CBlev65252
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posted on August 15, 2003 05:17:43 AM new
After hours of no power and after no sleep for an entire night, the last thing I needed was someone complaining about my shipping charges. And, from a powerseller no less. Yes, I charge a small handling fee on jewelry lots. Everything is packaged carefully (no throwing things into the box unwrapped) and placed into gift boxes (at least the small items and things which tangle). I don't think it's too much to add $1.15 to the cost of shipping for the time I spend packaging these items. I start the auctions out reasonably to begin with. I also send all jewelry Priority Mail. Period. Now someone asks me if my shipping charges are a typo or just inflated shipping. Don't like it? PLEASE don't bid on my auction! Duly blocked.
Cheryl
Power to the people. Power to the people, right on. - John Lennon
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bigpeepa
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posted on August 15, 2003 05:26:58 AM new
Often I under charge on shipping by mistake. I have never had ONE BUYER say you under charged on shipping do I owe you a little more  I think other sellers are shipping small pieces in padded bags for less than the Priority charge.
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AuctionAce
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posted on August 15, 2003 06:17:55 AM new
I wonder how many complaining emails the sellers get that charge $3.50 extra s/h on their jewelry auctions get? And the ones that refuse to combine shipping? It must be a lot.
-------------- sig file ----------- He who angers you controls you
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CBlev65252
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posted on August 15, 2003 06:39:51 AM new
I do combine shipping and have even sent back money to those who pay for shipping twice. I sent jewelry once in a padded envelope. It arrived to the buyer in sad shape and I had to refund her money. I should have known enough not to send it in a padded envelope. If you could see behind the scenes at the PO, you'd know why I don't use padded envelopes for jewelry. I'm not even saying "no" to First Class. But, when you ask about First Class and in the same email accuse me of inflating my shipping charges, no I will not accomodate you. If she would have not done that, she would have found out that to send First Class would have been $2.50. I would have sent Priority for $3.85. Not a huge difference. She's telling me what it should cost. How in the heck (full time seller or not) does she know how much the package weighs? So, she doesn't bid. Rather than risk the complaint she would give me in my FB, I'd rather her not bid at all.
Or, it could just be total lack of sleep. I now have to go around the house resetting everything. What a pain!
Cheryl
Power to the people. Power to the people, right on. - John Lennon
[ edited by CBlev65252 on Aug 15, 2003 06:40 AM ]
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Libra63
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posted on August 15, 2003 07:20:07 AM new
We have had many threads about shipping charges and I firmly agree that it is your right to charge what you want. When does the buyer dictate your S/H charges. I don't think $1.15 extra is a lot to charge. I always use a bubble envelope but inside that bubble envelope is a box so mine is almost always sent first class unless it weighs to much. I set a flat rate for 1st class but it is always a tad more than it actually costs and if I send it Priority I make nothing on shipping. I think I would have told that power seller to go pound salt. If they want it and bid it then accept your charges.
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AuctionAce
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posted on August 15, 2003 07:37:52 AM new
I think $1.15 extra is nothing at all. Many computer memeory sellers charge an extra $8 or more.
I hate to broach the subject of the gender of these complainers and neutral and negative feedback leavers but I have found that it is at least a 75% / 25% female to male ratio. Anyone else seem to have a similar ratio?
-------------- sig file ----------- He who angers you controls you
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Roadsmith
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posted on August 15, 2003 08:31:26 AM new
We women are very often the people in a family who watch our pennies, clip coupons, shop sales, make every purchase count. I'm not surprised that it's a 75-25 ratio.
We live in a remote mountain community, and many of us, men and women up here, shop from catalogs and QVC. QVC has been very good to us especially with clothing (once we figure out the size to order). Most of their delivery charges are around $4. I know they're making a profit on the item cost itself--but I'm wondering if businesses like this are "spoiling" the public for businesses like ebay selling, where some sellers grossly inflate their shipping charges.
