Large Scale Central

Shipping charges on Ebay

General Discussion
#1

I had this discussion some time ago on another forum. Shipping charges can be a thorn in my side at times. I would like to know why some sellers feel they need to charge $15.00 plus to ship a single freight car they’re selling for $30.00. And fifteen dollars is on the low side for most of the auctions I see.

I have much larger items shipped to me where the shipping charges are less. Are these Ebay sellers trying to increase profits by inflating the shipping charge? I also sell on Ebay to help support my hobby. But I charge whatever the post office charges me.

I’ve heard the argument about overhead costs for these companies. However, all companies have overhead costs. So why is it then that I can buy power tools, and other large items and still get charged less for shipping?

#2

I have shipped dozens and dozens of cars over the years as my railroad/tastes have changed…Nearly every one of them has cost me over $15.00 to ship…No exaggeration. Usually it’s someone in California that buys it and I wind up paying about $18.00 with delivery conformation.

To avoid the inevitable complaint about high shipping (like I can control the cost) I sell all my unwanted items at a fixed price, add $10.00 before listing, and charge $9.50 for shipping. Then they don’t complain about shipping costs.

Of course you can’t win here either…Ship Parcel Post and it’s 5 days to California, they’ll complain about the delay even though I ship same-day as payment received. Of course I could fix that and ship Priority for $30.00 but then I’d get complaints for excessive costs. There is no winning the shipping game.

Add the cost of the item + shipping and ask yourself if it is a good deal…

#3

Seriously? Because if you use feebay’s shipping calculator, then the total comes to very nearly EXACTLY half what it actually costs to ship it. The calculator LIES. Because then you’ll bid more and feebay gets bigger final evaluation fees. Sellers have been complaining about it for YEARS Only if you use THEIR postage meter is it “accurate” - WITHOUT insurance or delivery confirmation. They don’t care if the seller gets soaked, they don’t care if it gets destroyed or lost in transit, or delivered to the neighbor’s dog… as long as they get their precious fee.

MEANWHILE, In case you haven’t noticed the factory boxes for a LOT of large scale stuff is “oversized” - as in the shippers charge extra because the boxes are long.

DON’T ASSume that the sellers are trying to fleece you just because you WANT it shipped cheaper. DON’T kick over a few extra dollars to ensure that it arrives safely - protecting the interests of BOTH of you.

Bottom line? ALWAYS figure in the cost of shipping BEFORE you bid/ If you think it’s too high, don’t buy. It really is that simple. You’re not gonna die if you don’t get a new toy today. IWhile you might think if an item is 99c with $45 shipping that you’re getting taken advantage of… but if it was $46 with free shipping for the same item and you’d be happy, then you really ain’t. The only party getting “screwed” in the first case is feebay, and I think they’ll survive.

#4

$15 for a freight car is not out of line at all. Like Mark, I’ve shipped, and do ship, lots of stuff. Its not cheap to send stuff.

#5

A secondary part of the shipping on eBay is that eBay does not separate shipping from handling. For a seller to state or infer that he is including ‘handling fees’ in the listed shipping is technically illegal. Federal law requires that shipping costs be a ‘pass through’ expense to the consumer. Legally any consumer who feels he has been over charged by a seller or feels the seller is ‘marking up’ shipping has the right to file a complaint with the Federal Government, Interstate Commerce Commission, I think.

That being said, look at the item and ask ‘Would I pay that combined price at my LHS?’

Bob C.

#6

I just bought $130 from the german lgb dealer, and shipping was only 40

#7

Ebay has a postal calculator on its site, I always specifically state in my listing “Shipping Per USPS Parcel Post” and I always factor in Delivery Confirmation as part of the total costs to me, its just common sense to me that I have some form of tracking and confirming an item was delivered.

Yep, shipping can be expensive, that’s why I always use the postage calculator on Ebay as part of the invoice process. I select Parcel Post, or Parcel Service as its now called, and that lets the buyer know upfront what their shipping will be on mailing, so it works out well, if I get to the Post Office and find on smaller items that it costs the same or just slightly more send it Priority I will often go ahead and use that, as it gets the item there faster and includes a tracking number. However I will not give options like Fed Ex or UPS as I have had trouble with them in the past.

