kraftdinner
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posted on January 12, 2003 01:03:14 PM new
As a Canadian buyer, I notice shipping prices quoted compared to actual shipping is getting out of hand. If someone states there is an extra handling charge, that's fine. But if it's not stated, what are you supposed to do?... write to every prospective seller for rates?
With the new shipping rates, I understand prices have increased, but I still find I'm almost paying double of the actual cost. I'm afraid to give negatives or neutrals for fear of retaliation feedback. What would you suggest?
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audrey
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posted on January 12, 2003 01:17:44 PM new
If the shipping and handling charge is not listed somewhere in the auction, I would certainly ask ahead of time before bidding on an item.
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cdheer
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posted on January 12, 2003 01:19:38 PM new
I think it may depend on how the item is shipped.
You can obviously look up USPS rates to Canada at www.usps.com. These should be no mystery.
I myself just tried using UPS to ship to Canada. What a horrible experience. I won't do that again. All kinds of wacky paperwork that I don't pretend to understand; USPS is more expensive but just a small slip of paper with clear instructions. I love UPS domestically but...
Bottom line, on intl. shipments you should ALWAYS contact the seller and get a quote before you bid. I have that very instruction in my TOS.
--chris
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neonmania
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posted on January 12, 2003 01:26:20 PM new
:: I'm afraid to give negatives or neutrals for fear of retaliation feedback. ::
When did postage become something you left feedback about? All of my feedback problems are from people whining about postage (except the one that's using not yet combined postage charges as the excuse for backing out of BIN purchases before the shipping amounts were even given)
Isn't feedback supposed to be about
Did you get what you purchased
Did you get it promptly
Did you get what was described?
My opinion... If postage amounts are not given...ask. If you don't like the answer... don't buy.
As for whay people are charging - I check the USPS site for rates when I set the auction and try to be fair. Truth be told, I don't have a scale and sometimes what I thought postage would be is sometimes higher than it actually is but it's not an intentional thing
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kraftdinner
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posted on January 12, 2003 02:52:41 PM new
I do try and ask beforehand if I know for sure I want an item, but most of the time, I don't know until the last minute if I'm going to bid on something or not.
I agree cdheer... UPS is terrible if coming from the U.S. I wonder if it's just as bad for the U.S.?
neonmania, to me, feedback is for the transaction in general, not specific things necessarily. If the actual postage on an item is $10.00 but I paid $20.00, it taints the whole transaction imo. If I had guts, I would've left neutrals on all of them!
I would like to buy more on eBay, but because of this I'm shopping elsewhere. 
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Libra63
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posted on January 12, 2003 02:54:44 PM new
What I have found out in the past month since I have been sending items to Canada with identical items to the US is that the Air to Canada is approximately the same as cost as our Priority Mail with insurance is to our farthest zone. That is what I quote. Of course one bad thing is that we can't insure to Canada. If I find out that the item I have shipped is a lot less than what I charged I refund anything a dollar and over. Remember if I want to ship to Canada I have to keep the cost close to actual because they have to pay duty on the items and then they will really be overcharged.
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HaveToHaveIt
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posted on January 12, 2003 02:58:59 PM new
The USPS has become VERY expensive although I do agree that I have seen some really unjustified shipping charges lately too. But if you don't ask about shipping before you bid or you bid knowing what shipping will be - seems you shouldn't really leave negative or neutral feedback for that reason (in my opinion). You have the opportunity to buy or not buy and if you don't ask for whatever reason, you take a risk. Personally, I don't bid on anything anymore that doesn't have a stated shipping cost because too many folks are adding $ on to the shipping cost to make up for what they felt they should have gotten but didn't get for an item.
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stormypetr
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posted on January 13, 2003 08:38:24 AM new
Make sure that they quote you Airmail Letter Post and not Airmail Parcel Post. Letter Post is a lot less expensive and takes the same amount of time. When I first started sending international, I was quoting Parcel Post to my bidders and the post office would charge me Letter Post. There is usually a $4-$5 difference between the two.
