Power Sellers Unite

SlimJim · Joined: 23 Sep 2006 Posts: 13

Man, I sold this item, charged a really fair ship price not excessive nor looking to circumvent fees. It was less than 6.75, the package was not a tiny envelope either, not overly huge either, I'd say med small. K, so I get this message, from the customer, stating, the package cost - about half that to ship. The person said they would like the balance refunded. :?: I was like, nope! :shock: and I don't care if I get a negative either. Some people charge just ship, I charge ship and handle besides that, the price is what it is. I went on further to describe the handle fees, which *bay allows at a fair amount.
A>materials
Tape, ink, online fee, for postage, delivery confirmation, insurance and paper. Which is a very small percentage. I also pay my niece (6) and my son (3) 75 cent for each package they help me - trying to teach em values early. :P
They help wrap the package, label them, get the label from the printer, insert in sleeve, take down stairs and put in box for pick up.
I don't charge gas or anything like that cause I don't go to the post office.
when I worked for a major company shipping major computer parts, they charged a handling fee, for everything I listed above and a little more. As they told me, we have to pay for our products and the handling fees absorb some of the cost associated with the shipment. I didn't charge a huge ship fee and that person had the option to back out of the deal, by clicking the back button and not purchasing the item because, they felt ship was tooo high. I have purchased things and understood the value of the ship and handling fees (business is business) I wanted to say call Walmart or Toys r us and ask them to refund your ship fees. They also do the same thing, you just don't see the cost. I was't brutal to the customer, although I wanted to be. I've learned not to take it personal (but I did a little) but did not reflect it in my email, just explained the cost. I don't care if I get a negative, I will wear it proudly! Now they will probably go bid on something else under another user id and leave a negative. :x I did nicely tell them, they could return the item for a refund (now) I want to see them, get the tape, package material, drive down to the post office stand in line and wait. How much would it be worth to them? I never ever have problems with ship fees cause they are mostly fair. :D I take pride in that! O, one time I did have 20 bucks for something that was 5 bucks but that was a mistake, I was supposed to put in 2.00, I put 20.00, no wonder that thing never sold :oops: :P

AlterEgo · Joined: 26 Sep 2006 Posts: 560

Handing fees can actually be your biggest cost (especially if you are selling items at the lower cost range). Most eBayers don’t understand this.

It has a lot to do with what is your definition of Handling fees (I might be able to come up with 50 different things that could be considered handling).

Ebay used to have an example of excessive shipping just before the Store Fees Raise of 22 Aug 2006 that if you shipped a DVD and charged $25 that is excessive. At that time they were implying that if you had an S&H cost of $20 then it is not excessive? But they changed their Help File now to have an ultra small definition of Handling. After the high Fee Increases in Core, Sellers took refuge in Stores, then they pushed out the Sellers in Stores by charging high Store fee increases and making it Very difficult to search for Store Items (almost invisible). Ebay knew that Sellers would bump up Handling to counter. By having an ultra minimalist definition of what you can have for handling fees it is just another way eBay can get More Money$ out of you. Why shouldn’t you be able to declare the US government calculated $0.45/mile. Why shouldn’t you be able to charge for your time to wait in the Post Office line, time to print the label, time to package, etc, etc? It also leads to the question if $20 S&H was ok for ebay for a long time then why isn’t it ok now (and it corresponded exactly when the Store Fee Raises)?

The problem is mainly that when a buyer does a search for an Item, eBay gives back a web page that is sort of like a Report. In the Report/Web Page, the Headings/Titles says SHIPPING. Note it should say S&H. This confuses the buyers into thinking S&H is only Shipping. I’m sure eBay could change this to clarify things but they don’t.

I don’t now if you do this or not, but if you ship your items online via PayPal you can get either Free delivery confirmation (Priority mail) or reduced rate of $0.14 for Parcel Post & Media Mail. If you print online like this the default-shipping label will not print the shipping cost on the label (so most of your buyers won’t know your shipping costs).

Cheers,

AlterEgo

I actually think that eBay could be setting them self up for a class action lawsuit because if a seller(s) could prove their True Handling Cost (THC) to a judge and prove that eBay will not let them charge a THC (even punishing some by warnings, NARU them, etc.) then eBay might loose.

