I would have replied "I certainly understand your concern, and the choice to bid or not is entirely up to the bidder. That is why the shipping costs I charge for the item are clearly marked as is the accurate description and picture of the item listed. Certainly buyers and sellers both must guard against dishonest and unethical practices that some people exhibit. However, you may see that even though my sales are few, that there is 100% positive feedback, as my buyers know that I am honest and above board with every transaction I conduct. Thank you for your helpful information, but to give the best service possible, with every effort made to insure the coins arrive undamaged to their destination, I have calculated the shipping cost I charge. I feel it is not only fair but accurate. I am sorry you feel it is out of your price range at this time. I hope things improve for you in the future." What I might say, gary
I can't believe this bickering about shipping costs is continuing. With any Auction house you will be billed for S&H. Time to wake up kids!
You are line item charging the buyer for your insurance and and for your coverage regarding proof of delivery? Do you detail that out in your listing? If you did, do you think that will help your sales or hurt them. In other words - why would I want pay for your car insurance if I am not the beneficiary? Things like this IMO should be in the cost of the product. In this case the starting bid price. If you have a higher shipping cost than others with the same product, what do you think the buyers are thinking about that? When you have a high shipping cost, are you are going to get more or less bidders? If you have more people bidding , is likely that you will end up with a higher or a lower closing price? I also ask you why do you stop at those couple of shipping related costs? Don't you have others? Where is your printer ink, electric for your computer, your desk, your roof over your head, food in your mouth, your sewer bill..? Remind me to never have you cost out a job for me! You will buy the lumber, but not have any saws to cut it. Sorry for abusing you as an example, but it is amazing to me how few here understand the basics of marketing and sales. You are not eating the shipping costs. You are likely, not getting as much for your item as you could be. I swear I am almost done with this subject. What is the mood - curmudgeon? This is such 101 subject that so few of you guys and gals understand. Not sure what the average age here is, but I got a feeling that there is a bit of narrow mindedness that is stereotypical of the ol' stuck in the mud geezer going on here. I turned 49 last Sunday BTW If you don't believe me. Then use google . on a quick whim, I typed in "to offer free shipping or not". this is the second result written 4 freakiin years ago! Get with the times people!
This is very well written, however I would have added the caveat of something along the lines of.... that if they bid and win several items over the next week that you would include shipping as free. You gotta bait a hook to catch some fish!
In a Auction house the seller would be charged a larger % of the total sale price of the item and the seller would not get away with charging shipping that was 200%+ the actual cost of shipping the item.
Ditto. $3 bucks for shipping isn't bad if the actual price of the item is high enough. Now, if the shipping costs more than the item I'll usually pass unless I know it to still be a great deal.
OMG LOL ROFL hahahahahahahahahahahaha Free shipping now automatically gets 5 stars.... Now all of y'all can just oh the irony..... I love being a smart donkey. seriously rofl'ing.... its as someone on eBay was reading this thread, ........
What the heck are you saying? The Standard charge for S & H is $ 4.00 for shipments valued up to $100.00 . $6.00 up to $299.00. $8.00 from $300 to $799.00 and so on. What Auction houses do you do business with ? You are most certainly speaking from a point of great mis-information , to put it politely .
Well, I will continue to charge whatever shipping rates I think are fair for both the buyer and me, and they will be clearly listed in the details. If you don't agree with them you are more than welcome to move on to the next auction. As for you often repeated excuse of marketing, I can tell you that the auction-style listings on ebay are not conducive to repetitive buying after the initial transaction is completed (meaning after the allure of combining shipping). Buyers are looking for the lowest total price and couldn't care less if the seller is losing money or not, so free shipping will not bring back many repeat buyers. As a seller, I don't like eating 25 - 50% of the selling price in shipping fees, so I will be happy to get a bid of $3 less and have my peace of mind that I won't be eating shipping fees. And for the record, I am in my 30's and have an advanced degree in business with extensive marketing classes.
Anyone who would try to collect more in shipping charges than the actual value of the article being shipped, should be one that you never do business with from the get-go ! First Class Mail will suffice for these types of shipments.
I find these very common views with some of the 20ish year old friends from europe i have. I don't know if it's too personal EyeEatWheaties but are you from europe? My friend from France rarely tips because he believes that it is the business's responsibility to pay their employes.
I don't have much knowledge on this subject and I don't sell on eBay but just from my buying perspective free shipping does nothing for me. I'm one of those who just factors shipping costs into my bid. If I'd pay $10 for something and the shipping is free I'll bid $10. If the shipping is $9 I'll bid $1.
As a European who buy's quite a lot of coins/Stamps etc I do like free shipping but only if it is not offset by a inflated price for the article I am buying Now having said that I draw the line at paying over $20 shipping for a coin (and many Americans do try charging such a cost) I do also appreciate sellers who state they will combine shipping. As for tipping LOL well if there is no Service charge and the service has been good then of course I would tip and most 20 year olds of my aquaintence would do so as well for the simple reason most of them will have done a stint in the industry as studentts and appreciate the tips