You can insure a package that is going international but the insurance is tacked onto the Airmail Parcel Post rate which is already much more expensive than Airmail Letter Post. So the cost of shipping is $4-$5 more and the insurance is added on top of that.
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Twelvepole
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posted on January 13, 2003 01:02:10 PM new
If the actual postage on an item is $10.00 but I paid $20.00, it taints the whole transaction imo. If I had guts, I would've left neutrals on all of them!
SO IT IS NOT WORTH ANYTHING FOR A PERSON'S TIME TO FILL OUT PAPER WORK FOR INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING?
I PERSONALLY QUOTE PARCEL POST AND SHIP LETTER POST, I WILL BE COMPENSATED FOR MY TIME. I ALSO STATE IN MY TOS THAT INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING IS HIGHER... NO COMPLAINTS YET ONLY POSITIVES FROM CANADA OR OTHER INTERNATIONAL.
AIN'T LIFE GRAND... 
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stonecold613
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posted on January 13, 2003 01:36:09 PM new
The only international buyers that whine about postage are from Canada. For some reason they think they are special and shouldn't pay extra for handling fees. The amount of extra paper work that needs to be done for Canadians definetly needs to be charged extra for. And they all also want the packages marked as gifts. Not from me. They will pay full boat if the want the items. You are not special above the rest of the world, but equal and will pay equal costs just like everyone else.
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tooltimes
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posted on January 13, 2003 04:51:10 PM new
Many sellers will ship internationally only if they can make a few dollars for their time. I use to quote the actual price on the USPS international calculator but that was foolish as there always was a bubble mailer or box that I lost money on. Now I figure the actual cost and add a dollar or two to the amount.
The amount of international buyers is getting larger and larger and some of them can really bid up auctions to very high amounts. They are a bit of a hassle but worth it to me.
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ahc3
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posted on January 13, 2003 08:01:01 PM new
I don't know how much extra paperwork you are talking about. I use form 2976, which takes about 60 seconds to fill out, sometimes even less. I don't know if that justifys charging someone twice the cost to ship...
And as a buyer from a different country, YES, you should ask EVERY single seller what their charges are, I have no problem shipping internationally (I've sent to many obscure countries) but advise all potential buyers to inquire about shipping costs, because some items I sell are media mail that may cost $2 to ship in the US, but would cost $8 to ship to Canada.
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pointy
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posted on January 13, 2003 08:16:43 PM new
When I ship to Canada, or anywhere International....I have to go to a different post office. A little extra paperwork, but at least 30-60 minutes of my time. I'm not a bulk shipper...this is usually on account of 1 package. Given the choice, I'd prefer a domestic buyer at $20 less. Also don't have to deal with people asking me to commit a felony by making a false customs declaration, which I will not do. I have found that this request is more common from Canada and the Scandanavian countries than from other countries.
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sanmar
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posted on January 13, 2003 08:23:56 PM new
Shipping to Canada is a pain in the Arse. I hardly ever ship to Canada because of the confusion on rates. I know you can insure on international mailings, but it is hard to quote a rate. I have used the internet rate guide, but never come out right.
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ahc3
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posted on January 13, 2003 08:25:14 PM new
Your regular post office does not let you ship packages internationally? What kind of post office is that?
As far as the customs form, I am with you on that. If I sign my name to something, it is going to be correct. I usually don't even bother to respond to emails anymore asking me to mark as a gift, or lower the total. The only time that I do is if they tell me that they don't want to pay the fee, and have an alternate address (i.e. a friend in the US) to ship to.
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neonmania
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posted on January 13, 2003 08:27:24 PM new
Most contract stations cannot take international mail over 11 ounces. Luckily my local regula PO is located a mere 4 blocks from the contract station.
