Shipping and handling - how much is too much?

[Archive]

Posted By: Jodi Birkholm

I think it only proper to add that I felt just like the original poster in the days when I was strictly a collector. Sometimes it can be difficult to see the other perspective when you've only lived on one side of the mountain. Keep in mind that some dealers are not strictly one-man operations; the higher-volume sellers have to employ people to package and ship everything, hence their extra "handling" fee. While I agree that these extra fees can hardly be considered as fun as attending a Peaches & Herb reunion concert, it's unfortunately a fact of life. People who are in the market to purchase a Ronco "Pocket Fisherman" know that they're not going to talk Mr. Popeil down to 41 cents in shipping simply because they take issue to the handling charge! To reiterate, if the shipping seems too high, perhaps patience is your best virtue. If the item in question is too rare to pass by, then factor shipping costs into your bid in order to secure an item that's long been on your want list!