Look on eBay. 50 envelopes for $12 is readily available. If you are selling a lot, 250 for $24.88 and cheaper as the quantities go up. You need 1/2 sheet labels for the mailing I have seen, but some people actually just print it on standard paper and tape in on the envelope.
For me personally, if I'm selling a low cost item, I ship them as cheap as possible. If it's a single coin and you advertise 1st Class shipping, then stick it in an envelope(well sealed/taped) with a stamp on it and let it go! There really isn't any reason for a low cost coin to ship at "Flat-rate" rates. For single coins that I feel aren't going to sell for more than a few bucks I use a .99 cent shipping rate.
I plan on selling off some slabbed coins that are going to range any where from $10-60. I really think the shipping costs either attract the people or deters them on cheaper items. I really enjoy the tracking # because it gives me the sense of knowing where the item is.
I have been told that if there is a hard object in a normal envelope you can't just use a single stamp. There is a 20 cents extra charge because it can't go through the machine without getting jammed. I have received a letter that was ripped in half due to this (along with a charge for the extra 20 cents). Most of the items I have sent have ended up costing between 1.50 and 2.00, if you add in the cost of packaging I don't think 3.00 is unresonable. I don't normally take shipping into account unless it is $5 or more (or the item is under $10).
I've read that too, but I've literally shipped hundreds without any problems. I sandwich them between some type of cards(index cards, correspondence cards, etc.) They really aren't any more rigid than the average greeting card.
If the coin is $150 or more and reasonably priced, I don't mind shipping charges of $3-$6. I think it's quite reasonable due to the hiked fees that eBay's charging these days.
Oh c'mon all of you .... I place and buy a lot of items off eBay.. If you want bidders.... Free shipping is the only way to go. If nothing else, make a point that you have attractive shipping rates for coins. ex. $1.95 to start, .50 each additional.. never pay more than $4.95 flat rate... I also am much more inclined to check the sellers other items when I find something I want to bid on.. BTW for what my opinion is worth. That whole Star rating thingy.... the only way I give 5 stars for reasonable shipping is for those who include free shipping.
I think a person selling a coin can ask whatever he wants for shipping. Nobody ever accounts for the hastle of correctly packaging a coin, then adding the trip to the post office to a days routines. Factor envelopes, tape, address lables, bubble wrap, etc. Plus gas/ware and tear to and from and the aggrevation of the lines at the post office. Then pay shipping cost and then be insulted to buy insurance for them (post office) to actually deliver the item. All to be at the mercy of someone who grades you on how quick it arrived. I think that expence should be for the buyer. Remember "I fly you buy" applies here. Otherwise shipping is an incentive. If the coin is killer/unique and needs nothing to attract serious buyers, then add stiff shipping. If the coin is something to be desired and common, then offer smaller/free shipping to sweeten the deal. You are the "realtor" for the sale but know what it is you are charging for or not. When buying coins I always see shipping fees, no matter how large they seem as an "Acuisition Fee". Always cheaper than traveling myself. Later, Matt
To the OP: I completely understand your frustration. It is amazing how Cheap and ignorant a lot of them are especially the self righteous bottom feeder that write you an email like that. Unfortunately since you as a seller can't neg them anymore there is a lot of stuff you may have to take on the chin if selling on the Bay. Remember the people who write those emails are broke and have nothing better to do anyhow. Anyone who has sold on ebay knows that if your shipping a coin (especially a slab) with tracking and no insurance your looking at $2 at least, add insurance and it comes to $4 or more not counting the cost of the shipping material. The only way to ship for any less is to mail it an ordinary envelope in a safety mailer and you might get the cost below a dollar but then with no tracking your having to have faith they won't say they did not get it. I offer free shipping on additional items and they hardly will ever take it. I would not recommend free shipping as here your giving them too much. If a coin will cost you $4 shipping maybe charge them $1.50 ship cost and put the rest in the price of the coin. I consider the excess shipping over cost I pay as a variable overhead expense and reflect it in my markups accordingly. IMO their bid consists of agreement with the shipping charge and you should have the right ot neg them is they complain about it. Unfortunately a seller can no longer neg some of these people on the bay, a real shame (Ebay is like a sleazy small town referee who will flag you, the visiting team but not the home team). In the old days when a seller could neg them I had one fellow complain the box it came in was too big and gave me a neutral. The box was that size so the item would not be broken by the USPS people in his home state California which I had two previous instances where shipments there had been broken by them (what do they do hire drugged out, clumsy folks to process packages there?) I negged him in return.
Those stars can really affect a sellers standing with Ebay. Do me a favor and tell me what your Ebay I.D. is so that I can ban you from bidding on my items. If YOU agree with a sellers terms by bidding on the item, then YOU are agreeing that the shipping charges are acceptable. Decide what is or is not reasonable BEFORE you bid on an item.
Yes please let us know your Bay ID so we can block you - whatta ya want it all for free? Its amazing how some of these guys just won't take responsibility for their bids.
Really, this is like the saying "buy the coin and not the slab". If the coin is one a person wants, the postage is a small matter. I have seen some varieties that I wonder if I will ever see again, and if I want it, I just add the postage within my limit. When I sell, I don't mind combining postage cost, but being reasonable, wrapping, going to the PO, possibly waiting in line should all be factored in. If they don't agree, they won't get it. IMO. I sneer at eBay wimps and snipe them all the time
+1 I always give the seller full 5 stars unless shipping takes WAY too long or they are rude, neither of which have ever happened to me so far. I understand if there are some mistakes made during shipping because we're all human!