#8

Shipping is posted when you look at something on ebay. If you do not feel the shipping is fair don’t bid. Unless you sell on ebay and accept paypal for payment plus calculate the shipping cost from the shipper of your choice you will not understand the cost involved. You can not compare shipping cost with the companies you buy from outside of ebay because they usually get a discount on shipping. That is why they ship a little cheaper.

Mike

#9

Michael,

Part of the cost of shipping via PayPal/eBay is that they BOTH take a cut of that cost for shipping through them. If you really think outside shipping is cheaper, go to your local UPS or FedEx and get a price from them to ship RESIDENCE to RESIDENCE. There is no price break there. I have always shipped to my office when possible to save the seller and myself a couple of bucks (when the shipper is using other than PayPal/eBay shipping).

I stated above that ‘shipping’ is by law a pass through cost. It is not handled that way on eBay, and why this has never been corrected is beyond me. There are a few sellers on eBay that will state very clearly in their listing that although the form does not allow for it, their shipping cost ‘includes handling charges’. These people understand the law and take appropriate steps to maintain their legal status as a seller.

Bob C.

#10

Usually shipping is a mixed bag as big business get a nice shipping discount and the shippers will come and pick the items. Most of us have to drive to a shipping location which costs us $$$…

If you look at eBay and PayPal, they take between them, take about 12% of the amount charged to ship. So if you charge $15 to ship, they take $1.80 off the top !!! That doesn’t seem fair but some sellers made that happen by trying to beat the system.

Oh yes ! I received a package from So. CA. recently. It was sent USPS Priority Mail. Took 10 days to get here in Oregon !!

The fellow lives just off I-15 and I’m about 4 miles off I-5… Must have went by covered wagon…

Take it or leave it, this is going to be as good as it gets. TOF in Orygun

#11

Bob there are discounts for mass shipping through FedEX and UPS I could never meet their #'s I do know about ebay and paypal % as I used to sell on ebay until December of 2012. I do like their new policies on the buyer protection plan that is why I stopped selling on ebay. Yes I know about the new policey of no handling charges. I had been selling on ebay since 01 till 12 I found a whole new customer base since the new buyer protections and no negative feedback from sellers has been put in place. i could spend all night telling of what some people will do to try and get a lower price on both product and shipping.

Mike

#12

I always ship Parcel Post, and indicate so in the listing. I feel that most nuyers want to pay as little as possible for shipping. On most items I opt for delivery confirmation. More for my peace of mind than the buyer. That cost usually comes out of my pocket. The seventy cents is worth it.

As far as deciding how much to pay for an item, I always factor in the shipping cost as part of the cost of the item. I can buy something from Wholesale Trains.com and usually the shipping charges are much more reasonable than Ebay sellers. However, Wholesaletrains.com does not have a Paypal service, so alot of times I won’t buy from them unless it is something I really need.

Alot of sellers only ship Priority Mail which costs more. If I ask them to ship a less costly way some will oblige.

Anyway, like I said, shipping charges by Ebay sellers is higher than other industries proportionately.

#13

Be careful what you wish for.

On the 31st I made two purchases. One from from All Battery and one from All Electronics. They are both in California.

All Electronics shipped the next day via USPS 1st Class Mail and charged me $7 P&H. The actual postage was about $2.60. The package arrived on the 5th. I called them on the 5th with an order correction; that package was sent free and arrived today. That’s 5 actual days transit time.

All Battery had a Free Shipping deal for $75 or more. What I needed was about $60 so I ordered more to make the minimum for free shipping. They sent my package via FedEx SmartPost service. FedEx tendered the package on the 1st and it has spent the last 10 days touring the country. It arrived in Danbury on Sunday and if I’m lucky will be in my mailbox tomorrow. That’s 12 calendar days transit. More than double.

