how to handle an ebay shipping gouge

seatedcollector · March 13, 2007 10:41AM

ok here is a question for the hooligans, i buy a coin on ebay and in the auction shipping is $4.80 for first class mail (WOW) and $1.30 optional insurance a little on the excessive side but i'll deal with it, well when i get invoiced, it is now $4.80 postage and like $4.50 optional insurance, so i email the seller, no response after a week so i just pay for it. OK, here's my question, what should i do ? its only like $3 but its the damn principal, i have LOWERED shipping for a few buyers but i never bumped it especially when $4.80 first class is on the excessive side anyway, paid for it paypal, it came with a paypal sig confirmation label on the mailer, but no mention of any insurance, should i just laugh and say oh well, i got reamed or should i cause this guy a little bit of a headache so he will think twice about doing it again ? is there a way to get paypal to refund me the difference of what it actually cost to send this versus what i paid him ?

SilverEagles92 · March 13, 2007 10:44AM

Though I don't agree with this practice, some sellers will factor in gas money to get to and from the post office, and things of that nature. How much was the coin? If it was a $1,000 coin I'd say don't worry about it. But if the shipping was many multiples the price of the coin itself, then you've got a problem.

seatedcollector · March 13, 2007 10:52AM

coin was a little over $350 my gripe is the fact that the shipping was already on the high side and then went UP another $3.25 AFTER the sale

OPA · March 13, 2007 10:54AM

What was the final auction price? The insurance rate that you paid was for items worth $200 - $300.

seateddime · March 13, 2007 10:55AM

I love ebay!

OPA · March 13, 2007 10:56AM

Insurance rate for your item is $5.45...you got a deal...+ the seller paid for Signature Confirmation @ $1.35...

seatedcollector · March 13, 2007 10:58AM

i got a deal if the seller even paid for ins, how do i find that out ? i am REALLY gonna be pissed if i paid $9 for shipping and he only spent $1.35 to send this thing

BobaFett72 · March 13, 2007 11:00AM

for a $350.00 item fully insured...

$5.45 ................ $300.01 to $400 range.

OPA · March 13, 2007 11:04AM

check your shipping label for insurance .. it will not indicate the value, but if you had to sign for it, it was for more than $50. Insurance protects the seller in the event of postal loss.

airplanenut · March 13, 2007 11:05AM

You'll never see insurance mentioned on one of my packages--I use a private carrier.

notwilight · March 13, 2007 11:06AM

if the seller makes insurance optional I would skip it. --Jerry

OPA · March 13, 2007 11:07AM

Seller is taking a chance if the item was underinsured in case of a loss. I believe he made a mistake in the listing write-up. I would have honored the mistake & allowed you to pay the $1.35...just good business practices...

segoja · March 13, 2007 11:08AM

The oneous is on him to prove delivery. If he pocketed the insurance, then he took the risk not you!

oxy8890 · March 13, 2007 11:16AM

I am in California. Insurance at my post office would be $5.40, Signature confirmation would be $1.90, first class mail would be in the $1 to $1.50 range depending on how heavy and packaging (envolope etc) is probably about $1 unless he purchases his materials in bulk then it might be a little less. So the COST NOT INCLUDING GAS AND TIME was about right in fact you might have even save a few pennies.

The ISSUE is he quoted a price and changed it. That to me is very unprofessional. I actually had an auction up until yesterday, that I was losing my shirt on the shipping and I finally changed it. But I never asked for more $$$ when I sent the invoice.

One more thing in his defense, was it $1.30 for optional insurance or a $1.30 per $100 for insurance? He might have set the auction up where it was $1.30 per $100. Then he explained it poorly in the description.

Rob
Morgan Kendall Numismatics

seatedcollector · March 13, 2007 11:18AM

i believe he probably didnt expect it to sell as high as it did, so ok he for sure made out on the sale, so i can gather that he figured he may as well gouge me to ship it as well looking at his feedback, he is not what i would consider a "good" business person

Text

seatedcollector · March 13, 2007 11:22AM

the original shipping price was $4.80 plus $1.30 optional ins on ONE coin, it simply does not cost $4.80 to send a coin first class with no ins. AFTER the auction i get an invoice for $4.80 plus another $4.30 for ins. i have sent many coins and i dont recall ever having to pay $4.80 for first class mail on ONE dime !

anyone that figures in time and gas into an ebay auction i will not deal with anyway, why not the cost of the electricity to run the computer, the heat for your house, car insurance, as well as the car payment, and of course meals, then if you are a smoker have to figure in a few cigarettes both ways to the PO that is THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS. not to be passed on to the customer.

BobaFett72 · March 13, 2007 11:23AM

when i click your link, i get an attempt at ebay motors, then it just stops working. whats the Ebay ID ?

lasvegasteddy · March 13, 2007 11:25AM

shipping is a problem when it's like this auction..."gotta be a typo"$623.00 shipping for 5 silver dollars

seatedcollector · March 13, 2007 11:26AM

Text

link above

BobaFett72 · March 13, 2007 11:32AM

Holey Dime! Batman

OPA · March 13, 2007 11:34AM

He does have the following write-up in the auctions that I checked...INSURANCE COST WILL BE ADJUSTED
AT AUCTIONS END IF NEEDED)

Russ · March 13, 2007 11:40AM

For a $350 item, $9.30 is a little high, but not unreasonable. You're whining about nothing.

