<< <i>but, to get back to the point at hand, the buyer COMMITS to making a purchase simply by bidding.....the facts are right there in their faces, INCLUDING the costs of shipping. >>
That's not quite true. Often it's unknown how the seller will be shipping/packaging. Will it be shipped in a PWE, a bubble mailer, or a box? Will it have DC? Will it be insured? Smart sellers put this info right in their auctions so that there's no surprises.
<< <i>but, to get back to the point at hand, the buyer COMMITS to making a purchase simply by bidding.....the facts are right there in their faces, INCLUDING the costs of shipping. >>
That's not quite true. Often it's unknown how the seller will be shipping/packaging. Will it be shipped in a PWE, a bubble mailer, or a box? Will it have DC? Will it be insured? Smart put this info right in their auctions so that there's no surprises. >>
i agree. include all pertinent information, so at least sophisticated buyers will understand.
but, i'm referring specifically to costs, which seems to be at the root of the argument.
the expectation is inherent, as when you purchase an item, depending on value of course, you would hope to see your card(s) arrive properly packaged and protected, but the seller is still responsible for getting it there in that condition.....anything less is a breach of simple logic.....we both know that it is pretty lame to put a valuable baseball card in a flimsy sleeve and a PWE, but it is done quite regularly.....i've actually received cards packaged just like that.
expensive ones. they made it unharmed. i paid the required shipping amount, assuming i'd get what i paid for.
This is what I paid $4.99 to receive one time (99 cents higher shipping than mine!).....I still would have left 5 stars for Shipping and Handling had the card arrived in one piece. However, it was shipped in a PWE......the seller tried to cheap it out. At least I deliver quality, but I get shunned in return by a***hole buyers!
<< <i>On my last few purchases the seller has not left me feedback, what is the deal. Are sellers now waiting for feedback first. Had one person remind me twice to send feedback and how important it was for them as a newer business, did so, and never got feedback in return. Not a problem for me since I dont sell on ebay, but annoying nonetheless. >>
Yeah, I buy a lot from sellers that do exactly that. I guess it's a protection against leaving feedback and then getting dinged by the buyer, but it really doesan't buy the seller anything to wait. Besides, I guess I'm old school - once the buyer has paid, hasn't he pretty well lived up to his side of the deal?
---------------------- Working on the following: 1970 Baseball PSA, 1970-1976 Raw, World Series Subsets PSA, 1969 Expansion Teams PSA, Fleer World Series Sets, Texas Rangers Topps Run 1972-1989 ----------------------
Successful deals to date: thedudeabides,gameusedhoop,golfcollector,tigerdean,treetop,bkritz, CapeMOGuy,WeekendHacker,jeff8877,backbidder,Salinas,milbroco,bbuckner22,VitoCo1972,ddfamf,gemint,K,fatty macs,waltersobchak,dboneesq
<< <i>On my last few purchases the seller has not left me feedback, what is the deal. Are sellers now waiting for feedback first. Had one person remind me twice to send feedback and how important it was for them as a newer business, did so, and never got feedback in return. Not a problem for me since I dont sell on ebay, but annoying nonetheless. >>
I haven't left a buyer feedback in months, at least 100 sales.
so is $5. so is $6.95, etc, etc.......know what? i've paid them. i bid down, like others have suggested, and wound up with some wonderful wins.
in fact, as a buyer, i look forward to seeing inflated shipping costs which i hope will drive off the competition, for the exact reasons being discussed here.
if you don't like the shipping costs, don't bid.....but don't use it as a means of causing damage to another person's reputation.
if you win, make it about the win, and leave the BS out of it.
<< <i>but, to get back to the point at hand, the buyer COMMITS to making a purchase simply by bidding.....the facts are right there in their faces, INCLUDING the costs of shipping. >>
That's not quite true. Often it's unknown how the seller will be shipping/packaging. Will it be shipped in a PWE, a bubble mailer, or a box? Will it have DC? Will it be insured? Smart put this info right in their auctions so that there's no surprises. >>
i agree. include all pertinent information, so at least sophisticated buyers will understand.
but, i'm referring specifically to costs, which seems to be at the root of the argument.
the expectation is inherent, as when you purchase an item, depending on value of course, you would hope to see your card(s) arrive properly packaged and protected, but the seller is still responsible for getting it there in that condition.....anything less is a breach of simple logic.....we both know that it is pretty lame to put a valuable baseball card in a flimsy sleeve and a PWE, but it is done quite regularly.....i've actually received cards packaged just like that.
expensive ones. they made it unharmed. i paid the required shipping amount, assuming i'd get what i paid for.
end of story. >>
Right with you on this, but the problem is how to control the actions of the buyer after the fact?
