There is a 1968 Proof set for auction starting at only $2 which at first glance and saying to myself "self, that is a pretty good price for that set". Then my eyes shifted down to the shipping and I had to laugh and realized why no one had bid on it. The seller is charging $17.96 to ship one 4oz standard package. I guess you got to make up your profits somehow? That thing better come wrapped in mink & chinchilla fur and sealed with the tears of unicorns for that ridiculous price.
I've noticed a crazy trend in shipping prices for musical instruments. There's one seller who has increased the base charge from about $20 to over $50 in the last 2 or 3 years. For reference, a standard clarinet costs no more than $17 to ship.
That was the old trick to avoid eBay fees. I believe it still works for some international sellers though I guess they may be doing it for tax evasion as well now.
Always look for the shipping charge and click on the shipping details for in-state sales tax as well - a bargain bid is not always such a bargain when factoring in those extras.
This is one reason I love living in Montana. We have no state sales tax here. I can even go to some other states and show them my license and they won't charge me sales tax on my purchases.
Ebay charges sellers fees on the shipping too now so it doesn't make sense to do it to try to avoid fees. The other day I bought four pieces of currency from different lots, and the seller charged $5.50 combined shipping. It came with an eBay printed label for 3 oz, which I know costs $2.66. I wasn't too happy.
I love when they charge excessive amounts to simply throw the coin(s) in the mailer and send. Would it be so hard to wrap the coin up in something (bubble wrap would be preferable, those sticky cardboard things are alright, simply wrapping in the packing slip goes a long way) so it's not obviously a heavy, round, coin-like object(s) floating around in semi-expensive shipping package? I had a poorly packaged coin arrive a short while ago with a small hole poked in the side as if someone had decided to see what was inside. I guess I'm just glad it wasn't a gold colored coin....
“Shipping and Handling”.... I been in business a long time shipping commercial construction materials all over the southeast. Used to be when I passed on shipping fees on an invoice those fees were constantly challenged. We changed that invoice line to read “shipping and handling” and my customers stopped challenging shipping costs.... I believe that has been one of those unconscious changes to our psyche in the 21st century. And yes, I am confident that there are many marketers that take full advantage of that.
Plus in this case it was paper money so it all was flat and weighed less than 1 ounce I'm sure. I expect people to charge a little more than cost for the price of packing materials, labor, fees, etc. but $3 was excessive considering the price of the items was about $4 combined. They're just trying to make more money because they didn't think the items sold for enough.
Then there was a package of Peace dollars I got last week, shipped in a bag, wrapped tightly in bubble wrap, packed in a Priority Mail small flat-rate-box -- except that they didn't tape the box, just relied on the adhesive flap. The top was bulging up, with the side flaps nearly disengaged. The coins were still hanging on inside, but anybody could have pulled them out. Yes, if you offer Free Shipping, I realize that extra packing material cuts into your profits. But, really, a few extra inches of packing tape will save you money in the long run...
Strapping tape would have solved your seller's problem. Thankfully, your coins arrived without further issue.
I've actually never seen the adhesive let go; it's pretty good. The cardboard box was bending almost enough to let the side flaps come out of their slots. That's where he needed tape. But, yeah, I tape along the adhesive, too. Especially for a multi-hundred-dollar shipment.
That's about all I've ever seen it do. Even stuff at home I hadn't even mailed yet it always was struggle town to keep it stuck without tape. Most of them I am 99 percent sure the tape is all that's holding it shut
After making out like a bandit at my local coin store this weekend, I wonder why I bother with eBay still. I mean I really don't care about the seller's profit margin, nor do I care if he thinks shipping is an extra cost for the customer to bare. To me, the total price of the transaction is what that coin costs me. I guess I spend a few bucks in gas to get to the coin shop tho, so maybe I should consider that too.
Sadly, this type of behaviour has been going on forever (and I mean that literally). Nothing new, but still sad.