Russ, NCNE

bsshog40 · March 13, 2007 11:43AM

I did find out the hard way that ebay/Paypal is enforcing Paypal fees on all types of payments when seller uses paypal as a payment option. Some people are probably compensating for the difference in fees also. I look at the shipping fees all the time and sometimes those fees actually will deter me from bidding on an item if they are too high. Also, ins. does pertain to the value of an item. Most times ins. is automatically caluculated if you use say a low starting bid as a reference. $1.35 I'm sure is the lowest that ins. on an item is.

goose3 · March 13, 2007 11:48AM

Geez give the poor guy a break. He probably had to wait in line after driving around for hours looking for a place to park. After all of that he probably missed his lunch and had to buy that while out as well.

I'd email him and ask exactly what type of coverage he had on it. If I pay for insurance I expect to see it stamped Insured....none of that "self insured BS". I want the good old USPS insurance on my package.

quattrocoins · March 13, 2007 11:49AM

<< Holey Dime! Batman

>>

"ADD THIS TOUGH, KEY COIN TO YOUR" KEYCHAIN

seatedcollector · March 13, 2007 11:52AM

maybe if the shipping would have been what i agreed to pay when i bid, i wouldnt be WHINING

notwilight · March 13, 2007 11:53AM

<< If I pay for insurance I expect to see it stamped Insured....none of that "self insured BS". I want the good old USPS insurance on my package. >>

I don't think that is your choice. It is the seller's.

goose3 · March 13, 2007 11:54AM

Then any seller that pulls that crap should state it up front in the listing. To do otherwise is deceptive.

Russ · March 13, 2007 11:59AM

<< maybe if the shipping would have been what i agreed to pay when i bid, i wouldnt be WHINING >>

Did it say this in the auction you won?

<< INSURANCE COST WILL BE ADJUSTED AT AUCTIONS END IF NEEDED) >>

Russ, NCNE

Russ · March 13, 2007 12:01PM

<< If I pay for insurance I expect to see it stamped Insured.... >>

If you print labels though PayPal, which this seller did, there will be no insured stamp on the package.

Russ, NCNE

stman · March 13, 2007 12:02PM

I see, the ol' ebay sellers in the self insured business again. Glad they decide how to handle our cash and be the big binness men. Yup, I'm gonna trust a stranger will make good from their cookie jar.

Russ · March 13, 2007 12:03PM

<< I see, the ol' ebay sellers in the self insured business again. >>

There is no indication that this seller is self-insuring. That's speculation.

<< Yup, I'm gonna trust a stranger will make good from their cookie jar. >>

The seller has no choice but to make good if the package doesn't arrive, whether they insure or not.

Russ, NCNE

stman · March 13, 2007 12:04PM

<< 

<< I see, the ol' ebay sellers in the self insured business again. >>

There is no indication that this seller is self-insuring. That's speculation.

Russ, NCNE >>

Well, just in case. Looked like others were headed that way with it.

mrpotatoheadd · March 13, 2007 12:05PM

Buyers insist that "insurance is for the protection of the seller" and yet will often complain if the seller chooses an insurance method they do not approve of. Why is that?

goose3 · March 13, 2007 12:06PM

<< 

<< 

<< I see, the ol' ebay sellers in the self insured business again. >>

There is no indication that this seller is self-insuring. That's speculation.

Russ, NCNE >>

Well, just in case. Looked like others were headed that way with it.

>>

Very true!

And Russ is correct, you have no gripe on the charge assuming the package is indeed Insured.

Ducky1100 · March 13, 2007 12:10PM

<< 

<< If I pay for insurance I expect to see it stamped Insured.... >>

If you print labels though PayPal, which this seller did, there will be no insured stamp on the package. Russ, NCNE >>

Everytime I ship using PayPal and purchase Insurance, the word "INSURED" appears under the weight. The letters are no larger than what appears here.

stman · March 13, 2007 12:13PM

<< 

<< I see, the ol' ebay sellers in the self insured business again. >>

There is no indication that this seller is self-insuring. That's speculation.

<< Yup, I'm gonna trust a stranger will make good from their cookie jar. >>

The seller has no choice but to make good if the package doesn't arrive, whether they insure or not.

Russ, NCNE >>

OK, How's this...... for myself, I'll trust the USPS will make good before I trust a stranger on ebay. And I'm stickin' to it.

Russ · March 13, 2007 12:13PM

<< << If I pay for insurance I expect to see it stamped Insured.... >>

If you print labels though PayPal, which this seller did, there will be no insured stamp on the package. Russ, NCNE >>

Everytime I ship using PayPal and purchase Insurance, the word "INSURED" appears under the weight. The letters are no larger than what appears here. >>

It also appears above the barcode next to ZIP - e/ USPS, but it's still not a "stamp".

