eBay seller trying to avoid the new fee on shipping
Aric
Posts: 757 ✭✭
I won a card yesterday for a couple of bucks with, I thought, free shipping as that was what was marked at the top of the auction. I go to pay for said auction and see the seller has added a nice $3 handling fee. I inquire about said handling fee and was told that ebay reps had instructed the seller to list his items in this fashion. Granted he did have the $3 handling fee verbage in the description, I hardly think that covers him for advertising free shipping.
Here's what the seller had to say:
"this was how I was instructed to list items BY EBAY THEMSELVES to avoid the negative feedback and Low Star rating that would occur due to a rise in shipping fees."
"I was informed by ebay to input Calculated SHipping, Mark it Free Shipping and then add $3 as a Handling fee. And then was informed that I must state that in the auction that there is a Handling Fee."
Here's what the seller had to say:
"this was how I was instructed to list items BY EBAY THEMSELVES to avoid the negative feedback and Low Star rating that would occur due to a rise in shipping fees."
"I was informed by ebay to input Calculated SHipping, Mark it Free Shipping and then add $3 as a Handling fee. And then was informed that I must state that in the auction that there is a Handling Fee."
0
Comments
SCAregalia.com - Masonic Regalia & Supply
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
Doug
Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.
<< <i>i listed some yearbooks and ebay would only allow me to put 5.00 shipping.....and i did.. now i pack and ship a heavy yearbook to calif. from ny.. cost is 5.60 plus the monies ebay gets from listing...plus extra large shipping envelope... How did i do on this one ??? >>
What you should do on items like that is have Ebay calculate the shipping - put in the size and weight, making sure to be VERY generous in your estimates, and it'll calculate it for you. That gets around the max $$$ amount on a lot of categories.
Tabe
<< <i>If it is clearly stated in the listing, why would anyone not pay it or leave negative feedback. You accepted it by bidding/buying. >>
It also clearly states in the listing that shipping and handling is free. The seller accepted this by listing it as such. Obviously his listing and his description are in direct conflict with one another. He did this thwart paying eBay fees. Your post makes no sense.
<< <i>
<< <i>If it is clearly stated in the listing, why would anyone not pay it or leave negative feedback. You accepted it by bidding/buying. >>
It also clearly states in the listing that shipping and handling is free. The seller accepted this by listing it as such. Obviously his listing and his description are in direct conflict with one another. He did this thwart paying eBay fees. Your post makes no sense. >>
So you admit that it says both, but MY post saying that you should pay doesn't make sense when you are saying that you don't have to pay. THAT is what doesn't make any sense.
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>If it is clearly stated in the listing, why would anyone not pay it or leave negative feedback. You accepted it by bidding/buying. >>
It also clearly states in the listing that shipping and handling is free. The seller accepted this by listing it as such. Obviously his listing and his description are in direct conflict with one another. He did this thwart paying eBay fees. Your post makes no sense. >>
So you admit that it says both, but MY post saying that you should pay doesn't make sense when you are saying that you don't have to pay. THAT is what doesn't make any sense. >>
You should look up the definition of admit because you are using it incorrectly. I stated, without reluctance I might add, in the original post that the description said there was a $3 handling. I also stated that the listing said there was free shipping and handling. It is not up to the seller to choose which to charge.
If the seller had just said this was a mistake in the listing, then we could have cancelled the transaction and went on our merry way.
Other than sales tax if applicable, nobody hitting a BIN with FREE shipping expects to pay 1 cent more than what Ebay clearly shows them the price will be. Ebay has made many listing policy changes to ensure that listings are consistent and all play by the same Ebay rules. Unethical sellers playing games with S&H charges and having fine print that goes against the rules leads to poor buyer experiences.
<< <i>sportscardstheory
Other than sales tax if applicable, nobody hitting a BIN with FREE shipping expects to pay 1 cent more than what Ebay clearly shows them the price will be. Ebay has made many listing policy changes to ensure that listings are consistent and all play by the same Ebay rules. Unethical sellers playing games with S&H charges and having fine print that goes against the rules leads to poor buyer experiences. >>
I have never seen a board so pro-eBay and their "rules". It's unethical to charge a fee on shipping charges, not to try and save some coin as a seller BECAUSE of unethical fees. Following the "rules" of eBay as a user of eBay is one thing, but don't preach to me ethics when you don't even understand it.