A Good Reason To Vent As a seller with thousands of sales on numerous sites, I can generally guarantee that the shipping cost has little to do with what people will pay for an item, and significantly changes your net funds realized. I've sold numerous identical items using another individual to place a similar ad with an identical item, offering free shipping, and the result was that people still purchased the items based on their total cost, with the free shipping item having a low bid and net sales price. I learned some time ago that pro eBay (or employees?) individuals send that type of messages (e.g. Would you offer a "Buy It Now" price?, will you ship multiple purchases for a single coin price?), which I've received constantly to increase the funds paid to eBay. To meet postal regulations, and eBay/Paypal shipping criteria requiring $1.95 minimum cost signature confirmation not allowed on first class envelopes, the minimum cost to ship a single coin is >$3, and NOBODY cares when you don't ship as prescribed, without signature confirmation, and a buyer complains that they didn't receive their shipment. PayPal didn't accept delivery confirmation as proof of shipment, and it appears that eBay recognized the organizational disparity in shipping requirements, now mandating Signature Verification for proof of delivery. When you can't provide internet Signature verification of receipt, you are required to return their total funds paid, or PayPal will find in the buyers' favor, giving them the funds, and placing a strike against your record. It only took one time to realize what happens when a dishonest buyer complains, so I now just return the funds upon complaint, and "black-list" the buyer. My advice is: don't let whiners dictate your selling strategy. My only negative ever received in more than a decade of internet sales was from a competing seller that charges $5/coin shipping, with NO adjustments. He "won" 3 auctions of silver coins each at a price of ~75% spot, and then wanted all 3 coins shipped for 99 cents, which was less than the multiple discount offered in my auction body. He threatened to leave negative feedback if I didn't meet his demands, so I contacted eBay, notifying them of the coercive/threatening tactic, which neutral feedback in the "buyers'" records indicated he had initiated previously. They said I must ship regardless, and I refused knowing that he would state non-receipt of product, and also leave negative feedback. EBay removed the neutral feedback from the competitive sellers' file, I took the negative feedback, and the strike, which reduced my final fee discount, lowering my seller status. The majority of eBay sellers are now starting at a realistic higher price which includes mandated charges, or a higher "Buy It Now". They then are only responsible for the listing fees, and need not play the eBay/PayPal/buyer game of trying to reduce net sellers funds. More sellers are just leaving eBay when the realistic selling price is not met and they still have high listing fees. The general result is that the buyer will need to pay more for their "bargains" in the future, with a reduced selection available. In my opinion, you will be best served by doing that necessary to realize a profit, and ignoring those who have little to lose. :thumb:
Shipping Charges Cost --------------------- $0.48 per Envelope $0.22 per Label $0.20 per Ink --------------------- $0.90 Total + Postage --------------------- .32oz Envelope&Label $1.41 per 1oz. $1.58 per 2oz. ( I charged 2.00 flat on my last wave of sales for cheap 3-10 Dollar coins with free combined shipping, I realized I lost a good deal of "after auction cost" profits paying the extra 30 to 40 cents out of pocket for even the first auction) So now I stick to the above Scale and charge a flat rate $2.50 to be safe... If someone thinks that is gouging than don't bid and so be it I only use Quality Duck Bubble Mailers and I print my own labels and I ship EVERYTHING with Delivery Confirmation to CMOA I have only ever been charged $1.41 by USPS through eBay for a 1st Class Parcel Post Label printed out and stuck to by Bubble Mailer. I have never had any issue, Delivery conf. always included, and shipping anywhere in the U.S.A. has never taken me longer to get my product their in about 3 days.
Further more when I am the buyer I give stars based on the honesty of the shipping. If you charged me $3 and it came in a Bubble mailer with delivery confirmation I would give you 5 Stars. If I payed you $3 and it came in a plain jane envelope with out any padding and 2 stamps on it I would probably give you 3 Stars. I inspect the package and cost of the seller before judging how fair I personally felt their shipping cost was.
The category is reasonable shipping charges. You guys are ridiculous. why would I give 5 stars to the same person who gave free shipping vs the guy who charges $3.00 I am probably in an entire different category of buyer - I binge buy a lot. well over a thousand listings in just the last year. the disparity of shipping charges is ridiculous amongst coin sellers. I don't understand with all the changing eBay rules why they don't mandate what the charge should be. For example, I just got something from overstock.. $2.95 never a penny more stuck in my head when I bought a new lens.. I am thinking about going back for new items, however rarely does anyplace beat eBay on pricing. There are multiple upon multiples of the same coin available, I believe those who offer free shipping are more "in tune" and customer oriented and that I am going to have less trouble with. Those who want to nickle and dime for every little envelope is just plain silly - don't worry - I won't likely won't be buying from you guys who want to block me - you sellers are likely the types that think that you are doing me a favor and that I should agree with you. at least your posts look that way.. I'll take my business to those who are happy to have the sale. I am from the school of the buyer is always right no matter how unreasonable. Keep in mind that I also sell on eBay - I have silver power level with 100% Futhermore just tip, why not start your auction at a price to cover your costs. This is my opinion as a bottom sucking sniper looking to get the best deal I can. Something wrong with that?
