Need some help with an ebay transaction please!

[mrs. mac]

OK, so I got all excited about an item I saw on ebay and I bid on it without checking the shipping charges and won. Now the shipping charges are more than double what I bid on the item and in my estimation should only be about 1/3 what the seller is charging. So I've learned something VERYimportant here!!

This seller had another item listed that had no bids on it. My question is this:

If I email him and offer to purchase the other item at the price he had listed as the starting bid and also ask him to combine shipping charges on both, how would this be handled/processed through ebay? What do you think the chances are he would be willing to do this?

 

[lbgraves]

It depends on the seller. They do not have to combine shipping charges but most do. Some still give an unreasonable total but others are fair.

 

[DianeV]

My opinion is if you are dealing with a high s/h fee type seller they arent going to do anything that will benefit you. Yes they may sell you the other item but dont expect much of a discount on the s/h fees

 

[ohiominnie]

If I was the seller and you approached me with that offer, I'd tell you I'd hold the original item until the end of the second auction. I would not just sell you the second item for the starting bid price (especially since I usually start my starting bids very low expecting them to go up)

I think it may turn out to be a live and learn episode for you. I'm slow to buy on ebay if shipping charges seem extravagant (as if they are making most of their money on their shipping charges) I understand adding a "handling" fee---to pay for padded envelopes, bubble wrap, tape, etc.

btw, if the seller leaves you feedback before you leave him feedback, i'd be inclined to give positive feedback if you get the item quickly and it's as described, but i'd gently add a comment about shipping charges....
something like "great product-very fast shipping but shipping charges a bit high" If the seller hasn't left you feedback yet, I wouldn't do this fearing retalliation in the feedback he leaves you (i.e."buyer complained about shipping price after auction close--READ THE LISTING and don't bid if you don't like shipping cost!")

HTH

 

[kilee]

You can ask the seller to lower or combine shipping. However, they don't have to and you are still obligated to purchase the item. I know my shipping charges are a flat rate- and I wouldn't adjust them in this case. However, I don't "pad" my shipping charges by more than $1.00-- usually closer to $.50. So, it's not an issue. Some people charge really high shipping to sell their item cheaper and get around the FVF.

 

[C.Ann]

btw, if the seller leaves you feedback before you leave him feedback, i'd be inclined to give positive feedback if you get the item quickly and it's as described, but i'd gently add a comment about shipping charges....
something like "great product-very fast shipping but shipping charges a bit high"

HTH

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I'm not sure I agree with this because it is in fact the bidders obligation to check the shipping charges ahead of time and bid only if they feel it's reasonable to them.. I think leaving a "back-handed" positive feedback isn't called for when the seller hasn't done anything wrong at all..

 

[LoriZH]

OK, so I got all excited about an item I saw on ebay and I bid on it without checking the shipping charges and won. Now the shipping charges are more than double what I bid on the item and in my estimation should only be about 1/3 what the seller is charging. So I've learned something VERYimportant here!!

This seller had another item listed that had no bids on it. My question is this:

If I email him and offer to purchase the other item at the price he had listed as the starting bid and also ask him to combine shipping charges on both, how would this be handled/processed through ebay? What do you think the chances are he would be willing to do this?

Arrggghhh...NOTHING bothers me more on ebay than when people gauge shipping prices so they don't have to pay ebay fees! People are so sleazy, I am lucky enough to get the amount I am charging, I would feel like a scum bag over charging for shipping.

Anyway, you are correct, the seller did nothing wrong in this transaction, so I would definitely give it a try, maybe the seller would rather make two sales instead of just jipping ya on one.

good luck!

 

[gottaluvdis]

I buy a decent amount on e-bay, but I always, always check the shipping/handling before I even consider bidding. It seems, especially lately, that many sellers are padding their s/h to the extreme. I won't even look at the auction if the shipping is exhorbitant. There will eventually be another item I'm interested in with fair shipping costs. Hopefully the seller will help you out. Good luck.

 

[mrs. mac]

Oh, I definitely don't plan to not pay or leave negative feedback; there were no bidders on the other item he had for sale and it closed with 0 bids. If he agrees to sell it does he have to relist it with ebay and pay more fees? I was just curious as to whether I should even approach him about the second item or just send the payment and as someone replied to look at as "live and learn".

 

[My2Cinderellas]

I'd pay for the one item and run. We all get caught up in the excitement now and again. In my experience, sellers like this don't cut much if any off combined shipping. they know that's where they make their $$ instead of on the bid price. and they will have to pay listing fees on the 2nd item if they decide to sell to you anyway - unless you go outside ebay and then you have no buyer protections with ebay or paypal.

Do you have your preferences set to list the shipping costs when doing a search? this has been great for me. there's one item I like to buy that costs about $1 to ship actual postage. Sellers list shipping from $1 to $5 for the same item, it's nice to see this right next to the bid price.