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tooltimes
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posted on January 13, 2003 08:47:40 PM new
The two different forms ( the green one for items under 4 pounds and the larger white one for items over 4 pounds ) are the least of the problems with international bidders. It's the constant 'ask seller a question' emails about 'how much is shipping to Belguim for this item?' that take time to answer. For every 10 of those emails returned there are maybe 2 actual bidders. That adds up when you have to weigh the item and look up the amount on the USPS website. I swear sometimes that the bidders in foreign countries are either only curious about postal rates or they are comparing s/h quotes between sellers of similar items. That is the true hassle of accepting international bidders. But worth it.
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ahc3
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posted on January 13, 2003 08:58:45 PM new
I think people get those questions even if they do not accept international bids. What is probably worse is to get that bid from someone out of country. I respect the seller's prerogative NOT to sell out of the country, I don't understand why ebay does automatically block these bids if the seller chooses not to deal with it.
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tooltimes
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posted on January 13, 2003 09:24:40 PM new
If you don't accept international bidders and you get s/h quotes you can easily respond to them to not bid please but if you do accept international bidders then you have to take the time to respond with the quote.
I constantly look at the feedback ratings of all bidders and look to see if they should be canceled and blocked ( ex: a (2) rating but comprised of 6 positives and 4 recent negatives ) . If I wasn't accepting international bidders I'd be canceling and blocking those bidders too before they won an auction.
I agree that the sellers should be able block any international bidders via a computer function on ebay if they wished.
When I was not accepting international bidders I still got some Canadian bidders that lied and said that they were really US citizens living in Canada and they wanted the auction goods sent there. Sheesh.
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sparkz
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posted on January 13, 2003 09:37:03 PM new
Ebay currently has a function to make an auction restricted to pre approved bidders only. I can't believe it would be that difficult to use the same function as a default to every sellers account regarding international bidders. The seller could then be free to turn it off and open his auctions worldwide, or leave it on and screen potential international bidders.
The light at the end of the tunnel will turn out to be an oncoming train.
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Twelvepole
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posted on January 13, 2003 09:38:48 PM new
I don't know if that justifys charging someone twice the cost to ship...
IT JUSTIFIES IT TO ME...
I WILL SELL TO ANYONE ANYWHERE, BUT IT BOGGLES THE MIND TO THINK SOMEONE OUT OF THE US WOULD THINK THEY CAN GET THE ITEM SHIPPED FOR THE SAME PRICE.
BUT AT LEAST MY TOS STATES THAT INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING IS HIGHER, SO THEY HAVE A CHOICE TO BID OR NOT.
AIN'T LIFE GRAND...
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kiara
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posted on January 13, 2003 11:05:56 PM new
I still got some Canadian bidders that lied and said that they were really US citizens living in Canada and they wanted the auction goods sent there. Sheesh.
How do you know they lied? More and more US citizens have moved up to Canada in the last few years because their money goes further up there.
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neonmania
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posted on January 13, 2003 11:35:01 PM new
Kiara - oh so true. My partner and her boyfriend are moving to Canda next week (boyfriend is American, sh'e Canadian). I actually considered the move for a few days until I remembered that her boyfriend drives me up a wall and the concept was renting a house together.
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tooltimes
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posted on January 14, 2003 05:30:53 AM new
I do not know positively that they have lied then .If you are an American and living in Canada with a Canadian address you are in my eyes have Canadian ebay status. Any Canadian can say they are an American and would you please make an exception and send it to Canada for a fellow American?
If you are a Canadian, you have a near-worthless ebay-Canada site with few items for sale. When you shop on the main ebay site you get maybe 75% of the sellers saying 'US only'. Some get clever and try to get sellers to allow them anyway.
That's a rule that ebay should have, any international bidder that bids on and or wins an auction that has the US onlyshipping box clicked shall receive a warning similar to the NPB warning. Three warnings and you're gone.
Again, I like international bidders now but I can see the frustration of the sellers that do not want the hassle.
