Ebay & shipping prices...

[Puffy2]

You have to figure in the cost of shipping and any other fees like insurance BEFORE you bid on something. It's a package deal.

And, really folks, why would anyone waste their time selling and shipping something when they only "made" a quarter?

 

[Puffy2]

Joe, since you have had the experience selling valueable items - have you ever used USPS Express Mail ? It's about 14$ for next day service - I was wondering if that service also includes insurance on the item? Any idea?

 

[Laurajean1014]

I think from the OP, that the auction is recouping any costs associated with the pants. I guess the seller wants to start at a low price and hope that they go up, up, up. Like, what if the pants sell for $.99, you will be paying less than $10, delivered to your home. Can you beat that price at any store?

Also, costs have gone up and so has shipping.

I look at shipping costs and if it is something I cannot live with, I do not bid. The message maybe subtle, but it is a statement.

 

[Robinrs]

I make a living on eBay and charge $2 handling on every transaction and have never had a complaint or problem. I ship literally EVERYTHING priority now because of Click N Ship and hand them to my Postal worker at work. Media Mail and first class I pay for via PayPal.

I am also a buyer and will NOT buy from an inflated priced shipping seller. Knowing the approximate price of shipping something by being a seller myself, sends up red flags immediately.

With anything it's buyer BEWARE. A smart consumer is everyone's best customer OR a fool and his money... well, you know the rest!

 

[Laurajean1014]

I've been selling on ebay for 8 years now and I agree that it's fee avoidance and because ebay is nickle and diming us so much that the price gets passed to the buyer. If I find an item for sale at .01 and shipping at $19.95 then it's pretty obvious. lol On that note I have been known to report ebay sellers for fee avoidance issues.

I think a handling charge is normal, but it shouldn't be too much from the actual shipping cost. Then again some folks don't use USPS.

I would just buy from another seller.

This must take up a lot of your time.....eBay would want you to prove that they are not spending XXX on shipping and then XXX on handling. I don't see how this can be successful.

 

[JoeThaNo1Stunna]

Joe, since you have had the experience selling valueable items - have you ever used USPS Express Mail ? It's about 14$ for next day service - I was wondering if that service also includes insurance on the item? Any idea?

Well it offers $100 insurance, but they will not insure tickets so it is useless to me.

FedEx is a whole lot more secure. I profit maybe a whole $1.50 on shipping, sometimes I lose $. The average customer understands, but there are a whole lot of people who want me to ship $500 tickets in a white envelope. Hmmm, no way, not gonna have you file a PayPal complaint on me and automatically get your $ back.

 

[N.Bailey]

I personally never bid on any item where the sellers over inflate shipping prices. If they're making a buck or two, I don't get too bent out of shape, but the ones that try to avoid eBay fees and such, I can't be bothered with them. They've got bad business practices, IMO, so I refuse to buy from them.

Mainly I buy DVD's or video games, so what I'm looking for has many other listings and I'll go with the honest seller every single time. I have also paid more for an item because I wouldn't buy from what I consider the sleazy seller.

I will not bid on anything until I know exactly what ALL S&H charges are either.

 

[N.Bailey]

What joy do you get out of reporting someone for fee avoidance?

I sell tickets and use FedEx, usually costs around $13. I had someone report me for this. They claimed it should only cost me $0.37.

I'm not gonna ship valuable tickets with USPS, I refuse to do so. I've had way too many bad experiences.

I had an idiot report me because they had nothing better to do.

I certainly wouldn't want you shipping my tickets with a $0.37 postal stamp and I can agree with your point entirely. I do think you should mention in your listing that you ship Fed Ex and that's why your pricing is so high though. I'm sure it would change some opinions when they see the high amount for shipping.

BTW, I didn't report you! LOL I've never reported anyone!

 

[grlpwrd]

What joy do you get out of reporting someone for fee avoidance?

I sell tickets and use FedEx, usually costs around $13. I had someone report me for this. They claimed it should only cost me $0.37.

I'm not gonna ship valuable tickets with USPS, I refuse to do so. I've had way too many bad experiences.

I had an idiot report me because they had nothing better to do.

Joy? Comparing me to an "idiot" you've encountered "because they had nothing better to do?" You're reading far too into what I stated, assuming I am the fee avoidance police, and associating me with what you call the "idiot" which is personally insulting to me.

