posted on November 6, 2000 06:38:14 PM new
Hi everyone - I just bought a book from a seller on eBay. Roughly 100 pages, oversized softcover. The auction says 'buyer pays shipping'. Fine - I didn't have time to check first, I just went ahead and bid. Won the auction. The seller quotes shipping at $5.00. So I wrote and asked if she'd be willing to ship 'special standard' (book rate) and - if so - to plase give me the new total. She said the 'thought the shipping would be $4.00'.
Ok, I've sold my share of books and I know that there's no way it will cost that much. I don't think she's trying to overcharge at all, I think she's just guessing. So I was going to send the following back to her. Would you take offense at it???
"Hi again - Boy, that was a quick response. Please don't take this wrong - it's just that I noticed you sell mainly clothes and thought you might be unfamiliar with 'special standard' postage. I sell a lot of books so I'm very familiar with it. I normally ship in a padded envelope and it's rare for a book to cost more than $2.10 to ship (and that's for big 800+ page hardcover books). The 'normal' hardcover book will cost $1.58. Obviously you have to add in the cost of the envelope but it still works out to significantly less than priority mail. If you plan on selling more books in the future, you might want to check it out.
(Then I just ended up by asking if she had any similar items that I might be interested in and said I would pay tomorrow via PayPal. I *did not* say I expected her to lower the shipping (but obviously that's what I'm hoping she'll do). But I thought I'd post it here first before sending it to get other opinions.)
posted on November 6, 2000 06:45:27 PM new
Not at all. I think you have written a very nice note, one which would not offend most people. However, you have read about other kinds of sellers here, so don't bet the farm the seller will respond in kind. Good luck.
posted on November 6, 2000 06:47:18 PM new
If you read the situation right and she is just ignorant regarding special standard, I don't think you were offensive. If you misread the situation - she is cussing you right now, but I still don't think you were offensive.
posted on November 6, 2000 06:48:39 PM new
Looks good.
The only line I would change would be:
"If you plan on selling more books in the future, you might want to check it out."
I'd change it to something like:
"I've found that book buyers know this stuff by heart and this information could help sells in the future."
Something about the first quote rubs me 'wrong'. Can't put my finger on it. Maybe it's because my mom always starts lectures with, "In the future....blah, blah, blah"
posted on November 6, 2000 06:57:27 PM new
Sounds fine; not at all accusatory.
Several times I have questioned a seller on shipping and every one was willing to ship a different way to lower the cost.
Now it all depends on whether THIS seller is accomodating or not. Of course, she may be one of THOSE sellers who want to make a little extra on the shipping. You'll soon find out!
posted on November 6, 2000 07:02:59 PM new
Well I sell lots of different Items and many times estimate or guess shipping and if a buyer of one of my items wrote this to me I wouldn't be offended I would be very interested in what your exspearance in shipping these types of items was and how you save your buyers money on postage.
I would more then likely take your word. and change my shipping rate to $2.09 thank-you and let you know that I was sorry for any confusion this might have caused.
I alway allow buyer to let me know what class shipping they would want after all once they pay me or let me know payment is on the way the Item belongs to them they can have me ship any way they are willing to pay
posted on November 6, 2000 08:53:45 PM new
Having just sold some of my old music CDs to collectors in Japan and Brazil, I was delighted to be informed of cheaper methods of shipping. The Global Priority pack I had just sent to Japan set the poor buyer back close to $10. After the Brazilian buyer educated me, I found that it could have been done via airmail, small packet, for only $2.00. Having exchanged several very polite e-mails with the guy from Japan, I felt rather badly about having unknowingly overcharged him.
My Brazilian buyer put it quite nicely, "Could you please check shipping costs again? Please check on the price of airmail, small packets...this usually only costs me $2.00...." Tactful, yet firm.
posted on November 6, 2000 10:12:55 PM new
The seller probably is concerned about undercharging on postage if she doesn't have scales and having to make up the difference herself. (Been there done that!)
Assuming the seller indicated that the buyer pay the actual shipping charges, you may ask her to Paypal you back the difference after she mails your book.
