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Frustation at Inconsistency in Shipping Costs as Buyer

Is anyone else frustrated with the flexibility and "honesty" system of shipping costs? That it seems an easy loop hole for some (not all, but in my case its been many) sellers to overcharge (which isn't that mail fraud?) and no consiquences other than ratings? And sellers don't have to show the postage paid. I've had numerous occasions where I've been charged one amount and the shipping shown on the postage paid from the post office was vastly less than I was charged. Then when I've contacted sellers I was told there was a handling fee for supplies and the package had arrived wrapped with a brown paper grocery bag. I feel eBay needs a better way to monitor this because in many instances I feel taken advantage of as a buyer.  

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Frustation at Inconsistency in Shipping Costs as Buyer

 

@bonnrive

There is more to shipping cost than the "actual postage". That's why it's called Shipping & Handling.

And no, sellers do not have to show you the actual postage paid as they may receive postage discounts etc. that they are not obligated to pass onto the buyer (not to mention ebay now takes 10% of the shipping charged - did you know that?)

Reality is the leading cause of stress.
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Frustation at Inconsistency in Shipping Costs as Buyer

 

 

That it seems an easy loop hole for some (not all, but in my case its been many) sellers to overcharge (which isn't that mail fraud?)

 

 

It is.  You should really look into filing charges. 

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Frustation at Inconsistency in Shipping Costs as Buyer

No it isn't mail fraud lol. Furthermore sellers receive a discount via eBay labeling so if they are printing their labels and the cost shows $2.66 for example, reality cost at the postal counter is $3.50 or something. I as a seller do not have to pass along my discounts to you the buyer. Furthermore the handling is part of the shipping. Some sellers actually include that with shipping, others just incorporate it into their item cost. The total amount should be the only thing of your concern, not what a seller is charging or not charging nor how they use that. Some sellers, such as myself, actually buy their packaging materials so absolutely the cost is included regardless of where I stick it. Thanks for posting though. You sound like the buyer no one wants to deal with.
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Frustation at Inconsistency in Shipping Costs as Buyer


@green-night wrote:

 

 

That it seems an easy loop hole for some (not all, but in my case its been many) sellers to overcharge (which isn't that mail fraud?)

 

 

It is.  You should really look into filing charges. 


LOL Don't encourage them.

Reality is the leading cause of stress.
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Frustation at Inconsistency in Shipping Costs as Buyer

You are told the shipping cost before you ever bid.  If you don't like it, then don't buy it.

 

And for every time you feel cheated, I can show you where I had to pay more money then I received to mail something to a buyer.  It all shakes out in the end.

Good Moms let you lick the Beaters.

Great Moms turn them off first.
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Frustation at Inconsistency in Shipping Costs as Buyer


@bonnrive wrote: I feel eBay needs a better way to monitor this because in many instances I feel taken advantage of as a buyer.  

 When I come across an item with grossly overpriced shipping & handling, I do not volunteer to buy and just move on and away.

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Frustation at Inconsistency in Shipping Costs as Buyer

I charge what they charge at the post office.

I don't pass the discount since it's my charge card on the line and there is packing material, mileage to the post office and such.

Still, I don't really get anything from the way I do charge because eBay takes 10% fees off the shipping.

 

At the post office:  Flat Rate Priority Envelope is $7.05

Online: Flat Rate Priority Envelope is $6.55

Difference of .50 cents

 

So I charge the $7.05 on my items.

Ebay 10% fee on $7.05 is .71 cents

I have a minus of .21 cents    (.50 discount minus eBay fee of .71 cents.)

 

But there are those that sell light weight s/b First class mail and charge Priority rates. (Personally I am not thrilled with them and I don't buy from them.)

 

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Frustation at Inconsistency in Shipping Costs as Buyer

You see the postage charge before you buy. Do you argue with the people at the grocery store over the price of a can of green beans or a gallon of milk? Do you honestly think that the price they charge is the price they paid? If you don't like the price move on. Shop by total price-if it is reasonable buy if not don't.

__________________________________________


CW4PWK--Taji,Iraq-42404
'They won't get it all, and they won't have it long.'

'You gotta see those creeps crawl...' Echo & the Bunnymen-"Crocodiles'
Message 9 of 56
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Frustation at Inconsistency in Shipping Costs as Buyer

Is anyone else frustrated with the flexibility and "honesty" system of shipping costs?

I think this train of thought happens mostly from a misunderstanding of what shipping actually costs a seller.  Any seller.  You see it as a seller not being "honest" which is completely untrue.

