neonmania
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posted on May 22, 2003 10:09:04 AM new
I have been buying widgets from an ebay seller about once a week for the past month. First and second purchases were of 50 widget lots, second and third purchases are of 100 widget lots. The whole time I have been happy with the sellers prices ut a little irritated with their shipping - $20 for something that shipped for under $5. I have continued dealing with them only because of their pricing. This week I wrote sking for pricing with shipping for 200 widges - price was great but their $40 shipping price is flat out obscene for something that with box and packaging is going to cost less than $10. I wrote asking if there could be some kind of concession made. It'snot like I am a first time buyer, I buy from them every week.... no answer.
That's unfortuante - I finally found another supplier. the product cost is higher but with a much more realistic shipping price so in the end it's a 13% savings.
This seller lost what this next month will probably be a $1000 in sales because they couldn't see fit to be fair on their shipping.
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ahc3
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posted on May 22, 2003 10:27:11 AM new
That is a pretty stupid seller! It's amazing how shortsighted some sellers can be, especially when working with a regular, good customer. I switched the company I buy supplies from online because of something similar - I ran into a problem, they did not address it after repeated emails. I finally wrote them and told them they have lost my business for good, and I actually found another company that is a little less expensive and has a better inventory of supplies.
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bear1949
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posted on May 22, 2003 12:48:54 PM new
Neon, some sellers have to learn the hard way. Aparently they thought they were the sole distributor of the product.
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rarriffle
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posted on May 22, 2003 01:14:58 PM new
Many sellers think they are doing the buyer a favor by selling to them...they learn later than sooner unfortunately.
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japerton
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posted on May 22, 2003 02:11:27 PM new
Behold the power of "no."
So here is the conundrum...was it reasonable for them to keep that cost for shipping? I mean, would it have hurt them to cut it down?
Just thinkin' out loud...
J
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neonmania
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posted on May 22, 2003 02:25:56 PM new
Japerton - If I had felt for a moment that a $30 profit on shipping was reasonable, I wouldn't have looked for a new supplier. If that was their profit margin - they should have built it into the product cost, not the shipping. I was willing to pay more for the product.
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japerton
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posted on May 22, 2003 02:27:00 PM new
I hear you on that one..
J
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Twelvepole
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posted on May 22, 2003 03:38:32 PM new
WOW, seller it seems can't see the forest for the trees... 
AIN'T LIFE GRAND... 
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baylor45
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posted on May 22, 2003 04:26:09 PM new
Did you let them know that you bought from a competitor and why? Might get them to offer you something to come back. Retrieving a lost customer is an art (Disney is great at it).
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neonmania
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posted on May 22, 2003 04:46:16 PM new
Baylor - Not yet. I wrote them when I made my last order pointing out the consistancy of my purchases from them and intentions of future purchases and asked if there was some concession that could be made regarding the 400% mark-up on their shipping for future purchases. They completely ignored the request. Not even a refusal, just blew it off.
I am waiting until I get then widgets from the new supplier before I make further contact. I don't want to alienate them just in case I need to use them again. 
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jrome
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posted on May 22, 2003 10:36:21 PM new
Business practices are just that. If he charges a lot for shipping, you can go somewhere else, like the original poster did.
But, no matter what price you are requesting, if these charges are clearly posted, there is nothing remotely "wrong," immoral," or "unethical" about it. It's just the way they practice business. The best thing to do is to ignore the shipping charge, and just look at the total cost. It has nothing to do with right vs. wrong.
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rarriffle
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posted on May 23, 2003 02:53:24 AM new
jrome, i am in charge of the computer system at work...a company we purchased maintenance from lost a $20,000 annual contract just for that type of thinking.
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vvalhalla
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posted on May 23, 2003 05:49:09 AM new
Maybe they were glad to see you go?
dd
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