Octopod wrote:
There is more cost for shipping an item than what you see on the package. They had to pay for the package for one thing. Plus stuff like gas to get to the PO and their time spent doing so, but I understand what you are saying. Ebay should go ahead and call it shipping and handling instead of just shipping.
Agreed. The cost of the packaging is the same as the shipping its self a lot of times.
As someone who has sold a lot that is highly exaggerated, especially when you are mailing many items. A large roll of packing tape can be bought for $3 and smaller rolls for less, some post offices even offer it for free. Bubblewrap can be bought at the dollar store in okay sized rolls for a dollar or two, and even then I usually recycle it from other packages I have received. Newspapers are cheap! And a box of 100 medium sized envelopes (can easily fit a DVD or game) is less than $10.
Maybe if you try to lump the costs of buying everything onto a single customer then packaging could equal shipping.
And if you don't like being overcharged for shipping than don't buy those auctions. I know what an item sells for and I'll often give my money to the person being most honest with shipping. If someone is selling the item for $6 shipping, its likely to be someone I don't want to do business with. That kind of thing is representative of a seller.
Shipping costs can be so outrageous, I check the shipping cost on any online purchase before I even consider to bid on it.
Another technique I know that is used on ebay is the seller contacting a friend to help "bid" on an item, both making money on a purchase. Although it is not as common as shill bidding, it happens.
Here's how it plays out:
Say I had a copy of Duck Tales for GB that I know Noiseredux wants.
I contact Noise letting him know I'm putting it up for auction. If he drives up the price a certain percentage and doesn't win, I'll still give him a cut of my profit.
If he does win, he wins and so do I. If he doesn't win the auction, he still wins ($$), and so do I.
I don't really mind this, I mean I am not buying a car or anything Super high value. It is usually only a few dollars that is driven up anyway. I however don't like it when the auction almost ends, when my bid is a reasonable price but the seller decides to close the auction, a waste of my time.
yomomma1 wrote:I don't really mind this, I mean I am not buying a car or anything Super high value. It is usually only a few dollars that is driven up anyway. I however don't like it when the auction almost ends, when my bid is a reasonable price but the seller decides to close the auction, a waste of my time.
They can't close the aunction if less than 12 hours remain.
Octopod wrote:
There is more cost for shipping an item than what you see on the package. They had to pay for the package for one thing. Plus stuff like gas to get to the PO and their time spent doing so, but I understand what you are saying. Ebay should go ahead and call it shipping and handling instead of just shipping.
Agreed. The cost of the packaging is the same as the shipping its self a lot of times.
As someone who has sold a lot that is highly exaggerated, especially when you are mailing many items. A large roll of packing tape can be bought for $3 and smaller rolls for less, some post offices even offer it for free. Bubblewrap can be bought at the dollar store in okay sized rolls for a dollar or two, and even then I usually recycle it from other packages I have received. Newspapers are cheap! And a box of 100 medium sized envelopes (can easily fit a DVD or game) is less than $10.
Maybe if you try to lump the costs of buying everything onto a single customer then packaging could equal shipping.
And if you don't like being overcharged for shipping than don't buy those auctions. I know what an item sells for and I'll often give my money to the person being most honest with shipping. If someone is selling the item for $6 shipping, its likely to be someone I don't want to do business with. That kind of thing is representative of a seller.
I would send a single game in a bubble mailer but an envelope? Receiving that would piss me off more than paying a dollar more than I thought fair for shipping would.
Weekend_Warrior wrote:What I'm growing tired of is sending $5 or $6 for shipping when the seller sends it to me for something like $2.70!
There is more cost for shipping an item than what you see on the package. They had to pay for the package for one thing. Plus stuff like gas to get to the PO and their time spent doing so, but I understand what you are saying. Ebay should go ahead and call it shipping and handling instead of just shipping.
Ok. But to be fair, what about MY extra cost of shipping (I always send money orders), or MY drive time to the post office? I understand this is why people prefer to use Paypal and credit cards. But there should still be some kind of trade-off.
I do not even accept payment beside paypal and if you are the buyer the cost should belong to you. There is no way the cost should be shared between the seller and the buyer. I for one would never sell under those arrangements.
I don't see what the big gripe is about shipping charges on ebay. If you think that shipping is too expensive, either (a) buy from another listing, or (b) don't buy at all. Simple as that.
Some of the auctions that have a high shipping charge might even sell for less in total than another item that has a higher buy price but a lower shipping charge. Shipping charges are just another variable you as a buyer have to take into account when deciding whether to buy.
They even have a feature on ebay that lets you view items from "lowest to highest: price + shipping." Very useful.
I can pay seller "A" $12 for an item with "Free Standard Shipping" and end up getting my item in a month all beat up from media mail.
OR
I can pay seller "B" $8 for an item with "$4 first class service" or better and end up getting my item in a couple days and in good condition.
Either way I spend the same amount of money. I don't particularly care if the seller made a dollar or two on shipping and handling. I will buy from the person giving the best service and the best value.
Of course the responsibility of checking feedback and reliability is on me. Not every seller that charges a premium for shipping provides the service that they should. I charge more than some when I ship but I ship quickly with a good quality service (never less than first class) and in a well packed box.
The same people that bitch about shipping charges usually bitch about crappy shipping service as well. You can't have a cheap/free service and want white glove delivery as well.
