My turn to whine about an AH - Saco River

[tiger8mush]

I won a $90 card (I know, big spender) in last week's Saco River Auction. I received an email invoice indicating a $20 shipping fee exactly one week ago. I promptly replied to the email requesting an adjusted shipping charge. I've since received 3 more email invoices from them, each with the same $20 shipping charge and no communication/correspondence. I've replied to each of those as well, with no reply other than another copy of the invoice. I also PM'd the Saco River Auction member here, but no reply from him either.

Anyone have a similar experience? Was there fine print I agreed to when bidding that I'd pay 20% shipping fee? I guess the next step is to call, but its a PITA for me (no celly, no long distance home phone, long distance calls are tracked at work). I guess they'll call me (or email) if they ever want me to pay.

Here are shipping charges I've been charged by other auction houses the past year or so:
I won a $50 card from JVSC, was charged $3 shipping.
Heritage $500+, $12.60 shipping/handling.
Goodwin $1k+, $22.25 shipping
BST $1k+, $10 shipping
Sterling $250+, $8 shipping
LOTG $500+, $7.20 shipping
B&L $500+, $8 shipping
Baggers $100+, $4 shipping

Ironically, Saco River is likely the closest to me (I'm in Connecticut).

Ok, thanks for listening. Now I feel like part of the gang!
Rob

p.s. my name is Rob Gordy and I approve my whining

[vintagesportscollector]

That's a ridiculous shipping charge. I will never bid in Saco, ever again (unless they have something I really need or even don't need), in fact I will never visit or drive thru the State of Maine again, and in fact I'll never go near a river or any body of water, for that matter, ever again...

In all seriousness, that is an excessive shipping charge and should be adjusted. Good Luck! (If you get this resolved keep me posted, because I like Lobster).

[4815162342]

I think we have all learned a valuable lesson here, and that is that you and my dad are the only two people left on earth who don't own a cellphone.

[slipk1068]

In March 2014 I questioned a $15 shipping charge on a $30 lot of 5 raw cards. I thought that was ridiculous. Here is an excerpt from the explanation I received:

I employ a full-time shipper who makes $15 per hour. If you figure it may take him 20 minutes to process and pack your order, I'm into it for $5 before I even purchase postage, insurance or pay for the bubble wrap and the box. I purchase roughly $1000 every two weeks in bubble wrap, peanuts, boxes and tape. The cost of shipping is enormous, however we like giving customers the option and the convenience of having the shipping done in house, rather than using a packing company who gets ridiculous rates for their service.

edit:

My mistake. The lot was 2 PSA graded cards and 2 raw cards

[baseball tourist]

Does look like a candidate for adjusted shipping. Good luck.

MLB Auctions - $70 lineup card, shipping from NYC to Canadian address - charged $50 USD! Criminal!

[swarmee]

Originally Posted by slipk1068

I employ a full-time shipper who makes $15 per hour. If you figure it may take him 20 minutes to process and pack your order, I'm into it for $5 before I even purchase postage, insurance or pay for the bubble wrap and the box.

Isn't overhead what some of the "BUYER'S PREMIUM" is supposed to take care of? And if a person is making $15 an hour, I'd expect way more than three boxes packed per hour. That seems like a small throughput. You didn't mention the auction house in your post; was it the same one in the top of the thread?

[Sophiedog]

Originally Posted by slipk1068

In March 2014 I questioned a $15 shipping charge on a $30 lot of 5 raw cards. I thought that was ridiculous. Here is an excerpt from the explanation I received:

I employ a full-time shipper who makes $15 per hour. If you figure it may take him 20 minutes to process and pack your order, I'm into it for $5 before I even purchase postage, insurance or pay for the bubble wrap and the box. I purchase roughly $1000 every two weeks in bubble wrap, peanuts, boxes and tape. The cost of shipping is enormous, however we like giving customers the option and the convenience of having the shipping done in house, rather than using a packing company who gets ridiculous rates for their service.

edit:

My mistake. The lot was 2 PSA graded cards and 2 raw cards

$1000 every 2 weeks? Who is that auction house? That's a LOT of shipping supplies.

[ullmandds]

sadly...shipping has become an income generator for many businesses these days.

[Mrc32]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

sadly...shipping has become an income generator for many businesses these days.

Only for bad businesses.

[The Nasty Nati]

I had a similar experience with their last auction.

Won a card for $80, with the 21% premium it came to $96.80 and then they charged me an additional $15 for shipping for a grand total of $111.80.

I emailed them about the $15 shipping charge and they basically sent me an email saying "We provide shipping as a service to our customers"...well thanks. I also wasn't too happy that the card I received had a large crease on it that didn't show up in the pictured scan nor was it ever mentioned in the description. Oh well...kudos for an impressive EPDG find.

A few days ago I won a few cards at JVSC for $135.50, shipping was FREE (sent them a check). Without sending a check the shipping would have only been $5. God Bless Joe's.

[earlywynnfan]

Non-cel phone owner here!

I just won two baseballs from another auction house, $70 hammer price. Shipping was $25. After complaining, they called me back with $22.50. I don't plan on bidding with them again.

[Jay Wolt]

Originally Posted by The Nasty Nati

A few days ago I won a few cards at JVSC for $135.50, shipping was FREE (sent them a check). Without sending a check the shipping would have only been $5. God Bless Joe's.

And Joe's Buyers Premium is zero %
You win a card for $50 & pay by check, your cost is $50 dlvd
Joe & Tim are the best!

[barrysloate]

Originally Posted by 4815162342

I think we have all learned a valuable lesson here, and that is that you and my dad are the only two people left on earth who don't own a cellphone.

I don't have a cellphone, and never did. Make that three.

[footlong]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

I don't have a cellphone, and never did. Make that three.

I don't own one either. I don't know if we're right or the rest of the world is.

[Texxxx]

Originally Posted by footlong

I don't know if we're right or the rest of the world is.

They said that about the indoor toilet when it came around.

[PM770]

Originally Posted by footlong

I don't own one either. I don't know if we're right or the rest of the world is.

Me five!

[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.

[4815162342]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

I don't have a cellphone, and never did. Make that three.

Originally Posted by footlong

I don't own one either. I don't know if we're right or the rest of the world is.

Originally Posted by PM770

Me five!

How long does it take your grandkids to print all of these Net54 posts to put on your wall?

[jcmtiger]

Originally Posted by footlong

I don't own one either. I don't know if we're right or the rest of the world is.

I grew up without cell phones, we used pay phone in phone booths, that worked for me and the world. I call this cell phone issue the one of the biggest scams in the world. A trick on society. I do have a cell phone now, not many incoming or outgoing calls.. On a side note I had a trac phone which I call my Tiger Woods phone, he should have had this phone, throw away.

[Tom S.]

Same experience for me too. I won one card for $125 and got jobbed with the $20 shipping/handling fee (on top of the 21% "internet premium").

For $20, I would have expected priority shipping in a sturdy box package. Instead, it comes in a bubble mailer that the FedEx guy leaves on my front porch.

If I knew that the S/H was going to be that exorbitant, I would not have bid on any of their lots. Rest assured, I will never participate in one of their auctions again.

Tom $@ndl!n