Do sellers need to add language along the following lines with each listing:
SHIPPING WILL BE $5.20 (small USPS flat rate priority mail box) PLUS STANDARD USPS INSURANCE SUFFICIENT TO COVER THE WINNING BID. I TAKE THE ITEM TO THE POST OFFICE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS 100% SECURE, THUS THERE ARE NO REDUCED USPS FEES.
IF YOU CONSIDER THESE CHARGES "EXCESSIVE", "HIGH", "UNFAIR", ETC. THEN DO NOT BID ON THIS ITEM.
IF YOU BID ON THIS ITEM YOU ACCEPT THAT THESE SHIPPING CHARGES ARE ACCEPTABLE AND YOU AGREE TO INDICATE THIS BY GIVING A STAR RATING OF FIVE (5) FOR THIS TRANSACTION THROUGH THE EBAY FEEDBACK STAR-RATING SYSTEM. IF YOU FAIL TO PROVIDE SUCH FEEDBACK YOU ARE IN BREECH OF THIS AGREEMENT AND YOU WILL BE PROSECUTED TO THE FULL EXTENT OF US LAW.
Short of something like this, which could certainly help control the actions of a buyer ( but would probably drive away many buyers too), what can a seller really do?
<< <i>On my last few purchases the seller has not left me feedback, what is the deal. Are sellers now waiting for feedback first. Had one person remind me twice to send feedback and how important it was for them as a newer business, did so, and never got feedback in return. Not a problem for me since I dont sell on ebay, but annoying nonetheless. >>
I haven't left a buyer feedback in months, at least 100 sales. >>
I hand't really thought about it, but once a buyer gets feedback up out of the single (or double) digits, it really doesn't do any good for a seller to leave more, does it??
Now, as for those buyers who didn't leave me ANY feedback on the $400 items they bought this month - thanks for keeping me in Paypal purgatory a**holes!!!
---------------------- Working on the following: 1970 Baseball PSA, 1970-1976 Raw, World Series Subsets PSA, 1969 Expansion Teams PSA, Fleer World Series Sets, Texas Rangers Topps Run 1972-1989 ----------------------
Successful deals to date: thedudeabides,gameusedhoop,golfcollector,tigerdean,treetop,bkritz, CapeMOGuy,WeekendHacker,jeff8877,backbidder,Salinas,milbroco,bbuckner22,VitoCo1972,ddfamf,gemint,K,fatty macs,waltersobchak,dboneesq
I think you need to lower your shipping charges if you want to be Top Rated. Don't think of trying to break even on shipping. Think of it as trying to reduce your losses. This is my formula that has worked w/ over 300 feedback to DSR's in the last 12 months and 0 dings. Top Rated Seller at Silver Powerseller level, and I only sell cards and not other stuff. All of my stars are 5/5 except Shipping which is 4.9/5
For regular sized PSA/SGC/BVG slabs: $3/card. You can ship these at 3oz with a thin piece of cardboard from small priority mail flat rate box on each side for $1.75 for PSA card. SGC (and I believe BVG) needs 4oz at $1.92.
For postcard size/tallboys: $4/card
For raw: $2/card. You still ship these at 3oz with thicker cardboard and toploader to ensure that the card will not bend during shipment.
For combined shipping, each additional raw card is 25cents per card. For slabbed, it's 50cents for each additional card.
NEVER print the postage amount on the package unless the postage is more than the buyer paid for. (Then by all means print it out, so the buyer knows you subsidized part of the shipping costs.) Buyers don't card about the cost of tape, bubble mailer, gas to drive to the post office. They only care about the postage on the package. If they see it's less than they paid for, you're ripe to get dinged. This is why it's best to use Paypal or ebay shipping rather than paying for the shipping at the Post Office. Paypal/ebay give the option to hide shipping costs.
I also try to make sure that each card is shipped within 1-2 days after payment. If the buyer receives the card quickly and in good condition, they're a lot more generous with the DSR's.
<< <i>I think you need to lower your shipping charges if you want to be Top Rated. Don't think of trying to break even on shipping. Think of it as trying to reduce your losses. This is my formula that has worked w/ over 300 feedback to DSR's in the last 12 months and 0 dings. Top Rated Seller at Silver Powerseller level, and I only sell cards and not other stuff. All of my stars are 5/5 except Shipping which is 4.9/5
For regular sized PSA/SGC/BVG slabs: $3/card. You can ship these at 3oz with a thin piece of cardboard from small priority mail flat rate box on each side for $1.75 for PSA card. SGC (and I believe BVG) needs 4oz at $1.92.
For postcard size/tallboys: $4/card
For raw: $2/card. You still ship these at 3oz with thicker cardboard and toploader to ensure that the card will not bend during shipment.
For combined shipping, each additional raw card is 25cents per card. For slabbed, it's 50cents for each additional card.