With TIME I think in all fairness I should be able to charge what the average USA ebay person makes (no more, no less). I’m sure it is probably around 50k/year. If you take 52 weeks/yr multiply by 40 hrs/week you get 2080 hrs/yr. If you divide 50,000/2080 you get $24.03/hr (about $24/hr).

knappschiles · Joined: 25 May 2005 Posts: 4035 Location: Wi

I would NOT cave in to this dumb buyer. I also wouldn't worry too much about a neg if you get one. You can always put in a "response" if you do get a neg or neutral. Most people can see thru stupid negs.

My 1 neutral was for someone that thought 1.50 postage was too high since I only paid 0.49 for the shipping. I answered that the postage was only part of my cost and then enumerated the cost of the bubble envelope, my catalog and other things. I also have it in my listings as "S&H" not just "Shipping".

That one I got was really stupid, grumbling over $1. Some of my suppliers have a flat 10% S&H on the seeds I buy from them. I have had to pay $15-25 on orders that didn't cost them more than $3 to post. There is nothing I can do about that other than to figure it into my price of doing business.

As long as your S&H is plainly spelled out in your listing, only the stupid buyers or those that don't read the listing are going to complain.

I too wish they would do something about those that make thie profit on the shipping. I have NOT bought small items from sellers that are charging over $10 to ship something that weighs less than 1 once and is shipped first class, sometimes not even in a bubble envelope.

Carol

brandnew · Joined: 08 Apr 2005 Posts: 235 Location: ~Moscow~

I see so many people who leave negs/net for shipping and handling.Imo people should read and say to them selves do I really want to pay $3.50 for a cd to be ship ect....

nopaypal · Joined: 23 Feb 2006 Posts: 2008

fortunately neither of my negs was fer shipping...i guess my buyers arent that attentive to shipping costs! :lol: altho back in the old days (when ebayers actually bought stuff), one buyer told me she thought the $1.25 shipping fer a hat & gloves was too much...

:roll:

lhhgbh · Joined: 15 Jul 2006 Posts: 336

I had a buyer once a while back mess with me about international shipping, but it wasnt on Ebay, just a job related shipping.. I was using UPS and my company had a pretty good rate because of all of the shipping they did to europe.. Well when the customer received the package they were miffed about the charge vs how much it really cost.. I explained to them that their rates included S&H, but they persisted in wanting their refind vs the difference.. I tried explaining that according to how much business we got per month we fell into a different bracket and some months were better than others..

So now, should you cut customers a break when you get a discount on shipping by volume? If you charge them a standard rate (what it would cost if they went to a UPS store for example), but meanwhile due to your volume you get a break is it right to profit off of your discount or do you pass the savings on to your customers? Just a quick what if scenario to get us through the day:)

knappschiles · Joined: 25 May 2005 Posts: 4035 Location: Wi

I would say that if you have your S&H clearly in your listing -- NO.

They knew what you were charging before they bought. If they didn't like it, they could buy somewhere else.

As mentioned before, I'm sure they wouldn't try that kind of $h*t with Wal-mart or Sears shipping. But because it's an "individul" rather than a big company they think they can bully us around.

Carol

lhhgbh · Joined: 15 Jul 2006 Posts: 336

your right.. i dont see how anyone can really get mad about being overcharged for shipping if its in the listing or on the site before you commit.. If its too much, dont buy it.. What kills me is that probably 75% or better of shoppers dont read the entire listing before buying something.. I have all of my measurements in every one of my listings, as well as ALL of my shipping options, how long each takes, when I ship the items, etc.. Of course I still get messages asking for the measurements of a small and medium t shirt.. I dont know about you guys, but I read the details before I buy anything.. Im guessing these people also go to car lots and just purchase any car they see without knowing its features..??

nopaypal · Joined: 23 Feb 2006 Posts: 2008

Quote: › docWrite("quote")What kills me is that probably 75% or better of shoppers dont read the entire listing before buying something..
that's fer damn sure!!!
:evil:

Quote: › docWrite("quote")Of course I still get messages asking for the measurements of a small and medium t shirt..
i got a rather unusual one the other day--someone wanted to know the ankle & calf measurement of a pair of boots i was selling. i was thinking, you'd never find that kinda info at a retail site (like the one where i bought em). but since they axed, i took the measurement & put it into the listing too--& i will prolly do that from now on.
:)