Question
Can it, should it be done? Or, are you happy to see the next guy price the shipping sky high, thus making your auction more attractive?
I am shopping again, looking around for this and that. Mostly camera accessories that aren't too expensive.
I'm looking for a flash unit, so I click on an auction that has a camera, two lenses, flash and all, going for a low price. Hmmm, nice package deal, feedback is low but at least it's 100%. Hmmm, what's the shipping price... $50 flat rate! Fifty dollars for around 5 pounds in weight. I know it could be shipped for in the $10 neighborhood. Even if he wanted to "clean up" on handling charges $15 should cover it.
I see it all the time, now that I am shopping again. People stating $15 shipping/handling for a 12 ounce item that would ship for under $5 for example.
I understand the need for handling charges. I charge handling fees myself, on small items perhaps an average of .75 cents to a dollar. On larger items maybe an average of a few dollars. I think that's reasonable. But the other...
It has to be driving customers away from eBay. A lot of them likely get tired of looking for a similar item with reasonable shipping charges.
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I really like that the shipping is now showing up beside the price in the search list. I know that there is sometimes choices and more to go by, but it cuts out on my having to open auctions with shipping of $20.00 for a .01 cent item.
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I agree that the exorborant handling charges are frustrating, but I'm just glad sellers are showing them.
I've been looking for items the last two days also and it seems to me that more sellers are either stating their S/H in their auctions or are using a shipping calculator. It used to be about half the auctions I looked at just said "Buyer pays S/H" and I would have to email to find out. Yesterday I only saw one or two that gave no indication on their charges.
I think that in itself is a great step forward.
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I looove the shipping costs showing up in search now
And one MAIN reason I do NOT shop on Amazon any more than I do is the standardized shipping.
Charge me 3.49 to ship one SMALL gameboy color game? Fine if I can check your other listings and get a reduced rate on shipping like I can do on ebay. Otherwise, forget it. On ebay I let my bidding do the choosing as far as shipping charges.
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So both of you seem to say it's OK whatever they charge, you just like to see the charge stated up front.
Yes, seeing the charge stated somewhere (or a shipping calculator) is handy for sure.
But I think the amounts some of these sellers are charging is a problem. Newbies in particular, might see a $15 shipping charge on a small, lightweight item, and may not realize (or care) that they could win it for a mere 2.99, pay the 15.00 s/h and still get a fair deal value-wise. Some of them might just see the outrageously high shipping price on a wanted item, hit the back button and not come back.
BTW, I personally wouldn't bid on an auction with a super jacked-up shipping price, even if I could still get a fair deal on the item. It would have to be something I really wanted or needed badly before I would.
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I agree with you .
I see items with obscene shipping charges with bids .
I think what happens often is someone not very eBay savy sees what they want at a decent (or cheap ) price and bids without looking for the shipping costs
when they get the invoice they (not being eBay savy) assume that eBay is a rip and go away and tell all their frinds that "ebay is ok but man the shipping will kill you Im never buying there again
' not understanding that it is that particular seller . a lot of peaple have trouble with the concept that each seller sets their own policys .
it can do nothing but hurt eBay
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it can do nothing but hurt eBay
And the honest sellers who start their stuff at a reasonable price, and have reasonable S&H.
But sometimes all they "see" is the bid amount. At least until the auction is over.
I'm by no means against "handling" -- I charge "handling" myself to cover part of the cost of my shipping supplies -- but I AM against gougers!
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The thing that bothers me about it is that I include insurance with the shipping cost. It isn't optional and it won't be. So my shipping always looks a little bit high. However, I don't get emails asking about it but I do get a few asking to pay to include insurance on their item.
I'd think maybe buyers were actually READING my small TOS except for the emails asking to add insurance when it's already included.
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you want ebay to set a standard shipping rate for each item??? really???
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I think it would help if it where a little easier to report blatent violations.
I have tried a couple of times (.99 opening 125.00 flat rate shipping kind of thing) and found it diffuclt and time consuming .
now I look and think why bother ?