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CBlev65252
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posted on August 15, 2003 08:58:17 AM new
You are right, Roadsmith. The men in my family would spend like crazy (Home Depot, Guitar Center, Best Buy) if I didn't pull in the rope. They think about bill paying later when the utility company comes out to the house to shut it off. In fact, that's what I thought had happened yesterday. The bill was late and I thought our power was cut off. Boy was I relieved! I promptly nagged Ken and the bill was paid this morning.
Cheryl
Power to the people. Power to the people, right on. - John Lennon
[ edited by CBlev65252 on Aug 15, 2003 08:59 AM ]
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on August 15, 2003 10:17:15 AM new
Perhaps the complainer is just having a hard time trying to fathom why a seller would send a one ounce item Priority Mail.
I recently bought something from a PowerSeller. It weighed seven ounces. I paid $5.60 to have it shipped. (No beef, I knew what shipping would be.) I shook my head in wonder when it arrived Priority Mail. What a needless waste of money.
Priority Mail plus a $1.15 handling charge.
Wow.
I am not a bathtub full of brightly-colored machine tools on Vendio.
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dacreson
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posted on August 15, 2003 10:27:28 AM new
Hello
I sell mostly very light small items so I have started a new sale test. I put +free ship on all headers and in text. I figure most will cost to ship is .42- 1.26 so I just added 1.25 to minimum. Things are so slow right now so had time to play around with ideas. Is only my second week (of three)
but hits seem better and sales are somewhat improved.
Later when things get better I will go back to P/H and making a little their as well.
...David
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CBlev65252
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posted on August 15, 2003 12:09:08 PM new
First of all, Fluffy, it was not 1 oz, it was 10 oz. Second of all, I probably wouldn't ship a 1 oz package priority unless the buyer wanted it sent that way.
Cheryl
Power to the people. Power to the people, right on. - John Lennon
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AuctionAce
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posted on August 15, 2003 12:18:26 PM new
I agree with Fluffy that there are thousands of sellers of items that weigh only an ounce or two or three that use Priority Mail when First Class Mail would be much cheaper. It really looks bad on very low cost items.
Is it the free box that causes sellers to do this?
-------------- sig file ----------- He who angers you controls you
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on August 15, 2003 12:27:44 PM new
Cheryl, did you really want to make me do this?
I also send all jewelry Priority Mail. Period.
Silly me, I took that to mean "all jewelry".
I am not a bathtub full of brightly-colored machine tools on Vendio.
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on August 15, 2003 12:34:22 PM new
David,
I also sell a lot of small very light items. Perhaps I could contribute some wisdom, if you want to email me at [email protected] with your seller ID.
My sellthrough is down to about 96% at the moment, but I think it will pick up again towards the end of the month.
I am not a bathtub full of brightly-colored machine tools on Vendio.
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AuctionAce
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posted on August 15, 2003 12:35:07 PM new
That's what I like about Fluffy ... she's Colombo, Matlock, and Rockford Files all rolled into one.
As Detective Colombo would always say ... " Just one more question "
-------------- sig file ----------- He who angers you controls you
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CBlev65252
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posted on August 15, 2003 12:35:48 PM new
I shouldn't have said "period." I am sending two packages now First Class because they weigh under 2 oz. Long, hard and sleepless night followed by a day of in and out electricity. You are right on this one Fluffy. I made a statement out of anger and should not have done so. I will send it First Class, but not in a bubble wrap envelope and not if it is an antique piece that is worth any money. I guess that's clearer.
Cheryl
Power to the people. Power to the people, right on. - John Lennon
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neroter12
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posted on August 15, 2003 03:20:29 PM new
Cheryl,
You're probably tired from the lights out gig. (Nothing like mayhem to lift up your mood!
If this buyer is a PS, they know the deal. (they probably do it themselves.) Its not like your shipping was an overage of $3-$5. Just tell them it covers the cost of your packaging. Which in the long run,it does.
If they dont like it; too bad. Go get what you want from somebody else.
JMO
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