 

That it seems an easy loop hole for some (not all, but in my case its been many) sellers to overcharge (which isn't that mail fraud?) and no consiquences other than ratings?

No it is not "mail fraud" in any way.  USPS does not regulate what ANY company or seller charges their customers for shipping with USPS.  However USPS is NOT the only carrier used on Ebay either.  

 

I do think that because you don't have a clear understanding on what the costs of shipping really are for a seller, it is unfair of you to want to damage a seller's rating in any way due to your misunderstanding of the subject at hand.

 

And sellers don't have to show the postage paid. 

Why should a seller have to show you the cost they paid to their Vendor?  Is this something you thing other online sites should provide to you as well?  Like Target, Walmart, Sears, Macy, or any other number of online sites you might do business with them.  And if you do not expect them to share this information with you, then why do you feel that an Ebay seller has to provide it?  And since you think the Ebay seller needs to tell you exactly how much they paid for the carrier costs, do you also think they should disclose to you how much they paid for the product they sold you?  I know that may sound a little silly, but the questions are good ones.  

 

For some reason some people don't see Ebay sellers in the same light as they do if they purchase from other sites on the internet.  But they should.  Sellers here put in a lot of work to sell here.  We provide a service and product which takes time and money to bring to the site for you to possibly see it and want to buy it.  We aren't here to donate our time and money to others.  We are here, working a JOB and providing people with products they may like to purchase from the comfort of their homes.

 

I've had numerous occasions where I've been charged one amount and the shipping shown on the postage paid from the post office was vastly less than I was charged. Then when I've contacted sellers I was told there was a handling fee for supplies and the package had arrived wrapped with a brown paper grocery bag. I feel eBay needs a better way to monitor this because in many instances I feel taken advantage of as a buyer.  

I don't understand.  Why do you feel that a seller should not be able to recover their costs for shipping materials and supplies?  Is it your opinion that a seller should just eat those costs?  Are you aware that a seller has to pay Ebay a 10% fee on whatever the seller charges the buyer for shipping?  Are you aware that PayPal charges a seller a 3% fee on whatever they charge the buyer for shipping? 

 

All these fees and supply costs add to the cost of shipping.  They are things that a seller HAS TO PAY and those costs have to be passed on to the buyer or why else would a seller sell on ebay.  If a seller is not allowed to recover their costs, what purpose does it serve to be a seller on Ebay or anywhere else.

 

It is called S&H for a reason.  It is means Shipping and Handling.  There are always REAL costs above whatever the carrier charges for shipping.  We don't just toss your item in our mail boxes with a sticky note on the telling the carrier where to delivery it.  That sounds silly doesn't it.  

 

I do underdstand that this causes you great concern, but I sincerely believe it is only because you don't understand that there are real costs above and beyond the actual carrier cost that we HAVE to pay.  Sellers are here to provide products and/or service to those that choose to shop here.  We are people that are working a REAL JOB to bring you these items.  We have the right to be treated with respect as you have the right to be treated with respect as our customers.  We also have the right to be paid for the work we provide.

 

I hope this helps.  I am sincere when I say I do understand why you feel the way you do, but I hope this helps you see there is far more to the subject.

 


mam98031  •  Volunteer Community Member  •  Buyer/Seller since 1999

"I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you." Quote from Edward I Koch

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Frustation at Inconsistency in Shipping Costs as Buyer

I agree, as a buyer, I really hate paying more than shipping costs within shipping. But, because I sell too, I know that ebays search metrics sometimes reward people for fudging shipping. The listing process always flags me, for example, for using flat rate priority instead of by weight. By weight but free shipping it approves but flat rate buyer pays it dislikes and "reminds" me to "fix". If I didnt know better, Id "fix" it and overpay!
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Frustation at Inconsistency in Shipping Costs as Buyer

@annasunicorns

But, because I sell too, I know that ebays search metrics sometimes reward people for fudging shipping.

WHAT??  ABSOLUTELY NOT!  It what possible way does the Ebay search metrics AKA Cassini benefit sellers for "fudging shipping"?

 

The listing process always flags me, for example, for using flat rate priority instead of by weight. By weight but free shipping it approves but flat rate buyer pays it dislikes and "reminds" me to "fix". If I didnt know better, Id "fix" it and overpay!

Having the correct shipping method is a completely different thing.


mam98031  •  Volunteer Community Member  •  Buyer/Seller since 1999

"I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you." Quote from Edward I Koch

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Frustation at Inconsistency in Shipping Costs as Buyer

@mam98031, I speak as I find. I use my parent computer and phones to check on my listings occaisionally. Anytime I filter by price, items with excessive shipping are split in 3, some at the right spots, some higher in search, and some at the very very bottom. It rarely, if ever, actually filters by price. Excessive shipping items can end up at the very top if the item price is low even though the filter is supposed to sort by item price total including shipping.

