Just a quick question...

Guru · June 5, 2008 5:38AM

Today I was accused by a buyer on ebay for charging high shipping for raw cards. Let me put this to the test and see what you all think. Shipping is $1.70. This includes a bubble mailer, tape, penny sleeve, top loader, team bag for the card in the top loader to go into and gas to the post office.
Does that seem unfair to you?

scoutsout47 · June 5, 2008 5:39AM

I'd raise it to $1.95. It's reasonable.

martyogelvie · June 5, 2008 5:42AM

WOW
$1.70 is VERY Cheap if you ask me. I am used to seeing $3.00 and up for shipping of single (ungraded) cards. I am delighted to see anything under $2.00

$1.70 IS NOT TOO MUCH, IT's probably too cheap and aggrevates other sellers who are charging $3.00 or more.

cwazzy · June 5, 2008 5:43AM

Personally I'm pretty thrilled any time I get shipping under $3. I would jump up and down for $1.70 shipping.

Chris

EchoCanyon · June 5, 2008 5:44AM

Unfair? Not at all!

11235813 · June 5, 2008 5:45AM

I think that's actually very cheap for shipping.

The best way to handle it would be to email the buyer back with a breakdown of your costs (i.e. bubble mailer = .79, stamp = .41, etc.). Once they realize that you are shipping at cost, they should stop compaining. Also remind them that the shipping costs were specified in the auction listing (I assume they were) and that they should not have bid if they were not acceptable.

I charge a flat $6 for shipping, regarding of whether the item is a $2 card or a $2000 card, but I specify in the listing that I ship everything Priorty Mail ($4.80) in a bubble mailer ($.99).

Never had a single complaint.....

SoonerCowboy · June 5, 2008 5:48AM

Cheaper then anyone else shipping in a bubble mailer. But why waste your gas going to the post office? Print a shipping label off of Paypal and simply put it in a drop box on your way to work. Or I guess you could hang it on your mailbox. But I guess shipping with Paypal does cost a little more but the $.17 dc is worth it, I think.

Guru · June 5, 2008 5:55AM

I do specify in my auctions where the money is going and I do ship via Paypal. I can honestly say that I make zero profit on shipping. But, with the way things are now with the star system and no negative from sellers, anyone can say anything at any time. It's so messed up.

zep33 · June 5, 2008 6:26AM

All the cards I've shipped lately for ebay included a magnetic one-touch holder and a bubble mailer. I print my labels on paypal and that give you the option of not showing the shipping cost (that in itself is worth it). I weighed one on a scale the other day and it was 3.1 ounces. Putting down 4 ounces with delivery confirmation was $1.86. $1.70 is too cheap IMO

larryallen73 · June 5, 2008 6:33AM

Guru-
Tell the buyer to check these boards. I have probably responded with a negative tone to a few of your posts over the last year so it's not like we are all your buddy just agreeing with you. Simply stated, $1.70 is a freaking bargain. Just compare that to any other auction and $1.70 is CHEAP. Plus, most sellers charging anywhere close to that will not be using bubble mailers and what not; they are just using a plain white envelope. You are going above and beyond the call of duty in my opinion. Ebay sucks. I quit.

relaxed · June 5, 2008 6:38AM

There's no way you are going to please everybody. All you can hope is that you that 99% of the people will agree that your shipping is just fine and just live with that one or two persons that dont agree with it and hope they don't leave feedback.

Gator · June 5, 2008 6:43AM

That's cheap! I just paid $7+ for a $40 card.

Guru · June 5, 2008 6:51AM

Well, not only that, but I only charge .25-.50 for each additional up to the flat rate cost. Once it gets to the flat rate cost, I don't charge for any addtional cards. I mean, I think that's a bargain. .25 for extra raw and .50 extra for graded or game used.

2dueces · June 5, 2008 8:04AM

$1.70 is cheap for a bubble wrapper and the time invested to ship cards. Most buyers do not have a clue how much effort and money it takes to ship cards properly. You cannot please everyone with the IQ of my shoe size. Shrug it off and keep on giving a good product and most will appreciate it.
BTW, I charge $2.00 for the same service and have never had a complaint. None yet that is.