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stormypetr
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posted on January 14, 2003 06:29:19 AM new
No wonder the Canadians are starting threads like this if someone is charging them $20 for shipping that only costs $10. I understand charging a couple bucks more for supplies and added hassle but $10 is ridiculous. If a seller did that to you, you would be pulling the roof down.
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austbounty
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posted on January 14, 2003 07:47:38 AM new
Buyer pays for all shipping costs ???
Buyer pays fixed shipping charges ???
Something missing ???
(you must always remind yourself to ask this question)
And if a seller doesn't have the 'delivered' price declared up front then you should perhaps have doubts about their ability and accuracy ie. reliability and even consider passing them up.
Then bid and buy from those that have prices declared;
and love it when they make a handling fee because they deserve to.
Whichever type of dealer you buy from, I'm sure you'll deserve each other.
Edited to say, good luck with your bargain hunting.
[ edited by austbounty on Jan 14, 2003 07:51 AM ]
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Twelvepole
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posted on January 14, 2003 08:25:20 AM new
...but $10 is ridiculous
DON'T THINK VERY MUCH OF YOURSELF OR VALUE YOUR TIME DO YOU?
I HAPPEN TO THINK MY TIME IS VERY VALUABLE AND PEOPLE WILL/DO PAY FOR IT.
INTERNATIONAL SELLING IS A PAIN, BUT ALSO NEEDED, SO MY INTERNATIONAL BUYERS PAY EXTRA AND SEEM TO NOT MIND, AT LEAST THOSE THAT HAVE LEFT FEEDBACK, BUT HAVE YET TO GET A NEG BECAUSE I DON'T STATE A FIXED PRICE FOR INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING.
CANADIANS FORGET SOMETIMES THAT THEY TOO ARE "INTERNATIONAL"
AIN'T LIFE GRAND...
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tomwiii
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posted on January 14, 2003 09:42:48 AM new
Didn't a bunch of you Hockey Pucks complain just a few weeks ago about the increase in USA ONLY auctions??
This thread provides the answer!!
Many sellers are fed-up with the constant P&M'ing from our northern breathern:
"Gee, can't ya ship that Swedish-Pump for $0.50?" /or/
"Gee, can't you mark that as 'GIFT'?" /or/
"Gee, I know your auction states USA ONLY, but I'm only in CANADA!" (BFD!)
I've sold all over the world, & the only PITAS I've experienced have been from Moose-Poop-Ville!
"What we have heah is a fail-ure to communicate!"
http://tinyurl.com/315v
[ edited by tomwiii on Jan 14, 2003 09:43 AM ]
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stormypetr
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posted on January 14, 2003 10:53:36 AM new
I treat my buyers the same way I would like to be treated. No better, no worse. I don't mind paying a little extra for handling but I refuse to be gouged.
The other day I was browsing Ebay. Someone was charging $12 for shipping 4 lipsticks. I got a big laugh out of it before I purchased from someone else. The seller had about 10 auctions. The only one with a bid was a newbie bidder.
[ edited by stormypetr on Jan 14, 2003 12:08 PM ]
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zoomin
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posted on January 14, 2003 11:49:28 AM new
hi krafty
I think a lot of what you are noticing is broader than specifically calling it Canadian shipping.
Sellers are going bananas with shipping lately.
I have a *competitor* who charges $9 to ship a tee shirt (USPS Priority) and requires insurance of $1.30.
How crazy is that?
My bidders pay $5 for USPS priority with d/c, hers pay over twice that!
needless to say, many of her items go without bids...
...she won't be a competitor for long...
Many sellers are incorporating PayPal fees, etc into 'shipping' and not calling it "handling". The thought of paying 'extra' turns bidders off more than overinflated postage fees ~ go figger.
so...
that being said, imagine what *my competitor* and others like her would charge if she had to supply the box, tape, and mailing labels as is the case with International or non-priority shipping.
Looks like you are running into Greedy Sellers (as well as those who understandably look to be compensated for their time).
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