eBay

booksalot336 · ‎09-12-2020

The seller charged me $24 for shipping (Priority Mail), yet the actual cost was $11. What type of feedback do I leave or just let it ride?

johnrj1226 · ‎09-13-2020

@booksalot336

Oh one more thing.

To answer your headline question -

"When is shipping excessive?"

Answer: When the total price you will have to pay is too much for your budget.

"I have the right to remain silent but I didn't have the ability." Ron White, Fritch, Texas
"Stay away from negative people, they have a problem for every solution." A. Einstein
"The Devil made me do it!" - Flip Wilson
"If the band can only play loud - they ain't no good - peps too!" J.R. Johnson

southern*sweet*tea · ‎09-13-2020

Which is a better deal for the buyer:

A $20 item with "free" shipping
A $15 item with $5 shipping
A $10 item with $10 shipping

Shop by total cost. If the item price plus shipping is a good deal, buy. If it's not, then don't. Easy.

The easier you are to offend the easier you are to control.

We seem to be getting closer and closer to a situation where nobody is responsible for what they did but we are all responsible for what somebody else did. - Thomas Sowell

dirk12955 · ‎09-13-2020

Tagging on at the end. I offer "Free" shipping also. I always make a profit on shipping. Whether it's "Free" in the USA or $$6.00 For overseas, I still make a profit.

How much my profit is, Is my concern and 100% not the business of my buyers.

There are times, as a buyer I'll hit the back button because of what I feel is an excessive shipping charge.

Before I bid or buy, If I really want it, And the shipping is excessive, I simply adjust the value of the item in relation to she shipping cost.

I wouldn't leave poor feedback because of an error in MY judgment. Or sloppy homework on MY part.

I see stuff everyday that I'm interested in. But if the seller wants $20.00 to ship me a sheet of stamps that I can ship to him for less than $4.00 I move along. Unless the total is a good deal.

southern*sweet*tea · ‎09-13-2020

@dirk12955 wrote:

I see stuff everyday that I'm interested in. But of the seller wants $20.00 to ship me a sheet of stamps that I can ship to him for less than $4.00 I move along. Unless the total is a good deal.

BINGO! We have a winner!

The easier you are to offend the easier you are to control.

We seem to be getting closer and closer to a situation where nobody is responsible for what they did but we are all responsible for what somebody else did. - Thomas Sowell

pjcdn2005 · ‎09-13-2020

General reply...

Whenever this type of thread comes up I usually don't comment as my opinion seems to be in the minority. I understand what most of you are saying as it makes perfect sense to shop by total cost but the fact remains that the seller is specifying that they charge xx for the item and xx for shipping and handling so buyers are going to expect that the shipping cost given is close to the actual cost. Many buyers have no idea what postage costs so while they may be willing be pay the total price...they may be paying only because they think the shipping portion is reasonable. The buyer may have thought that the item would cost around $20 to ship and that a $4 handling charge was fair but if the package then showed that the shipping was $11, a $13 handling cost was not what they expected. Sure they agreed to pay it but that doesn't mean they have to feel good about it.

I don't recommend that a buyer give a negative over a shipping cost but I don't think that there is anything wrong with sending a polite message to the seller letting them know that although they did agree to pay the shipping cost and did not expect any type of refund now...they do feel that they were overcharged once they saw the price on the label. JMHO

oaklandmaryland · ‎09-13-2020

how do know the shipping was $11. Will give you an example as I m a seller in Hawaii. Shipping for me is SUPER expensive as Hawaii is in Zone 6. Most buyers don't realize this as they just figure costs for the 48 States. In Hawaii parcel post is actually more expensive than priority.

Some sellers sell very low and make up the low price with higher shipping. Why is that not okay? A buyer needs to decide what a FAIR price for the item is and then figure in a FAIR price for the shipping. If you agree to pay higher it is on you the buyer.

A seller has to make some profit too and most buyers have no idea that sellers pay fees on item cost, buyer's internet costs and also on shipping. The seller also has to pay Ebay just to list the item for sale.Do you think it fair for a low price and low shipping when the seller then has to foot all the fees as well as shipping supplies, time spent finding and buying items to sell, time packaging and going to PO.

It's VERY hard to make money on Ebay.

divwido · ‎09-13-2020

say nothing but ding some stars.

Good Moms let you lick the Beaters.

Great Moms turn them off first.

dirk12955 · ‎09-13-2020

I always wanted to be a winner.

It's just out of reach.

mspirit57 · ‎09-13-2020

If you didn’t like the total price of the item, WHY did you purchase?

tools* · ‎09-13-2020

@pjcdn2005 wrote:
General reply...
Whenever this type of thread comes up I usually don't comment as my opinion seems to be in the minority. I understand what most of you are saying as it makes perfect sense to shop by total cost but the fact remains that the seller is specifying that they charge xx for the item and xx for shipping and handling so buyers are going to expect that the shipping cost given is close to the actual cost. Many buyers have no idea what postage costs so while they may be willing be pay the total price...they may be paying only because they think the shipping portion is reasonable. The buyer may have thought that the item would cost around $20 to ship and that a $4 handling charge was fair but if the package then showed that the shipping was $11, a $13 handling cost was not what they expected. Sure they agreed to pay it but that doesn't mean they have to feel good about it.

I don't recommend that a buyer give a negative over a shipping cost but I don't think that there is anything wrong with sending a polite message to the seller letting them know that although they did agree to pay the shipping cost and did not expect any type of refund now...they do feel that they were overcharged once they saw the price on the label. JMHO

I agree, which is why sellers should always use a stealth shipping label. No need to make it an issue, whether you lose money, break even, or profit from the shipping cost.

kensgiftshop · ‎09-13-2020

@booksalot336 wrote:
You're missing the point. Excessive shipping charges shouldn't be part of the equation when making a purchase. Shipping charges should be fair. God help your buyers if this is your practice as a seller.

When I buy online, I figure the price of the item, plus the shipping charge to decide if the item is worth it.

I offer free shipping and most of my items ship in Flat Rate boxes or Flat Rate envelopes, so I know exactly whats it's going to cost to ship so I can figure the cost of the item.

Have a great day.

ed8108 · ‎09-13-2020

On eBay a buyer makes their purchase decision based on the total cost.

Item price + shipping price = total price buyer pays ( & applicable sales tax)

7606dennis · ‎09-14-2020

What was the amount of S&H that you agreed to when making the purchase? There is more to S&H than merely what the carrier charges for their service. If the seller tried to add additional charges after the purchase, unless you requested added services, that would be a no-no. Otherwise, there is nothing excessive about charging you what you agreed to at the time of purchase.

You should always check the payment and shipping tab when considering making a purchase on eBay.

"It is an intelligent man that is aware of his own ignorance."

7606dennis · ‎09-14-2020

@booksalot336 wrote:
You're missing the point. Excessive shipping charges shouldn't be part of the equation when making a purchase. Shipping charges should be fair. God help your buyers if this is your practice as a seller.

I believe that you're missing the point that you agreed to the S&H charged by the seller when you made the purchase. If you had thought that the S&H being charged was excessive you should not have made the purchase.

"It is an intelligent man that is aware of his own ignorance."

bigdeals.etc · ‎09-14-2020

@booksalot336 wrote:
You're missing the point. Excessive shipping charges shouldn't be part of the equation when making a purchase. Shipping charges should be fair. God help your buyers if this is your practice as a seller.

Then why did you buy the item from that seller?

I don't care what the reason is... you shouldn't buy something that you have any problem with only to complain about it afterwards. You could have avoided this.