posted on August 31, 2000 07:26:29 PM new
Borrilar - I think your idea is perfect. It sure would solve a bunch of misconceptions and clarify the situation as far as I am concerned.
posted on August 31, 2000 07:46:16 PM new
I really should add this information to my reply. I have never received a complaint for my shipping but I send out collectible photos. I receive a lot of emails from my customers telling me to mail them in a package that cannot be bent. VERY IMPORTANT TO THEM. I pay a very good price for manilla envelopes with industrial strength cardboard inserts front and back. I get a lot of praise for my packaging after my bidders receive it, but I know the time will come when they ask WHY did I pay $3.00 for an item that is marked $.99 postage. I am afraid the asking will come in the form of a negative. If we had the options Borillar stated, I could choose the cost of the envelope is the reason. I don't want to go into detail on my auctions because I don't believe in a lot of terms and descriptions that they would have to read before they bid. I guess I would just like it explained to them in an easy method, before I get the negative for shipping higher than is marked on the package.
posted on August 31, 2000 07:54:08 PM newBorillar - Go read my link of the breakdown on the $6.95 charge on the other thread. You will see why for the 2 oz package that charge has an awful lot of padding into it. I apologize if I mis-read the post I replied to and placed the breakdown of the gouge on that example as an indication that you did it. However the breakdown on the cost and the profit areas stand the same.
A lot of the problems with shipping and handling would be rather easily solved. If the average ebayer who is doing continuous business within the medium would remember that just because a TV ad has shippng of $xx.xx dollars that doesn't mean they can charge the same. What you charge should be based on an analysis of your actual cost to provide the service. If ebayers did that they would see where they are gouging. They would also see where they were undercharging and make the appropriate changes to not lose on the shipping or overly profit from it.
I yearn for the day when ebay'ers en masse start treating their operations like a business. If the vast majority would start doing that. We wouldn't have to worry about Meg and ebay marketing continuously screwing with the medium to make it loose the garage sale look. The look would leave as sellers get professional and business like without forcing out those who made ebay what it is.
shamrock41 - Here's what you do short sweet and when the package arrives means no questions from a buyer upset over that postage saying 99 cents but they paid $3.00.
I mail my cards via US Mail in padded envelopes with cardboard backing to prevent damage in transit. However you haven't gotten any complaints to date because they see you expended funds to make sure the card didn't get bent. But the sentence should give you peace of mind if you do get that single complainer. But you never change a formula that works for one lonely whiner. Deal with them and get back to business.
[ edited by networker67 on Aug 31, 2000 08:02 PM ]
posted on August 31, 2000 07:58:56 PM new
RB...you're right! eBay is not rocket science. Especially for those who have been there awhile. It would be nice if the Buyers would e-mail first for clarification. But, if you stumble on an auction with a short amount of time left, there may not be time for an e-mail and reply. If this information was provided, there wouldn't be any reason to e-mail.
You would think the Sellers would be happy to provide this information so the Buyers could avoid any confusion or post-auction controversies. To me it's the same as listing the dimensions or sizes. It's information that will help the Buyers make informed decisions.
I don't agree with the Buyers who complain after the fact when the TOS spells everything out.
posted on August 31, 2000 08:43:44 PM new
njrazd ... you're right, if you actually stumble across the item you want. However, based on what I have seen and read here, most bidders see an item they want, but wait until the last minute before placing a bid. Under those conditions, too bad for them
I'm not sure that a TOS could spell everything out. If you wanted to include all the possibilities in your TOS, it would end up reading like "War and Peace". There are so many different methods of shipping and so many different countries to ship to, that, logistically they would be impossible to cover in your TOS. And, if you miss including the shipping to Bora Bora in your TOS you are going to offend the Bora Borians - I hear they have lots of money and nothing to spend it on
posted on August 31, 2000 09:35:33 PM newborillar I don't have any problem with full disclosure.
I do have a problem if I can't just say "$11 for Priority shipping, this thing is heavy".
I do this regularly. It's easy to understand. No further breakdown is necessary. The truth is I don't know how much postage will be, because it will vary depending on where buyer lives, but I think it very important to state the final charge in my auction. I expect to pay about $9.50 postage, but I'm not unhappy with anything between $8 and $12.
posted on September 1, 2000 12:03:58 AM new
Can we spell: D-I-S-C-L-O-S-U-R-E ???
