e-bay shipping/handling charges, what's fair

sammyg2 · 09-21-2003, 11:44 AM

I just won an auction on e-bay for some parts, winning price was $51.
The seller sends an e-mail asking for an addtional $22 for shipping and handling.
the 2 parts are hard plastic, weigh less that 4 pounds, are 18" by 2". Very easy to package and ship.
Seller in Florida, I'm in california.
The listing for the 2 parts states only that the buyer pays actual shipping charges. it mentions nothing about handling charges.

Just how out of line is this? I've replied to the seller saying that he needs to explain the $22, I've got a bad feeling about this one.
Any advice or BTDT?
I may end up losing my perfect feedback rating on this one, there's no way I'm paying over $10 for shipping.

jester911 · jester911's Garage

Did you see what the shipping was before you bid? I always consider the price of shipping as part of the price of the item.
If they don't advertise the shipping cost I think it prudent to ask.

I am sure some sellers rip off or inflate the price by inflating shipping.

Don Plumley · Don Plumley's Garage

It seems a little high. Let's assume that in a box they weigh 5 lbs. From Florida to Irvine, shipping by USPS Priority Mail is $12.15 and shipped by UPS ground is $10.78. So I think anything over $15 is probably out of line.

That being said, it could be that the seller is simply taking the parts to Mail Box Etc. or a similar location, and having them pack and ship the parts. In which case $22 probably is what they'd charge the seller.

For my own eBay selling, my goal is not to make money on shipping, but make sure I don't lose any money on shipping. So I tend to estimate packed weight conservatively, and if the actual shipping charges are materially less than I quoted, I refund the difference. Most folks kindly refuse when I suggest I'll send them $1.10...

tiorio · 09-21-2003, 11:58 AM

To me, actual shipping means what UPS or USPS would charge to send via the method either stated in the auction or chosen by the buyer if it wasn't stated.

If the auction doesn't say handling, I don't pay handling. $22 seems pretty darn high to me!

geof33 · 12:22 PM

I'd have to agree with the above. I do alot of "ebaying" and I always seem to underestimate shipping. I go with a set fee for shipping and handling to absorb the cost of paypal etc. I figure what I think is a fair price and estimate the fees accordingly. I only do this on smaller items. If it's a particularly expensive item I eat the charges as "cost of business". Sounds like the shipping is VERY high. However, if it was stated previously in the auction at that amount then your stuck. If that's a secondary quote I'd use the numbers posted above and discuss it with the guy. I think there are some people who don't post a reserve, sell the item and don't really get what they wanted and "quote" a shipping cost to absorb the price idea differential.

But like a guy before said, if he's using some retail mail oulet to package/ship then that could be about right. Then you also have no leg to stand on.

CarreraS2 · 09-21-2003, 12:33 PM

I always get an agreement for shipping in advance, if it is not specifically listed in the ebay ad.

Either that, or we agree that it will be actual postage costs for the shipping.

If you leave the "handling" part unagreed upon, the seller can basically try to charge anything.

campbellcj · 09-21-2003, 01:37 PM

For smaller stuff, I always go with the actual UPS or USPS shipping fees (including insurance if applicable). No "handling" as I have plenty of small boxes, packing material, tape etc. I think charging for a small box you probably have sitting in your garage already is a joke.

But if it is something like wheels or even bigger (engine?) then it is A-OK in my book to charge a FAIR (i.e. actual) cost for packing materials, or even crating labor if it is a really involved job.

There are a lot of people on ebay who obviously "abuse" the S&H game.

If the shipping terms were not totally clear in the auction posting, then screw 'em, they have no leg to stand on.

TMH · 09-21-2003, 01:51 PM

Unfortunately, without the shipping charges (which may or may not include handling charges) specified in the auction, it is up the the seller to determine what those 'actual' costs are, and the buyer, by bidding on the auction, has implicitely agreed to whatever the seller chooses to charge.

Unfortunately, it seems like more and more sellers see shipping and handling charges as a way to make more money off their auctions (kind of like all of the new 'fees' being charged by phone companies, credit card companies, banks, stores, etc. Don't raise your prices or people will go elsewhere. Just make more money on additional fees that people don't know about when they make their purchases). You need to confirm estimated shipping costs up front when they are not specified. I have even had cases where shipping cost more than the item's auction price!

See if the seller will explain their 'actual' shipping charges, and let them know you feel they are excessive. Either they might lower them, or they might let you out of the auction without giving you negative feedback. If neither, you always have the ability to alert future bidders to the seller's excessive shipping charges through the feedback system.

Tom

sammyg2 · 09-21-2003, 03:29 PM

Well, the seller countered after I informed him the S&H were too high. Here's his reply:
"MY MISTAKE I MIX YOURS WITH ANOTHER SHIPMENT I TO HAVE SHIP OUT. YOURS WILL COST 12.50 FOR SHIPPING AND 4.00 FOR THE BOX & PACKING FOR A TOTAL OF 16.50 + 51.00 = $67.50 TOTAL "

Uh huh.
I paid that amount and chocked ip to a lesson learned. I will never again bid on anything unless I have the total cost of S&H in handling first.

Randy Webb · 09-21-2003, 06:21 PM

"The listing for the 2 parts states only that the buyer pays actual shipping charges."

- a common "cheat" on eBay -- tho I would not want to waste my time boxing up a low priced item for no reutrn. But the seller should have thought of this. Insist on actual shipping -- leave neg. feedback and complain to eBay. If a business, consider a complaint to their state's consumer protection agency. What he's soing is blatently illegal. I would cut an individual some slack.

jluetjen · jluetjen's Garage

I always sell stuff with "Buyer pays shipping". BTW, as a buyer or seller, if the buyer is paying shipping, I'd expect the buyer to be able to chose the shipment method.

When I'm selling, as soon as the auction is over I'll send the buyer an email with the size, weight and the shipment rate tables from FedEx, UPS and the USPS. A couple of observations after having done this a few times. For overseas shipments USPS is generally the cheapest and for domestic shipments, FedEx Ground seems to be the most popular trade-off of cost, speed and traceability.