Further, some items that ebay wants me to price higher, but I price shipping lower, end up at the bottom in a price filter search even if my total price should put me at the top. So, yes, there are some rewards for pricing shipping higher. In my experience in the categories I buy from and sell in. Unless there is another explanation for these search results. OP was asking why people put different shipping numbers, this is one possible explanation, that they too find shipping impacts search when they buy and when selling choose a number they think will work in thier favor. I prefer free shipping as it removes that from the equation in the eyes of the buyer.
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Frustation at Inconsistency in Shipping Costs as Buyer

I speak as I find. I use my parent computer and phones to check on my listings occaisionally. Anytime I filter by price, items with excessive shipping are split in 3, some at the right spots, some higher in search, and some at the very very bottom. It rarely, if ever, actually filters by price.

Then you should report your problem.  If you are sorting by lowest price first, that is exactly what the search return should give you.  If you are using the filter by price, that isn't much different, as it is also off the total price [product plus shipping].  If you are seeing it return in a different order, then there is a problem or glitch you are experiencing.

 

Excessive shipping items can end up at the very top if the item price is low even though the filter is supposed to sort by item price total including shipping.

No, the ones at the top are less expensive with product price plus shipping.  It is returning in the proper order.  If there is an item for $10 plus $10 shipping and there is one for $5 with $14 shipping, the $5 item will appear before the other one as it is less expensive.  And that is how it is suppose to work.

Further, some items that ebay wants me to price higher, but I price shipping lower, end up at the bottom in a price filter search even if my total price should put me at the top.

I can't answer why that is happening.  On a Best Match search, it happens all the time, but if you are searching by $$ value, it shouldn't return them in the same way.  You need to report the issue to Ebay.

 

So, yes, there are some rewards for pricing shipping higher.

No there aren't.  You seem to be experiencing something that most do not.  I hope you will report the issue to Ebay.

 

In my experience in the categories I buy from and sell in. Unless there is another explanation for these search results. OP was asking why people put different shipping numbers, this is one possible explanation, that they too find shipping impacts search when they buy and when selling choose a number they think will work in thier favor.

The OP is concerned about sellers charging beyond what their actual shipping is.  The OP didn't bring up anything about search returns or if they did, I certainly missed it.  

 

I prefer free shipping as it removes that from the equation in the eyes of the buyer.

Depends on the items being sold.  I like it too for many of the items I sell but not so much for others.  In some categories buyers prefer stated shipping and sometimes they lean more to free shipping.  As seller we just need to figure out which is best for the items we carry.  


mam98031  •  Volunteer Community Member  •  Buyer/Seller since 1999

"I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you." Quote from Edward I Koch

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Frustation at Inconsistency in Shipping Costs as Buyer

If I charged you as a seller the actual amount it costs me to ship something, you'd probably be pretty salty.

I spend well over $7000.00 a year on shipping. That does not include fuel. My time. Wear & tear on my vehicle.

Let that sink in.... That is moving every year closer to 15% gross of the annual sales that ebay affords the typical seller. (and does not include their 10% fee....l) That is before you get to the cost of the actual item you are buying. The time involved in sourcing. The overhead involved in running the operation.

I spend a fortune on boxes. Packing material. Ink. Insuring packages (and no way to effectively pass on those costs). Losses on items due to other buyers claims of "not as described" so they can get "Free" return shipping or free merchandise. None of which are cheap. And just so I can remind you again, I pay ebay 10% on the postage fee that you pay just because eBay doesn't care whether I make money.

The unfortunate part is....most buyers expect to receive "Free shipping" in addition to wanting to pay as little as humanly possible for the items they receive.

Buyers complain all the time about "how their item was shipped"....well.... to properly ship anything means you have to buy the right materials. That means if you offer free shipping, you have to increase the cost of the item to cover the material and shipping....which usually means, you are selling something more than someone that is just tossing whatever you purchased into a 10 cent bubble mailer and so you lose out on the sale....and guy cutting corners deliveres a broken widget. I've received a 300 dollar antique ring, mailed in a bubble mailer, arrive in 2 pieces because ... sellers are being trained to cut corners and costs by buyers who don't want to pay for things to be done properly... so they have to squeeze profit where ever they can.

So....as a seller, I wish more buyers would focus on the quality of the experience, merchandise and service they receive and less on what it costs me to ship it to them the correct way.

Price is not always the best indicator of value.....Just sayin...

Cheers
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