Excessive shipping?

[booksalot336]

Any comments about sellers who charge excessive shipping costs? Sometimes I end up paying double the amount of the actual shipping cost of the item in the listing. How is it possible, for example, for a seller to charge $4.00 for shipping a postcard when the actual shipping cost was less than a $1.00? I know some sellers try to make money off shipping but I don't agree with it. Is negative or neutral feedback warranted?

[booksalot336]

When I'm the seller and the cost of shipping turns out to be less than the stated cost in the listing, I refund the buyer the difference. I don't factor in time spent, travel, etc. to justify a high shipping charge.

[ds-money]

If you want to verify it arrived, then get tracking..... Ok what if it’s some special card? Do you want it just floating out there and getting damaged (that’s a whole other story/claim). Point is, if he cost was posted you had an option to choose and it would not warrant negative feedback. I’m by no means trying to start a debate or arguments but you would like to know when your item is arriving would you not?

[creekcoyote]

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@booksalot336 wrote:

Mailing a postcard consists of an envelope, two pieces of cardboard, and a first-class stamp. The $1.00 is only an example, and since when does a $1.00 postcard need tracking? 

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I would never mail a  postcard sandwiched between two pieces of cardboard in a plain envelope.  When I sold PC's they were incased in a clear hard plastic sleeve between two pieces of heavy cardboard in a 9" by 6" envelope.

Expensive card or a cheaper card,  it didn't matter what the card cost, they were all treated the same. 

I was still concerned that they might get bent in transport.

I usually charged $3.00 for shipping at that time and the buyer got what they ordered without any damage.

[7606dennis]

If the amount of S&H that is charged is the same as what you agreed to when purchasing the shipping is not excessive and neither a neutral or negative is warranted.  If you do not like the amount that a seller is charging for S&H, you should pass on the item and look elsewhere. 

[green-night]

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@booksalot336 wrote:

When I'm the seller and the cost of shipping turns out to be less than the stated cost in the listing, I refund the buyer the difference. I don't factor in time spent, travel, etc. to justify a high shipping charge.

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A lot of buyers won't appreciate this so you shouldn't do it. 

It will appear as though you don't know what you are doing.  I find it annoying.  Just keep the overage. 

[7606dennis]

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@booksalot336 wrote:

When I'm the seller and the cost of shipping turns out to be less than the stated cost in the listing, I refund the buyer the difference. I don't factor in time spent, travel, etc. to justify a high shipping charge.

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A business needs to not lose money on any phase of its operation if the plan to stay a viable business over time.  If you are not factoring in all the cost items you may be sending your business on a slow path to its demise.

[parkersparrow]

Exactly since you're being charged the 10% on your shipping well as the items cost by ebay and you're refunding shipping overages you'll be loosing money. Especially if your not building the cost of supplies into you items price or shipping costs. Unless you're a casual seller then its probably not a big deal.

[mikeystoyz]

There is no such things as excessive shipping, only buyers that cant comprehend total costs.  If you dont want the item, you dont buy the item.

[knode89]

What you are missing is that if they shipped the postcard first class that way.  There is no tracking and no way to prove the item was shipped and arrived.  So the buyer could say they did not receive it and the seller would be out all of it because there is no proof.  Sellers are required to ship with tracking to be even remotely covered by ebay.  So $4 for the item is correct for a postcard because it is $2.70-3.10 now depending on the location for the postage alone.  Plus envelopes, paypal and ebay fees etc.  It is right around $4.  But it is the required tracking that makes it cost so much.  

[2015mhfashions]

It's not a high shipping charge, it's the cost of getting something from A to B, If you do not cover your fees, time, gas,ink,packaging supplies that's your choice, I do cover my costs in the overall price as any sensible seller would, please don't assume sellers are making money from shipping because you choose to operate a different way.

[remote_controls_and_more]

I do free shipping, but that means I can charge anything I want for shipping indirectly. I just add it into the price. 

[2015mhfashions]

No one asked you to, as previous posters have stated pay attention to the overall price, if you don't like it don't pay it, if you want to ship untracked, wide open to abuse IMO your choice, I don't and i take all my costs into consideration, why should i be out money by not including these costs into the charge ? I don't make money on postage, in most cases i just about break even, Point is you know the charge before purchase, why question it after the fact ?

[suzie-qpink]

Just a thought - if you ship something in an envelop for a postcard rate - then the package has to be bendable.  I'm thinking that is why they are shipping it more as a parcel and not a letter and that is why the rate is higher.  I tend to sell lots of patterns and such and this is what the post office has told me and that is why the cost is higher.  I always put cardboard and bubble wrap around the patterns so they don't get bent as that is how I would want this stuff shipped to me.  If you don't care if the post office might bend your postcard then just tell the seller and I'm sure they will ship it the way that you want.    

[radtech1971]

I also refund excess shipping to buyers. I look at it as the buyer paid for it, not me, so I am not out anything.

[parkersparrow]

@radtech1971 But you are out something. Ebay is charging you final value fees on the item & shipping cost. You don't get that percentage back from ebay if refunding through paypal. Once and a while is not going to really hurt your bottom line. If you make a habit out of it on the other hand it could add up.