I have reported about 3 sellers in my entire ebay career who had something like a $19.95 shipping/handling fee for a .01 Buy It Now auction because I feel ebay has to know that the fee system is not working because sellers have learned to circumvent it. Of course, it's futile, but I really feel those price gougers out there are hurting the honest, reasonable sellers... and besides, ebay hasn't done anything about it yet. I just read on ebay's discussion board how according to the TOS it is now acceptable for a seller to include fees for their labor. Looks like anyone can charge anything at this point.

I also didn't hesitate reporting pedophilia-involved auctions and auctions that sold Hawaiian bones which is against the TOS.

On that note I have also had to report sellers who added exhorbitant fees to the item post auction after using the shipping calculator, sellers who violate my copyrights, and for one seller who harassed me.

Please don't assume. I have been an ebayer for 8 years - it's not like I'm a newbie - no offense to newbies.

 

[Jackie0824]

This is why I rarely buy anything on ebay. I cant stand the 9$ shipping charge for 3 baby outfits. Come on, I can put those in one of those Large Mailing envlopes and pay priority price which is under $4...I understand ebay charges fees to the seller. I guess Ive just never been that desparate to buy something and pay outrageous shipping fees.

 

[va32h]

I cant stand the 9$ shipping charge for 3 baby outfits.

Once again, I ask the question that no one has answered. How much do you pay for shipping from any other catalog or online merchant?

LL Bean, Land's End, Disney - what are their shipping charges? Has anyone ever emailed those companies to inform them that they really could send it for less?

 

[poohandwendy]

Why in the world do sellers inflate their shipping prices so much. I was looking at a pair of MUDD jeans for my DD the seller has them listed for .99 but then the shipping price is $8.95

They probably are charging that much because they plan on shipping the item in a flat rate priority box. (that is roughly how much it would cost to do so)

And, I Just wanted to pipe in as an Ebay 'power seller', in regards to fee avoidance issues and shipping costs.

As far as low starting prices and listing fees:

We now start EVERY auction at 99 cents. Many items end up selling for over $300. Why start so low? Because we let the market decide the value, and let me tell you...it works out well. It makes NO sense to me to list an item for what 'I' think it is worth because if others do not agree, then I am out larger listing fees and still have the item sitting on a shelf. The difference for me, as a seller, is that I am not selling things that have personal value to me. So, if I only get 99 cents for an item, oh well.

Shipping:

We start all smaller items at $9 shipping. We recently decided to switch to flat rate priority, for items that will fit in the boxes. (The new 'flat rate priority' the US post office is now offering is why many people are seeing $9 shipping on ebay, btw)

For some reason, most of our buyers are from the west coast and we have been burnt so many times on shipping that flat rate just makes more sense to us. Even if the item 'could' be shipped for less, it is a guaranteed fixed rate for us and fast shipping for the buyer. Also, since I am starting auctions at 99 cents, I am definitely going to go with a fixed shipping cost so that I am guaranteed not to lose money on a 99 cent sale.

And I am not spending all of my time figuring out what actual shipping would be for 'potential buyers'. This is what happened when my listings did not include a fixed shipping rate. And I am not going to argue with buyers about the most economical ways to ship. All of my auctions go usps flat priority with delivery confirmation (smaller items) or UPS ground (larger items). I do combined shipping whenever possible.

I also find that more people bid on auctions that state the actual shipping costs up front. People do not want to get burned later when they find out how much shipping will be, after they have already committed to buy the item.

Bottom line, I am not out to pull one over on the buyers, but I am also in this for profit. Even if the profit isn't large, I am not paying for people to have my stuff. I feel that shipping costs being upfront is the best way to sell on ebay and since people have the right to not bid on my items, I do not think it is unfair to ship things for a rate that may be higher than it could be.

 

[Horseshoes]

One point that hasnt been brought up is, if you buy something at .99 with $15 shipping and you OK with the total price, the problem is that if you are not satisfied and need to return the item(for those that offer money back guarantee), you get your .99 back and you are out the shipping.

 

[poohandwendy]

One point that hasnt been brought up is, if you buy something at .99 with $15 shipping and you OK with the total price, the problem is that if you are not satisfied and need to return the item(for those that offer money back guarantee), you get your .99 back and you are out the shipping.

That point is moot for me, because on the rare occasion I have refunded any money (twice), I refunded the total amount including shipping. I do so because it is just not worth arguing and I would prefer happy customers who feel confident that I will stand behind my products. (although in neither case did the auction end at 99 cents)

I do see your point though. This is why buyers need to weigh the options and think about all of these issue before bidding.

