max40
|
posted on November 25, 2004 12:59:57 PM new
I list my auctions thru Vendio, but do not use their checkout. Is it possible for me to show a postal calculator in my auctions?
|
Gtootie
|
posted on November 25, 2004 04:40:50 PM new
Yes, it is. Just choose calculated shipping options when you are setting up the auction.
Be kind. Everyone is fighting their own secret battles.
...Author Unknown
|
niel35
|
posted on November 28, 2004 01:21:52 PM new
Hey Max - I did what Tootie told me to do but the calculator doesn't show up when I go into my auction. Is there something you did to achieve success??
tnx
|
Kevinatgrannys
|
posted on November 28, 2004 02:22:24 PM new
When you create or relist an auction it is in the section called "Checkout and Post-Sale Management" Under that is the sub section called "Shipping and Handling" . You need to check mark the first choice and then use the drop down menu and choose one of the "calculated" choices. I use "USPS Priority (calculated)" Then the box next to that choice will be gray with the word "(calc'd). Then all you need to do is enter the shipping weight in the area next to that (Weight: = lbs oz)
The do a preview, either one should show it.
I hope that this helps.
Kevin
|
niel35
|
posted on November 28, 2004 02:43:19 PM new
Nope - it didn't work. Maybe it only shows on the bidders listing, sure doesn't show on mine. I did everything you said.
|
niel35
|
posted on November 28, 2004 02:46:22 PM new
OK, I think I know what I did wrong.
I did check mark thethe first choice box.
I just did the drop down menu. dumb, dumb.
sorry and thanks for your input everyone
|
niel35
|
posted on November 28, 2004 02:53:49 PM new
I did not check the box, I meant
|
stusi
|
posted on November 28, 2004 03:01:01 PM new
I have noticed that there is often no correlation between the weight of the item and the shipping calculator's cost. In other words, does the seller enter info that affects the shipping cost other than weight and destination? If so, what good is the calculator in determining fair shipping costs? Isn't that the purpose? If it is going to give a cost based on anything other than weight and destination then it is pointless. Why not just put in the seller's desired charge? It gives the illusion of a true cost.
|
Gtootie
|
posted on November 28, 2004 03:13:50 PM new
If you have a set price you just put it in as fixed and don't add the calculator.
I have it in my preferences that I want to add 50 cents to the actual postage. So, when a customer uses the calculator on a 1lb item, they see $4.35.
Be kind. Everyone is fighting their own secret battles.
...Author Unknown
|
niel35
|
posted on November 28, 2004 03:14:28 PM new
Just launched an auction and it worked great.
Stusi - the only thing with that is that I don't know their zip so until the auction is over, I don't know what to charge. If I over charge, then they will go to the next listing.
will try it this way and see if I get more bids.
thanks for the input tho.
|
Kevinatgrannys
|
posted on November 28, 2004 03:17:41 PM new
stusi,
I have a handling fee added into mine. Also, depending on where it is going, it can affect the amount of shipping. example: Shipping to Alaska via Priority mail is higher than shipping to the lower 48 for me, on anything weighing over 1 pound. So, if I were to use a flat shipping I would either have to eat part of my handling each time I ship to Alaska or have everyone else pay a higher charge just to be safe when someone from Alaska buys something of mine.
I feel, as do a lot of my repeat customers, that this is a fair way of doing business. They know up front the amount that it is going to cost them on top of the auction price. I sell a lot of stuff that can vary in weight from a few ounces to over 20 pounds. At the 20 pound mark, shipping "in zone" vs. across many zones can drastically change the shipping price.
And yes, it is an illusion in one aspect but reality in another.
Kevin
|
stusi
|
posted on November 28, 2004 05:57:37 PM new
Gtootie explained it. The seller can set an additional fee in their preferences. Although I have no problem with a seller stating their S&H up front, no matter how large an amount, I have a big problem with it being "hidden" in the shipping calculator as it appears that USPS' actual cost is being shown. Very deceptive!
|
niel35
|
posted on November 28, 2004 06:02:53 PM new
I agree, I only charge for the actual shipping, insurance and packaging materials if they apply. Never charge for handling and there aren't any hidded charges in total. I was accused by a buyer of upping the shipping and I promptly refunded her paypal money and blocked her. I don't need these kind of buyers. pssssses me off. I am an honest seller and am offended when I get this kind of email.
|
stusi
|
posted on November 28, 2004 07:03:45 PM new
niel35- You are one of the honest ones. The shipping calculator is apparently used by many to hide their greed.
|
Gtootie
|
posted on November 28, 2004 07:39:13 PM new
The shipping calculator is apparently used by many to hide their greed.
