I have been picking up a few nice items on eBay, but some of the shipping charges are UNREAL!

I was looking at two Trumpeter KVs. The price is great ($10), but the guy wants $12.75 shipping and its Parcel Post! I asked about combining the two and he said he'd give me a whole $2.75 off.

Has anyone explained to the eBayers we're in a down economy? I know I'm having trouble selling my excess train stuff and have had to cut prices and pare shipping down to the bare bones. I see a lot of stuff not moving, and I just scratch my head.

Sorry for the rant, I am just amazed, either that someone would pay those prices for shipping, or that sellers think they can get them. Thank God for the decent folks here who are reasonable in what they charge.

The other thing is I notice some of you dealers are selling your stuff on eBay. Again, the shipping is a big reason why I look elsewhere. Not only do you have places like Luckymodel who ship free on light things like PE, but it's just not worth it to pay top $$$ for the product and then have to spend more on shipping. Not naming names, but you know who you are. I am either going to cancel an order with one seller or look for something to add to my existing one, because they want $8 for shipping two sheets of decals.

I know, it's their "standard shipping."

I understand everyone needs to make a profit, but there are alternatives out there.

I hear ya Bill, I've stopped ebaying quite a while ago for the same reason. I'd pay 10 to 12 dollars shipping and when the package arrived the shipping cost on the sticker was half that. I stick with getting stuff from guys here and ML, or I go to one of the online stores. Better service and I know that I'll get what I ordered.

I agree. Try getting things shipped to Canada, it's ridiculous.
I gave up buying kits on ebay long ago because of this...

Last night, my wife was excited as she found a small scrapbooking stamp she'd been looking for (and I mean very small) on ebay offering free shipping to Canada. I told her to contact the seller to confirm. He said it was true, but was charging a $3 handling fee...
I know $3 isn't much, but the "handling" was more than the cost of the stamp...she passed on it....

Jamie

I'm with you too on this Bill. Additional profit appears to be built into shipping...about the only place where people can initially put it without appearing to (in some cases). There are a couple of eBay auctions I'm watching for a kit....their shipping to me is between $5.95 and $7.10....these are "average" sized 1/35th kits. There was another where the dude wanted $12.75 for the same kit and pretty close to the same vicinity of the other sellers. Needless to say, I'm NOT watching that auction because of, IMO, the "profit built into the shipping." I simply refuse to purchase from someone like that.

Ultimately, I think we, as buyers, need to "shop around." In my case, there isn't a kit out there that "I just gotta have right NOW" that I can justify padding an a$$hole's pocket. I've shipped kits (as a seller and trader) to both the east coast and west coast....it's rarely more than about $9.00 or so. Okay...coast to coast? $11.00'ish?

My 2 cents.

Mike

As a small business person, I appreciate that costs are up everywhere. And I don't mind an eBay seller adding a SMALL handling fee (say $1-2). But if you're an Internet seller, it's not the same as a bricks & mortar store where you have to finance inventory. Boxes, trips to the PO, those are just the cost of doing business on the 'Net. Same with sellers who want to add a mark-up for using PayPal. I see that on some Internet retailers and it makes me think "do you REALLY want my business? Do you think I can't find what you have from at least a 1/2 dozen other places?"

Somebody has to have a unique product or service to be that uppity! LOL

The solution is to "vote with our feet" and not buy. There are good values on eBay, you just need to look hard. I picked up a FAMO for $41 last week, a kit I've been looking to own since I first saw it, and which usually runs $65-$75 from the best Internet sellers. The guy wanted $10 to ship, but it's coming UPS from CA.

But then, a number of eBay sellers are really stores who are trying to open up new selling channels. Problem is, they continue to think like stores, offering their stuff at LHS prices AND tacking on large shipping costs. If I'm going to pay full price AND shipping, I'll buy from a trusted Internet site like Great Models or e-Hobbyland.com. I can gang up kits and save shipping, since the costs go up as the weight does, not on a kit-by-kit basis. Three kits at $10 each for shipping? You do the math.

One guy tried to justify his high shipping cost ($12.75 for the first kit, $10 for the second) by saying his low asking price, coupled with his high shipping cost, was "in the same range" as from an Internet seller. Difference is, I can order from the Internet seller ANYTIME. I'm only going to buy his kit if I can get a good price on it.

I see the same kits being listed over and over and not selling. You'd think they'd learn.

Don't get me wrong, handling fees are understandable. I understand that items need packaging etc. which all costs money, I'm not out to save a buck at someone else's expense.
But don't boast about having free shipping, but then tack on a fee for handling (one that was only disclosed when asked about it) that exceeds what shipping would be in the first place. I got burnt on shipping once early on, not too badly, but makes me ask for a shipping confirmation before bidding, no matter what it is. In most cases, it's unacceptable.

Not on ebay mind you, but today I got a shipping quote on a 2 foot aluminum bar, the width of a ruler from the US to Canada. The bar cost $2.50, the shipping ranged from $45 to $165...
That beats any charges I have seen on ebay at least...

I'll come to Canada and MAKE you a ruler for that price, LOL!

It's real easy. Don't buy if you think it's too high on shipping.

