Ripped off for shipping

[Krug]

So I win a Crow Shaman D&D Miniature on eBay and I'm charged about US$5.95 for shipping. The guy won't negotiate about it, so I pay up. Today I receive the package and shipping costs US$0.93, in a standard 4 inch by 7 inch bubble envelope.

Anybody else had rotten encounters with shipping? I have low feedback so I won't leave -ve feedback, but I am disappointed.

 

[Hand of Evil]

Ah, the internet savings loop hole - it is a rip but one that is not really brought up. I feel for you.

 

[Vrecknidj]

Shipping costs are a problem. So, for example, when I trade minis with other folks, I try to ship several minis at once so the shipping cost per mini is relatively low. But, with buying single items, there's really no easy way around it.

Dave

 

[IronWolf]

Anybody else had rotten encounters with shipping? I have low feedback so I won't leave -ve feedback, but I am disappointed.

I always check the shipping cost when buying from anywhere on the web. There are way too many times where the price on the item itself is good, but the shipping and handling charge suddenly turn it into a rather poor deal. I typically won't order from Amazon unless we hit the $25 for free shipping (not too hard to do....)

As for eBay, I see a LOT of people trying to recoup their listing fees, sale fees and PayPal fees in their shipping and handling charge. Or flat out trying to get some extra profit. I ALWAYS check the shipping and handling charge before bidding on anything on eBay. I can't tell you how many auctions I haven't bid on because they were charging too much for shipping.

When my wife and I sell stuff on eBay we charge what it costs to ship within a few cent.

Sorry to hear you got burnt on shipping and handling costs though. Use it as a lesson learned and always check that before you bid.... Especially on eBay.

 

[Krieg]

I recently saw an auction on eBay for The Miniatures Handbook that started at $.99. Listed shipping was $10.

I emailed the seller seeing if they had a reasonable shipping offer. Received a VERY rude response in return saying that they felt no need to save a couple of bucks for someone only paying a dollar for a forty dollar book.

Needless to say they had no takers on the auction. lol

Iron Wolf stated the case perfectly...be very aware of all the potential fees when purchasing something online, especially from eBay. Don't be afraid to ask sellers about alternate shipping options, most of them do want to help you out if they can...and most of the ones charging more for shipping will gladly explain why they are doing so.

 

[der_kluge]

I had a problem with a guy over a violin case that I got on eBay. I think it was like $18 or something ridiculous. I asked the guy politely about it, and he asked me if I was mentally retarded. I seriously considered just not paying him, and letting him give me negative feedback. The thing came in just about the worst wrapped box I could have imagined. It was like sheets of cardboard just wrapped up with mounds of tape. Like he got his 5 year old to wrap it. Imagine how upset I was when I realized it was a junior-sized violin case, and my violin wouldn't even fit in it! I'm still upset about that. In the end, I don't think I left him any feedback, since he did technically deliver as promised. Buyer beware. I'll certainly be more cautious in the future.


It's an unsettling trend I've noticed on eBay. It really seems to have attracted the scourge of the world. I used to never have any problems there, but now you really have to be very careful.

Some people use a "shipping service" whereby you basically just take your item to them and they wrap it and ship it for a fee. I think this guy used something like that. It was way overpriced, though.

 

[Algolei]

The only problem I've had was with Canadian customs. They decided I should pay tax on something I had ordered from the States, apparently at random. So it had to go through "processing," for which I was also charged. In other words, they charged me $5 so that they could charge me $2.50 in tax.

:\

 

[guedo79]

Late one night I wasn't paying attention. I had a number of ebay windows open trying to figure out which comics I was going to and in my sleepy state bid $ .01 on a set of superman books.

The next morning I realized he was charging $14.99 shipping. I was so upset that someone would do that. I emailed him twice and never got a reply. Then I had to use his odd program to pay him which never worked right. I had to email him again to even get the books and then it took over a month.

 

[Keeper of Secrets]

Sadly, I don't think that there is much that can be done about the 'suspicious shippers.' Especially if they tell you the price up front and you agree to it by bidding on it. I know it irks me to no end, too but still, I think they are safe.

 

[Krieg]

I only have minor problems with it as long as they are open and up front about the charges are. To be fair at least some of the sellers charge more shipping because they do in fact spend more to make sure that their items are well protected. I consider that a worthwile cost in most circumstances.

I am very big on personal responsibility, if I fail to pay attention to all of the associated costs, that is my problem no one else's. While I may not agree with trying to backdoor profit through inflated shipping prices, I am not going to be critical with the seller as long as they honest about it.

Now I do have a major problem with seller who are intentionally vague or deceptive about costs associated with an auction. That is something that I would not tolerate.