NEVER print the postage amount on the package unless the postage is more than the buyer paid for. (Then by all means print it out, so the buyer knows you subsidized part of the shipping costs.) Buyers don't card about the cost of tape, bubble mailer, gas to drive to the post office. They only care about the postage on the package. If they see it's less than they paid for, you're ripe to get dinged. This is why it's best to use Paypal or ebay shipping rather than paying for the shipping at the Post Office. Paypal/ebay give the option to hide shipping costs.
I also try to make sure that each card is shipped within 1-2 days after payment. If the buyer receives the card quickly and in good condition, they're a lot more generous with the DSR's. >>
That may be good for low value cards. What about higher dollar cards? Once the value is over $10 DC is taking a risk. USPS insurance is great but it does have a cost. What do you suggest in this case?
<< <i>IF YOU BID ON THIS ITEM YOU ACCEPT THAT THESE SHIPPING CHARGES ARE ACCEPTABLE AND YOU AGREE TO INDICATE THIS BY GIVING A STAR RATING OF FIVE (5) FOR THIS TRANSACTION THROUGH THE EBAY FEEDBACK STAR-RATING SYSTEM. IF YOU FAIL TO PROVIDE SUCH FEEDBACK YOU ARE IN BREECH OF THIS AGREEMENT AND YOU WILL BE PROSECUTED TO THE FULL EXTENT OF US LAW. >>
This made my day. Thank you.
'Sir, I realize it's been difficult for you to sleep at night without your EX/MT 1977 Topps Tom Seaver, but I swear to you that you'll get it safe and sound.' -CDs Nuts, 1/20/14
a note on disclaimers in your listing , this is in everyone of my listings . This still does not work, the buyers don't care. And some are jsut a-hole sellers who feel that they should screw someone else because someone screwed them.
I charge 3.50 for any graded card , 1.50 for a raw card under 15 bucks and 2.50 for raw over 15
"A note about shipping CHARGES, I offer shipping DISCOUNTS for multiple items purchased.
The cost of shipping includes the postage fee(not cheap , check out www.usps.com if you do not believe me) , delivery confirmation, the bubble mailer and INSURANCE. I am responsible for all items arriving safely and if the post man decides to bend your envelope , sit on the package , throw it down the stairs, it is my responsibility to make sure YOU are covered financially.
Thank you and PLEASE keep this in mind when leaving DSR's , my goal is a 5 STAR transaction always. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me. "
<< <i>IF YOU BID ON THIS ITEM YOU ACCEPT THAT THESE SHIPPING CHARGES ARE ACCEPTABLE AND YOU AGREE TO INDICATE THIS BY GIVING A STAR RATING OF FIVE (5) FOR THIS TRANSACTION THROUGH THE EBAY FEEDBACK STAR-RATING SYSTEM. IF YOU FAIL TO PROVIDE SUCH FEEDBACK YOU ARE IN BREECH OF THIS AGREEMENT AND YOU WILL BE PROSECUTED TO THE FULL EXTENT OF US LAW. >>
This made my day. Thank you. >>
You're welcome. It was either prosecution or handing over of the first born
<< <i>That may be good for low value cards. What about higher dollar cards? Once the value is over $10 DC is taking a risk. USPS insurance is great but it does have a cost. What do you suggest in this case? >>
For high dollar cards, you make more profit (or at least you should). Therefore, you should be able to eat more of the shipping costs. I vary my strategies on this depending on how much of a markup I've done. If the value of the card is near $250 or higher, then I charge $5-7 for shipping. This is the cost for priority mail small flat rate box, which is $5 and Signature Confirmation which is $2 more. You're required to have Signature Confirmation on cards over $250 anyway. For $400 or more, I start adding insurance to the packages, but I never charge over $10 shipping regardless for an individual listing. I always print out the postage costs on these higher values items so that the buyer can see that I am definitely losing money on shipping. Sometimes, I will even offer free shipping on these higher cost items because the profit margin is higher. Incremental slabbed items are still just 50 cents per item for combined shipping.
Just to add to what others have said in different threads. No insurance on cards unless they are high value, (i.e., at least $200). You lose money paying for insurance. The money you save by not paying for insurance will take care of any lower value cards that are lost/broken in the mail. The key here is that it's better to pay more to package the card well than it is to pay for insurance. For example, if the card is higher value, say $150, just package it better. Use thicker cardboard around it, and maybe some more bubble wrap. The incremental postage cost from 3oz to 5oz is only something like 20cents, which is much cheaper than insuring the card. Or just use Priority Mail Small Flat Rate box, and package the card really well in the box. Last week, a buyer purchased two cards from me for $575 total. In my listing, I charged him $5 for the $400 card and $3 for the $175 card, but with combined shipping the cost was reduced to $5.50. I sent the cards in priority mail small flat rate box with signature confirmation for $7 total. No insurance this time although others times I do add insurance to these types of packages.