 

[Kimmielee]

I just bid and won on a Dora's Talking House.... several sellers offered it at various prices... but I went with the one that had a very decent price and the LOWEST shipping I'd seen.

This seller charged $20 shipping, flat rate vs. $35 almost every other seller wanted.

A couple of months ago, I found that a seller had spent MORE on shipping than stated. I offered to pay the difference but the seller said "no problem". There are still decent sellers out there...

 

[~Kathie]

I just bid and won on a Dora's Talking House.... several sellers offered it at various prices... but I went with the one that had a very decent price and the LOWEST shipping I'd seen.

This seller charged $20 shipping, flat rate vs. $35 almost every other seller wanted.

Keep in mind that the $20 "flat rate" may be by a slow boat from China or worse, Parcel Post. The $35 cost might have been Priority or UPS 2 day. Then again.....it might not. You can't be sure until you ask.

If you want something in time for holiday gift giving, it's always a good idea to email the seller and ask exactly what that flat rate is. How long will it take.....and where is it coming from?? Always best to ask questions so you are not disappointed.

 

[DMRick]

While it doesn't seem nice that people inflate s/h to pay less ebay fees, I hardly think it's fair to comment on the s/h after you bid. It's the buyers responsibilty to decide if they want to bid, after looking and figuring in the s/h. For all we know this guy could be paying someone $20 an hour to pack for him, or shipping a different way than another. The time to decide if the s/h is what you want to pay, is not after it's over, and it certainly shouldn't be part of the feedback, if the s/h is in the auction. If you don't like it..you just move on, and if enough people do it, the seller will stop.
For myself, I look at the total price of an auction. I don't care which equates to the ending price..and while I don't inflate my s/h more than my expenses, I know some sellers are upset with ebay's never ending rising prices, and to them, this is how they even it out. I go by what I'm willing to pay. I refuse to pay more for an item (total) just because the item price is higher and the shipping is lower. If the person with the inflated s/h still has the overall low price and good feedback, that's who I will buy from. However the total gets divided is ebays problem. I want the best price from the best seller, no matter how it's divided.

I also don't think that the seller who said no problem about reimbursing the shipping (he didn't charge enough) would equate with a decent seller. Does that mean the person who takes you up on your offer isn't?

btw, if the seller leaves you feedback before you leave him feedback, i'd be inclined to give positive feedback if you get the item quickly and it's as described, but i'd gently add a comment about shipping charges....
something like "great product-very fast shipping but shipping charges a bit high"

 

[C.Ann]

While it doesn't seem nice that people inflate s/h to pay less ebay fees, I hardly think it's fair to comment on the s/h after you bid. It's the buyers responsibilty to decide if they want to bid, after looking and figuring in the s/h. For all we know this guy could be paying someone $20 an hour to pack for him, or shipping a different way than another. The time to decide if the s/h is what you want to pay, is not after it's over, and it certainly shouldn't be part of the feedback, if the s/h is in the auction. If you don't like it..you just move on, and if enough people do it, the seller will stop.
For myself, I look at the total price of an auction. I don't care which equates to the ending price..and while I don't inflate my s/h more than my expenses, I know some sellers are upset with ebay's never ending rising prices, and to them, this is how they even it out. I go by what I'm willing to pay. I refuse to pay more for an item (total) just because the item price is higher and the shipping is lower. If the person with the inflated s/h still has the overall low price and good feedback, that's who I will buy from. However the total gets divided is ebays problem. I want the best price from the best seller, no matter how it's divided.

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I so agree with all of the above.. The time to consider the s&h is before the purchase and it's totally unfair to give a "positive" neg after the fact..

And while I'm not crazy about sky-high s&h fees either, I too look at the "total" picture.. Right now I'm watching an item that I'm interested in.. The opening bid was .99 and the shipping & handling is in the $15 range.. I know exactly what they're doing and why they're doing it, but I'm still interested enough to bid.. I just put in my "max" and hope I win..

 

[Kimmielee]

Keep in mind that the $20 "flat rate" may be by a slow boat from China or worse, Parcel Post. The $35 cost might have been Priority or UPS 2 day. Then again.....it might not. You can't be sure until you ask.

If you want something in time for holiday gift giving, it's always a good idea to email the seller and ask exactly what that flat rate is. How long will it take.....and where is it coming from?? Always best to ask questions so you are not disappointed.

I did and it was regular shipping..... I paid in full for it last Tuesday and it's scheduled to be here tomorrow!!! The seller was very accomodating with answers to my upfront questions.

I also read the horror story of people "thinking" they were BUYING an Xbox360 for $500 when in fact it was a raffle ticket to "win" the item. OUCH!! Talk about not reading the entire details!!!