Greed? You call 50 cents for the envelope and tape greed?
The shipping calculator says nothing about it being actual postage. It is what I charge if you use this form of shipping. I have NEVER had a customer complain about what I charge for postage.
You might want to do a little checking by looking at an auction before you start accusing someone of being deceptive or greedy.
And that is the LAST time I will offer any help. You can figure it out yourself next time.
Be kind. Everyone is fighting their own secret battles.
...Author Unknown
|
sparkz
|
posted on November 28, 2004 08:18:26 PM new
Actually, Stusi, I find a shipping calculator a very convenient tool for concealing my greed, theft, and fraud as well as a portion of my cat's vet bill and my liquor bill. Does this mean you won't be bidding on any of my auctions?
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
|
stusi
|
posted on November 28, 2004 08:49:27 PM new
Gtootie- although I have sold hundreds of items on Ebay, I have never felt it necessary to use the shipping calculator and I have always been able to calculate roughly what the costs will be. No one has ever questioned my costs and I have never listed anything with a low cost and extra high shipping or not list shipping to deceive. I did not know until you told me that it can be manipulated to add other costs, but I suspected it because I noticed some very small, light items that I was thinking of bidding on having high shipping costs via the calculator. No, 50 cents is not a big deal, but if you surveyed one hundred ebay bidders I would think maybe 90%+ would think that it is an actual cost based solely on postage. Therefore, just like those who intentionally leave out S&H to "catch" newbies, the calculator can also apparently be used to deceive.
sparkz- you have a good sense of humor, but knowing what I now know about the calculator I will not bid on any auctions where the calculator's shipping seems out of whack, and will not bid on any auction unless shipping is stated in the auction up front and I choose to do so regardless of it being high.
[ edited by stusi on Nov 28, 2004 08:51 PM ]
|
OhMsLucy
|
posted on November 28, 2004 09:05:27 PM new
Hey Stusi - What's your eBay ID?
I want to put you on my blocked bidder list. I wouldn't you to get caught unaware and maybe bid on one of my auctions.
After all, I DO up the shipping to $1.25 for a pattern that costs $0.83 postage to ship. Of course that's sent in an envelope that costs $0.11, with a cardboard that costs $0.09, a nickel's worth of tissue paper and another nickel's worth of satin ribbon.
Sounds like maybe you figure my time spent packing isn't worth $0.12.
JMHO
Lucy
|
Gtootie
|
posted on November 28, 2004 09:34:16 PM new
What do you do put the shipping to each postal zone in every listing?
I use the calculator because if I'm mailing a 10 pound dog, I don't want to have to answer 50 e-mails with the shipping amount. And anyone who mails items over a pound knows that it is a different price for each postal zone.
So, how did you "roughly estimate" those hundreds of items you sold without sticking it to a few of them?
Did you refund the overpayment or did you keep it to make up for the ones that you under estimated on?
Using your own terms, wouldn't that be classified as greed and deception? It seems to me to be a black and white issue. Unless you spelled it out in your listing that you were overcharging that exact amount on postage, you did the very same thing you are accusing all of us of doing.
As far as no one complaining, no one has ever complained about my charges either. But since I am using a calculator to tell them exactly what I am charging I am deceptive. You "estimate" and you are honest. That a load of BS.
And unless you have two ID's you are either not being honest about how many items you have sold or your customers are not very happy. If you do have two ID's aren't you being a little deceptive with us? I would like that other ID also. This one is already on my BBL.
Be kind. Everyone is fighting their own secret battles.
...Author Unknown
|
sparkz
|
posted on November 28, 2004 09:36:33 PM new
Lucy,
According to my calculations, if you charge $3.13 for shipping that pattern, you'll clear enough to stop off at Trader Joe's on the way back from the Post Office and .....
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
|
OhMsLucy
|
posted on November 28, 2004 09:44:50 PM new
Hi Tootie,
I don't know where you're located but if I were sending 10 pound packages my charges would be $10.50 for insured S/H to a street address (FedEx).
That's based on a Zone 8 rate. If you're not on one of the coasts you might be able to ship for a dollar or two less.
Of course you do have to buy your own box but according to Stusi that's a given. We should NEVER NEVER NEVER expect to be compensated for our packing materials. And of course our time is FREE!!!! 
Lucy
|
OhMsLucy
|
posted on November 28, 2004 09:51:54 PM new
Hi Sparkz,
You are absolutely right! Gosh, I never thought of that... Have my eBay buyers pay for the Two-Buck. They're the cause of high consumption anyway. 
