posted on December 17, 2000 03:41:17 PM new
Hi,
I gather a lot of people have noticed the changes at Amazon! OK Auctions are not what they used to be they rate -1 in my book not even close to 2 as AuctionWatch says is the activity! I sell collectible videos and they make serious dollars at zShops! I have my own shipping prices that are far lower than outrageous Amazon. I have bought from Amazon and find $4.75 for regular mail outrageous! It cost about $2.30. Now, I am trying Marketplace with some titles and have found very good sales but.....here's the big cringe of grief I get everytime someone orders directly through Marketplace they end up paying $3.75 for book rate not even a deal since the same item book rate is 1.95 at Half.com but fair to say Amazon pays $2.03. Its fair forme but gouges the consumer who in turn may or may not Neg Feedback me for Amazon's gouging!
....Who do they think they are kidding anyway. They charge more than they pay $12.00 for 2 lbs of shipping on international, OK $9.00 to $10.00 is fair but $12.00! They are gouging customers at Marketplace, plus they sock you with 15% charge on top of the listing fee of 75 cents. Of course I have a zShops account and really hated doing massive eBay listing which when I switched had gone to the way side! Ok Amazon wake up the time is not now to gouge the customer but reduce that damn advertising dollars to increase your margins!
Voice your concern because I can't be the only honest seller who hates seeing people get gouged for what """"""SErvice""""" I think not!
posted on December 17, 2000 09:09:16 PM new
I agree. But I think my concern is more selfish: how many customers get mad paying $3.75 for shipping and getting the book in 6-12 days and seeing we paid $1.13 to ship. And of course they don't realize its not our choice.
posted on December 17, 2000 11:18:03 PM new
My concern is the opposite - we insure every book that does not reach the poundage for priority rate for shipment. If the book reaches the Priority rate - we use Priority & TRACK it in addition. Believe me, $2.03 is not enough postage by at least half - and rates are going up.
Some Amazon sellers use priority mail on all books on market place as a courtesy to customer and $2.03 is a pitiful reimbursement.
I detect that some folks believe that S&H is just postage alone. S&H is for Shipping and HANDLING. In my case, and in many other businesses who sell thru Marketplace, Handling charges include paying a shipper to pack and take items to post office, for bubble envelopes, bubble wrap, boxes (the post office frowns on using their boxes for regular mail), etc.
Most customers understand this - in fact, I have not had a customer question handling charges in a long time. It always amazes me when I read that a seller questions them.
I believe that Amazon is certainly entitled to the amount over $2.03 that they charge because they are also a business. They charge, as is expected, for A-Z guarantee and any other handling charges they might experience if seller fails to ship or if either party to marketplace or z-shop needs any assistance Amazon might need to provide to expedite the shipment. This business expense includes personnel (and attendant costs) computer equipment, lights, etc. that is needed for folks who provide A-Z services, etc.
I'm for raising the fees to provide enough to allow sellers to send every package by priority mail with tracking - and add enough for Amazon to cover their costs too.
That is what the post office is doing - raising costs to provide better service and cover their current and anticipated business expenses...
Selling on Marketplace, Z-shops & Auctions is a business and should be treated as such...