I only sell at outrageous BIN/BO with free shipping so I get to vet any buyer before selling to them unless they hit my ridiculous BIN.
Usually take a look at what feedback they've left others before I decide to deal with them or not and always throw some extra commons from teams of what the buyer collects or has been buying.
I don't really sell a lot anymore though. Been too lazy over the last few months and I lost my Power Seller and Top Seller for not meeting the qty needed.
I did a small experiment about a year and half ago by putting up a bunch of $10-$20 items at auction and charged $3.00 shipping. Got dinged on most of them. Said screw that and went back to my ridiculous BIN/BO mode.
My results - 100% feedback since 1999 and currently 5 stars all the way down the tree (not even. 4.9s that look like 5s - actual 5s LOL)
Granted, I'm not doing it to make a living, just to have more money to blow on other stuff online. My process probably wouldn't work for big time sellers but it works for me.
Complaining about shipping costs is the #1 complaint among idiot ebayers. You know the cost up front, if you bid and complain about it you are a 100% idiot, no argument, no doubt at all. Ebay is continually taking bigger pieces of the pie, the USPS is gouging people more than ever, but everyone expects the seller who is selling something to you that would probably cost you $10 more at your local store to not only cut you a deal on the item, but then virtually do all the leg work, buy bulk everything, just so they can save you 25 cents on shipping, its a joke and will never change as long as ebay puts the gun in the hand of the buyer at all turns
Many/most ebayers do not buy bulk bubble mailers, they dont live a half block from the USPS, they dont buy shipping online. A bubble mailer with DC at the post office costs $2.50 minimum, plus the cost of the mailer, plus the cost of the protection insided the mailer, plus ebay gets a cut of the shipping costs to begin with. Im surprised that most people dont charge at least $4 for shipping.
Best way to handle it is to ignore the feedback, the stars dinging and sell what you want, when you want and for how much you want and do the same for shipping. And if people want to bid, then complain, they are probably too broke to be buying your item anyway and are paying you with food stamp money.
so is $5. so is $6.95, etc, etc.......know what? i've paid them. i bid down, like others have suggested, and wound up with some wonderful wins.
in fact, as a buyer, i look forward to seeing inflated shipping costs which i hope will drive off the competition, for the exact reasons being discussed here.
if you don't like the shipping costs, don't bid.....but don't use it as a means of causing damage to another person's reputation.
if you win, make it about the win, and leave the BS out of it. >>
I sure hope the last two lines aren't directed at me.
<< <i>Complaining about shipping costs is the #1 complaint among idiot ebayers. You know the cost up front, if you bid and complain about it you are a 100% idiot, no argument, no doubt at all. Ebay is continually taking bigger pieces of the pie, the USPS is gouging people more than ever, but everyone expects the seller who is selling something to you that would probably cost you $10 more at your local store to not only cut you a deal on the item, but then virtually do all the leg work, buy bulk everything, just so they can save you 25 cents on shipping, its a joke and will never change as long as ebay puts the gun in the hand of the buyer at all turns
Many/most ebayers do not buy bulk bubble mailers, they dont live a half block from the USPS, they dont buy shipping online. A bubble mailer with DC at the post office costs $2.50 minimum, plus the cost of the mailer, plus the cost of the protection insided the mailer, plus ebay gets a cut of the shipping costs to begin with. Im surprised that most people dont charge at least $4 for shipping.
Best way to handle it is to ignore the feedback, the stars dinging and sell what you want, when you want and for how much you want and do the same for shipping. And if people want to bid, then complain, they are probably too broke to be buying your item anyway and are paying you with food stamp money. >>
so is $5. so is $6.95, etc, etc.......know what? i've paid them. i bid down, like others have suggested, and wound up with some wonderful wins.
in fact, as a buyer, i look forward to seeing inflated shipping costs which i hope will drive off the competition, for the exact reasons being discussed here.
if you don't like the shipping costs, don't bid.....but don't use it as a means of causing damage to another person's reputation.
if you win, make it about the win, and leave the BS out of it. >>
I sure hope the last two lines aren't directed at me. >>
it was a general statement. if you don't use eBay's Feedback rating system as a means of sabotaging another person's livelihood, then you have nothing to worry about.
Now I am gonna have to start charging FIVE dollars per card shipping to make up the lost revenue of losing TSR as well as having EBAY threaten to kick me off now (spoken tongue in cheek of course :-p).....
<< <i>Now I am gonna have to start charging FIVE dollars per card shipping to make up the lost revenue of losing TSR as well as having EBAY threaten to kick me off now (spoken tongue in cheek of course :-p)..... >>
I work for eBay and if you paypal me a gift of $500 I can make you a power seller for life with platinum stars. Interested?
