posted on August 27, 2004 08:44:05 AM new
Shipping prices are always discussed on this board so when I ran across this sliding scale method I thought it was interesting. All their auctions start at $.01 but they always make their profit because of the shipping. At least they are up front on it. Kind of unique.
posted on August 27, 2004 09:20:20 AM new
That is possibly the most astonishing thing I've seen today. Wonder how long this seller has been using it. 99.6% feedback, so I'm thinking maybe not long. If you win a 1 cent auction for a ring, are you really thinking you'll be paying $10.01 for it? I can't imagine so; the same merchandise is much cheaper elsewhere.
posted on August 29, 2004 11:25:46 AM new
I like his 1st paragraph-and the line I offer only high quality products LOL !!!!
all starting at a penny??? LOL !!
Just what we need someone else selling JUNK JEWELRY ebay.
posted on August 29, 2004 04:16:46 PM new
Looks to me like the seller has built a better mousetrap for evading Ebay Fees.....but the seller is not cheating the buyers. The seller is very upfront about the shipping...nothing hidden. The seller basically wants $10-15 for his junk items. If the item gets bid up to $10 then you wind up with "discounted" shipping. Granted...it does look like junk.....but it looks like the majority of items are selling for 1 penny. For 1 penny you shouldn't expect anything more than junk. And the seller would take a loss if he/she wasn't making it up by padding the S/H. Based on the auction results and the feedback....it looks like the buyers are happy. Maybe it's just sour grapes that this seller thought of this model...and you didn't.
posted on August 29, 2004 07:40:33 PM new
Sour grapes? Good lord, no. This scheme is a recipe for disaster.
As I suspected, the sliding scale is a VERY recent innovation which first made its appearance in this seller's auctions ending around August 13, 2004. Prior to that she was charging $6.95 for the first item and $4.95 for each additional.
Sooner or later she will run through the supply of jewelry buyers who don't read or don't care how much they spend, and that'll be that.
Expect some negative feedback to appear soon, probably from the guy in Germany who just won 11 of her auctions.
posted on August 30, 2004 09:52:20 AM new
If the previous feedback mainly relates to buyers paying $6.96 for an auction that ended at 1 cent......then why expect a torrent of negative feedback when they pay $10.01 for an auction that ends at 1 cent.
posted on August 30, 2004 09:58:37 AM new
Because 1 cent jewelry buyers want to combine. And obviously it's a horrible deal for anyone who wants to combine.
Under the previous scheme, 5 auctions won at 1 cent apiece would get you this bill: $26.80
Under the new and improved scheme, the same auctions will cost you: $42.05.
That's assuming you're in the U.S. International is much more.
I think that people will see the shipping chart, assume that amount is for all their auctions sent in one package, and bid. You have to read quite carefully to figure out how it really works, and as we all know, bidders don't read.
