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Is "free shipping" on eBay really free?
MrEureka
Posts: 24,416 ✭✭✭✭✭
If other bidders know that shipping is free, won't they bid more for the coins? And if they do, isn't it like you have to pay the shipping cost even if there's free shipping?
Andy Lustig
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
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Mostly correct. As most listings offer "free" shipping, sometimes those that have a shipping charge are overlooked by bidders.
Nothing of value is "free", and postage costs are (or should be) factored into the price or starting bid. But, there are times I have won an item for less than the item's value plus postage. The seller did not intend for that to happen, of course, but it can happen.
I have the same reaction to the "Amazon Prime" pitch. "Free shipping for only $119 per year!"
Um...You have a different definition of "free" than I do....
At the rate the USPS has been increasing costs, there will be no free shipping soon
'Free Shipping' always caught my eyes ..... but it doesn't change my bidding approach
"Free" is the most misused word in the English language.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
I think the reverse is true.
So many bidders have been spoiled by "free" shipping that if there is a shipping charge, they subtract that out of their bids.
I think in most cases the cost of shipping is built into the price of "FREE SHIPPING" items.
INYNWHWeTrust-TexasNationals,ajaan,blu62vette
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Well maybe a tad different with Amazon. It's $119/year for:
... two day shipping, no minimum purchase (USPS Sunday delivery in my area)
...unlimited photo storage online. Smartphone pics/videos are auto-uploaded into the cloud, labeled by date and location. GREAT backup tool. View on any device (Laptop/TV/phone etc)
...huge library of movies and TV shows available to watch or download and watch later..
Point is that it's not just "free shipping for $119 per year" but it is included in that subscription cost
Guess you can tell that I think it's great
Agreed. I back up all my photo images to Amazon for free. That has huge value as a professional off-site back up.
You also get free books to read.
I love the music library. I haven't bought a CD or even a digital download in several years, but I get to listen to great new music. I actually ponied up the $5 per month to have full access to their music library. I'm constantly saying "Alexa, play Sinatra" or something similar and I get to hear dozens of albums I don't own for no additional fee.
I sell hundreds of items a year on ebay, and most of mine have some shipping cost. I do free shipping in various scenarios:
If I list an item for more than X amount, I will make the shipping free because the shipping cost relative to the item is so small, why bother.
I list "special" listings for people. For example, a person offers $X for 3 different items. The shipping would cost $22. I increase the listing price by the shipping amount, make shipping free, and save the cost of paying ebay for shipping.
I have one a request this morning for an item that has $3, shipping. The buyer wants the shipping set at $25, with a commensurate reduction in the price, due to having to pay a charge at the US Mexico border on the purchase price, not the shipping price.
Shipping prices are a BIG DEAL to me, and fluctuate wildly. For example, this morning among the stuff I am shipping is a trunk lid off a 1965 Mustang Fastback to one buyer and a pair of 9" rear end axles off a 1970 Mustang, to 2 different people. This items are big and heavy, and going FedEx. I am in Texas, and it makes huge difference in price if it is being shipped to a commercial location (FEDEX ground rate) in Oklahoma versus a residential remote address in Lost in the Woods Maine. Those items become prohibitively expensive if it is Hawaii or Alaska, as the FedEx charges are through the roof, and USPS won't accept the items.
I have purchased items on ebay with free shipping... and the price I paid was quite good... If shipping was factored in, they really lost some money on a couple of those deals. Others certainly should have shipped for free...
Cheers, RickO
You are assuming all bidders on eBay are sophisticated enough to add shipping into their bid. I suspect you are wrong.
Perhaps unlimited shipping would be better. Of course you'll need to buy more in order to take full advantage and not leave any prime money on the table. It's still free if you buy stuff thru there as a gift.
It would be nice if eBay sellers would let you know if the item is coming from Amazon and not them.
"Free Shipping" on ebay means the seller does not have to pay the 10% FVF on shipping
Coin Club Benefit auctions ..... View the Lots
It depends. If the bidders take into account the BP for other auctions, the no it's not free, but if they do not take into account the BP, the it is free
(Defending Amazon Prime)
Not to get to far into it, since it's an off topic excursion, (that I started).....
But I understand. I was once a member back when it was well under $100...maybe $75?...., and thought I would make use of the "other features". Ended up, I didn't.
But anyway, now whenever I order something from Amazon, it pops up windows about FREE 2DAY SHIPPING!! Just join Prime!! I decline, and take the FREE! 8 day shipping, and am quite happy.
Looking at it that way, it's a very expensive FREE!, and it just makes me laugh every time....
(The Wife is actually a member, and I need to figure out how to get attached to her membership. It is supposed to be for the entire household!)
I just cant stand how eBay takes 10 percent of the price you charge to ship!
I know that they want to "encourage" you to offer free shipping, but this is robbery.
Probably in response to the clever devil who would sell a collectable for $1 (plus shipping costs of a thousand dollars!)
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
There is no free shipping - shipping is cost which has to be recovered in the markup equation one way or another.
There can be free shipping to the buyer, but not the seller.
This is more easily seen for fungible items, like widgets.
LOL. Now, that's funny. I wonder how many people don't think you're joking.> @DCW said:
That why they charge. People were listing items for $1 with $100 shipping to try and avoid all the fees.
Just buy under her membership as if you were her. Easy peasy.
or just have her add you as an additional user
Sharing benefits through Amazon Household requires both adults to link their accounts in an Amazon Household and agree to share payment methods. Each adult keeps their personal account while sharing those benefits at no additional cost.
Click Your Account from the drop-down menu located at the top-right side of your screen.
Scroll down to your Account Settings and click the Manage your Household option.
On the Household homepage, click to Add an Adult.
My wife and I pay one fee and have two accounts both use the same photo/video/Prime TV link but purchases are separate
Free shipping is exactly that...no cost for shipping to the buyer. One benefit to the seller is that offering free shipping gets better placement in search results... and theoretically more eyes on the item, which translates to more bids (again, in theory at least) to help offset the shipping cost. Depending on the item, this may or may not be true however. On most numismatic items, where basically everyone has access to the same value guides, sale results etc., the items usually bring about the same regardless with few exceptions. One gripe is that once you start offering free shipping, it pretty much becomes expected... and some items just don't bring enough to warrant it so either the seller's forced to charge for shipping and gets less for the item, or he just doesn't list it.
RIP Mom- 1932-2012
I agree.
Paying the seller's fees on shipping REALLY PI**ES ME OFF!
I thought I saw something a couple of years ago about a class action lawsuit against eBay for this...?
Maybe I was just dreaming.......but I'm reasonably sure I opted in to be a part and get my check for $1.32 or whatever to make up for all the thousands and thousands that eBay has taken from me.
As a seller, I use "free shipping" to move coins along very obviously -- ahead of the competition who ebay shows sometimes crazy high. Simple as that! To sell sometimes means SELL. Shameless pitch...
Are you saying it's used too freely?
Post of the day! So early in the morning
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."