This is the card that started it all. Not a common, but a legitimate HOFer. Started at 99 cents, and ended at $3.36. The $4 shipping was listed from the get go. So, final total, I sold the card for $7.36. I actually lost money on the transaction, as I bought it raw and paid to get it graded. Then to get my stars dinged on a card that I acutally lost money on, only rubs salt in the wound....
Is it me?, or if you read everything in this thread, and of all the examples, aren't 99% of the winers and an A$$Holes the Baseball Card collectors? Football and Non Sports don't seem to have the same problem's........................Just sayin' !!! Wonder what that says?
YeeHah
Neil
Actually Collect Non Sport, but am just so full of myself I post all over the place !!!!!!!
Neil....I think this is just a case of some a**hole buyer upset that he paid more in shipping that he did for the card. Nevermind that he got a deal - just rubbed him the wrong way that the card was less than shipping.
Comments
<< <i>but, to get back to the point at hand, the buyer COMMITS to making a purchase simply by bidding.....the facts are right there in their faces, INCLUDING the costs of shipping.
>>
That's not quite true. Often it's unknown how the seller will be shipping/packaging. Will it be shipped in a PWE, a bubble mailer, or a box? Will it have DC? Will it be insured? Smart sellers put this info right in their auctions so that there's no surprises.
<< <i>
<< <i>but, to get back to the point at hand, the buyer COMMITS to making a purchase simply by bidding.....the facts are right there in their faces, INCLUDING the costs of shipping.
>>
That's not quite true. Often it's unknown how the seller will be shipping/packaging. Will it be shipped in a PWE, a bubble mailer, or a box? Will it have DC? Will it be insured? Smart put this info right in their auctions so that there's no surprises. >>
i agree. include all pertinent information, so at least sophisticated buyers will understand.
but, i'm referring specifically to costs, which seems to be at the root of the argument.
the expectation is inherent, as when you purchase an item, depending on value of course, you would hope to see your card(s) arrive properly packaged and protected, but the seller is still responsible for getting it there in that condition.....anything less is a breach of simple logic.....we both know that it is pretty lame to put a valuable baseball card in a flimsy sleeve and a PWE, but it is done quite regularly.....i've actually received cards packaged just like that.
expensive ones. they made it unharmed. i paid the required shipping amount, assuming i'd get what i paid for.
end of story.
<< <i>On my last few purchases the seller has not left me feedback, what is the deal. Are sellers now waiting for feedback first. Had one person remind me twice to send feedback and how important it was for them as a newer business, did so, and never got feedback in return. Not a problem for me since I dont sell on ebay, but annoying nonetheless. >>
Yeah, I buy a lot from sellers that do exactly that. I guess it's a protection against leaving feedback and then getting dinged by the buyer, but it really doesan't buy the seller anything to wait. Besides, I guess I'm old school - once the buyer has paid, hasn't he pretty well lived up to his side of the deal?
Working on the following: 1970 Baseball PSA, 1970-1976 Raw, World Series Subsets PSA, 1969 Expansion Teams PSA, Fleer World Series Sets, Texas Rangers Topps Run 1972-1989
----------------------
Successful deals to date: thedudeabides,gameusedhoop,golfcollector,tigerdean,treetop,bkritz, CapeMOGuy,WeekendHacker,jeff8877,backbidder,Salinas,milbroco,bbuckner22,VitoCo1972,ddfamf,gemint,K,fatty macs,waltersobchak,dboneesq
<< <i>On my last few purchases the seller has not left me feedback, what is the deal. Are sellers now waiting for feedback first. Had one person remind me twice to send feedback and how important it was for them as a newer business, did so, and never got feedback in return. Not a problem for me since I dont sell on ebay, but annoying nonetheless. >>
I haven't left a buyer feedback in months, at least 100 sales.
<< <i>$4 for shipping a single slab is nuts. >>
so is $5. so is $6.95, etc, etc.......know what? i've paid them. i bid down, like others have suggested, and wound up with some wonderful wins.
in fact, as a buyer, i look forward to seeing inflated shipping costs which i hope will drive off the competition, for the exact reasons being discussed here.
if you don't like the shipping costs, don't bid.....but don't use it as a means of causing damage to another person's reputation.
if you win, make it about the win, and leave the BS out of it.
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>but, to get back to the point at hand, the buyer COMMITS to making a purchase simply by bidding.....the facts are right there in their faces, INCLUDING the costs of shipping.
