How Much is too Much Shipping Charges- Auction Houses

[packs]

From an August Auction House purchase:

Sub-Total: $30.00
Buyers Premium: $5.70
Shipping: $13.91
Insurance: $3.00
Total: $52.61


Shipping and insurance amounted to more than half of what I paid for the card.

[keithsky]

To me as the auction house writes there description there isn't any reason they can't put some ballpark figure for a shipping cost. Basicly it only cost about 8-10.00 to ship a baseball just about anywhere in the US so use that. Even put the word Approx. so they are covered if it is a little more but at least you know where they are coming from. If they put 20.00 then bypass it and don't bid if you think it's a ripoff. The only reason the cost would be more would be the insurance. A 50.00 Pete Rose ball for insurance isn't going to be the same as a 5000.00 Babe Ruth ball so as a buyer you know it's going to definitly be more than the 10.00 for shipping. At least the AH gives the buyer an idea what it will be instead of after the auction when you get the invoice they hit you wil a 25.00 shipping and insurance for a Rose ball. I'ts scarry to get that invoice to see how much they will hit you for for your winning. Seems kind of simple to me but what do I know. That way with a ballpark shipping cost in the description the buyer has a idea and the AH doesn't get buyer complaning about there surprise shipping cost they give the buyer.

[thecatspajamas]

I can pretty much guarantee that any AH would rather deal with a shipping complaint from a buyer who participated in their auction rather than not hearing any complaints because the same bidder did not participate in their auction because the AH warned them ahead of time that the shipping cost would be exorbitant. I'm not saying that having a hidden sky-high shipping price is a good business practice either, but generally speaking, it's not good to drive away potential customers before you have all of their money.

[smotan_02]

In the last REA Auction, the auction house covered all shipping and handling charges. I got the lot for a great deal and that was a very nice surprise. I've always been hesitant to do business with them (due to their realized prices), but definitely more likely from this way forward.

I also just won a legendary lot and was inversely surprised by the high shipping charges. It will also reflect my future bids (if any).

[Exhibitman]

Clean Sweep provides an estimate on shipping with every lot. It isn't totally accurate but it does help to have it there to consider.

[Republicaninmass]

Legendary adds their own insurance, as well as 2.50$ to every sale

[joyce02]

I just got 2 football helmets from VSA Auctions.

They charged $23.17 for postage which isn't too bad considering the helmets are a couple of Giants gamers and they are located in Minnesota and I live in New Jersey.

[GoCubsGo32]

It's pretty shady, to say the least. Not to mention, I tried contacting them about shipping cost days before the auction ended and they never got back to me. So I contacted them about the item a few days later and they were very fast to reply back.