I have been a buyer-ONLY for two years now and what needs to be understood is that we buyers are complaining about the OBVIOUS & INTENTIONAL failure to disclose padded s&h charges IN THE AUCTION! If you want to charge me $20/HR to pack it and stand in line and pay for gas....fine....BUT TELL ME UP FRONT!
I recently had multiple email exchanges with a seller over a 35% extra charge on shipping in an "actual shipping" auction.
What was most interesting is that the "added extras" brought the item up to what similar auctions had been bringing earlier this year!
The seller tried to explain it away with "having to buy boxes" (item came in 2 USED ones!!), and then "I had to buy bubblewrap" (evidently enough for his next 25 auctions!), and then was told I was being unreasonable because I had gotten a "good deal". (HELLO!! this IS an auction!). I finally received a refund check and I was man enough to email a thank you AND leave positive feedback for "handling the situation"....Guess who hasn't found the professionalism to reciprocate? Guess who will never get another bid from me?
ALL WE BUYERS ASK IS BE HONEST WITH US UPFRONT IN THE AUCTION! Don't ask me to email you during or become a pain after the close! I will pay for your shoe leather you leave in the post office lobby waiting to ship my package....IF I am not blindsided by the "shoe-leather-charge" in your EOA notice!
I love you GREAT sellers that do it right...the S&H thieves are another story.
(there is a rumor that THOSE S&H profit-takers get a "special spot" in heaven.....sharing a condo with Meg & the marketing/banner department.....for ALL eternity!!!!)
Life is too short to make it difficult!
Same Kawfee-n-Junque as on eBay...I aint afraid of who I am!
edited cause my mind wandered...if you see it, please send it home!
[ edited by kawfeenjunque on Sep 1, 2000 01:13 AM ]
[ edited by kawfeenjunque on Sep 1, 2000 01:14 AM ]
posted on September 1, 2000 12:23:16 AM new
(there is a rumor that THOSE people get a "special spot" in heaven.....sharing a condo with Meg & the marketing/banner department!!!!)
Great Scott...My S&H will be free from now on.....LOL
posted on September 1, 2000 04:57:36 AM new
heh Frogleg....do you sell antique toys....I wanna bid on YOUR auctions!!!!
geeze...this is SO simple and yet eBay goes merrily on their way ignoring the solution!
MEG: "actual" means postage only!
"handling" needs to be added with a REAL number to insert!
Face it....if the buyers quit buying because they are tired of being screwed...the sellers will quit listing and the checks quit coming to California!! DUH!
PLEASE FIX THIS PROBLEM!
Same Kawfee-n-Junque as on eBay...I aint afraid of who I am!
posted on September 1, 2000 05:33:17 AM new
Expecting $20/hour for packing is a bit naive. Different jobs have different wage rates and I don't think packers get $20 per. Selling on-line you're a buyer, ad writer, listing clerk, accountant, accounts receivable clerk, packer, driver, diplomat, and more. If you want $20 for packing you'll have to form a union.
posted on September 1, 2000 05:47:20 AM new
Oh great, MORE information for bidders to ignore.
Does anybody really think that a bidder population that "didn't see" Seller accepts US bids only is going to "see" the tickbox shipping terms borillar took so much trouble to devise?
Being new to ebay or the internet does not give would-be bidders license to leave their common sense in the other room. "How is this widget going to make its way from seller to me? And how much am I going to pay for this in total?" are not, I'd submit questions that as a newbie one "wouldn't know to ask."
The only thing that's going to reduce shipping "gouging" (I use that term advisedly) is bidders annoying sellers with emails asking about shipping, or avoiding auctions where shipping costs are not specified.
posted on September 1, 2000 06:05:05 AM new
Shipping charges are the biggest non-issue on the planet.
Every item you purchase has a shipping charge whether it is expressly stated or not.
No one sits there and argues with the clerk in a store about the shipping charge. They haggle about the price. The only question a bidder need ever consider is whether the total cost of shipping + closing (ie. the price) is a good deal that they are satisfied with enough to make a bid in the first place.
I just purchased some inkjet Epson compatible black cartridges on a Dutch auction. I opted for four cartridges.
Shipping was priority mail at cost. Now anyone knows that he could have shipped them to me first class for maybe under$1.50. I'm sure some nitpicker could haggle for cheaper shipping--maybe even neg the guy for charging too much for shipping. It's double right?
No way...each cartridge was under $4.00 the total just over $15. A single Epson cartridge at Wal-Mart is $23.96 before tax.
I had my cartridges in a couple of days.
