Shipping fees on sports cards.
I recently purchased some sports cards on eBay for the first time in several years. During that time I have been an active seller but since I don't travel anymore I buy more online. I have several pet peeves about buying on eBay these days.
I understand the aversion sellers have to using eBay standard envelopes, but I and many other buyers simply refuse to purchase lower value cards from sellers that insist on charging 4 dollars or more to ship a sports card under $20, especially those under $10. Your aversion to losing one here and there with eBay standard envelopes is likely costing you considerable sales. I will pay a reasonable shipping cost but on a card under $20 that 4 dollar or more shipping cost is 20 to 25% of the purchase price and also increases the sales tax portion. On a $5 card it doubles the purchase price. Ridiculous.
On this sale subject, if you offer shipping discounts say so in your auctions. And tell us what they are. I am tired of having to send a message to sellers asking them. It should be in your auction.
And where did eBay come up with these silly cut and paste descriptions for vintage cards. I want to know the actual condition of the card I am buying, not some worthless information about the set or other things that don't matter. The description should provide information like if there are creases or flaws you can't see in the pictures, or if the seller does combined shipping, you know, useful information.
Lastly, nearly a third of the cards I have purchased are nothing like the description or condition noted. I have several EX cards with light creases, that type of thing. That alone has turned a lot of buyers away.
Sellers can argue with me on these things, but they are driving away your customers. Luckily, I have found several really good sellers I can trust who have fair shipping and describe their cards accurately. I wish there were more.
folioliis_thrift
·1 year agoThis is why I offer ESE and regular USPS Ground Advantage on cards, sport and otherwise. I'd rather just let buyers pick what they prefer.
I leave the option open because I've seen people saying the opposite of what you're saying: they'll only buy cards that ship in an actual package and won't buy from people that only ship via plain white envelope because they've gotten burned by it in the past. I've also seen a lot of people saying what you're saying, too. I completely understand not wanting to pay $5 for shipping on a card that's only worth $1, lol.
I like seeing these sorts of posts because they help me as a newer card seller figure out what people actually want. Appreciate your insight.
carlqsportscards
·1 year agoThe descriptions you're seeing is the new AI optiion ebay added.
They should just call it A. It's definitely artificial, but there doesn't seem to be any intelligence involved.