Excessive shipping from auction house?

jjworm · December 13, 2009 11:34AM

So I won a $400 plus card ($500+ including juice) from a major auction house in the last few days (more details are unimportant) and was charged $16.00 for shipping. Excessive or warranted? So I figure $5.00 for priority mail plus $7.70 for insurance plus $0.75 for DC = $13.50 total.

Is that reasonable? It seems high, but when you run the numbers it is pretty close to the real total. If somebody was listing an item on E-bay which would sell in this ballpark, would you question that type of shipping charge?

Just something to discuss.

Morgoth · December 13, 2009 12:07PM

Auction houses have been padding their shipping charges since the beginning of time. There is no ebay to enforce rules requiring "realistic" shipping costs so if it really bothers you find another AH that is better or figure it into your bids.

metsfan · December 13, 2009 12:08PM

Sounds like a lot of extra charges. Auction fee's are over $100? Makes you think that Ebay isn't that bad.

Basilone · December 13, 2009 12:49PM

Feel fortunate that it was only $2.50 over your estimate. That is peanuts in the world of auction house shipping/handling charges.

Dboneesq · December 13, 2009 1:03PM

<< <i>Feel fortunate that it was only $2.50 over your estimate. That is peanuts in the world of auction house shipping/handling charges. >>

I have to agree ... if you believe that the ACTUAL shipping charges were just $2.50 less than you were charged, that is not bad at all. (As a matter of fact, that's damn good from an auction house.) Did they use a PO Priority box or did they use their own box, shipping tape and packing material to pack the winnings? I'm sure it also took an employee 5 or 10 minutes to pack the order.

WinPitcher · December 13, 2009 1:10PM

Someone had to package your items up, they too deserve to eat, surely you don't think

the auctioneer is packing these items up. Some guy working in the shipping dept does it.

To be honest 16.00 sounds cheap to me especially when you yourself estimated it should be 13.50

I think you did good on the shipping front.

Steve

10001110101 · December 13, 2009 1:20PM

yeah, but what about handling?

jjworm · December 13, 2009 1:47PM

Don't get me wrong here, but I will be paying the shipping charge as $16.00 seems fair and reasonable when you take into consideration the actual shipping and HANDLING of the card. But it is interesting seeing all of your replies when I have seen so many posts over the past couple of years about excessive E-bay shipping charges. I guess the difference is detemining the value of someone's time at home (E-bay) versus a corporate entity (AH).

The reality is I will probably end up selling this card on E-bay or the BST thread some day, but could never get away with charging that type of shipping. I guess one would have to build that into the selling price, just like I did for my purchase.

I have bought many things through various AH's, and can gauge what the S+H would be for this one card, but I am sure there are first timers out there who would question such a cost.

I guess in the big picture for such expensive cards, the total cost of the S+H is small.

Just my thoughts...I enjoy everyone's posts.

wilkcards · December 13, 2009 7:46PM

Wow, I just came here to start a thread with the exact same topic. I'm sure we're talking about the same auction house. I received a bill with $50+ in shipping, insurance, and "handling" charges. I'm going to call them and complain in the morning. I just shipped/insured a package with nearly the exact same value for $21. Handling charges? Please, they already take 17.5%! If they won't lower the shipping I'll never buy from them again. Not even on ebay.

bobbyw8469 · December 13, 2009 8:55PM

Care to "out" the auction house? I have a good idea who it is.....

bobsbbcards · December 13, 2009 10:48PM

If my memory serves me correctly, it sometimes costs auction houses more to send a package to your street or road or lane than it does most eBay sellers. Not sure why that is.....

Morgoth · December 13, 2009 10:53PM

I am pretty sure I know why the reason is but the only thing you can do is not use their service anymore. I haven't purchased a card in a major auction in over 5 years and still seem to find what I need.

WinPitcher · December 13, 2009 10:57PM

Wilk what makes you think you are talking about the same house?

The op is paying 3.00 above and you are paying 30.00

I guess it is possible, but didn't ML and Heroes both have auctions ending

this past weekend?

Steve

bobbyw8469 · December 13, 2009 11:01PM

Clean Sweep is pretty high sometimes......

Griffins · December 14, 2009 12:03AM

Heroes of Sport gave everyone free shipping.

mtcards · December 14, 2009 12:15AM

I agree with the OP in terms of "previous" threads. While paying $2.50 over actual costs, to included handling and time charges is cheap for auction houses who routinely pad their shipping costs by $10-$20 sometimes, it is hilarious to recall the complete b***** and moaning that goes on when an ebay seller who is PAYING fees to sell instead of CHARGING fees to buy charges an entire buck or two for their "handling" charge. Yes, I know its against ebay "rules" to excessively charge, but lets not forget 90% of ebay rules are nutso anyway.

Only in the delirously ridiculous world of ebay is complaining about a buck or two in shipping charges even brought up.

Morgoth · December 14, 2009 12:16AM

Free shipping!!!!!!!!!!

The auction mob may have to step in and stop this generosity!

jradke4 · December 14, 2009 12:43AM

well i am in the same boat as the OP. i am sure its the same AH. $650 item, $113 buyer premium and $16 for shipping. But if they ship that registered its a good price.

wilkcards · December 14, 2009 4:32AM

I'm glad I didn't "out" anyone. I sent them a friendly email and they adjusted my invoice accordingly

WinPitcher · December 14, 2009 7:49AM

Sometimes that is all you need to do.

Steve

Excessive shipping from auction house?

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