My advice is to avoid FedEx SmartPost like the plague.

When I ship it is either by USPS if small, or UPS if large. My last UPS Shipment was a box of 7 1:24 freight cars w/original boxes. It cost me $36.00 to send with a commercial account.

#14

Someting that has always amused me is the ridiculously low cost to ship within the States. You guys have been spoiled for years. Of cause, if you want premium service then you need pay extra. I have been paying shipping costs from the States to downunder for ten years and have been jealous of the low shipping cost offered by the likes of FedEx, DHL and UPS for domestic service.

Your freight compainies will charge you say $15.00 to ship a freight car across the States and nearly $100.00 to ship to me. USPS has generally shipped the same car for $45.00 - $60.00.

I purchased from Canada several times but found the cost to ship to me was totally unrealistic. I even had one Canadian eBay seller living near Niagra Falls who would transit the border and ship by USPS for me, saving me many, many dollars.

You may complain but you need to accept the days of cheap shipping are past.

#15

Tim Brien said:

Someting that has always amused me is the ridiculously low cost to ship within the States.

…

You may complain but you need to accept the days of cheap shipping are past.

that made me smile.

if i send a parcel under 2 pounds of weight to the states, it costs me 1.50 $us. from paraguay! about 8000 miles away.

#16

I believe the USPS is the way to ship. Years ago I sold a rather heavy Buddy L fire truck on Ebay which I charged $50 to ship. Wouldn’t you know it the buyer lived in Oregon, I’m on Cape Cod. I brought the item to the local UPS store and was shocked at a $90 fee to pack and ship!! I took it home packed it myself and spent about $35 at the post office.

On Ebay I also buy and sell and I don’t have a problem paying or charging $15 for shipping a piece of rolling stock and up to $20 for a regular loco. I do figure the cost of shipping in my bids.

I also usually go parcel post. There are some buyers that expect free shipping but I expect to make and pay a few bucks after all there is a cost to securely pack the item, gas to get to the PO and then time to stand in line there so making few bucks is OK in m book.

No one likes to be gouged and I have seen some auctions on the bay where the shipping fees are like $23 for rolling stock and $30 for engines. That’s alot and I avoid them.

My wife is from Ireland and she has shipped presents back and often the shipping fees cost more money than the items in the box did.

I guess we are a bit spoiled here in the USA

#17

OH yeah if you ship via parcel post be sure to pack the item very well. I was once told by a PO employee to expect a 70 pound package to be dropped on mine. I had visons of a gorilla in the back throwing boxes around like that old luggage commercial where the ape jumps up and down on the suitcase.

Pack em well.

#18

Todd Haskins said:

OH yeah if you ship via parcel post be sure to pack the item very well. I was once told by a PO employee to expect a 70 pound package to be dropped on mine. I had visons of a gorilla in the back throwing boxes around like that old luggage commercial where the ape jumps up and down on the suitcase.

Pack em well.

That is the biggest problem I have with purchases from individuals - they have no idea how to pack. I’ve had locos arrive wrapped it towels which did nothing except to contain all the parts that broke off. I use lots of bubble wrap or peanuts when I ship. That cost’s extra $ because I don’t get a lot of stuff shipped in to salvage it from.

#19

Like everyone else I have a lot of experience in shipping stuff. I dont sell on ebay but I ship other stuff for my business and it aint cheap. The $15 shipping cost does not sound out of line.

#20

[I had this discussion some time ago on another forum. Shipping charges can be a thorn in my side at times. I would like to know why some sellers feel they need to charge $15.00 plus to ship a single freight car they’re selling for $30.00. And fifteen dollars is on the low side for most of the auctions I see.]

I buy and sell on ebay occasionally.

I shipped a USA box car by UPS from PGH PA. to Indiana State back on December 2011 and it cost me $16.90 14 months ago. There has been increases since then!

I shipped an LGB car from PGH PA. to California back on Aug 3 2011 and it cost $20.19 VIA UPS.

$15 bucks now days for shipping is very reasonable and is much less than it cost me over a year ago.