OT: Two out of Three eBayers ...

[Tabe]

Originally Posted by samosa4u

I get overcharged by $7, $14 and sometimes $20!

You mean they are somehow charging you more than what's specified in the listing for a shipping charge? No? Then you're not being overcharged.

[buymycards]

I see that you are from Canada. Are you complaining about sellers charging you more than the actual cost to ship to Canada?

It costs $12.25 to ship a small package to Canada. This covers up to 8 ounces. That 8 ounces includes the packaging material, so that can easily eat up 3-4 of your 8 ounces. There is a small discount (61 cents) for using eBay/PayPal to print the shipping label, but that is more than offset because eBay and PayPal both collect fees on the shipping costs.

If you have a heavier package, it costs $20.75 to ship up to 32 ounces. Again, there is a discount ($1.04) for using eBay/PayPal labels, but the seller still pays around $2.40 in fees to eBay and PayPal.

For cheap single cards, some sellers use a PWE, including me, but the rules that are in place do not allow for that. All merchandise entering Canada is required to be shipped using the parcel rates, even if it is one card.

There is also a rate for flats/large envelopes, but again, the rules prohibit sending merchandise by this method. So, you can ask the seller to send a photo or a similar item using the flats rate, but, because you cannot purchase tracking for a flat, sellers are reluctant to use this method.

Rick

[whiteymet]

Just got cards sent in a plain envelope with one 55 cent stamp. Was charged $3.00 as per the listing!

I don't care if they send it to me for $3 but not just one stamp. Overcharged by $2.45

[buymycards]

Originally Posted by whiteymet

Just got cards sent in a plain envelope with one 55 cent stamp. Was charged $3.00 as per the listing!

I don't care if they send it to me for $3 but not just one stamp. Overcharged by $2.45

I agree with you on that kind of situation.

[sbfinley]

A) I’ve always factored the cost of shipping listed into a purchase I’ve made regardless of the item.

B) I’ve always used free shipping and just factored the cost of shipping into my pricing. For auctions (I really don’t run that many) I just add $3.

Originally Posted by whiteymet

Just got cards sent in a plain envelope with one 55 cent stamp. Was charged $3.00 as per the listing!

I don't care if they send it to me for $3 but not just one stamp. Overcharged by $2.45

This is different though and I can honestly say that’s never happened. Well... actually I once received a BVG graded Delong card wrapped in brown paper (imagine an old textbook cover) like a present with my address written on the outside. Just the card and the paper. It said “enjoy!”, however on the paper so I couldn’t even be mad. I’ll even add it packages of my own once in a blue moon.

[lowpopper]

I do free shipping. Buy from me

[buymycards]

Originally Posted by lowpopper

I do free shipping. Buy from me

The OP who is complaining is from Canada. Do you ship to Canada for free?

[Gradedcardman]

I charge $4.50 shipping for the first item then additional .50 for all other cards. These are 99% of the time graded cards. The only time I have to refund shipping is when the buyer does not read the full description or wait for the invoice.

[buymycards]

Originally Posted by Gradedcardman

I charge $4.50 shipping for the first item then additional .50 for all other cards. These are 99% of the time graded cards. The only time I have to refund shipping is when the buyer does not read the full description or wait for the invoice.

$4.50 is very reasonable for a graded card, especially when you consider that eBay and PayPal are taking 54 cents in fees out of your $4.50. If you are shipping in a box and charging the 8 oz rate and using eBay/PayPal shipping, it is costing you between $3.21 and $3.67 for postage. This doesn't leave much to cover the cost of the box, cushioning, paper, ink, and tape and it doesn't leave anything left over for handling or your time.

I don't worry about my time. If I did, I would be better off working at convenience store for $8 an hour rather than spend countless hours scanning, listing, shipping, etc. But, I enjoy what I am doing, I am making a little money, and I can do it from my home, surrounded by my cards and watching the Brewers on TV.

Rick

[90feetaway]

I try to keep costs reasonable when selling on the 'bay' but factor in cost of materials etc. These aren't free to the seller of course so those costs need to be passed on. That said, if I see an overly excessive s/h cost when buying, I just move on.