Example A - Ethical seller lists a card for $100 and $5 shipping.
Example B - Ethical seller lists same card for $105 with free shipping.
Both sellers pay the exact amount in Ebay fees.
Example C - Unethical seller lists same card for $5 plus $100 shipping.
Example D - Unethical seller lists same card for $5 with free shipping but in fine print says a $100 handling fee will be assessed.
With the old Ebay fee system both C & D sellers would pay fees based on a $5 sale.
With the new system the seller in example C pays the same fees as sellers A & B. This puts A & B & C all on a level playing field.
The new system was only devised to keep unethical sellers from cheating the system. It was unfair to ethical sellers and sit down...Ebay.
Now Unethical+++ seller D devised a way to cheat Ebay's new system and still pay Ebay fees on a $5 sale, creating lots of pissed off buyers.
What happens to a buyer if he wants to return an item bought from C or D?
And there is nothing at all wrong with this to you.
he is doing it so buyers can't leave a DSR.
If the Free shipping tag is in the shipping area, he can say anything he wants in the fine print and
it is all BS. Guy is simply trying to get 3.00 extra. When ebay calculated the invoice shipping was 0.00.
SCT just because some here prefer to play by the rules does NOT make them pro ebay.
<< <i>SCT just because some here prefer to play by the rules does NOT make them pro ebay. >>
This is just what those in power want... an obedient citizenry afraid to challenge authority, even when they know the rules are egregiously unfair. Oh wait, we were talking about ebay policies, my bad.
i won a card and paid via paypal.
then i get an email from the seller saying for some reason shipping wasnt added. he could eat the shipping as it he wouldnt make any money he said. i did pay the shipping as i wanted the card, he only wanted $2. but i now i wonder if it wasnt part of a plan. dont but any shipping then send an email out later saying that it was some mistake and just paypal him the shipping direct.
Collecting:
Brett Favre Master Set
Favre Ticket Stubs
Favre TD Reciever Autos
Football HOF Player/etc. Auto Set
Football HOF Rc's
<< <i>i think i might have had something similar happen.
i won a card and paid via paypal.
then i get an email from the seller saying for some reason shipping wasnt added. he could eat the shipping as it he wouldnt make any money he said. i did pay the shipping as i wanted the card, he only wanted $2. but i now i wonder if it wasnt part of a plan. dont but any shipping then send an email out later saying that it was some mistake and just paypal him the shipping direct. >>
The 30 cent transaction fee he paid was more than the 9% he would have paid on $2 if he'd listed the shipping charge with the item. In this specific case, I'm guessing it was really an honest mistake by the seller.
<< <i>sportscardstheory
Example A - Ethical seller lists a card for $100 and $5 shipping.
Example B - Ethical seller lists same card for $105 with free shipping.
Both sellers pay the exact amount in Ebay fees.
Example C - Unethical seller lists same card for $5 plus $100 shipping.
Example D - Unethical seller lists same card for $5 with free shipping but in fine print says a $100 handling fee will be assessed.
With the old Ebay fee system both C & D sellers would pay fees based on a $5 sale.
With the new system the seller in example C pays the same fees as sellers A & B. This puts A & B & C all on a level playing field.
The new system was only devised to keep unethical sellers from cheating the system. It was unfair to ethical sellers and sit down...Ebay.
Now Unethical+++ seller D devised a way to cheat Ebay's new system and still pay Ebay fees on a $5 sale, creating lots of pissed off buyers.
What happens to a buyer if he wants to return an item bought from C or D?
And there is nothing at all wrong with this to you. >>
I don't see how this has anything to do with the situation at hand. It's unethical for eBay to charge a fee without giving anything in return, as shipping is paid by the seller, not eBay. They are in essence taking money for doing nothing. Your "$5 plus $100 shipping" example isn't even close to what happened here, and also, you are talking only about BINs. It's not unethical to attempt to not give away your hard earned money. It blows my mind that people are okay with eBay stealing money from you with unethical fees.