>>
That's not quite true. Often it's unknown how the seller will be shipping/packaging. Will it be shipped in a PWE, a bubble mailer, or a box? Will it have DC? Will it be insured? Smart put this info right in their auctions so that there's no surprises. >>
i agree. include all pertinent information, so at least sophisticated buyers will understand.
but, i'm referring specifically to costs, which seems to be at the root of the argument.
the expectation is inherent, as when you purchase an item, depending on value of course, you would hope to see your card(s) arrive properly packaged and protected, but the seller is still responsible for getting it there in that condition.....anything less is a breach of simple logic.....we both know that it is pretty lame to put a valuable baseball card in a flimsy sleeve and a PWE, but it is done quite regularly.....i've actually received cards packaged just like that.
expensive ones. they made it unharmed. i paid the required shipping amount, assuming i'd get what i paid for.
end of story. >>
Right with you on this, but the problem is how to control the actions of the buyer after the fact?
Do sellers need to add language along the following lines with each listing:
SHIPPING WILL BE $5.20 (small USPS flat rate priority mail box) PLUS STANDARD USPS INSURANCE SUFFICIENT TO COVER THE WINNING BID.
I TAKE THE ITEM TO THE POST OFFICE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS 100% SECURE, THUS THERE ARE NO REDUCED USPS FEES.
IF YOU CONSIDER THESE CHARGES "EXCESSIVE", "HIGH", "UNFAIR", ETC. THEN DO NOT BID ON THIS ITEM.
IF YOU BID ON THIS ITEM YOU ACCEPT THAT THESE SHIPPING CHARGES ARE ACCEPTABLE AND YOU AGREE TO INDICATE THIS BY GIVING A
STAR RATING OF FIVE (5) FOR THIS TRANSACTION THROUGH THE EBAY FEEDBACK STAR-RATING SYSTEM. IF YOU FAIL TO PROVIDE SUCH FEEDBACK
YOU ARE IN BREECH OF THIS AGREEMENT AND YOU WILL BE PROSECUTED TO THE FULL EXTENT OF US LAW.
Short of something like this, which could certainly help control the actions of a buyer ( but would probably drive away many buyers too),
what can a seller really do?
Dave
<< <i>
<< <i>On my last few purchases the seller has not left me feedback, what is the deal. Are sellers now waiting for feedback first. Had one person remind me twice to send feedback and how important it was for them as a newer business, did so, and never got feedback in return. Not a problem for me since I dont sell on ebay, but annoying nonetheless. >>
I haven't left a buyer feedback in months, at least 100 sales. >>
I hand't really thought about it, but once a buyer gets feedback up out of the single (or double) digits, it really doesn't do any good for a seller to leave more, does it??
Now, as for those buyers who didn't leave me ANY feedback on the $400 items they bought this month - thanks for keeping me in Paypal purgatory a**holes!!!
Working on the following: 1970 Baseball PSA, 1970-1976 Raw, World Series Subsets PSA, 1969 Expansion Teams PSA, Fleer World Series Sets, Texas Rangers Topps Run 1972-1989
----------------------
Successful deals to date: thedudeabides,gameusedhoop,golfcollector,tigerdean,treetop,bkritz, CapeMOGuy,WeekendHacker,jeff8877,backbidder,Salinas,milbroco,bbuckner22,VitoCo1972,ddfamf,gemint,K,fatty macs,waltersobchak,dboneesq
For regular sized PSA/SGC/BVG slabs: $3/card. You can ship these at 3oz with a thin piece of cardboard from small priority mail flat rate box on each side for $1.75 for PSA card. SGC (and I believe BVG) needs 4oz at $1.92.
For postcard size/tallboys: $4/card
For raw: $2/card. You still ship these at 3oz with thicker cardboard and toploader to ensure that the card will not bend during shipment.
For combined shipping, each additional raw card is 25cents per card. For slabbed, it's 50cents for each additional card.
NEVER print the postage amount on the package unless the postage is more than the buyer paid for. (Then by all means print it out, so the buyer knows you subsidized part of the shipping costs.) Buyers don't card about the cost of tape, bubble mailer, gas to drive to the post office. They only care about the postage on the package. If they see it's less than they paid for, you're ripe to get dinged. This is why it's best to use Paypal or ebay shipping rather than paying for the shipping at the Post Office. Paypal/ebay give the option to hide shipping costs.
I also try to make sure that each card is shipped within 1-2 days after payment. If the buyer receives the card quickly and in good condition, they're a lot more generous with the DSR's.
Lou Gehrig Master Set
Non-Registry Collection
Game Used Cards Collection
<< <i>I think you need to lower your shipping charges if you want to be Top Rated. Don't think of trying to break even on shipping. Think of it as trying to reduce your losses. This is my formula that has worked w/ over 300 feedback to DSR's in the last 12 months and 0 dings. Top Rated Seller at Silver Powerseller level, and I only sell cards and not other stuff. All of my stars are 5/5 except Shipping which is 4.9/5
For regular sized PSA/SGC/BVG slabs: $3/card. You can ship these at 3oz with a thin piece of cardboard from small priority mail flat rate box on each side for $1.75 for PSA card. SGC (and I believe BVG) needs 4oz at $1.92.
