Be Honest................

I understand, sir, and valid points all. However, I think what this really comes down to is expectation. Perhaps the OP should have asked the seller to clarify, but a better solution would be for the seller to be upfront about his practices. There is a difference between charging extra for the additional expenses that are and/or may be incurred, but $5.25 is a tad much and implies to the buyer that their item will be shipped in a certain manner. That price is approaching small flat-rate box territory, so it is only reasonable for a buyer to expect something more than a plain stamped envelope.

It seems we are on the same path, but have taken two different routes to get here.

 

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I have no problem with someone self insuring. I have no problem with them padding a dollar or two in extra profit. but on a $10 item that might be $3.50 and another 50 cents for the stamp and envelope so call it $4. and they charged $5.25 Another way to look at it is 50 cents shipped, $1.50 self insurance (about what the PO would charge) so $3.25 extra profit on a $10 purchase, Sorry 33% extra profit is too much.

 

Now, let's say the guy who had that steak dinner decides to go to Hooters for wings the next night. He really, really likes the wings. His expectation is that a hot, scantily-clad waitress will be delivering these wings. All of a sudden, the restaurant gets busy and some guy from the kitchen delivers the wings to his table instead of the hot waitress. The wings are great (just as advertised) but did not get delivered as expected. Should he feel ripped off? Depends if he values the wings, ambiance or both. Same with the eBay example from the OP. Whether someone feels ripped off or not will depend on who the buyer is and what they truly expect from the transaction.

 

Speaking of shipping...I got a coin in the mail today. It came in an old Hallmark christmas card. That cost me $3.32. I factored in the cost of shipping when I bid on the coin (a whopping $0.99). The coin itself is worth more in silver so I got a good deal, but still...

 

But is that similar? The waitress is part of the ambiance you pay for. Who gives a crud what packaging a coin arrived in once you get it. Do people save their envelopes and espress mail boxes to keep with the coin forever? Does a fancy shipper somehow make the coin buying experience better? Not to me.

 

If you read my earlier post, I feel the same way you do especially for low cost items. However, there are some people that want the service they paid for (and that was advertised). Some people will only bid if shipping is free. Some will bid only if it is shipped priority. It is just a matter of preference. Like I said earlier, as long as it arrives as described in the time promised for no more than the total cost agreed upon up front, I am fine with it.

 

Buyer paid for

If you guys are still talking about the shipping charges, it is not a matter of getting mad or upset about anything. What it boils down to is the seller charged a premium level of shipping but sent it the cheapest way possible.

When you click two stars in the seller ratings, that means the shipping charge was unreasonable. It doesn't mean that you are mad or upset. The rating is a statement of opinion, not of your emotions.

And it doesn't have anything to do with blaming someone or taking responsibility. You are simply rating the transaction on a scale of 1-5. That's all it is.

 

But, if in ordering that steak you were, based upon price, expecting Porterhouse, it's only reasonable to feel gypped when a steak-umm (and just one) arrives on a paper plate.

 

I think a lot of people are losing sight of this.

I saw a guy who was trying to sell six silver quarters, worth about melt, in a single lot. Starting bid was 99 cents, and there was a reserve -- and shipping was listed at $24 and change.

Now, if those quarters had been nicer dates or conditions, and if there hadn't been a reserve, I might well have ended up buying the lot at 99 cents. I would've paid my $25 dollars or so, and waited for the package.

If it arrived UPS 3-day select in a box, I'd shake my head at the seller's cluelessness, but I'd leave five stars for reasonable shipping costs. He charged me what he was charged, and what we agreed.

If it arrived in a regular white envelope with a couple of stamps, I'd probably leave two stars for reasonable shipping costs. Yes, I got what I paid for, but the amount the seller charged for shipping was unreasonable in relation to the way he actually shipped. (On the other hand, if the seller explained in advance that he needed to drive two hours to drop it at the post office, I might consider the fee perfectly reasonable.)

If it arrived postage due, or if the seller contacted me after the auction closed and said he needed more than $24 for shipping -- well, that wouldn't be "unreasonable shipping costs"; that would be a violation of eBay policy, and I'd take it up directly with eBay.

In other words, the mere fact that I agreed in advance to pay a certain amount for shipping doesn't mean that it's a reasonable shipping charge.

 

Ya know what really fries my buns? When the postman calls at the door and wants 50 cents more because the blighter didn't weigh his shipment properly. That really cooks me and especially so when I pay more than 5 bucks for the shipping. Those types get the old poison pen from yours truly........

 

OK. I can play that game.

Let's say I pay $5.25 for a BU 1965 Kennedy.
In the mail, I receive an obvious circulated 1965 Kennedy.
I got a 1965 Kennedy so what's the beef?

 

That's not the same thing and you know it. You agreed to buy a BU Kennedy and you didn't get one.

In the $5.25 shipping scenario...you agreed to pay $5.25 for the coin to be shipped to you safely. It was. Now, I agree with you that the method of shipping was unacceptably unsafe for a coin...and as a result I would probably avoid that seller in the future, but the bottom line is you received what you had agreed to. Now, I would probably still give the cost of shipping a lower star rating because based on the method of shipping...it was clearly overpriced, but that is as far as one can really complain. What it really comes down to is the coin arrived safely...which is what you paid $5.25 for.

 

Whenever I ship anything I have a tendency to over protect the item. I hate it when I get something packed sloppily. I am OK with "economy" shipped item if shipped secured. It can be done. I do think most appreciate receiving their purchases safe, secure, and quickly. I do this irregardless of free shipping or charging for shipping. I calculate the cost to the customer and charge the actual cost or less.

Great item at a great price. Packaging was A+ and received quickly. Thanks

Great price, well packaged, FAST shipping, thanks! RECOMMEND!

Great service and very safe, secure packaging!. Thank you!

Look great, fast shipping, safely packaged, thank you very much!

Arrived quickly, well packaged.

 

Finally. A reasonable response which makes absolute sense although the original question did ask: "Would you be miffed (which is an emotional response)
and perhaps leave the seller a 2 or 3 on the DSR Stars?"

 

I think I have a reasonable response to your question twice...including one on the first page:

 

Just like the thread on the PCGS site. I'm sure that's why you posted the topic here.
Many different opinions but most did not agree with giving the seller a hit over something so petty.
"A reasonable response"
Is that because you agree with it and don't feel any other opinion is reasonable?

 

Of course not.

It's reasonable because it uses the DSR's for their intended purpose which is "rating the transaction".

It leaves the "opinion" up to the buyer without justifying the opinion through example or experience.

For the record, many more folks agreed that the seller deserved 2 or 3 stars on this forum compared to the folks ATS who had a more unified opinion that a ding in the DSR's was not deserved.

The purpose of this thread was to see what others felt without involving the original buyer.

 

eBay gives me a 10% discount on postage, but they charge me a 10% final value fee on that postage, so whether you buy from eBay or USPS, your postage cost is the same. Unless I'm missing something, it seems like a wash to me.

 

I don't follow.

You sell an item for $100 plus $10 shipping. (Let's keep the numbers simple.) eBay charges 10%, leaving you $99.

Now, you can buy postage directly from USPS, paying $10, and leaving you $89.

Instead, you can buy postage through eBay, paying $9, and leaving you $90.

Your final value fee is the same regardless of where you buy your postage, right?