They are violating Ebay TOS, fee avoidance.

I solved my frustrations with Ebay, I do not use it any more. I spend time searching different online shops and look for deals. Sellers on Ebay have tunred into some very greedy people. But, they are only doing it because Ebay has turned into Feebay.

The sad thing is there is not much of a choice at times. The other thing you cna do is report them for violating TOS.

Another reason why business on ebay has tanked. Ebay is largely to blame for the proliferation of these so called 'handling' and postage charges by sellers, and the reason for it is the huge increases in fee that ebay charge the sellers, both before AND after the auction. There are no fees on shipping cost, so that's where people hike up their profit.
Another reason is that most buyers expected to get an absolute bargain, everytime. That, combined with the initial competition, drove the auction prices down, and that got sellers looking for another means to make up their loss. Enter shipping and handling.

Henk

I hear ya Bill ! I still use E-bay but I avoid anyone I think is overcharging shipping! If it is just outragious I report them to E-Bay and have seen them take action (Funny how it works when they get stiffed ain't it?) against the seller. I only bid or Buy from Sellers I consider Honest and if they are overcharging on shipping they don't make any of my money! I think most of these crooks will be history soon as they will go out of business. If not I still have the option (And I exercize it) to not buy from them and report Abuse when I think it will result. in action being taken! Believe it or not there are deals on E-Bay you just have to hunt for them. That is where I have a bit of fun myself.
Just my 2 Cents
Jeff

Shipping costs are the bane of life here in Canada.
If I sell something on Ebay I generally charge actual shipping. Even this is complained about by many who buy the stuff. Canada Post is reasonable as long as the item your shipping is below a certain size and under 1lb. After that, the box is measured, weighed and if deemed worthy enough you are given a price less than 25.00 for 2 kits or less. And don't even ask about overseas shipping..yeesh.
On the other hand like others here I have been nailed on shipping on stuff I have bought. Generally an US seller will tell me 15-18 dollars to ship here. When the package arrives a 5.00 price is on the box, I complain and if I don't get a refund I leave Neutral feedback with an explanation of the shipping warning others. While I agree to the cost initially and don't mind paying the price if that is the cost, but I'm not going to be charitable if someone is trying to take advantage of me.

2 cents delivered
Sean

I hear all of you on postage costs, ans I agree with Henk that the fee structure is to blame. I occasionally sell some items on Ebay, and recently I've been astounded by the large bite Ebay takes on each sale.

My approach has been to look at the total cost of an item I want to buy--I subtract the shipping from the maximum total cost that I am willing to pay, and then bid only up to that new amount. It works pretty well, and it helps me immediately spot auctions that are not worth it for me.

One thing I have noticed and I am sure others have as well, bidders on ebay sometimes shy away from a large shipping fee which makes it easy to win models at a decent price including the shipping. I've seen some people bid up models with a fair shipping price up to a higher level than if they would have bought the model with the higher shipping fee. Hard to figure............

Another thing I have noticed is that model prices on ebay arent being affected by the bad economy. I have been outbid several times in the last few weeks on items that are selling higher than they should be.

It's true that if i see shipping on CONUS models over $10, I move on, unless the selling price is under $10. But I simply won't look at something with a shipping price over $12, and I've seen them higher than that.


Sometimes a bidding war breaks out and prices escalate. I just set a price in my head that I won't go over. The opposite is true, also: sometimes I wait until the end of an auction and bid a small amount more. If I am immediately out-bid, I back off, because I don't want to get into a contest. But in many cases my late bid wins the day.

And Jamie, I feel your pain. I won't bid on Canadian auctions because the model might cost $10-$15 but the shipping will be double that. I have been told by my Canadian friends their post is not only the slowest in the world, but among the most expensive.

That's because of ebay high popularity and plus you do not have to expose your financial details when you pay there either, like on a website selling models. I have sold and purchased there for over 5 years and I pretty much have seen it all.

I'm still amazed that people are taken back by high shipping prices and then feel they must voice their opinion about it. I pretty much think it falls on choice. Either pay it or don't and then move on to the next auction and don't whine about it.

You know, you're right, but there's always the hope that folks will learn something. I watch as people struggle to make ends meet, then say they can't get by. Besides, if we didn't have something to rant about, this wouldn't be called a rant!

And no offense, the same thing could be said about lurkers and readers here: if you don't like the whine, bring your own cheese!

You'd think it would apply to everyone, huh.

Hi Jim/ Everybody.
Would someone be so kind as to explain the term TOS?
Thanks,
Joe

Terms of Service.

When you sign up to be an eBay member, you agree to certain rules. For sellers, they include not charging excessive S&H.

TOS means Terms of Service, or basically the rules you need to follow when using a website's services. Ebay recognizes that many sellers use excessive shipping charges as a form of fee advoidance. Since eBay collects money based on the final value of the item sold, it gets more money if something is sold for $20 final value with a $5 shipping charge than it would if the seller flip-flopped the amounts and charged $5 with a $20 shipping charge.

