You HAVE to try this!! EBAY your way to DISNEY Part 2!!!!

[poohandwendy]

What if somebody is blantantly over charging for shipping and handling...

Actually, they can charge whatever they want for shipping and handling. There is no rule that thery have to charge actual shipping costs. I agree many people charge WAY too much, BUT...I would rather bid on an auction where the fees are stated up front...it is up to buyers to read the auction carefully and as sorchamac said, bid accordingly. (or pass up the auction completely)

I was wondering, since people bid last minute, is there a reason to have the item on longer than 3 days?

I usually list 3 or 5 day auctions. If I am listing lots of items, I will do 1/2 3 day and 1/2 5 day, just so I am not bombarded with tons of work packing and shipping at the same time. But if you want more people to see it, 7 days may be in your best interest. In my experience, it doesn't make any difference. Bidding takes place mostly on the first and last days of the auction, due to the fact that most people look at the newest listed auctions and ending today auctions. I am not sure what gallery usually costs, I'm thinking like 30-50 cents?

 

[DMRick]

Well, it is called fee avoidance, but on the other hand,

It's not technically fee avoidance, unless eBay says it is : ) eBay is very liberal in how much they allow people to charge for handling.

Although it's more than you want to pay (I assume you figured out the total..and the actual bid and the shipping and it came out to be more than what the same thing is selling with a higher start price and less shipping?), it could be that the person pays someone to pack, or figured out the cost from NY to Alaska (since so many people want a set price), or who knows what reason. The best thing to do, is to add the shipping and the bid amount together, and if the price is what you want to pay, decide if you want to bid. If you would be more comfortable paying more for the item and less for the shipping, even if the item ends up being more..you just move on to another seller. Most of us have figured out that some sellers would rather pay less in fees to eBay (there is no charge on the shipping portion). Some have decided it's terrible, and would rather pay more to another seller just because they don't try to get out of paying fees, and have the item high and the shipping more realistic. For myself, I just look at the total, and decide if it's worth bidding on..I really don't care how much eBay makes or doesn't make from the sale.
I don't do this myself, but I have no problem bidding..as long as I come out the winner.

 

[poohandwendy]

The best thing to do, is to add the shipping and the bid amount together, and if the price is what you want to pay, decide if you want to bid. If you would be more comfortable paying more for the item and less for the shipping, even if the item ends up being more..you just move on to another seller.

Exactly. Don't get frustrated, just move on and wait for another person to sell a similar or exact item for less shipping and handling $. It really is that simple. Actually, the best way to make ebay work for buyers AND sellers is to only spend your money with the BEST and most honest/reputable sellers...JMHO.

 

[sorchamac]

Originally posted by zurgswife
Thanks for the info....It's something I'd like but I'm not paying that much extra for a tshirt to be mailed...insane...

Well, it depends on how much she's charging for the shirt. If she's only charging $1.99 for the shirt, then $13.95 might be a reasonable total cost. Or, you can just say forget it on principle and look for a different item.

Sorcha

 

[sorchamac]

Originally posted by poohandwendy
Exactly. Don't get frustrated, just move on and wait for another person to sell a similar or exact item for less shipping and handling $. It really is that simple. .

I agree, although in some cases for some items it's just what everyone does, and you might not be able to get away from it. Like I mentioned before, I bought a card for my digital camera. I waited until I found an auction with a seller with an excellent feedback score and an item I won for a total cost (item + shipping) that was under my upper limit that I was willing to pay. I even had a couple $$ to spare.

Sorcha

 

[poohandwendy]

Like I mentioned before, I bought a card for my digital camera. I waited until I found an auction with a seller with an excellent feedback score and an item I won for a total cost (item + shipping) that was under my upper limit that I was willing to pay. I even had a couple $$ to spare.

ABSOLUTELY!!! The trick to 'Ebaying' is not jumping in on the first auction you see, but rather...spending a few minutes and checking 'completed' items to see what simiar items have sold for...checking FB ratings, asking the seller questions,etc.

Another thing I wanted to mention (as a seller). It never hurts to ask....you never know, you could get lucky. Try emailing the seller ***before placing a bid***and asking "Hey, would you consider reducing S&H, as I am close by?'...You have no idea unless you ask. I have done this on more than one occasion. Sellers want to SELL their product. Especially if they have little or no bids on the item. Good ones know that if you are interested enough to email them...you will probably up your bid if you can get discounted S&H.

And finally...to all buyers out there....PLEASE email the seller with any questions before placing a bid. This is critical. Most reputable buyers will be reasonable, depending on your request. Avoid disappointment and take the time to ask ?s FIRST.

 

[kilee]

I'll be honest (and put on my flame suit), I add approx $1.50 to all my shipping prices. It covers all my fee's and such, so that I am making all profit on the actual sale. I do however state my shipping right up front as a set fee. Therefore, the buyer knows exactly what they'll have to pay.