Russ, NCNE

MadMarty · March 13, 2007 12:13PM

<< 

<< If I pay for insurance I expect to see it stamped Insured.... >>

If you print labels though PayPal, which this seller did, there will be no insured stamp on the package.

Russ, NCNE >>

Yes there is, right under the weight it will say INSURED.

goose3 · March 13, 2007 12:14PM

mere technicalities Russ!!!

Russ · March 13, 2007 12:18PM

<< << If I pay for insurance I expect to see it stamped Insured.... >>

If you print labels though PayPal, which this seller did, there will be no insured stamp on the package.

Russ, NCNE >>

Yes there is, right under the weight it will say INSURED. >>

You're a little slow, nimrod.

Russ, NCNE

RareBronzeCollector · March 13, 2007 12:32PM

<< shipping is a problem when it's like this auction..."gotta be a typo"$623.00 shipping for 5 silver dollars >>

Text in the listing says $3 shipping & Handling.......

hockeyfan9 · March 13, 2007 12:38PM

When I buy on Ebay, I decide what I am willing to spend and I subtract the shipping charge from it, so I don't care what they charge. I would have made the guy honor the $1.40 though, but now it is too late. So C'est la vie.

notwilight · March 13, 2007 1:01PM

Is this the kind of insurance sticker you're talking about? Nobody uses those anymore.

seatedcollector · March 13, 2007 5:09PM

ok, this is an actual scan of the label with my address blocked out, i see nothing at all about insurance, this looks like an average first class mail with delivery confirmation nothing else. the ebay listing does in fact say that the shipping will be adjusted, i did not see this before so then how do i find out if the item was in fact insured ?

jgrinz · March 13, 2007 7:16PM

STAMPS.COM does not imprint on thier packages wether they are insured or not. I have queried them on this that my customers
want to see it but to no avail.

They also have thier OWN insurance along with USPS offered insurance ... AGAIN you will no see it ..

By the way .. no gas money involved here as it was printed off his printer ...

basestealer · March 13, 2007 7:58PM

I almost always self insure, unless it's an expensive item. I don't mention insurance in my listings or charge extra for it. Some buyers insist I purchase insurance and even demand to pay more--I refuse. If I don't want insurance, the package doesn't get insurance. Buyers simply don't understand what insurance is, does, or who it's for. It's the seller that will ultimately file a claim and receive money from the USPS for a claim, not the buyer. So you're trusting the seller whether you like it or not. Why self-insure? Out of 2000+ transactions, I've never lost a package. If you figure $1.30 per package, that's over $2000 I'd have spent in worthless insurance over the years. That's more than enough to cover any lost package should one ever get lost.

DPCurrier · March 13, 2007 8:46PM

<< Though I don't agree with this practice, some sellers will factor in gas money to get to and from the post office, and things of that nature. How much was the coin? If it was a $1,000 coin I'd say don't worry about it. But if the shipping was many multiples the price of the coin itself, then you've got a problem. >>

Unless this seller if driving to a neighboring state to ship your product, gas wouldnt cost $3+ dollars... heres the deal. You can ship an item via USPS Priority Mail for $4.35 with delivery confirmation. You can printout the shipping label including postage from http://usps.com. You can then request FREE pickup and have the US Postal Service pick the item up at your home for FREE.

People who hike up shipping and/or insurance are shady and are only doing so increase their propfits..wiithout paying additional ebay fees. It is a suspect practice, and ebay DOES provide the means of reporting sellers who have unrealistic shipping.

It is people like these (among many other scammers) that moved me to created this site: NumisGuard.com

DPCurrier · March 13, 2007 8:48PM

I do see signature confirmation..you would have to pay extra for that... so this is a little more than standard 1st class mail.

lathmach · March 13, 2007 10:22PM

Man I wish I'd seen this auction. I'd have bid. This is a rare coin.
This dime should be real easy to repair as no reengraving will be needed.

Ray

Clutch · March 14, 2007 12:24AM

<< maybe if the shipping would have been what i agreed to pay when i bid, i wouldnt be WHINING >>

I don't see your comments as whining, either!

One of my pet peaves on eBay is exorbitant shipping costs in which sellers simply use some vague formula to jack up their prices.

How else can you justify $9 or $7 or even $4.50 for ONE coin, when that coin is a common inexpensive run-of-the-mill item. (I've sold coins on eBay, and the First Class postage is usually under $2 and often under $1 for one or two coins)

And the excuse of "handling" or "time" driving to the post office is ridiculous.

Like I told some other seller, when was the last time you bought a gallon of milk and the clerk said, 'OK, that's $3 for the milk, and another $3 for the time it took me to put it on the shelf ... and to drive to work this morning.'

Although not my norm, I have been telling anyone I speak with on eBay to please help boycott some of these sellers who simply are jacking up prices.

On the other hand, I guess I shouldn't complain because if someone out there is naive enough to buy a $10 coin and then pay another $7 for shipping, then who am I to stand in the way.

how to handle an ebay shipping gouge

Comments

Leave a Comment