While the buyer is paying $25 total in both cases, the second example is how the seller pockets more money and eBay gets a lesser cut. If everything goes well, the buyer still pays the same amount of money and the excessive charge is really immaterial to the buyer. But if there is a problem with the item and the buyer wants to return it, the seller is only obligated to return the $5 final value and the buyer would be out the actual $20 value of the item.

I totally agree with a situation like that, and I will always avoid buying from an auction as such. But, you really have to weigh how bad you want a certain item and I think it's up to the seller if he wants to add handling charges. He may not know he can get boxes from the PO for free, and even on-line. There are also new flat rate boxes too that really help out on the shipping fees. Tape and packing material are not free, and neither is the gas to go out and get them and the gas to run to the PO.

In the long run, it only hurts the seller and helps the buyer if the shipping fees are set too high. The auction will receive less bids with this practice, so really I wouldn't rant too hard about it.

I haven't broken a sweat, LOL!

I took the time to rant here because I know some vendors who post in this section also sell on eBay. If customer satisfaction is of interest to them, they should pay attention!

Hey there guys,

I run a small hobby shop in Eastern Canada. I also supplement the shop by selling on Ebay as well....I mean why not right?

I get complaints about shipping and what not as much as the other guy, as well I also get burnt on shipping if I am buying something from another Ebayer.

This is why, despite the complaints, I charge what Canada Post tells me to charge. I don't make money on the shipping. If the item is $10 to ship....that is what I charge. No handling fees, no box fees, no gas money because I have to drive to the post office fees, and no extra 3% because you used Paypal. As far as I am concerned, that is all the price of doing business. Am I going to get rich any time soon? Hell no.....

Am I fair to the customers about shipping? I would say yes.

People ask me if I combine shipping.....well yes and no.....I mean if one average Dragon armor kit to the US is $13.80 via Air, then no, 2 of them isn't going to be $27.60. Problem is, with Canada Post, once you breech that 1kg (2.2lbs for you non metric type), then Canada Post forces you to ship via US Expedited, which is more money again, so those same 2 Dragon kits, would be about $20 give or take to ship.

International is even worse. Up to 1kg, and it is $14 Surface.....they say it should only take 4-6 weeks for delivery. Well I have yet to see a parcel get to Europe in less than 8 weeks, and Australia is usually 10 weeks. International Air.....don't even get me started on those prices.

Now if I have an International Customer purchase more than one kit, generally it ends up being cheaper to send each kit, individually, than ship them out all in one box. Good example, I recently had a gentleman in Bangkok purchase 3 Dragon kits. If I was to ship them together in the same box, it was a close to $80 via Surface. If I shipped them individually, it was $14 each for 2 kits, and $19 for the third kit (as it weighed quite a bit more). $47 to ship separately, versus shipping them all in one box for $80+......where is the logic in that?

Canadian destinations, as a small business owner, I have a small business account with Canada Post, and that allows me to ship a parcel Expedited Post for Regular Post rates. The only real difference is that it theoretically will get their faster, which I think is a crock.....might be a day quicker depending on where it is going. However it then comes automatically with insurance and a tracking number, and I put the buyer's e-mail into the tracking notification so they know when it is sent, when it arrives and if there are any problems along the way

While I might not have the best prices around, (although I try, and usually succeed), I consider myself fair on my shipping, when I only charge what I am charged from the PO.

Yes people still complain about shipping rates.....but what am I to do? If an item costs $14 to ship....am I only going to charge the customer $10 and take a loss? Not likely. Considering that I charge what I am quoted....and don't add on any extras like handling fees and such.....

But like the old saying goes, you can make most of the people happy most of the time, but not all the people all the time.....

As far as boxes go? I have yet to have to pay for a box to ship an article in. Between my wife bringing home printer paper boxes from work for larger items, and me raiding the cardboard box bin at my local Liquor Store, I get all the boxes I need, and it ends up helping the environment as I am reusing the boxes.

Hi Scott
You wrote: "While I might not have the best prices around, (although I try, and usually succeed), I consider myself fair on my shipping, when I only charge what I am charged from the PO. people still complain about shipping rates.....but what am I to do? If an item costs $14 to ship....am I only going to charge the customer $10 and take a loss? Not likely. Considering that I charge what I am quoted....and don't add on any extras like handling fees and such....."

I don't think the rant is about international rates but the shipping rates some "Sellers" ( I call them crooks) in the US are charging for shipping in country! International Rates can be excessive I just sent a package to the Ukraine it weighed about 15 Pounds and Cost $91.00 to send! But it is what it cost so no complaint. It is the Idiots (Another word for some of these e-bay Sellers!) are charging for Exorbant Rates on Domestic shippments that has most of us Upset!
That said thought there are Honest sellers on E-Bay even today but I am thinking that sooner or later E-Bay will go by the way of the DoDo bird as they keep monkeying around with it and keep making it harder to use and more frustrating! So in the Long run I suspect that this will be a mute point as I do believe that E-bay will just "Change" (Charge) them selves out of business. If you look at the Model Section most are E-Bay stors that are not selling much and this is spreading through out E-Bay as folks get fed up. As I stated before I still use E-Bay but not like before and only for what I consider a deal or for something I can't find someplace else.
My 4 cents this time (2 plus 2 =4)
Jeff