I am fortunate in that, due to the items I am selling, my buyers are an exclusive group who know exactly what the items are worth and bid accordingly. I am not dealing with buyers who use Ebay on a rare occasion. Those who do not use Ebay on a regular basis tend to get upset about flat shipping costs. Those who use it alot tend to understand how it works and can see from a distance the disreputable sellers who are trying to rape people with shipping and the good ones.

 

[LuvN~Travel]

Actually I've told my customers that they can insure tickets through the USPS. Tickets are just another form of merchandise. We don't insure, cash, money orders or checks. Cash for the obvious reasons, money orders - you have your receipt, and checks since you can stop payment on them. But, tickets are merchandise.
And, yes you can insure an express mail for more than $100. You just pay the extra insurance fees. However, since the majority of what we ship express mail is less than $100, that built in amount is great.
Kim

 

[LoraJ]

Once again, I ask the question that no one has answered. How much do you pay for shipping from any other catalog or online merchant?

LL Bean, Land's End, Disney - what are their shipping charges? Has anyone ever emailed those companies to inform them that they really could send it for less?

I get the cheapest shipping for online sellers. I pay $2.95 - $6.95 depending on how much I buy.

I get free shipping from Amazon and free shipping frommost computer supply stores.

If shipping gets much higher and I can buy something similar at the store, I will just go to the store.

 

[poohandwendy]

Once again, I ask the question that no one has answered. How much do you pay for shipping from any other catalog or online merchant?

LL Bean, Land's End, Disney - what are their shipping charges? Has anyone ever emailed those companies to inform them that they really could send it for less?

LOL, you aren't going to get a good answer. People use Ebay to get a 'steal' and since they are dealing with 'people' rather than a corporation, they feel they should have more say in what things will cost. The thing is, they DO have a say in it with their bids. If the shipping rate is fixed, they can just move along and not bid.

 

[LisaNJ25]

What joy do you get out of reporting someone for fee avoidance?

I sell tickets and use FedEx, usually costs around $13. I had someone report me for this. They claimed it should only cost me $0.37.

I'm not gonna ship valuable tickets with USPS, I refuse to do so. I've had way too many bad experiences.

I had an idiot report me because they had nothing better to do.

Joe,


That was stupid of the ebayer who reported you for that. I have ordered tickets before and would not want them shipped plain first class. $13 sounds fine to me for fedex.

I think most people that do report sellers are the sellers For example who charge $13.00 to ship but state they are shipping first class.

Personally sometimes I add $1 - $2 to an auction to help cover my fees. I also make sure I list it as Shipping & Handling.

 

[grlpwrd]

Once again, I ask the question that no one has answered. How much do you pay for shipping from any other catalog or online merchant?

LL Bean, Land's End, Disney - what are their shipping charges? Has anyone ever emailed those companies to inform them that they really could send it for less?

This question gets asked repeatedly on the auction boards I am a member of, too. It's moot because yes, people want deals and sellers who are not businesses per se who sell on ebay (like many who sell their used items from home, like their "old" clothes) are a lot different that retailers either online or B&M.

It's another ebay-ism, I guess.

 

[va32h]

LOL, you aren't going to get a good answer.

I know, poohandwendy, but I feel like I have to keep putting it out there, if only to remind people that ebay is home to many online businesses not private sellers.

It's moot because yes, people want deals and sellers who are not businesses per se who sell on ebay (like many who sell their used items from home, like their "old" clothes) are a lot different that retailers either online or B&M.

I don't think it is moot. Of course we all want deals; I do too. But I don't expect someone else to take a loss for the sake of my good deal. I don't expect to be given something essentially for free (which is what an ebay seller would do if they sold an item for .99 and exact postage).

Sidebar for anyone who has never sold on ebay: ebay charges a fee to list an item and a commission based on the final selling price. These fees vary, but are at least 30 cents to list a 99 cent item. So right there - you have lost a third of your "profit". If you use PayPal, ebay's online payment processing service, there goes another 3%.

The complaints about "inflated" shipping are not limited to casual sellers - which is why the message bears repeating. Plenty of ebay sellers are exactly like retailers - I (and lots of other sellers) have a business license, pay taxes, pay employees, pay merchant account fees and have overhead just like any other business.