For postcard size/tallboys: $4/card
For raw: $2/card. You still ship these at 3oz with thicker cardboard and toploader to ensure that the card will not bend during shipment.
For combined shipping, each additional raw card is 25cents per card. For slabbed, it's 50cents for each additional card.
NEVER print the postage amount on the package unless the postage is more than the buyer paid for. (Then by all means print it out, so the buyer knows you subsidized part of the shipping costs.) Buyers don't card about the cost of tape, bubble mailer, gas to drive to the post office. They only care about the postage on the package. If they see it's less than they paid for, you're ripe to get dinged. This is why it's best to use Paypal or ebay shipping rather than paying for the shipping at the Post Office. Paypal/ebay give the option to hide shipping costs.
I also try to make sure that each card is shipped within 1-2 days after payment. If the buyer receives the card quickly and in good condition, they're a lot more generous with the DSR's. >>
That may be good for low value cards. What about higher dollar cards? Once the value is over $10 DC is taking a risk. USPS insurance
is great but it does have a cost. What do you suggest in this case?
Dave
<< <i>IF YOU BID ON THIS ITEM YOU ACCEPT THAT THESE SHIPPING CHARGES ARE ACCEPTABLE AND YOU AGREE TO INDICATE THIS BY GIVING A
STAR RATING OF FIVE (5) FOR THIS TRANSACTION THROUGH THE EBAY FEEDBACK STAR-RATING SYSTEM. IF YOU FAIL TO PROVIDE SUCH FEEDBACK
YOU ARE IN BREECH OF THIS AGREEMENT AND YOU WILL BE PROSECUTED TO THE FULL EXTENT OF US LAW. >>
This made my day. Thank you.
-CDs Nuts, 1/20/14
*1956 Topps baseball- 97.4% complete, 7.24 GPA
*Clemente basic set: 85.0% complete, 7.89 GPA
I charge 3.50 for any graded card , 1.50 for a raw card under 15 bucks and 2.50 for raw over 15
"A note about shipping CHARGES, I offer shipping DISCOUNTS for multiple items purchased.
The cost of shipping includes the postage fee(not cheap , check out www.usps.com if you do not believe me) , delivery confirmation, the bubble mailer and INSURANCE. I am responsible for all items arriving safely and if the post man decides to bend your envelope , sit on the package , throw it down the stairs, it is my responsibility to make sure YOU are covered financially.
Thank you and PLEASE keep this in mind when leaving DSR's , my goal is a 5 STAR transaction always. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me. "
<< <i>
<< <i>IF YOU BID ON THIS ITEM YOU ACCEPT THAT THESE SHIPPING CHARGES ARE ACCEPTABLE AND YOU AGREE TO INDICATE THIS BY GIVING A
STAR RATING OF FIVE (5) FOR THIS TRANSACTION THROUGH THE EBAY FEEDBACK STAR-RATING SYSTEM. IF YOU FAIL TO PROVIDE SUCH FEEDBACK
YOU ARE IN BREECH OF THIS AGREEMENT AND YOU WILL BE PROSECUTED TO THE FULL EXTENT OF US LAW. >>
This made my day. Thank you.
You're welcome. It was either prosecution or handing over of the first born
Dave
<< <i>That may be good for low value cards. What about higher dollar cards? Once the value is over $10 DC is taking a risk. USPS insurance
is great but it does have a cost. What do you suggest in this case? >>
For high dollar cards, you make more profit (or at least you should). Therefore, you should be able to eat more of the shipping costs. I vary my strategies on this depending on how much of a markup I've done. If the value of the card is near $250 or higher, then I charge $5-7 for shipping. This is the cost for priority mail small flat rate box, which is $5 and Signature Confirmation which is $2 more. You're required to have Signature Confirmation on cards over $250 anyway. For $400 or more, I start adding insurance to the packages, but I never charge over $10 shipping regardless for an individual listing. I always print out the postage costs on these higher values items so that the buyer can see that I am definitely losing money on shipping. Sometimes, I will even offer free shipping on these higher cost items because the profit margin is higher. Incremental slabbed items are still just 50 cents per item for combined shipping.
Just to add to what others have said in different threads. No insurance on cards unless they are high value, (i.e., at least $200). You lose money paying for insurance. The money you save by not paying for insurance will take care of any lower value cards that are lost/broken in the mail. The key here is that it's better to pay more to package the card well than it is to pay for insurance. For example, if the card is higher value, say $150, just package it better. Use thicker cardboard around it, and maybe some more bubble wrap. The incremental postage cost from 3oz to 5oz is only something like 20cents, which is much cheaper than insuring the card. Or just use Priority Mail Small Flat Rate box, and package the card really well in the box. Last week, a buyer purchased two cards from me for $575 total. In my listing, I charged him $5 for the $400 card and $3 for the $175 card, but with combined shipping the cost was reduced to $5.50. I sent the cards in priority mail small flat rate box with signature confirmation for $7 total. No insurance this time although others times I do add insurance to these types of packages.
