What is your opinion on sellers charging over and above the shipping cost?

[3arod13]

What is your opinion on sellers charging over and above the shipping cost?

As a seller, I don't. I feel it's part of the selling process and charge what actual postage costs.

For someone to mail something first class (let's say an 8x10), and charge $10, that's just ridiculous.

Seller states cost due to time, gas, etc.

Your thoughts?

Tony

[whatupyos]

Re: What is your opinion on sellers charging over and above the shipping cost?

Thats a good question. I have to resort to the fact that the seller has the right to charge what they want. It's their item. I understand someone could charge an astronomical rate i.e. $50 for a picture but if you don't like the postage price, don't bid/buy. Simple as that.

[orioles03]

Re: What is your opinion on sellers charging over and above the shipping cost?

i bought a card on ebay it cost .99 and i paid $3.00 for shipping does not make sense

[ndevlin]

Re: What is your opinion on sellers charging over and above the shipping cost?

This just happened to me a few weeks ago when I purchased a bat from a lady. She didnt state in the auction how much shipping was, so that means to me it is actual shipping cost($8-$11). I even told her how much it should be. Well, that didnt matter, she charged me $17.95 to ship the bat. I was a bit mad but curious to see what the postage was on the box when I received it. Sure enough, it was $9.30 to ship it to me. So you better believe I emailed her and told her what I thought! She told me it was $9.30 to ship and the rest of it for handling!!! To make a long story short, I told her it doesnt cost that much etc etc and she gave me a $4.00 refund. Though it doesnt sound much, I was annoyed but satisfied that I got anything back.

This is one thing I just cannot stand!---Someone charging more for shipping that what he really costs to ship!

[suave1477]

Re: What is your opinion on sellers charging over and above the shipping cost?

i bought a card on ebay it cost .99 and i paid $3.00 for shipping does not make sense

Well it makes perfect sense but it depends on how the item was shipped.

If the item was shipped in a buble envelope - depending where you buy the bubble envelope from and if you buy just an individual on it can cost $1.00
If the card came in a Hard plastic Card holder
.25 cents
Postage I think is around
.60 to . 70 cents
If they add confirmation
.60 cents

Add all these up
$1.00
.25
.60
.60
total $2.45 - thats not that bad

[orioles03]

Re: What is your opinion on sellers charging over and above the shipping cost?

it was in just plain white envlope with regular stamp and holder

[BULBUS]

Re: What is your opinion on sellers charging over and above the shipping cost?

A seller can charge what they want, as long as they make it clear what the shipping will be. Some sellers have a low starting bid and high shipping to save on fees. Take cell phone accessories for emaple. You can get a charger for .99, but pay 5-6 bucks shipping. Its still cheaper than the stores. I always look at the shipping cost and factor that into my bid.

On the other hand, if shipping is not stated and the seller gives you a high shipping rate, then that is wrong and would make me angry too.

[ndevlin]

Re: What is your opinion on sellers charging over and above the shipping cost?

I see your anger. $3.00 for shipping on a card isnt too bad, I've seen worse. Lets say you bought a card for $150, would you still be mad for the $3.00 shipping?

it was in just plain white envlope with regular stamp and holder

[godwulf]

Re: What is your opinion on sellers charging over and above the shipping cost?

If the shipping charged on a single bat is $15 or less, I normally wouldn't say anything.

I did, however, have an email correspondence (before I bid) with an eBay seller who had a bat listed with a $25 shipping charge. I very politely suggested that this was about twice the going rate - and, to his credit, he thanked me for the information, said that it was the first bat he'd ever listed (I checked, and this was true), and I bid on (and won) the bat with the understanding that I'd pay $15 for shipping.

As for sellers trying to factor in their time, their gas, their packing materials (kind of hard to buy, when those consist of a free Priority box from the P.O. and a handful of wadded-up newspaper), I'm afraid that I don't buy it. What's really happening, I think, is that sellers want to set their starting bid on an item as low as possible, and so the amount of money, to pay for gas, time, etc, that ought to be built into the bid price is being transferred to the Shipping Cost side, where it doesn't hurt them in listing and final value fees.

I've even had a seller try to justify his padded shipping charges by telling me that he had "employees to pay"...this, from somebody who had maybe twenty or thirty, mostly small, items listed. Maybe he expected his customers to pay for his employees' health insurance, too.

It's as whatupyos wrote, though...if you don't like their rules, don't play their game.

[orioles03]

Re: What is your opinion on sellers charging over and above the shipping cost?

I see your anger. $3.00 for shipping on a card isnt too bad, I've seen worse. Lets say you bought a card for $150, would you still be mad for the $3.00 shipping?

no , i would be mad if he sent it in a regular envelope with a stamp but what could you do thats why i dont buy on ebay to often.

[ndevlin]

Re: What is your opinion on sellers charging over and above the shipping cost?

It's as whatupyos wrote, though...if you don't like their rules, don't play their game.[/quote]


Very true, if you dont want to spend $30 for shipping on a bat, dont bid on the bat.

[3arod13]

Re: What is your opinion on sellers charging over and above the shipping cost?

Thats a good question. I have to resort to the fact that the seller has the right to charge what they want. It's their item. I understand someone could charge an astronomical rate i.e. $50 for a picture but if you don't like the postage price, don't bid/buy. Simple as that.

Although I do agree with you, just because some states $15 postage in their auction, doesn't make it right. As far as a seller has the right to charge what they want, I disagree. You should charge what is reasonable. Some go way overboard.

[dcgreg25]

Re: What is your opinion on sellers charging over and above the shipping cost?

It is a fine line for both a buyer and a seller and it gets really messy with larger items (framed, etc) as it gets expensive fast for the seller especially buying boxes and with "oversized" items such as framed jerseys.

As a buyer, I have no problem with some reasonable shipping, even if it is a little more than I would charge. However, it drives me crazy when people put huge numbers on shipping ($10 for a cheap 8x10 uninsured) or $30 to ship a jersey (that costs $100). While the shipping charge is there on the auction, it seems dishonest to obviously gouge people on the shipping and gives the impression that the seller is trying to slip something past his buyers and betting that not every buyer will check the shipping cost.

For me it makes me take a second look at the item, if the seller is going to lie about the shipping I tend to question the item a little more.

[orioles03]

Re: What is your opinion on sellers charging over and above the shipping cost?

when i ship a bat i usually carge $10 i go to ups store buy a shipping tube go to the postoffice ship it cheapest way possible sometimes i lose money shipping sometimes i make some but $10 i think is fair for shipping a bat.

[ndevlin]

Re: What is your opinion on sellers charging over and above the shipping cost?

If you go to www.usps.com and open up a free account, you can get free boxes to ship your bats in, with free shipping as well. I go ahead and get them, as well as other boxes they give for free, for storage. Hey, its free, why not!?!

when i ship a bat i usually carge $10 i go to ups store buy a shipping tube go to the postoffice ship it cheapest way possible sometimes i lose money shipping sometimes i make some but $10 i think is fair for shipping a bat.