Stacks wants $16.85 to ship a $373.75 coin

Bayard1908

I was the high bidder on one lot in yesterday's Stacks auction. I've never done business with Stacks before.

I really don't like being nickeled and dimed like this. Heritage and Bowers & Merena don't do it.

Before someone says that nobody forced me to buy, the shipping charges did not appear in the online auction terms.

illini420

Depends on how they ship it, that price for express mail, fedex, ups sounds reasonable. If they send it first class mail though I'd be mad.

CaptHenway

Unless there is a lot of weight involved, they should be able to ship via Insured Mail for about $9-10.
Any particular reason why they want to send it Registered? I assume you are in the States?

tahoe98

..........it got a lot of extra tape on the package.

RaginsteveK

registered mail, insurance, handling charges ?? (that is a LOT of tape, packaging time and material)

CaptHenway

Personally, I've always wanted to ship something packed in dry ice.......

Peaceman

If you sent in one coin worth $ 373 to be graded at PCGS... for them to ship it back to you it would cost $ 20.35

Barndog

from Stack's FAQ:

Question: How do you ship?
Answer: All of our packages ship registered mail unless alternate arrangements are made.

Bayard1908

<< <i>from Stack's FAQ:

Question: How do you ship?
Answer: All of our packages ship registered mail unless alternate arrangements are made. >>



Registered mail is a waste of money until you get up to around $2000 of value.

TwoSides2aCoin

I'll do it for $20 and make you smile.

Broadstruck

<< <i>Personally, I've always wanted to ship something packed in dry ice.......

>>

options26

They are charging me $19 for a $5100 coin.

JCMhouston

Stacks, Golbdergs, Heritage et al, all charge more thann what seems reasonably, but it's what they charge.

fc

i do not see the problem.

Swampboy

I had forum member choose to send me a coin Express last week and he paid $17.00.

Maybe Stack's is just being thoughtful?

mozin

Sounds like a fair shipping charge if sent by registered mail, the shipping method I request. Add in $2 for the packaging, and the auction house barely breaks even on the shipping cost.

YaHa

You must pay the man..

coinandcurrency242

Don't forget, postage just went up!! Shame shame on economy!

ttown

They need options, this sucks and is a reason I wouldn't bid on anything over a grand. Poor bussiness model IMO, after the big buck guys and little upside for someone selling in the 200 to 500 range with the sour taste in those bidders amounts.

I think it opens up the reality of what Stacks is about if your a seller of a $500 coin now why would I want to sell it with them even if I have many? If your a buyer why would you want to buy without excluding the postage with out bidding with the shipping included?

goose3

they probably have to purchase some ink.

ttown

It's called greed. They charge the seller a nice sum and then the buyer to esclate the money they made.

Barndog

<< <i>

<< <i>from Stack's FAQ:

Question: How do you ship?
Answer: All of our packages ship registered mail unless alternate arrangements are made. >>



Registered mail is a waste of money until you get up to around $2000 of value. >>



it may be, but that's Stack's policy and is posted on their web site, so I'd say your complaint about being nickeled and dimed and no terms on the website is not a valid one.

Bayard1908

<< <i>

<< <i>

<< <i>from Stack's FAQ:

Question: How do you ship?
Answer: All of our packages ship registered mail unless alternate arrangements are made. >>



Registered mail is a waste of money until you get up to around $2000 of value. >>



it may be, but that's Stack's policy and is posted on their web site, so I'd say your complaint about being nickeled and dimed and no terms on the website is not a valid one. >>



I said the shipping rates were not in the online auction terms and conditions, which are extremely one sided I might add. I didn't search the entirety of Stacks' website.

Barndog

<< <i>

<< <i>

<< <i>

<< <i>from Stack's FAQ:

Question: How do you ship?
Answer: All of our packages ship registered mail unless alternate arrangements are made. >>



Registered mail is a waste of money until you get up to around $2000 of value. >>



it may be, but that's Stack's policy and is posted on their web site, so I'd say your complaint about being nickeled and dimed and no terms on the website is not a valid one. >>



I said the shipping rates were not in the online auction terms and conditions, which are extremely one sided I might add. I didn't search the entirety of Stacks' website. >>



so the lesson cost only $16 and change. That's pretty cheap. Some people have posted threads complaining about shipping charges 50% higher (or even higher) from other venues (maybe it was SGBH?)

ttown

No it's called ethics. The terms need to be in every aution not some hidden place that only repeat customers read, real simple for an honest company IMO. It's call making money off both ends.

Sunnywood

Registered mail is appropriate for shipping items of value. It is the ONLY way I ever ship coins. Shipping a coin via first class with insurance is like putting a sign on it that says, "I am valuable, please steal me." Shipping a coin via registered mail with insurance is a much better method, as registered mail goes through much tighter tracking and security. It is much harder for a registered mail item to be stolen than a first class item. Repeat: shipping first class (or other non-registered USPS means) with insurance and a declared value is definitely screaming, "Please steal me !!!"