[todeen]

Originally Posted by whiteymet

Just got cards sent in a plain envelope with one 55 cent stamp. Was charged $3.00 as per the listing!

I don't care if they send it to me for $3 but not just one stamp. Overcharged by $2.45

+1 agree - this drives me bonkers!

[Michael B]

Originally Posted by whiteymet

Just got cards sent in a plain envelope with one 55 cent stamp. Was charged $3.00 as per the listing!

I don't care if they send it to me for $3 but not just one stamp. Overcharged by $2.45

I would have to disagree. There is a cost for the packaging, time to package the item and time to take it to the post office. Those all have value. It is not a 'postage charge', it is shipping and handling fee. Every seller I look at has it in their listings. I take that into account. Additionally, I have never had a seller who did not combine postage on multiple items. If I had an item I was shipping in a #10 business envelope and it cost less than a dollar I would probably not charge $3.00, but I would also not charge 55¢ either. It is fine to say that you do not charge for shipping. Ebay rewards sellers that do that. However, they are not selling an item for $7 that cost them $5. They would lose money all the time. I would suspect that many of them are pricing their items with a fair profit after fees and shipping costs.

[sbfinley]

Originally Posted by Michael B

I would have to disagree. There is a cost for the packaging, time to package the item and time to take it to the post office. Those all have value. It is not a 'postage charge', it is shipping and handling fee. Every seller I look at has it in their listings. I take that into account. Additionally, I have never had a seller who did not combine postage on multiple items. If I had an item I was shipping in a #10 business envelope and it cost less than a dollar I would probably not charge $3.00, but I would also not charge 55¢ either. It is fine to say that you do not charge for shipping. Ebay rewards sellers that do that. However, they are not selling an item for $7 that cost them $5. They would lose money all the time. I would suspect that many of them are pricing their items with a fair profit after fees and shipping costs.

In this scenario it's less about the cost of someone's shipping, time, and materials than about their lack of care. I buy hundreds of signed cards at SCN to round out sets and have no problem with PWE's if it's announced up front. I'm not buying the condition, I'm buying the signed card. It's honestly fair however, to expect anything over a $2 shipping charge to include at least a bubble mailer. If it's worth it a seller to charge $5-$6 for a single cheaper card for "their time and materials" sure - if I really want it I'll pay for it and have. But if you charge more than $2 for shipping and then out a PWE that's just cheap and lazy. If you are on eBay you're also going to open yourself up to dishonest people saying they never received the item.

[toledo_mudhen]

Asa seller I do free shipping and just calculate a modest shipping cost into the BIN or Starting bid price - this is for US Addresses only tho. Normally as a buyer I also tend to look for sellers with Free Shipping. I can see how there would be all kinds of discrepancy for items that need to go to Canada.

[glynparson]

I read the terms ahead of time and then pay what they charge me. I don’t try and negotiate after the deal that doesn’t seem fair to me. Simple addition and subtraction was never difficult so it isn’t hard to subtract the shipping cost from what I am willing to pay.

[MULLINS5]

I've been selling off my hockey cards and memorabilia and after three weeks of Canadians not paying, griping about shipping costs, negotiating after auctions on the shipping, etc, I ended shipping to Canada.

I buy a fair amount of cards from Canada and never, ever complain about the shipping because it was agreed upon prior to bidding/purchase. I understand maybe being a little perturbed paying for a particular service (Priority) and it arriving in the mail with a stamp - but that's not the case here as the OP is looking at postage he paid vs postage the seller paid.

[timn1]

Most auction houses do the same thing - but I agree with other posters, shipping and handling are real costs for businesses. As long as they're upfront about the charges, I don't see the problem. You don't have to buy from them if it's excessive to you.

Originally Posted by Tabe

You mean they are somehow charging you more than what's specified in the listing for a shipping charge? No? Then you're not being overcharged.

[forceplay sport]

several things I consider when dealing with Ebay. One is of course feedback rating and the other is description and shipping fees, if I dont feel comfortable about these things I dont bother with them, no matter how bad I want (or need) the item. I suppose you could ask the seller about this before bidding or buying. Just my 2 cents .