<< <i>Ebay's changes are in reaction to unethical sellers scheming up ways to avoid fees and get an edge on the competition. This not only hurts Ebay but it also hurts ethical sellers who play by the rules and opens up buyers to poor Ebay buying experiences due to their shenanigans. >>
Do you work for eBay or what. You sound like their PR.
<< <i>Ebay's changes are in reaction to unethical sellers scheming up ways to avoid fees and get an edge on the competition. This not only hurts Ebay but it also hurts ethical sellers who play by the rules and opens up buyers to poor Ebay buying experiences due to their shenanigans. >>
I understand that logic and can see the probelm that E-Bay was having. The real problem is with their solution, taking a Fee from the Shipping Charge is at best unethical and as I think we soon all shall see, will be found by the courts to be Illegal. The Class Action Lawsuit will be filed in San Jose very soon, it is being vetted as we speak by Attorneys for the Plaintiffs (You and Me).
Neil
Edit to add: How's that "quest" coming along, anyway?
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
be found not actionable.
.......
It is possible the seller in the OP was told he could use the "handling"
charge, but it is not likely.
"Free" means "free." Tho, a screwball equity case can be made that
EBAY's TOS does bifurcate the S from the H.
....................
Avoiding DSR issues will soon - likely within a year - be moot. The DSR
system will be replaced AND the FVF discounts will either be axed or
reconfigured.
In the meantime, "free" shipping gets you off on the "shipping cost"
DSR.
The "shipping time" DSR can also be short circuited IF:
1. You change your listed "handling time" to ONE DAY.
2. You enter the DC number IMMEDIATELY when the item is paid.
(If you use PP shipping, the number is auto-uploaded to EBAY; if
you use the USPS site or stamps, you must upload the number
to EBAY manually.)
3. The item is delivered within 96-hours of the PP payment.
EBAY TOS Change Announcement - September 2010.:
Automatic 5-star DSRs for free and fast shipping:
When you offer free shipping and we know the buyer chose that option, the buyer will not be able leave a score less than 5 stars for shipping cost.
Starting in November, buyers will not be able to leave a score less than 5 stars for shipping time when:
You specified 1-day handling
You uploaded tracking information by the end of the next business day Pacific Time after the buyer's payment clears.
Delivery Confirmation or tracking shows confirmed delivery 4 business days from when the payment clears or within your estimated delivery time if it's less than 4 days (for example, Overnight shipping).
That leaves "Item As Described" and "Communication."
I usually get 5s in IAD and lots of less than 5s on Communication.
I "hate" most of the buyers so I certainly don't wanna "communicate"
with them; I just wanna send 'em their carp and be done with 'em,
until the next time they pay me.
The DSR replacement scheme will allow some of the mega-sellers
to survive w/o extraordinary intrevention - CHEATING - by EBAY.
It will also slow down the pogrom that has killed THOUSANDS of
small sellers during the past 2-years.
.................................
Recap:
Go Free and Go Fast To Get Rid Of Two DSR Risks.
<< <i>
<< <i>sportscardstheory
Example A - Ethical seller lists a card for $100 and $5 shipping.
Example B - Ethical seller lists same card for $105 with free shipping.
Both sellers pay the exact amount in Ebay fees.
Example C - Unethical seller lists same card for $5 plus $100 shipping.
Example D - Unethical seller lists same card for $5 with free shipping but in fine print says a $100 handling fee will be assessed.
With the old Ebay fee system both C & D sellers would pay fees based on a $5 sale.
With the new system the seller in example C pays the same fees as sellers A & B. This puts A & B & C all on a level playing field.
The new system was only devised to keep unethical sellers from cheating the system. It was unfair to ethical sellers and sit down...Ebay.
Now Unethical+++ seller D devised a way to cheat Ebay's new system and still pay Ebay fees on a $5 sale, creating lots of pissed off buyers.
What happens to a buyer if he wants to return an item bought from C or D?
