My turn to whine about an AH - Saco River

[Buythatcard]

I just received a package from an AH which charged me $20 for shipping for a package that was worth $375 and weighed 7 ounces. If you sent that Priority mail plus insurance, it would have cost less than $8.00.

It's no use to complain about these outrageous fees. They will still charge you whatever they want.

Currently, I bid in over a dozen Auction Houses. I would say less than half of them are fair with their S/H costs. Moving forward, I have decided just not to bid in any of the AH's which have overcharged me.

If you are not happy with their S/H costs, just find another AH. Eventually, they will get the hint.

[packs]

This auction house shall remain nameless, but if you think you got it bad take a look at this BS:

Sub-Total: $30.00
Buyers Premium: $5.70
Shipping: $13.91
Insurance: $3.00
Amount Paid: $0.00
Total: $52.61


Charged me nearly 50% of my winning bid for shipping. I will never bid with them again, large or small.

[ibuysportsephemera]

My biggest complaint is that most don't disclose the estimated shipping costs. Nothing worse then winning a lot and then getting the final bill with outrageous shipping and insurance fees.

Jeff

[ibuysportsephemera]

Originally Posted by packs

This auction house shall remain nameless, but if you think you got it bad take a look at this BS:

Sub-Total: $30.00
Buyers Premium: $5.70
Shipping: $13.91
Insurance: $3.00
Amount Paid: $0.00
Total: $52.61


Charged me nearly 50% of my winning bid for shipping. I will never bid with them again, large or small.

Same thing just happened to me a few weeks ago. It is outrageous.

Jeff

[btcarfagno]

I was charged $55 by an auction house to ship a single photo worth $400. Needless to say I bitched and ended up paying $20. Still high but.....$55?

Tom C

[Buythatcard]

I agree that AH's should disclose up front what the S/H fees are. Then we can decide whether it's worth bidding at their site. If they post the fees upfront, then we have no right to complain.

There are more than enough AH's out there now. We can pick and choose who treat us fairly.

[frankbmd]

The Effective Buyer's Premium was created to quantify these whines.

Wouldn't it be nice if the AH used such a method before the auction closed?

http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=188256

[Buythatcard]

Frank,

I love the EBP formula. AH's should be using this.

So, instead of the already too high 20% BP that we now see, they would be stating a EBP of 25% - 30% or much higher.

One day when I have some spare time, I am going to calculate the EBP's that I have paid over the past year. Luckily, I have copies of every receipt.

[Cozumeleno]

Originally Posted by Buythatcard

I agree that AH's should disclose up front what the S/H fees are. Then we can decide whether it's worth bidding at their site. If they post the fees upfront, then we have no right to complain.

There are more than enough AH's out there now. We can pick and choose who treat us fairly.

I'm new to the whole AH thing - never used one. Is there a reason the shipping prices aren't disclosed up front?

[Leon]

Originally Posted by packs

This auction house shall remain nameless, but if you think you got it bad take a look at this BS:

Sub-Total: $30.00
Buyers Premium: $5.70
Shipping: $13.91
Insurance: $3.00
Amount Paid: $0.00
Total: $52.61


Charged me nearly 50% of my winning bid for shipping. I will never bid with them again, large or small.

If this was a card it was too much. If it was a stadium seat, not so much.

[drcy]

My mom was shopping online and said "Free shipping!" I informed her than nothing was free. $20 + $5 shipping and $25 with free shipping is the same price.

I remember when I sold an item for $220 shipped and the buyer asked how much of that was for shipping. I said "It's $218 with $2 for shipping or $2 with $218 for shipping. Take a pick, it doesn't matter to me." I can promise you my mom would have picked the former to save on shipping cost.

[pawpawdiv9]

i took part in Saco's Portland Pt.2
won item 125.00, BP was 26.25, and S/H was 15.00
also P.S. no cell phone ever here.

[packs]

Originally Posted by Leon

If this was a card it was too much. If it was a stadium seat, not so much.

This was a single card. The auction house is a complete turd and I will never bid with them again. Auction houses should take note of this thread. Even though this time I only spent $30, I would spend any amount of money for something I want. That is of course unless your business is selling it.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by packs

This was a single card. The auction house is a complete turd and I will never bid with them again. Anyone can PM me if you'd like to know who they were and not bid with them yourselves.

I understand your sentiment. I only mentioned what I did because I have shipped low cost, but very bulky, items that were expensive to ship. Even though an invoice might be $100, if it is 30 periodicals plus an over-sized but cheap sign , you will have shipping be 30% of the invoice....

We have all been way over charged on shipping at some point. Either call the auction and get them to amend it or do as you do, and don't bid with them. Personally, I have never been so upset about shipping costs I have said I will never bid with an AH again. But that is me and I have a fairly high tolerance for that kind of pain and just deal with it. To each their own.

ps..I should add that I HAVE called AH's many times and have always gotten what I wanted in fair shipping amendments. Though a few times I didn't bother and just ate it and moved on....

[packs]

The way I look at it is you're gouging me for as much as you can on a $30 purchase. That's poor business practices and a real turn off.

[ibuysportsephemera]

Originally Posted by Leon

I understand your sentiment. I only mentioned what I did because I have shipped low cost, but very bulky, items that were expensive to ship. Even though an invoice might be $100, if it is 30 periodicals plus an over-sized but cheap sign , you will have shipping be 30% of the invoice....

We have all been way over charged on shipping at some point. Either call the auction and get them to amend it or do as you do, and don't bid with them. Personally, I have never been so upset about shipping costs I have said I will never bid with an AH again. But that is me and I have a fairly high tolerance for that kind of pain and just deal with it. To each their own.

ps..I should add that I HAVE called AH's many times and have always gotten what I wanted in fair shipping amendments. Though a few times I didn't bother and just ate it and moved on....

Sorry to hijack the thread, but I have to give kudos to Leon. In the last B&L auction the shipping cost them more than I was asked to pay. B&L is the best. Thanks Leon.

Jeff