Auction House Shipping Price, what is reasonable?

[scooter729]

I just checked the USPS site - insurance to ship an item with a declared value of $520 would be $7.90.

So even if the card was sent Priority for another 5 bucks, that brings the total to $12.90.

$18.50 makes it sound like shipping is a profit center for the auction company!

[asphaltman]

$18.50 for that would drive me crazy. What would also drive me crazy is paying over the top shipping prices and also getting an email that my item will go out in the next 10 business days - (not the auction house you're speaking of). If you're going to drag me over the coals for a shipping price, at least get the damn thing in the mail!

[glchen]

It will depend on how they ship the card. If they ship the card via Priority Mail Small Flat Rate box, the cost w/ the new USPS rates going into effect tomorrow, it is $5.35. If they ship the card in a Medium Flat Rate box, the cost is $11.35. I know Medium is overkill, but some auction houses do the box within a box shipping, for full protection which is kind of nice sometimes.

Signature confirmation is $2.05
Insurance for $500 is $6.85

Therefore, if they ship in a small flat rate box with Sig and Insurance: $14.85
Medium w/ Sig + Insurance: $20.25

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by glchen

It will depend on how they ship the card. If they ship the card via Priority Mail Small Flat Rate box, the cost w/ the new USPS rates going into effect tomorrow, it is $5.35. If they ship the card in a Medium Flat Rate box, the cost is $11.35. I know Medium is overkill, but some auction houses do the box within a box shipping, for full protection which is kind of nice sometimes.

Signature confirmation is $2.05
Insurance for $500 is $6.85

Therefore, if they ship in a small flat rate box with Sig and Insurance: $14.85
Medium w/ Sig + Insurance: $20.25

With BP attached the Insurance would actually be $8.95 alone.

Yeah, I could actually live with the $18.50 pricetag.

I recently received a package from an auction house. FedEx Home Delivery. 3 lb. package. Actual cost was under 15 bucks including Insurance.

I was charged $35.95.

[sycks22]

There was an auction house a couple months back that originally had an insurance fee of $72 for my $5k auction win with only cards, no big frames or anything. After I called them up and told them no auction house has ever charged over $35 for invoices over $6k they backed up and were easy to deal with. If you call and talk to most auction houses they'll drop the prices, that's what seems shady to me. It's like a negotiation to how much they'll make on you. There are also a couple exceptions to the rule that only charge you what it actually costs for them to ship.

[Hankphenom]

I won an S110 Silk pillow case in the November Heritage auction for a little more than a grand (lesser condition, but nicely framed). They referred me to three Dallas shipping companies for third-party shipping, which surprised me to begin with because I assumed an outfit Heritage's size would do their own shipping. The lowest estimate was $230! I knew it would cost extra to ship glass, but had factored in $100 or so for that. I was so pissed I told Heritage to re-consign it to their next sports auction, and I really don't care if I lose money on that. I just wouldn't pay that much to have it shipped, that's all. If I put it on the wall, every time I looked at it I'd think of how much it cost just to get the damn thing. As for Hunt's, I just got a check for a past auction, minus $12 for items they returned as not worthy of the auction. But they had accepted those items personally at a show. So let's see here: you take my items in person, then when you get them back to the shop you decide they don't make the cut because now you have better ones for your auction, so you charge ME to return them. Good deal for YOU! We all know the shipping's padded, been part of the game for a long time, but don't insult me. Remember when that was a major profit center for eBay sellers, not so long ago? I don't know what changed, but nowadays eBay shipping is either cheap or, in many cases, free. Always makes me want to bid higher. Cool.
Hank Thomas

[BeanTown]

Shipping is basically a profit center. Most auctions use a third party for insurance as well. I think auctions all follow suit with what other auction companies are doing. Hunt has been around for a long time. Their website is the same look as it was 15 years ago and NOT much has changed.

I will say that once I brought to their attention a shipping price I had a problem with. It was on a framed jersey. The jersey sold for like 200.00 and then they wanted another 100.00 in charges. None of this was included in the description nor was it mentioned that the lot would have accessive shipping charges on it. I'm sure the actual shipping price was over what they charge me, but I think they should warn/advise potential buyers ahead of time then work with me after. They did work with me where all is good.

A bigger issue with Hunt is how they say you must bid in 10% incraments. However if you make a "proxy bid" you can just type in 10% plus 1.00 and then you basically locked up the next 2 spots making the other bidder pay way more than what he should. Proxy bids should only be allowed if they follow the 10% rule. Most auctions companies practice this pattern, however Hunt does not.

Sorry for rambling on about Hunt but it just came to my mind when Dan pointed out the shipping price. I think Hunt should address both issues IMO.

Jimbo (JC Clarke)

[MilBraves]

"I'm curious as to others experience with Mears, after my last debacle with their shipping department."


Their shipping is HORRIBLE. I ordered a pennant from them. It took a month, and numerous calls and emails to some guy named TJ, who was head of their shipping and Troy Kinunen, before I received the pennant. TJ had told me he was going to pack it and ship it himself the next day, after one of the calls. A week and a half later, still hadn't received the pennant, and I live only 25 miles away from them. More phone calls and emails and finally received it.