 

[sorchamac]

Originally posted by kilee
I'll be honest (and put on my flame suit), I add approx $1.50 to all my shipping prices. It covers all my fee's and such, so that I am making all profit on the actual sale. I do however state my shipping right up front as a set fee. Therefore, the buyer knows exactly what they'll have to pay.

I'm in the fire with you I have started charging $1-$2 (depending on the item) for handling fee. I've also started using the calculated shipping because I was getting burned too many times using a flat fee. As the ebay pros say, if you're not charging a handling fee you're losing money. But, I also start most of my auctions for a low price. I have a bunch of 10 cent auctions going on right now for books I would have just tossed/donated anyway. That was when they had the penny insertion fees for books/videos last week. I also have a premier PayPal account, so buyers have the option of using a credit card, which I've found many, many of them do.

 

[Taja]

Originally posted by Microcell

I am giving this a try!!! I put up about 10 items today and we shall see how it goes! I have my first bid already, so that is promising. I was wondering, since people bid last minute, is there a reason to have the item on longer than 3 days? I also see the 1 cent gallery etc charge is only for two days, so what is it regularly?

As of two weeks ago (last time I listed), the regular gallery fee is $0.25.


__________________
Taja

 

[jgates]

Any Free Day rumors? Sometimes 4th of July ends up with a FLD and I don't want to miss out. I need to get a ton of Postcard photos ready if there is one.

 

[DMRick]

Actually, the best way to make ebay work for buyers AND sellers is to only spend your money with the BEST and most honest/reputable sellers

I guess I buy differently. While I won't buy from an obvious loser..I do look at the total cost. That might not be the most honest seller, because they may be cheating eBay by having the shipping higher..but hey, we all bid in different ways. I want my item and I want it the cheapest. So far, it's worked for me.
I sold something last week and I put in the auction, that my item is less than many others starting at .01 even with shipping included. The .01 with the high shipping still did better than me. I have one more left, and I'll prob start it low with a higher s/h..otherwise they won't even look at it.

 

[DMRick]

Any Free Day rumors? Sometimes 4th of July ends up with a FLD and I don't want to miss out.

Not yet..but this .01 gallery and second heading threw me..they don't usually have it so close to when I was expecting free lisiting day.

 

[TIGGERSMOM]

Just wondering. Anyone who is doing auctions ending the July 4th weekend, what day do you end them?

I am trying to figure if Friday or Saturday is better than Sunday. or if even Monday might be. Not sure what day people get as a holiday from work.

I work 24/7 shifts so I get actual day - do normal folk get Friday or Monday?

 

[sorchamac]

Most people who work M-F will have Monday off.

I would avoid that weekend altogether, or at least end it Friday or Saturday night or wait until Tuesday night. People will be at picnics, fireworks, etc, and not thinking about Ebay. I by accident ended an auction on Memorial Day night and the item went for so much lower than it would have otherwise.

 

[maggiew]

I purchased a big lot of Disney pins (20) from eBay. I have questions about one of them. It is a cloissone type pin. It has the Disney mark on the FRONT. IT also seems to be made of glass or plastic - about the size of a quarter and like a glass flat "drop". It is a picture of Pooh in sunflowers. Is this tradable??

Maggie

 

[wdwpluto]

Originally posted by maggiew
I purchased a big lot of Disney pins (20) from eBay. I have questions about one of them. It is a cloissone type pin. It has the Disney mark on the FRONT. IT also seems to be made of glass or plastic - about the size of a quarter and like a glass flat "drop". It is a picture of Pooh in sunflowers. Is this tradable??

Maggie

I'm not sure. You'll probably get a better answer on the Collector's Board.

 

[bafmrf]

I just sold a CD that went for quite a bit of money. I sent an invoice to the winner and I checked my email and there was an email confirmation in French to the buyer. I didn't check the invoice closely before I sent it and the buyer is in France. I state in my auctions I only sell to the U.S. but I feel terrible that I sent the invoice with a domestic shipping cost for Media Mail. I emailed the winner immediately that I only sell in the U.S. but if they'd like I could find out what I would need to do and the proper shipping charges to France. Will this be ok?

Martha

 

[disneychrista]

This is exactly what I have done, after realizing after I sent the invoice that the buyer was from out of the US. This is totally acceptable.

 

[DMRick]

The cm's trade just about anything, as long as it's a disney pin. They just take them off their lanyards at the end of the day, if it's not acceptable. I've gotten some like that when trading with my grands in the past....and retraded them asap LOL.

 

[Donna]

They will trade anything with KIDS, but not adults. It has to be cloissanne, which i think you said it is and it has to say DISNEY on the back. At least those were the original trading rules. I'm sure you won't have any trouble finding someone to trade with though, especially if it's not a common pin.