And there is nothing at all wrong with this to you. >>
I don't see how this has anything to do with the situation at hand. It's unethical for eBay to charge a fee without giving anything in return, as shipping is paid by the seller, not eBay. They are in essence taking money for doing nothing. Your "$5 plus $100 shipping" example isn't even close to what happened here, and also, you are talking only about BINs. It's not unethical to attempt to not give away your hard earned money. It blows my mind that people are okay with eBay stealing money from you with unethical fees. >>
deer mister panda man: why u so angry at evryone? u maybe read Mahabharata for comfort, i hope for u.
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>sportscardstheory
Example A - Ethical seller lists a card for $100 and $5 shipping.
Example B - Ethical seller lists same card for $105 with free shipping.
Both sellers pay the exact amount in Ebay fees.
Example C - Unethical seller lists same card for $5 plus $100 shipping.
Example D - Unethical seller lists same card for $5 with free shipping but in fine print says a $100 handling fee will be assessed.
With the old Ebay fee system both C & D sellers would pay fees based on a $5 sale.
With the new system the seller in example C pays the same fees as sellers A & B. This puts A & B & C all on a level playing field.
The new system was only devised to keep unethical sellers from cheating the system. It was unfair to ethical sellers and sit down...Ebay.
Now Unethical+++ seller D devised a way to cheat Ebay's new system and still pay Ebay fees on a $5 sale, creating lots of pissed off buyers.
What happens to a buyer if he wants to return an item bought from C or D?
And there is nothing at all wrong with this to you. >>
I don't see how this has anything to do with the situation at hand. It's unethical for eBay to charge a fee without giving anything in return, as shipping is paid by the seller, not eBay. They are in essence taking money for doing nothing. Your "$5 plus $100 shipping" example isn't even close to what happened here, and also, you are talking only about BINs. It's not unethical to attempt to not give away your hard earned money. It blows my mind that people are okay with eBay stealing money from you with unethical fees. >>
deer mister panda man: why u so angry at evryone? u maybe read Mahabharata for comfort, i hope for u. >>
I am amused when people think they know someone's emotional state from posts on a message board. lol I'M SO VERY PISSED!!! News to me.
<< <i>I am amused when people think they know someone's emotional state from posts on a message board. lol I'M SO VERY PISSED!!! News to me. >>
u wery kretical of many peeple here--i reed you for sum time. u have inside deemuns.
Quicksilver Messenger Service - Smokestack Lightning (Live) 1968
Quicksilver Messenger Service - The Hat (Live) 1971
<< <i>
<< <i>Ebay's changes are in reaction to unethical sellers scheming up ways to avoid fees and get an edge on the competition. This not only hurts Ebay but it also hurts ethical sellers who play by the rules and opens up buyers to poor Ebay buying experiences due to their shenanigans. >>
I understand that logic and can see the probelm that E-Bay was having. The real problem is with their solution, taking a Fee from the Shipping Charge is at best unethical and as I think we soon all shall see, will be found by the courts to be Illegal. The Class Action Lawsuit will be filed in San Jose very soon, it is being vetted as we speak by Attorneys for the Plaintiffs (You and Me).
Neil >>
Even if ebay were to lose that case, in response they would simply then create another increase on the % they take on the sale price. When you are pretty much a monopoly, you never "lose".
<< <i>
<< <i>I am amused when people think they know someone's emotional state from posts on a message board. lol I'M SO VERY PISSED!!! News to me. >>
u wery kretical of many peeple here--i reed you for sum time. u have inside deemuns. >>
Uhhh...
<< <i>u wery kretical of many peeple here--i reed you for sum time. u have inside deemuns. >>
"...Even if ebay were to lose that case, in response they would simply then create another increase on the % they take on the sale price...."
//////////////////////////////////////
That is exactly correct.
At EBAY ALL updates/changes ARE price hikes. They have NO choice
but to raise prices as traffic slows and buyers drift to AMZN and other
venues.
Rule One At EBAY:
NEVER turn in a negative quarter; else your stock will be killed and
you will be quickly fired.
ONLY price hikes - under different names - can assure that rule is
complied with.