Scott Heibler

[glchen]

About Mears, you know, I haven't won anything from them recently, but I have won a few things from their auctions in the past. I really don't remember anything about about them. I thought that the shipping fees were reasonable and I received the items promptly.

For example, looking at one of my old invoices from May 2010, I won 2 slabbed cards from them for ~$100 after BP, my shipping was $5.95 and $2 insurance. Maybe a little high compared to if I bought similar cards from ebay. On ebay, I would have expected the shipping to be $3.50 total with no insurance. Mears shipped the cards in a box, while on ebay, most sellers just ship in bubble mailers.

[danmckee]

Originally Posted by glchen

It will depend on how they ship the card. If they ship the card via Priority Mail Small Flat Rate box, the cost w/ the new USPS rates going into effect tomorrow, it is $5.35. If they ship the card in a Medium Flat Rate box, the cost is $11.35. I know Medium is overkill, but some auction houses do the box within a box shipping, for full protection which is kind of nice sometimes.

Signature confirmation is $2.05
Insurance for $500 is $6.85

Therefore, if they ship in a small flat rate box with Sig and Insurance: $14.85
Medium w/ Sig + Insurance: $20.25

Shipping insured with signature confirmation is just STUPID! You have to sign for insured items and the insured numbers can be tracked at any post office computer just like tracking can be from yours. This makes no sense. It is paying double for the same service.

[ValKehl]

I pretty much agree with Dan regarding it being a waste of $ to to pay the USPS for a signature confirmation as well as USPS insurance. The exception would be if an item is insured for $200 or less, because the USPS carrier isn't required to obtain a signature upon delivery. When an item is insured for more than $200, the carrier is required to obtain a signature upon delivery - this is why there is a sizeable increase in the USPS fee for insurance from $200 of coverage to the $200-$300 coverage level.
Val

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by danmckee

Shipping insured with signature confirmation is just STUPID! You have to sign for insured items and the insured numbers can be tracked at any post office computer just like tracking can be from yours. This makes no sense. It is paying double for the same service.

As far as I know, Paypal won't protect the seller on packages over $250 unless it has signature confirmation, even if delivery confirmation indicates a package has been delivered.

They don't care if it can be tracked from a post office computer. The information has to be available on-line to them.

[Exhibitman]

The fact that the AHs will drop their shipping prices readily if you ask is proof that it is a profit center.

The fact that the auctioneer uses a more expensive system than USPS is their choice, not mine, and not my problem. I should not have to pay for it. USPS is quite good; the 'safety' issue is BS. I use it for all Ebay sales and have never had a lost item. The few lost items I've had as an Ebay purchaser have been overseas items lost in customs. Some of the smaller auctioneers ship their stuff USPS and do just fine.

Any AH should be insured on its own policy for loss of inventory including shipping, based on total sales value. Purchasing extremely expensive per-item insurance is simply the AH foisting off an internal operating cost onto the buyer.

If you have your own collectibles insurance odds are that you have your own insurance coverage for losses in shipping.

[buymycards]

I find it amazing that people are willing to pay 15-20% bp to auction houses plus high shipping charges. In addition, most of the time the shipping charges can't be calculated in advance because you can't be sure how many lots will be won.

On the opposite end of the scale, ebay buyers would never put up with a buyers premium and ebay sellers get complaints if shipping for a single card is over two bucks.

Many auction houses don't accept Paypal, so in most cases signature confirmation is not an issue. Why pay for two signatures if you can get by with the signature for an insured package? For items under $200, it is a little cheaper to insure the package for $201 and get a signature instead of paying for signature confirmation.

For a single card, using Priority Mail is overkill. Put the card in a firm photo mailer and mail it First Class for a couple of bucks. You can add insurance to the photo mailer.

[mcap100176]

Shipping from my 1 card in the Goodwin Auction was $11.45. Talk about overkill on the packaging......4 different boxes/envelopes......

[cardsnstuff]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

As far as I know, Paypal won't protect the seller on packages over $250 unless it has signature confirmation, even if delivery confirmation indicates a package has been delivered.

They don't care if it can be tracked from a post office computer. The information has to be available on-line to them.

Didn't read if this was mentioned earlier didn't read all the posts yet, pay pal doesn't require signature confirmation for orders under $650.

[buymycards]

Originally Posted by cardsnstuff

Didn't read if this was mentioned earlier didn't read all the posts yet, pay pal doesn't require signature confirmation for orders under $650.

Actually, the number is now $750. From PP's website:

Signature confirmation, if the full amount of the payment including shipping and taxes exceeds a fixed amount (based on the currency of the payment) from the signature confirmation threshold table below. Signature confirmation is online documentation, viewable at the shipping company’s website, indicating that the item was signed for.

U.S. Dollar:

750 USD

[tiger8mush]

i won 3 SGC cards (one lot) in the Hunt Auction this week for $68, they are charging $10 S/H

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by scooter729

I just checked the USPS site - insurance to ship an item with a declared value of $520 would be $7.90.

So even if the card was sent Priority for another 5 bucks, that brings the total to $12.90.

$18.50 makes it sound like shipping is a profit center for the auction company!

I keep seeing people use USPS prices as part of their argument against auction house shipping costs, but it's important to realize that most of them do NO use USPS. You really have to compare apples to apples here.