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WHat does "Will combine shipping" mean?

PowderedH2OPowderedH2O Posts: 2,443 ✭✭
in Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum
Twice in the last two weeks I've dealt with sellers that put "will combine shipping" in their ads on ebay, then when it is checkout time, the "combined" deal that I get is only a miniscule discount. For example, I just dealt with a seller that charged $3 for a raw card. But, he "combined shipping", so I bought 13 cards figuring that it would offset the $3 high shipping rate. I figured for 13 raw cards, it would be somewhere between $3-5 total. His combined deal was $15 for the 13 cards. So, basically an extra dollar per card to ship. I don't get on here and complain too often, but I am getting a bit fed up with people that want to make money off of shipping. Anyone else having this issue?

Oh, and I get 13 feedbacks. Guess what the shipping stars are going to be...
Successful dealings with shootybabitt, LarryP, Doctor K, thedutymon, billsgridirongreats, fattymacs, shagrotn77, pclpads, JMDVM, gumbyfan, itzagoner, rexvos, al032184, gregm13, californiacards3, mccardguy1, BigDaddyBowman, bigreddog, bobbyw8469, burke23, detroitfan2, drewsef, jeff8877, markmac, Goldlabels, swartz1, blee1, EarlsWorld, gseaman25, kcballboy, jimrad, leadoff4, weinhold, Mphilking, milbroco, msassin, meteoriteguy, rbeaton and gameusedhoop.

Comments

  • charrigancharrigan Posts: 2,293
    Usually when this happens to me, I message they seller and ask if they can combine shipping at a less expensive rate. It is almost always an error in automatic calculation through eBay and easily solved.
  • DustoDusto Posts: 164
    If it is not spelled out in the listing, ask prior to bidding as every seller handles it differently. Some will try to gauge you at a buck per, but reasonably it should be a quarter or less depending on how many you buy.
  • MULLINS5MULLINS5 Posts: 4,517 ✭✭✭
    That's ridiculous and I wouldn't pay it.
  • dennis07dennis07 Posts: 1,842 ✭✭✭
    The max for this should be $5. I'd get in touch with the seller and politely ask for a reasonable shipping rate.
    Collecting 1970 Topps baseball
  • PowderedH2OPowderedH2O Posts: 2,443 ✭✭
    Oh, I did and I was advised that this great seller was basically doing me a favor by "saving" me $24 from the $39 shipping that I could be paying.
    Successful dealings with shootybabitt, LarryP, Doctor K, thedutymon, billsgridirongreats, fattymacs, shagrotn77, pclpads, JMDVM, gumbyfan, itzagoner, rexvos, al032184, gregm13, californiacards3, mccardguy1, BigDaddyBowman, bigreddog, bobbyw8469, burke23, detroitfan2, drewsef, jeff8877, markmac, Goldlabels, swartz1, blee1, EarlsWorld, gseaman25, kcballboy, jimrad, leadoff4, weinhold, Mphilking, milbroco, msassin, meteoriteguy, rbeaton and gameusedhoop.
  • charrigancharrigan Posts: 2,293
    Yeah, I wouldn't pay that.
  • PMKAYPMKAY Posts: 1,372 ✭✭
    Were the shipping rates not specified in the listing?
  • LarkinCollectorLarkinCollector Posts: 8,975 ✭✭✭✭✭
    In my experience, that phrase means one of two things, either it's a new seller who isn't familiar enough with shipping charges to specify or as you experienced, prepare for some exorbitant shipping fees. Personally, I do $3 flat for however many singles are purchased to keep things simple. One or 13 cards costs pretty much the same to ship, maybe a $0.20 difference at most.
    Who is the Golf Card Guy?
  • mtcardsmtcards Posts: 3,340 ✭✭✭
    Personally, I usually add about .10-.20 per item up to a maximum of what a small flat rate box would cost

    If a seller advertised "will combine" shipping, I would expect to pay a small amount for each extra item, BUT it is up to each individual seller and if shipping was such an important issue on whether I buy an item or not, I would ask for a definite amount as opposed to not liking the amount given and dinging the sellers stars (stars being about a stupid ebay idea in the first place).

    Not saying this is the case with the OP, but have never understood a buyer who gets a great deal on an item they want and then complains about a buck extra on shipping.


    Edited to add: Just saw the phrase "offset the high shipping rate of $3" - That isnt high at all. Even if you use ebay shipping, buy bubble mailers in bulk etc, you are still looking at $2.03 for the postage, about .20 for a bubble mailer, penny sleeve and a topload, ink to print shipping label etc, you are at about $2.30 or so and on a $3.00 charge for shipping, ebay takes .39 cents of it, so at the lowest, its only 31 cents over gross cost. For small sellers, the postage is $2.54 at the PO and bubble mailers as high as .35-.40 each and all of a sudden at that price the seller is LOSING money on the shipping.
    IT IS ALWAYS CHEAPER TO NOT SELL ON EBAY
  • charrigancharrigan Posts: 2,293


    << <i>have never understood a buyer who gets a great deal on an item they want and then complains about a buck extra on shipping. >>



    Cost of shipping is what it is. How much the item sells for should make no difference.
  • mtcardsmtcards Posts: 3,340 ✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>have never understood a buyer who gets a great deal on an item they want and then complains about a buck extra on shipping. >>



    Cost of shipping is what it is. How much the item sells for should make no difference. >>



    Exactly, so there should be no complaints about the cost of it, especially given that I have yet to see an ebay listing that doesnt have the shipping costs stated
    IT IS ALWAYS CHEAPER TO NOT SELL ON EBAY
  • ga5150ga5150 Posts: 743 ✭✭✭
    Those 15 cards better come packaged in a Large Flat Rate Priority Mail box.
  • PMKAYPMKAY Posts: 1,372 ✭✭
    some people will never be happy with any shipping cost. I sold a card for $1 and got positive feedback that included the phrase "should have been free shipping"
  • PSASAPPSASAP Posts: 2,284 ✭✭✭
    It means the same as the check's in the mail. Seriously, it all depends who you're dealing with.
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