Lou Gehrig Master Set
Non-Registry Collection
Game Used Cards Collection
Usually take a look at what feedback they've left others before I decide to deal with them or not and always throw some extra commons from teams of what the buyer collects or has been buying.
I don't really sell a lot anymore though. Been too lazy over the last few months and I lost my Power Seller and Top Seller for not meeting the qty needed.
I did a small experiment about a year and half ago by putting up a bunch of $10-$20 items at auction and charged $3.00 shipping. Got dinged on most of them. Said screw that and went back to my ridiculous BIN/BO mode.
My results - 100% feedback since 1999 and currently 5 stars all the way down the tree (not even. 4.9s that look like 5s - actual 5s LOL)
Granted, I'm not doing it to make a living, just to have more money to blow on other stuff online. My process probably wouldn't work for big time sellers but it works for me.
Many/most ebayers do not buy bulk bubble mailers, they dont live a half block from the USPS, they dont buy shipping online. A bubble mailer with DC at the post office costs $2.50 minimum, plus the cost of the mailer, plus the cost of the protection insided the mailer, plus ebay gets a cut of the shipping costs to begin with. Im surprised that most people dont charge at least $4 for shipping.
Best way to handle it is to ignore the feedback, the stars dinging and sell what you want, when you want and for how much you want and do the same for shipping. And if people want to bid, then complain, they are probably too broke to be buying your item anyway and are paying you with food stamp money.
<< <i>
<< <i>$4 for shipping a single slab is nuts. >>
so is $5. so is $6.95, etc, etc.......know what? i've paid them. i bid down, like others have suggested, and wound up with some wonderful wins.
in fact, as a buyer, i look forward to seeing inflated shipping costs which i hope will drive off the competition, for the exact reasons being discussed here.
if you don't like the shipping costs, don't bid.....but don't use it as a means of causing damage to another person's reputation.
if you win, make it about the win, and leave the BS out of it. >>
I sure hope the last two lines aren't directed at me.
<< <i>Complaining about shipping costs is the #1 complaint among idiot ebayers. You know the cost up front, if you bid and complain about it you are a 100% idiot, no argument, no doubt at all. Ebay is continually taking bigger pieces of the pie, the USPS is gouging people more than ever, but everyone expects the seller who is selling something to you that would probably cost you $10 more at your local store to not only cut you a deal on the item, but then virtually do all the leg work, buy bulk everything, just so they can save you 25 cents on shipping, its a joke and will never change as long as ebay puts the gun in the hand of the buyer at all turns
Many/most ebayers do not buy bulk bubble mailers, they dont live a half block from the USPS, they dont buy shipping online. A bubble mailer with DC at the post office costs $2.50 minimum, plus the cost of the mailer, plus the cost of the protection insided the mailer, plus ebay gets a cut of the shipping costs to begin with. Im surprised that most people dont charge at least $4 for shipping.
Best way to handle it is to ignore the feedback, the stars dinging and sell what you want, when you want and for how much you want and do the same for shipping. And if people want to bid, then complain, they are probably too broke to be buying your item anyway and are paying you with food stamp money. >>
Preach it!
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>$4 for shipping a single slab is nuts. >>
so is $5. so is $6.95, etc, etc.......know what? i've paid them. i bid down, like others have suggested, and wound up with some wonderful wins.
in fact, as a buyer, i look forward to seeing inflated shipping costs which i hope will drive off the competition, for the exact reasons being discussed here.
if you don't like the shipping costs, don't bid.....but don't use it as a means of causing damage to another person's reputation.
if you win, make it about the win, and leave the BS out of it. >>
I sure hope the last two lines aren't directed at me. >>
it was a general statement. if you don't use eBay's Feedback rating system as a means of sabotaging another person's livelihood, then you have nothing to worry about.
<< <i>Now I am gonna have to start charging FIVE dollars per card shipping to make up the lost revenue of losing TSR as well as having EBAY threaten to kick me off now (spoken tongue in cheek of course :-p)..... >>
I work for eBay and if you paypal me a gift of $500 I can make you a power seller for life with platinum stars. Interested?
<< <i>I work for eBay and if you paypal me a gift of $500 I can make you a power seller for life with platinum stars. Interested? >>
No thanks. I am acutally trying to phase you guys out! Everytime you make a change, it is ALWAYS for the worse, as far as sellers go!
Is it me?, or if you read everything in this thread, and of all the examples, aren't 99% of the winers and an A$$Holes the Baseball Card collectors? Football and Non Sports don't seem to have the same problem's........................Just sayin' !!! Wonder what that says?
YeeHah
Neil
blame the immigrant.