TJ's is maybe 1/2 mile from the PO. So how much will that cost me in gas for my Maxima? A quarter?
Of course I could check out Dollar Tree. It's another mile away but from what Jack's saying it might be a pretty darn good source!
Me
|
Gtootie
|
posted on November 28, 2004 09:55:33 PM new
Thanks Lucy. Some of my dogs get kind of heavy. I always let my customers know that I will check the cost of other carriers if they like, but so far none have asked.
Vendio has said they will add UPS and FedEx to the calculator soon. I hope so. Just that many more ways to cheat my customers. I have to make a living some how you know.
Be kind. Everyone is fighting their own secret battles.
...Author Unknown
|
OhMsLucy
|
posted on November 28, 2004 09:58:51 PM new
Tootie,
What are your dogs like? Do you have a Pekingese?
Lucy
|
sparkz
|
posted on November 28, 2004 10:11:31 PM new
Lucy...I had forgotten about Dollah Tree. You could then lower your shipping charge to $2.13 and still clear enough to cover essential expenses. Maybe with that $1.00 discount, Stusi would view your shipping charges more as a misdemeanorish expense instead of as a felonious charge 
Gtootie...Lucy is on the right track. Check out FedEx Ground for those 10 pound dogs. I'me assuming you're not located on either coast, and the shipping charges fall into a pretty narrow range. However, here on the west coast, shipping a 10 pound item to the east coast via Priority Mail or parcel post is out of the question for me as the charge is too high. I ship 99% of every thing I sell via FedEx. I estimate that in the last 2 years, I have saved my customers well over $3000.00 in shipping charges by avoiding the Post Office.
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
|
Gtootie
|
posted on November 28, 2004 10:21:53 PM new
I don't have any in stock right now, but I can order them.
Be kind. Everyone is fighting their own secret battles.
...Author Unknown
|
OhMsLucy
|
posted on November 28, 2004 11:12:52 PM new
Tootie,
Please let me know how to contact you. Email or one of your auction numbers. I'd like more info about the Pekes.
Thanks,
Lucy
|
stusi
|
posted on November 29, 2004 06:27:03 AM new
You guys are so offbase. First of all why do you assume that every poster uses the same handle on Ebay? Secondly, if you DO NOT say that you are charging actual shipping then the transaction is BY AGREEMENT and there is NO deception! If someone wants to buy a PEZ dispenser that weighs 2 oz. and the shipping is STATED as $10, that is one's decision to do so. It may be somewhat deceptive on the seller's part hoping that someone may bid without seeing the excessive shipping charges, but that is nothing compared to not showing shipping and nailing someone later with excessive charges or hiding charges in what is expected to be actual charges with the calculator. Most of you guys who figure out their costs to the penny on each transaction are probably costing yourselves more money in the time you are wasting this way rather than putting your time into running more auctions but that is your decision. Perhaps starting the bidding a bit higher would level your material costs over the long run. As a buyer it is nice to see actual costs. As a seller it is a pain in the butt. I seem to notice that the big power sellers almost always charge flat rates. Did you ever wonder why? BTW- There are probably as many times that I have UNDER-estimated shipping as I have over-estimated it, but usually not by much. My flat cost is ALWAYS stated clearly in my auctions so there has NEVER been a problem. My feedback is over 99% and my ONLY negs have been revenge negs from the sellers who screwed me who I negged first, NEVER from a buyer. You may get some satisfaction from knowing that recently I did make a large error in shipping calculation in the buyer's favor because it was a larger shipment than usual. He bought with BIN so I really did not get hurt.
|
stusi
|
posted on November 29, 2004 06:10:02 PM new
Tootie/Lucy- many, many hours and no response. I guess the truth has a way of silencing people sometimes!
|
Gtootie
|
posted on November 29, 2004 06:58:13 PM new
If someone wants to buy a PEZ dispenser that weighs 2 oz. and the shipping is STATED as $10 in the calculator, that is one's decision to do so. No matter how you slice it you are doing the same thing. You are assuming that all our customers are stupid and have no idea what it should cost to mail an item.
Another point, the calculator is not a US Postal Service calculator. It is a Vendio Calculator. No one is trying to say that this is what it actually cost to mail the package.
As far the big Power Sellers, if you had a clue what you were talking about you would know that most of them only sell one thing. You weigh one CD and all the work is done. And most of them overcharge on the shipping so it doesn't matter.
Anyone who sells one of a kind items of different sizes and doesn't take the time to weigh the heavy ones is stupid.
You sound an awful lot like FTWC. Are you?
Be kind. Everyone is fighting their own secret battles.
...Author Unknown
|
