Auction Letters - BEWARE

[Leon]

Originally Posted by keithsky

Never could understand the buyers premium in the auction houses. Sellers preminm yes for the privalige of selling your item but the buyer gets hit with 3 fees. The cost of the item he won. Next a 19 or 20% buyers premium which is the biggest joke, then a shipping fee which is always inflated. So 3 fees and the seller just one fee. There are a few auction houses that don't charge buyers prem and it's great. It's just like Ebay buy the item and pay for shipping. Simple. Sure there is cost which they all say but if some companies can do without a buyers prem and have successful auctions then they all should try. Maybe do it one time and see how it goes. When it gets to 20% for the privilage of throwing my money away to buy an item I go elsewhere. What if you went to a store to buy an item, went to the cash register paid for the item, paid the tax, (since there is no shipping) and then they hit you with a 20% fee for shopping there on top of everything. Same deal.

In any business that is a "for profit" business, there has to be profit or there will be no business. The key is to finding the company willing to take less fees, overall, and get the same or better realized prices. It's that easy. I would forget about if it is a buyers, sellers or exaggerated shipping fee. Just add them up, whatever they are, and you will have a premise to go one when selling or buying. Also, regardless if it is a buyers or sellers fee, it's coming out of the sellers items' proceeds. Buyers understand and figure it into the equation when bidding. I know I do.