BunchOBull · June 5, 2008 11:49AM

Wow, on the rare occasion I sell, I charge a flat $5.00. That includes DC and insurance. Sometimes there is money left over, in which case I'll typically bump it up to priority from 1st class. Sometimes I lose a little bit because of insurance. I've never gotten a complaint though. Very strange buyer.

edited to add: I typically sell BIN on items over $50. I wouldn't charge that much on a $3 card obviously.

Leiascards · June 5, 2008 12:04PM

I never charge less than 3.00 to ship anything, but I usually combine shipping on additional items at no extra charge or a very low rate depending on the items involved.

Last night I had a buyer whining about me charging 6.00 shipping on an action figure. It costs me about 5.50 to ship via priority or if I go first class it still costs about 5.00 when they can go first class many are right on either side of the 13 ounce.

Anyone that prints a label from Paypal and just drops it in the mailbox is asking for problems.

mrbecker712 · June 5, 2008 12:13PM

Maybe by "raw" he thinks you mean just stick a stamp on the back of the card and write the address on it to. How dare you charge a buck seventy for that!!!

cohocorp · June 5, 2008 1:42PM

if you state it in clearly your auction and ebay didnt nuke it for excessive, it is fine. alot of people complain just for the sale of complaining. they see what you charge for shipping, they see what the actual cost of the postage was and figure thats all there is to it. obviously they dont have the mental capacity to recognize that there is alot more involved. here is a quick list... cost/value of storage, initial cash layout for the item sold, insurance on the inventory, purchasing shipping boxes, packing material, paper, tape, ink for the printer, someone to ship the items, getting the items to the post office (time and gas) or waiting for the postman (value of your time). i guarantee that @ $ 1.70 you lose money.

Leiascards · June 5, 2008 2:17PM

<< <i>if you state it in clearly your auction and ebay didnt nuke it for excessive, it is fine. alot of people complain just for the sale of complaining. they see what you charge for shipping, they see what the actual cost of the postage was and figure thats all there is to it. obviously they dont have the mental capacity to recognize that there is alot more involved. here is a quick list... cost/value of storage, initial cash layout for the item sold, insurance on the inventory, purchasing shipping boxes, packing material, paper, tape, ink for the printer, someone to ship the items, getting the items to the post office (time and gas) or waiting for the postman (value of your time). i guarantee that @ $ 1.70 you lose money. >>

The 2 highlighted things should be built into the starting price instead of the shipping.

recbball · June 5, 2008 2:28PM

That is very reasonable.
I just bought a single graded card for 9.99, after shipping and insurance that I had no choice in selecting it cost me $16.39. I'll never buy from that seller again.
I can't tell you how many times I buy a raw card and it costs $3.00 to ship and it arrives in a stamped envelope.

Leiascards · June 5, 2008 10:06PM

<< <i>That is very reasonable.
I just bought a single graded card for 9.99, after shipping and insurance that I had no choice in selecting it cost me $16.39. I'll never buy from that seller again.
I can't tell you how many times I buy a raw card and it costs $3.00 to ship and it arrives in a stamped envelope.

>>

How was the 16.39 compared to what it would have cost otherwise? If it normally sells for 100.00 then you got a steal regardless of what you pay for shipping. Just figure the posted shipping into your bid and you will never have any issues.

I don't care what I pay in S&H as long as the card arrives in the condition it is suppoused to be and it is not shipped in a PWE. I cannot tell you how many times I have made money by flipping cards the sellers were overcharging shipping on. I have bought cards that sell on Ebay for 30.00 for one cent and paid 9.99 shipping and handling, then get it relist it with a reasonable S&H and make a decent profit on it.

clydecoolidge · June 5, 2008 11:20PM

completely reasonable. I charge $2.75 for First Class Mail with delivery confirmation. That usually leaves me with about $0.30 to cover shipping supplies. Your charges seem more than reasonable. I would let it go when buyers complain, because you're always gonna have the wackos, but if ebay starts lowering search results and things, we have to speak up for sure, or things will only continue to get worse. I would still drop a line to ebay customer service and let them know that your business is being treatened because of unreasonable expectations of buyers.

Just a quick question...

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