John Bouck said:I don't think they are "hillbilly's" :) They don't call them hills in the dessert ;) As for the "flat rate" boxes, most of what I ship won't fit in the small, odd size boxes. Ralph
The outrageous shipping costs are another thing. Most of these hillbilly's haven't caught on yet that they can get free "one price" shipping boxes from the PO. 1 pound to 40 pounds--same cost.
Another problem with eBay is the people who don’t know it from their elbow, do not describe the item accurately! I bought one item that was not what they said it was, a brake cylinder for a tender and NOT a car but that is what they called it! I will use it some day but I would still like to get one K brake cyliner for a freight car so I can make a mould.
Paul
Yes, horrendous shipping costs.
Just got a shipment of trampoline springs, USPS postage was $34. Was listed with $20 shipping charge. Ouch for seller.
Must not have had FedEx or UPS nearby. Probably could have fit it into two of the $10 or so one price shipping boxes.
Listing fees, paypal fees, surprisingly high shipping costs all take your bottom line down on “the bay”.
I’d rather sell my Christmas Annie - Trolley starter sets by word of mouth, and if someone can avoid shipping by picking it up, good for them.
Sincerely,
Joe Satnik
I used to tell buyers, “If buying multiple items, contact me for shipping costs,” 'cause often I could save them some by putting 2 boxes together. My shipping software let me figure different costs that way. Many just took the ebay shipping estimate on each item and paypalled as soon as the auction was done and left me with the savings.
Foreign buyers liked me 'cause I’d do the customs forms instead of letting UPS or FedX charge them an extra $50 to do that. Again, the customs forms were trivial with a computer, and I’d just stack their items in the back of the shop instead in the ups stack at the front and cart them to the PO. The postman said if this volume went up more than I wanted to deal with that they’d send one of their little postal trucks to pick them up.
Joe Satnik said:
Yes, horrendous shipping costs.Just got a shipment of trampoline springs, USPS postage was $34. Was listed with $20 shipping charge. Ouch for seller.
Must not have had FedEx or UPS nearby. Probably could have fit it into two of the $10 or so one price shipping boxes.
I’ve been selling a bunch of stuff on Ebay, bulky stuff. I havent had any problem shipping domesticly but got stung on this twice now re: shipping to Canada. I blame the outdated online postage calculator thats provided to Ebay, sold item #1 to a guy in Canada, used the online calculator to determine UPS shipping, sent invoice just I have done for eveything else I’ve sold on Ebay, got payment, went to UPS and found out they charged $10 above the online calculator, what? “Fuel surcharge, sorry, its not on the website yet” Shheee-oooot! Sold item #2 to a guy in Canada, this time I went to UPS with the box, had them give me an estimate, but the buyer asked if I could ship USPS International, so I said OK, but time was short so again I used the USPS website calculator, usually spot on corect, sent the invoice and when I went to ship it found that they charged $5 more due to the recent changes in international postage and insurance that again, wasnt updated onto their website… GRRRR!!!
So now I have two choices, A: one always having to go to the offices to get shipping totals prior to sending invoice ( a real PITA ) or B: just not shipping to Canada (or anywhere international).
So far I’ve opted for option B
If you are shipping out of the U.S. tell buyers that until you pack up and get to post office or wherever, that you will not give a final price because you want to charge them “actual shipping” and won’t know until you pack up and have weighed!! I have sold to Austria, Germany, New Zealand, and Canada with no problem’s they understand believe me. The Regal
Usually buyers have contacted me before auction ends and ask if I will ship to them, this is where you can tell them yes but only for “actual shipping charges” they have no problem or I havent anyway doing this!
Yeah I know, but when your shipping heavy big bulky things like bike forks or the like it gets to be a real PITA lugging the stuff to the post office and waiting in a long line just to get a total, then have to go back and wait in line all over again to drop the darn thing off.
What ticks me is that Ebay now wont let you list items unless you have the shipping box sizes and weights already determined when you initially list the item now, at least thats what I’ve run into, so I have to have the item boxed and weighed before I can even list it.
Now that USPS has said it will close 1,000 post offices I wonder how much t will affect all of us and the “speed” of mailing?
Victor Smith said:I would guess that is because you use the shipping calculator. The size and/or shape of the box is also a factor in the cost to ship. I do flat rate shipping and I don't have to provide any shipping details when I list.