Stack's doesn't keep your $16.85. They are not "nickel and diming" you. They are using it to provide the only safe and sensible means of shipment.

Best,
Sunnywood

Bayard1908

<< <i>so the lesson cost only $16 and change. That's pretty cheap. Some people have posted threads complaining about shipping charges 50% higher (or even higher) from other venues (maybe it was SGBH?) >>



I can well afford the cost. I just think that if you want to charge the highest shipping in the industry, it should be fully disclosed in advance. I don't see shipping rates in the paper catalog either.

My last auction purchase from Superior was two coins for $2000. I think I was charged $25 shipping for Express Mail delivery. Heritage shipped me $3800 worth of coins for less than $32, again by Express Mail. Bowers charged me $19.50 for $2200 worth of coins. David Lawrence would have charged $5 to ship this coin.

Bayard1908

<< <i>Registered mail is appropriate for shipping items of value. It is the ONLY way I ever ship coins. Shipping a coin via first class with insurance is like putting a sign on it that says, "I am valuable, please steal me." Shipping a coin via registered mail with insurance is a much better method, as registered mail goes through much tighter tracking and security. It is much harder for a registered mail item to be stolen than a first class item. Repeat: shipping first class (or other non-registered USPS means) with insurance and a declared value is definitely screaming, "Please steal me !!!"

Stack's doesn't keep your $16.85. They are not "nickel and diming" you. They are using it to provide the only safe and sensible means of shipment. >>



I politely and respectfully disagree. Registered Mail is a needless expense for low value coins. I only use Registered Mail for coins of about $2000 and above. At this point, it makes financial sense to use Registered Mail because of the included insurance.

I've shipped and received hundreds of coins. Only a small fraction of them were sent registered and none were ever lost or stolen.

jonathanb

Stacks has a fixed shipping charge, and they honor it scrupulously. For the original poster, that means a few dollars extra in costs. It goes both ways, though. I've purchased several things from them where their real shpping cost (based on the postage on the box) was in the $30 range, and they still only wanted $16.85 or whatever from me.

Having dealt with shipping charges for a small number of items myself, I totally understand the appeal of a single fixed charge. It would be different in my mind if they gouged everyone. That's not happening here. I think they'd do themselves a favor with a little more transparancy, but beyond that I don't have a problem with what they're doing.

ColonialCoinUnion

If Stack's used a cheaper shipping method I'm sure someone else would be complaining that the coins weren't 'secure' enough.

Longacre

I won a note from the QDB collection and it was only around $100. The shipping is $13. I don't think it is a big deal and I don't really view the shipping as a function of weight or value, but rather of the time and expense that the firm incurs with processing.

illini420

This thread is getting crazy... how much did you think they were going to charge you??? Surely it was going to be $10 or so minimum. So all this is really over a couple of dollars?? If they shipped registered it's a very fair price, and as others mentioned, it's much cheaper than shipping from PCGS on a single $300 coin. For reference, I just sent a $300 or so coin this afternoon USPS Priority mail w/ tracking and insurance and it was $11.

Bayard1908

<< <i>This thread is getting crazy... how much did you think they were going to charge you??? Surely it was going to be $10 or so minimum. So all this is really over a couple of dollars?? If they shipped registered it's a very fair price, and as others mentioned, it's much cheaper than shipping from PCGS on a single $300 coin. For reference, I just sent a $300 or so coin this afternoon USPS Priority mail w/ tracking and insurance and it was $11. >>



I think the lack of disclosure is what annoys me so much. I think Heritage charges $12.80 for a single coin. So, Stacks has alienated me for $4.05. That's less than one minute of time at my billing rate.

The lack of disclosure is especially infuriating because Stacks' auction terms of sale are very detailed and cover every possible contingency, even to the point of making the bidder consent to being sued in New York courts.

rainbowroosie

The price is not unreasonable: registered + handling

You have to pay someone to wrap and ship it.

MikeInFL

Ready, fire, aim!

tradedollarnut

That's less than one minute of time at my billing rate.

So how much has this thread cost you?

ttown

<< <i>The price is not unreasonable: registered + handling

You have to pay someone to wrap and ship it. >>



Nope they pay someone to wrap and ship it, there already getting 15% from the seller. I'd like to see a major auction house have free shipping and like Ebay everyone will take not and they'll get it on the finial price, bad bussiness model IMO, paying retail plus and then some extra on shipping makes us collectors waiting a long time to get our money back if ever needed.

Bayard1908

<< <i>That's less than one minute of time at my billing rate.

So how much has this thread cost you? >>



I consider this thread to be pro bono, lol.

BillyGoatsGruff

Yeah, tell me about it. It would seem they factor in the salary of their shipping employee, as well as, the cost to ship it. They should try that crap on Ebay and see how long it takes before it catches up to them.....

notwilight

<< <i>Stacks, Golbdergs, Heritage et al, all charge more thann what seems reasonably, but it's what they charge. >>



Unlike ebay sellers, their employees are smart enough not to work for free....