I know that some of y'all sell your stuff on eBay, and I want to gripe a little about the S&H fees I've been seeing lately:

$6 for parcel post on PE
$7 for parcel post on a resin wheel set
$10-$15 for 1/35th model kits

All these prices are CONUS, too.

Now, I sell on eBay as well, and I don't mind a SMALL fee for boxes or your trouble. But anything more than a few bucks for PE at parcel post is simply gouging. I myself won't even bid on, nor purchase Buy It Now! from any seller who gouges on shipping.

I'll get off my soap box now.

That makes two of us.

How about a new 1/16 Trump King tiger for $315.00,....plus $112.00 for shipping


cheers from the sandbox

I gotta say, it really is getting out of hand. When shipping costs equal the actual kit MSRP, on top of the ending bid price you pay, makes just ordering it at the Hobby Shop much less onerous.
Maybe it IS a conspiracy by Hobby Shop owners to get all those internet buyers back into the shops.

Hmmmmm....



Cuhail

Some of the eBay sellers I have encountered need to "get a life." One guy says he can't combine shipments because he hasn't got the time. My feeling is: there are others out there I can buy from.

In my own case, I have seen eBay really fall off as a good place to sell stuff. The "power sellers" are undercutting prices with bulk selling (and S&H charges). "Buy It Now" has also distorted the marketplace IMO.

But mostly I think it's the economy and the fact that people are looking for bargains.

The reason is simple: the sellers are charged by the final price, so they keep it low -and crank up the shipping charges.
Unfortunately since Ebay was taken over by small businesses, it's harder and harder to find bargains there -and ironically my LHS became cheaper.
(This is true to the buy/sell forums on different modeling pages as well. Sellers offer kits for their market price plus shipping... so I returned to helping out the local small businesses.)
But as many told me before: it's the free market. If they can sell their stuff, who are we to complain, right?

They aren't selling all their stuff.

I see the same items relisted. I think that's saying something. I am ranting a bit here in the hopes some sellers on eBay here will realize why their products aren't moving. If I can get a PE solution for $6 and have to pay $7 shipping, I will do without it or purchase from a dealer on principle. At least I know I will get my item and can return it if there's a problem.

[quote]The reason is simple: the sellers are charged by the final price, so they keep it low -and crank up the shipping charges.
quote]

You've hit it. I neither condone nor oppose the practice, I just see it for what it is.
Many of the items I see start at a low price, usually $.99 and have a higher S&H price. I make the calculation as to what would be a good deal based upon my bid AND the S&H, and if the price exceeds that, I stop bidding. Simple math really. A good case in point is a Chinese company that is now selling resin figures for $.99 apiece. (or a pair as they case may be) Their shipping is $6.00.
Since they have so many listings, usually no one outbids you on a figure, and you get it for $6.99. If I need it bad enough, I'll pay that (usually paid for by whoever wants it anyway) This company does combine shipping by the way.
I've seen some Harley engines do the same. Granted, it usually costs a couple of bills to pay shipping on a motor, and usually $50 to $75 for the guy to crate it for you. But it's all a cost of doing business, and if they get over on Ebay by making the bulk of their profit on the shipping, I don't care. I know what I'll pay, and so do most of the other bidders. I know this because I've actually met some of the guys I've bid against.

[quote]


and this ebay seller Model-In is a well know re-caster of genuine figures that's why they are so cheap. A counterfeiter. He rips of nearly everybody's figures and makes cheap copies. It appears ebay do nothing about this character or care so it's up to anybody who cares about the fact that the original sculptors work is being stolen by scum bags like this to do the decent thing and not buy the stuff.

I was recently quoted US$25 shipping for 1x P.E kit, from Squadron.

I know for a fact that such an item would only cost a few dollars shipping as I have had similar items sent to me from the US, for $4-5.

I look for people that combine shipping....... some offer pretty good discounts... others not so much. But yeah because of the fee's they've started lowering the price and upping the shipping.

I'm one to shop around. If there's a deal on Ebay so be it.. if not off to one of the online shop's I go!!

I steer clear of companies/individuals that gouge on shipping also.

I just mailed a package to Florida and was charged a $3.70 "large package fee" by the post office. They stated that since it could not be run through some kind of scanning machine, somebody would have to manually get it scanned thus the extra $3.70.
Mike

That happened to me when I sent one of the members here a model part. I wasn't nearly that much, but then, it was a small part. It was an incinvenience more than anything, because it delayed his part. I put the sticker in the envelope though, just to show it wasn't tardiness on my part.

[quote]


Apparently not that well known... However, I have no reason to doubt you, if you have first hand knowledge. I myself don't do many figures unless requested, so would not recognize one maker from another. (unless maybe he's defecating, in which case I wouldn't buy it anyway) I will certainly keep in mind the ones I do recognize.

While we're on it, what about the folks who want to charge extra if you pay with Paypal? I never charge extra for it, and I've been doing a heck of a lot of Paypal transactions lately. I encourage it whenever people ask, because as I tell them, "it gets you your stuff more quickly." Again, a cost of doing business.

That is ludicrous. I just sent one to a customer (granted only Fredericton to Halifax), and it was only $22-$23 to ship. Honestly, it kind of shocked me that it was only that much, as I expected it to be much more, considering that the damn thing weighs 10kg (22lbs for you non metric people).

I too sell on Ebay, but it is only there to supplement sales in the shop.

I charge what Canada Post tells me to charge. I don't charge a "handling" fee, a "box" fee, a "have to drive it to the post office fee", or any other fee, whatever the size and weight tells me on Canada Post...that is what the customer pays....all the other stuff I consider the price of doing business, so why should I gouge the customer for it. First of all, 99% of all my boxes are ones either I pick up from the cardboard dumpsters, or my wife brings home from work.....so they are free (and there is no excuse why other Ebay sellers can't do the same). The paper I print invoices and shipping labels from, comes from work. My wife has to drive by the Post Office on her way to work....so there is no extra trip (not that it would matter anyway). So in the end, the only extra for me is the ink on the paper, and my time. Considering that my business is the hobby shop, then I consider it all the cost of doing business....and besides....if some of these Ebay sellers were running a legit business to start with, then most if not all of their costs for doing business in the first place, is all tax deductible......so in the end, they get it back on their taxes, all the while gouging the customer in the first place......sounds like a classic case of double dipping to me!!

As far as "not combining shipping" because they are too busy.....this is your job!! How about a little customer service.

I suppose depending on how you look at it, I guess by the letter of the law, I don't combine shipping either. But if Canada Post tells me that kit X costs $10 to ship, and the customer wants 2 of them, then I don't double up the shipping, I charge what CP tells me to....which might end up being another $2-$3 to ship 2 of them, as opposed to one. Depends on where it is going....within Canada for sure, to the US.....it can be slightly more.....once you get into International shipping....then its a whole other ball game alot of times, sometimes ending up being cheaper to ship multiple kits separately as opposed to all in one box.

Am I getting rich doing this? No...not at all, but I would rather have the same customer come back multiple times for their modeling needs, rather than them buy one or 2 items, me ripping them off, and then them never coming back because of it!

That was me 18bravo sent the part to. The sticker was, indeed, in the package and I never blamed 18bravo for being a lazy git!

Shipping bites.
Cuhail

Funny you mention this about over priced shipping.. my wife was just looking for a dress and found this one
must be a really heavy dress! and delivered personally via Business Class

pzcreations,
That might not be so bad if the girl comes with it!!!

EnglishGent

That is his wife!!!!

Lucky Bugger!!!!! LOL