What ticks me is that Ebay now wont let you list items unless you have the shipping box sizes and weights already determined when you initially list the item now, at least thats what I've run into, so I have to have the item boxed and weighed before I can even list it.
I only ship to the lower 48 states. I estimate shipping to California and use that as the flat rate. About 75% of what I sell goes to California.
About as often as I’ve collected an extra dollar, I’ve had to pay an extra dollar or two.
Ralph
Jack the price up and give “Free Shipping” like some sellers are doing.
Sold a model gasoline engine once. Ran when I shipped it. Guy claimed it didn’t run, wanted his money back or a running engine-- fine. Got it back, tested it, and it ran… like huh??? sent it back, and again he claims it won’t run. This time when he sends it back the thing looked like someone had backed a truck over it. Bent the crankshaft, one of the valves, the piston rings were even broke! Sooo, I fixed it, and sold it to a fellow in Japan for half again what it brought the FIRST time…
Sold a different one to a guy in New York… same story, a running engine shipped that doesn’t run when it gets there… except this time it was VERY obvious that the engine had been taken apart. Decided it was easier to give the clown his money back, but left feedback to the effect that some people shouldn’t be allowed to operate a toaster…
Then there are the weasels that get their merchandise then claim that they didn’t. Even with delivery confirmation you’re in for a fight. Guys try to claim it isn’t their signature and if Paypain won’t help (they usually side with the buyer, who cares if the seller is ruined) then they charge it back at the bank… Local postal people say it’s been REALLY bad for this the last 2 years…
Or sell it for nothing but charge $50 shipping and handling.
Tom Ruby said:I like to collect Aristo Napa Valley Rolling stock, not to run but to display. When I can afford to that is. Theres a guy on ebay in G gauge that has some kind of crap rolling with his auctions about how thankful they are for the donations of the rolling stock. Never says what charity they are of course. His stuff if I'm not mistaken is mostly buy it now. I've never bought from him and never will. I have a pretty good idea what shipping costs both at the PO and UPS and this guys shipping charges are really out in far left field in the next stadium over.
Or sell it for nothing but charge $50 shipping and handling.
Then you have the sellers that send their stuff via Media Mail. Last year when I had a PO Box at work I had a pick up tag in my box. Took it to the counter and the clerk brought me the box. But, he noticed it was media mail and noticed the rattle in it. He opened it up and I had to pay postage due to get it as he changed it from media mail to parcel post.
Just bought an IR thermometer for $15, shipping included. I didn’t realize I was buying it from England. He says it’s in today’s post.
Tom Ruby said:I've bought a lot of things from England through eBay. Shipping is usually $3 or $4. Their postal service must be government subsidized. Ralph
Just bought an IR thermometer for $15, shipping included. I didn't realize I was buying it from England. He says it's in today's post.
I went to send Ralph some pennies 'cause his 9-year-old genius wanted to build a “Penny Radio” and they don’t have any copper coins left. It would have cost $27 to post 10 pennies to England!
Ralph Berg said:I'm old enough to remember when our post office was a totally government outfit instead of the quasi semi government half privatized and 75 percent retarded system it is now.Tom Ruby said:I've bought a lot of things from England through eBay. Shipping is usually $3 or $4. Their postal service must be government subsidized. Ralph
Just bought an IR thermometer for $15, shipping included. I didn't realize I was buying it from England. He says it's in today's post.
Not to be beating on a dead thread here–but today I just found out that I was the idiot that fell for a total screwing by an ebay seller. I used to be a US Coin freak before I became a 100 percent Garden Train addict. I still love coins though. A few years ago I bought a 1878 CC Trade Dollar that was advertised as AU condition by a reputable dealer. Stashed it away with my other goodies and last month dug into the goody cabinets after buying the new US Coin Blue Book. It shows this coin as around 1000 bucks give or take depending on grade in AU. I sent it in to NCG for bonafide grading and slabbing and it came back in the mail today as being “not genuine.” Of course I no longer have the receipt for it so I’m screwed blued and tattoed. I’m going to go into PayPal and see how far back their records go on this. Probably a lost cause and I have to admit this one is mostly my own fault 
The thermometer arrived yesterday.