posted on May 12, 2004 06:23:15 AM new
I've been selling since for almost seven years on Ebay, but I finally got hit with excessive shipping fees in an auction I bid on.
I bid on a small book. The auction stated the book would ship via Priority Mail, no price listed. I thought, fine, no problem, even with a handling fee, shipping shouldn't be more than $5 or so.
I won the book for $4. Seller emails this morning with an invoice stating that shipping will be an additional $15.
I have emailed her back and explained I would be happy to pay a handling fee, but this is over three times the cost of a normal Priority Mail box.
I'm waiting for a response, but is this something that would qualify as fee avoidance with Ebay? I read their page on it and it states:
"Unreasonable shipping or handling costs - listings with low prices but unreasonably high shipping or handling costs."
As a seller, I know all about users being upset about shipping fees -- and normally I'd just pay them if they were a *little* high for my tastes. But this seems really high.
[ edited by magnetick on May 12, 2004 06:25 AM ]
posted on May 12, 2004 07:02:49 AM new
Seems really high to me as well. I once contemplated placing a bid on an item from China. It was $9.99. Thankfully, I read further and saw that shipping was $35. The item was a necklace and would not have cost $35 to ship. If a seller does not state the exact shipping charges in their auction, I will usually email them for a shipping quote. I always state the shipping cost in mine and have had to pay for estimated cost mistakes. I never pass my mistakes onto my customers. Fortunately, I'm usually on the money.
posted on May 12, 2004 07:05:13 AM new
That was my mistake -- I should have emailed for exact shipping costs, but when the auction stated that it would ship via Priority, I "assumed" it would be something close to the actual Priority rate.
I feel bad in a way -- I've never complained about a shipping price to a seller before today. I was just floored when the invoice arrived.
posted on May 12, 2004 07:16:28 AM new
cheryl,
if the chinese seller is using UPS or FED EXP in china,the shipping fee is much much more than here.
Their postal system is not as reliable and theft is common.
Also for packages going overseas,they have to file paperworks and may have to pay a customs fee,yes,customs fee for shipping overseas.
certain items are not allowed to leave the country such as antiques over 100 years old,or is it 125 years now.
also if it is something of value,you could be hit with US customs duty unless it is over 100 years old,.
see the dilenma ??100 years old is no no in china but yes yes in USA.
-sig file -------we eat to live,not live to eat.
Benjamin Franklin
[ edited by stopwhining on May 12, 2004 07:18 AM ]
posted on May 12, 2004 07:23:54 AM new
stopwhining
I probably would have considered the bid had it been something I couldn't get here in the states. I found the exact same necklace for $14.99 at a jewelry store in Shaker Heights. It wasn't an antique, just something I liked.
I know this is off subject, but I would never buy something on eBay from someone in China purporting to sell an ancient piece of pottery or anything else. I know the liklihood of it being genuine is nil. I believe the age is still 100 years. I have an interesting piece that I bought at the flea market. It's over 120 years old and has a special customs stamp on the bottom. The family had to get special permission to bring it to the U.S. with them. And then what do they do? They sell it at the flea market.
magnetick
Sometimes we learn the hard way. Not an easy lesson, I know. But, we've all been there both selling and buying.
posted on May 12, 2004 07:32:50 AM new
i registered with ebay-china,and they have a lot of junks on their site too!!
aka new mass produced stuff!
-sig file -------we eat to live,not live to eat.
Benjamin Franklin
posted on May 12, 2004 05:18:39 PM new
magnetick, why do you feel bad? It was worth a try to email the seller. But lets hope they dont take your $15.00 and turn around and ship media mail, though
Depending on the book weight, I found out books can be heavy to ship priority mail but $15.00 does sound high, esp. as you stated its a small book - unless of course the book is in itself is worth 20.00 for content, condition, etc? I guess only you could judge that.
posted on May 12, 2004 05:46:11 PM new
back to the original question - if you can believe what's on ebay's community boards - it's highly unlikely that ebay would pursue this as fee avoidance.
posted on May 12, 2004 05:47:28 PM new
Magnet:
if the auction states a "shipn/handln/insur charge" of $15.00, i would think that, from the viewpoint of some, the bidder would be expected to pay it...if the auction states to be "shipped" via priority mail, then that is all seller can charge you - without it being called fradulent...it would seem all you are responsible to pay is the p/mail fee...THE ACTUAL FEE.
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p/mail is only available up to 5lbs. and from zone 5 to 8 is 12.15/5lbs[thats like from miami to seattle]...and media mail,same zones is 3.10/5lbs....and i am sure you cogzinant of this info already...
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and you stated, "a small book," right?
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it would appear that the $15.00 would fulfil that meaning of:
"Unreasonable shipping or handling costs - listings with low prices but unreasonably high shipping or handling costs."
-----------------------------------------
good luck, myoldtoy
posted on May 12, 2004 06:57:10 PM new
how much is the book worth to you??
4 or 20??
-sig file -------we eat to live,not live to eat.
Benjamin Franklin
posted on May 12, 2004 06:58:15 PM new
> if the auction states a "shipn/handln/insur charge" of $15.00, i would think that, from the viewpoint of some, the bidder would be expected to pay it...if the auction states to be "shipped" via priority mail
I agree -- with this auction though, it just says "book will be shipped by Priority Mail." No price quoted. Had it said $15, I would have not bid! It is a small, lightweight book.
Seller still hasn't responded to my email this morning. I'm curious to see if we can work something out.
posted on May 12, 2004 08:07:32 PM new
The general concensus on this board has always been that if shipping charges aren't specified, to email the seller for the charges before bidding. Never assume anything!! Face it, some sellers are crooks and this is one of their favorite tricks. I agree 100% with Sanmar...the guy is trying to rip you off. What is so despicable about this practice is the number of newbie bidders this type of scam scares off. These are bidders who would one day run across one of our auctions and bid. Now we'll never have a chance to do business with them. It's money out of the honest seller's pocket. And it's one step closer to the day when Ebay will start to dictate shipping methods and prices.
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
posted on May 12, 2004 11:57:14 PM new
That is extortion. I don't care what the winning bid is at.
I'd wait for the email and ask ebay what their thoughts would be...bring a crow bar...it takes a while to pry open their customer service department.
~~~~~~~~~~~**~~~~~~~~~~~
All the monkeys aren't in the zoo,
Every day you meet quite a few,
So you see it's all up to you.
You can be better than you are,
You could be swingin' on a star
posted on May 13, 2004 01:24:33 PM new
You are absolutly right to complain-This is extortion and the type of thing that turns buyers off-Wouldn't you think twice about bidding on an item next time????
posted on May 13, 2004 02:36:53 PM new
If the book fits in a flat rate envelope it will only cost your seller $3.85 to mail it.
The trouble with Italian food is that your hungry again in two or three days.
