 is out of line for a card sent in a bubble mailer...when you factor in the cost of the bubble mailer, postage, either $.63 or higher now with the rate hike and the cost of gas to go to the post office, etc, etc. What I don't like is when a seller charges $2 and then you get the card sent in an envelope with no protection at all....now that is out of line for a $2 charge...but then that seller doesn't get my repeat business.....and like a number of others have said, READ THE ARTICLE DESCRIPTION......if they don't say it's being mailed in a bubble mailer then you may get a surprise upon receipt....

onlyanumber

Just figured I'd add this in here as each time I read it I get more aggravated. This is the negative feedback that was left for bigred.unl (TZAHL)

'selle charged $2.50 shipping cost $.63 (reply-gas and free envelope and time)'

Gotta love it when the buyer even throws a potshot at the impending reply in his negative

NewJerseyMeatHook

The more I sell on eBay, the more I realize that the TIME put into packaging, going to post office, etc. is worth a little more than the actual postage. I went from $2.99 for a bubble mailer, to $3.49, and will probably begin charging $3.99 before too long. I don't feel that that is unreasonable at all. I've had the SASE question several times. I simply decline with thanks.

jlbsquared

Thread 3,586, 078 on shipping costs. My take as an ebay seller - if you don't like the clearly marked shipping costs on an auction, DO NOT BID. Have a little self control, don't buy the card and then come here and lament that you was robbed on shipping. I buy on ebay all the time, and if something is way out of whack on shipping, I just don't bid. No whining, no crying, no buyer's remorse. Is it that tough to know the max price you are willing to pay for an item, figure out the shipping charge, and bid? I get emails from buyers who don't seem to understand how 1st class mail works and want shipping for less than the $3.00 because they "live in the same city" or some other nonsense.

Like has been pointed out ,there are MANY fees that go with selling on ebay. If someone is trying to cover these fees and make an extra buck or 2, what is the big deal? Get over it or don't buy. Or maybe we can work something like this out - Just tell the seller any card you want from him, then he can sell it at break even or a loss to you, then he'll ship it for free to. Wouldn't that be sweet?

I rarely rant, but for chrissakes does any other hobby have as many people willing to "specualte" on little pieces of cardboard, and then scream up and down about an extra buck or two here or there? Do people on the Hummel boards sit and whine about being overcharged a dollar for shipping on the newest figurine? Those that complain about things like this must be a freaking joy to go out to dinner with. 35 minutes counting drinks and appetizers, then calculate the tip at 12.5% and make sure you don't get "screwed".

Sugar20

$2 is not out of line at all, if fact it's a bargain so don't ask if they can lower it. it takes time to package orders, then costs .83 cents or whatever for postage, along with the cost of a bubble mailer, top loader, penny sleeve, team bag, packing peanuts, lable, delivery confirmation, etc. I don't see how anyone can charge less than $3-$4 for a single card. As long as they offer discounts for multiple items, they're fine. I get annoyed when people ask bother me about $3 shipping being too much. The bigger point here is that (and some have mentioned it already) you need to bid accordingly. If you want a $5 card and one person is charging $1 for postage and the other is charging $4 for postage, you are going to bid more on the $1 postage card. People look at the postage charge and bid accordingly. It all comes out pretty even in the end...just don't win the card and then complain about postage.

TZAHL

JLB...you need a hug??

I agree 100%!

jlbsquared

Thanks Tzhal - 1 too many non - paying bidders this morning. I think the neg you got was totally unjustified and b.s. Hopefully any buyer with a brain ignores idiotic negatives like that.

TZAHL

ya, I just wanted to make sure I wasn't out of line and charging 'outrageous' shipping costs at $2.50. Just trying to ease my mind!

jlbsquared

digman8819 added to my list of blocked bidders...

larryallen73

I charge $3 when I sell on the Bay. I have sold a lot of $1 cards with $3 shipping. Don't bid if you don't like it is my thought. I also combine at 50 cents each additional. Never had a complaint about it. I think $2.50 is VERY reasonable. As long as S&H is spelled out in auction clearly there should be no issue about it after the hammer falls! I have paid $5 shipping for cards with $2 winning bid. Obviously, factor it all in. I am Paypaling $7 and hope the card is "worth" $7 or more.

poppie

<< <i>JLB...you need a hug?? >>

I have always charged a flat $3.50 as i will buy insurance and delivery signature for buyers with feedback under 25. Higher $$ auction, I use $6-12.00 which includes insurance, delivery signature. I double bubble mailer any card over $100 due to my experience with crushed PSA holders at USPS. Given the Paypal fees shipping and handling fees are not money makers!! Rember, you can buy lables at the USPS site cheaper than Paypal and insurance up to $500 vrs $200 on Paypal.

TheThrill22

With all that has been said regarding the topic of Ebay/shipping fees, does anybody think that people will get tired of the process of Ebay and go back to card shows? I know that I've not bought as much off of Ebay because of sellers slow shipping and over grading their cards. As for selling on Ebay, I have not sold as much lately due to Ebay fees and slow payment from buyers. I charge $2.00 for shipping on raw cards in a penny sleeve, top loader, and bubble mailer and $3.00 for graded cards and STILL have guys who ask if they can send self-addressed stamped envelopes. I have found myself going to more card shows and having a new found appreciation for them.

jskirwin

<< <i>digman8819 added to my list of blocked bidders... >>



Ditto...

I just wonder what that dork thinks about those $.99 auctions with $9.99 shipping? I bought a Bluetooth USB from a firm in Hong Kong, and while I don't conduct my auctions that way, for some items that's the standard.

It simply shows his inexperience. It's just too bad that Tzahl had to be the jerk's teacher.

Oh well. Whenever I think about changing my policies of waiting to leave feedback, I see an incident like this and I'm glad I hold feedback hostage.

baseballfanatic

This topic has been beaten into the ground so many times. As long as the postage is clearly stated in the auction, bid accordingly. The fellow that came on here earlier taking card donations for Katrina routinely charges people between 12.00 and 22.00 for mailing single cards and pocket lighters. If there is a problem, email the seller before the auction ends if you are certain you are getting the card and ask him exactly what type of shipping you get for your money. 99% of us have paid 7.95 for a card mailed in a plain white envelope with 2 stamps on it. Charging for gas, my time etc, doesnt cut it with me, but thats just my opinion. I shouldnt charge someone 40.00 because I couldnt eat lunch and had to put gas in my car to pick up bubble mailers and then had to put gas in my car to go to the post office.

We all have also paid sellers that dont combine shipping and then mail all the cards in the same envelope. But it is stated plainly in the auction. Ripoff? Yupper. But it was there in black and white.

What bothers me more is people I havent bought from before that dont show what they charge for shipping and I dont have time to email them and get an answer because I just came accross the auction and its ending in 10 minutes. Some people will charge you 2.00 to mail a 500.00 card while others will quote you 8.00 to mail a 1.00 common.

It bothers the heck out of me too, but bid accordingly.............

Tabe

<< <i>We all have also paid sellers that dont combine shipping and then mail all the cards in the same envelope. But it is stated plainly in the auction. Ripoff? Yupper. But it was there in black and white. >>


Difference here is that this is actually a no-no legally. You charge separate shipping and handling fees for each item, you have to ship them separately.

Tabe