Auction House Shipping Fee

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Posted By: RogerS 

Folks,

I heard the services from Mastro are very good that they would even send u the lots before u actually paid for them. However, I am not sure how Mastro calculate the shipping fee being charged on you guys since I never won anything from them. But I won a lot on Leland and their services are quite bad. I sent personal check to them and cleared on Dec18. I called them they said they sent out my lot on Dec27 by UPS GROUND. So far, I still haven't received my lot. They charged me $47.51 on shipping but I just realized they actually overcharged me. I checked the rate on UPS site and $47.51 is in fact for the Next Day delivery services. I am very pissed right now since I was thinking to open the item on Boxing Day but I have received nothing so far and they even overcharged me. Please don't tell me they charge me some fees on handling and packaging materials. Didn't they charge us 15% commission already?

Does anyone know how they come up with that $47.51 shipping fee? I won my lot at $6500. That $47.51 fee is correct (assuming they buy full insurance on my item)

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Posted By: quan

Roger keep in mind that UPS is off Dec 31/Jan 1st. I also have a UPS ground package going from Texas to Cali on Dec 27 and it won't arrive until Jan 3rd...so depending on where you are in relation to Leland it may take even longer.

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Posted By: scgaynor

The shipping prices may seem high, but they are actually justified most of the time. Most people don't realize the incredible overhead that Mastro and Lelands carry.

Your 15% buyers premium goes to pay for the catalog. The high quality catalogs that you get cost these guys in the hundreds of thousands to produce.

The high shipping charges are a result of these auction houses having to pay 50-100K a year for full time packing people.

Scott

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Posted By: leon

My feeling is that Mastro makes a lot more in their auctions than the 100k-150k the catalogues cost. I definitely understand that they are expensive but if Mastro nets 5 million in revenue and they get 10% from the consignor, and 15% from the buyers they are making about 1.25 million of GROSS profit.....I know those highly paid staffers earn big bucks but I would think Bill ain't going broke....as far as the shipping fees I have always been ok with all of the auction houses....they aren't making their money on shipping and you are probably correct in that they just break even, at best, on them....all things considered....best regards all

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Posted By: TBob

what the heck is "Boxing Day????"

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Posted By: runscott

I would not get too excited about Leon getting his items prior to payment - that's an aberration due to the fact that they know him extremely well. I love doing business with the few auction houses I use, and have no complaints, but I never hold my breath waiting for items to arrive.

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Posted By: Elliot

Boxing Day is December 26th---the day after Christmas. In Canada, businesses stay shut, but it is the biggest shopping day of the year.

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Posted By: Elliot

Boxing Day is so called because on this day it was the customary for tradesmen to collect their Christmas boxes or gifts in return for good service throughout the year. Also, it included giving money and other gifts to charitable institutions, and the needy.

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Posted By: scgaynor

Howdy Leon, I think that 100K to 150K is low for what Mastro spends on a catalog, I would at least double that amount.

I don't think that most people understand the overhead that these guys carry. The people who work there make good money, both Mastro and Lelands have a nice office space in higher rent areas, then figure in heat, light, electricity, advertising, points on bank credit, travel, etc. These guys get killed in overhead. They may not be starving, but they don't make near as much money as most people think. That 1.2 million gets spent very quickly.

Scott

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Posted By: Hankron

I beleive it was Lew Lipset, not MastroNet, Leon or whomever was talking about. I'm confident that MastroNet doesn't send out the stuff before receiving payment. Not a criticism, because I don't either.

MastroNet's shipping may be high (I don't have my records, but know they aren't cheap). All of the big auction houses charge an arm and a leg for shipping. This may be because they have a packaging staff, and also because there's a 'surcharge.' There's nothing you can do about it, but take it into consideration when you are bidding. For better or for worse, MastroNet ain't eBay.

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Posted By: Hankron

I wish to note that MastroNet is full service and often at their expence. For example, I was doing some research on painting, and contacted Doug Allen about if I could talk to someone there. There was no auction going on I so wasn't a current or potential bidder. Lo and hebold, Rob Lifson looked up my name and called me at my home. It was about a half hour New Jersey to Seattle phone call at his expense .... I've had similar if not as extreme out-of-thier-pocket experiences with MastroNet. So I don't fault them if some of their charges at first blush seem high. If it pays for their service, it seems to be money well spent.

So it makes anyone feel any better, your shipping charges pay for my long distance phone calls. Seems fair to me.

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Posted By: TBob

the one day when you could go out and use fisticuffs against anyone determined to be deserving, without penalty of law, like child abusers, serial killers or people who drive slower than the speed limit in the left lane of traffic.

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Posted By: leon

It was BOTH Mastro and Lew Lipset that sent my stuff to me BEFORE they got my money. I do have a minor personal/business relationship with both so they probably figured they could get a hold of me if I didn't pay....it sure isn't because I am one of their biggest customers ....regards all....

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Posted By: Elliot

Spoken like a true lawyer

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Posted By: runscott

gimme a call and I'll tell you my "huge pre-1900 tobacco baseball card find" almost-story

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Posted By: Brian H.

was also the day (December 26, 1908) that boxing heavyweight Jack Johnson won the title from the 3:1 favorite, Tommy Burns, and became the first black heavyweight champion....

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Posted By: Julie Vognar

I think I learned that in "Murder in the Cathedral," which, if anyone has 33 1/3, tape or cd of, I would give my eyeteeth to get again...

I know, wrong crowd...

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Posted By: Lee Behrens

Gee, Bob I never thought you had it in you.

I don't think I'm going to bid against you anymore. (Where's the smiley site when you need it?)

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Posted By: jay behrens

Julie, sure you don't want it on 8 track? :-p

Jay

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Posted By: Julie Vognar

I had on 33 1/3s, only. Never saw it since. Robert Donat played the Archbishop.

The last temptation is the greatest treason
To do the right thing for the wrong reason...