Shipping Charges are Outrageous...

[stella19540_0]

You look at a product that is what you want to buy, price is good but then you see what there charging for shipping and you think Why Bother!!! You can seriously just go to the store and buy that same product plus another one for what some sellers are charging for shipping.....I looked at a Monster High Doll for my daughter, sold in stores, so nothing special, price alittle cheaper but not much then store cost...Then they want 58$ just for shippping out a doll.....I can buy 3 dolls for the price of shipping...Then i look at a detangling brush I seen on TV, went on there website, the brush is 14.99$ + 5.99$ s/h. plus its buy one get one free....I take a look on here to see  the  price of the exact same brush, and sellers are charging 23$ just for 1 and 18$ s/h.....Honestly, why are people paying these outrageous shipping fees on here...I know I won't....and I know it does not cost 58$ to ship a doll....Thats the one dissappointing thing about buying from Ebay, some sellers are just ripping off buyers with there s/h fees.....

[marnotom!]

What shipping method is being used for the doll?

[i*m-still-here]

Stella, I don't know about the particular doll you are asking about and $58 is likely a little high, but as a seller (different id) I have shipped quite a few dolls in the past.

Dolls are one of the most difficult things to pack and ship because of size and weight, and doll collectors like nice packing.

I've had more special requests from doll collectors regarding packing than from anyone else and so cutting corners is not an option when it comes to shipping dolls.

Whenever I ship a doll my shipping cost and time and packaging etc. are almost always much  more than calculated.

Just thought point that out.

[i*m-still-here]

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@stella19540_0 wrote:

.Thats the one dissappointing thing about buying from Ebay, some sellers are just ripping off buyers with there s/h fees.....

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I also think there's a lot of truth in that statement, but I'm not so sure it applies to dolls.

[mamie_et_papi]

Hello,

On same topic, but not dolls, it is something i find that E-Bay should REALLY be looking into. Sometimes it is so obvious that sellers outrageously lower the item price (to be on top of sorting by price lowest) and then catch up by charging outrageous s/h fees.  I've seen items from buyers at a reasonnable price and s/h at reasonable price, for example 40$ + 10$SH, and then I see this buyer with the same exacte item at 5$ but with SH of over 40$, now come on.....See that alot with TV items, like shamwows and such.

I am looking at an item right now (Pajama set), shipped from CA, same size as another item i bought from CA, same USPS service, and shipping charges are 29.99$ vs 9.95$ we paid 2 weeks ago at another buyer.

So yeah, it is my feeling that buyer should have a way to notify E-bay of such sellers, cause sadly there are buyers that only look at item price....

[marnotom!]

Don't just look at the shipping rate, but the shipping method that's being used, too.  There's lots of different shipping methods out there, including the unpopular Global Shipping Program.

[mamie_et_papi]

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@marnotom! wrote:

Don't just look at the shipping rate, but the shipping method that's being used, too.  There's lots of different shipping methods out there, including the unpopular Global Shipping Program.

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As I said, same shipping service (method) used, USPS international Priority is USPS international priority, as a seller i know there are many ways to ship items (and make more money if I want from it), but when using auto rate (dimensions + weight) + handling fees it is one thing, using that method will usually bring an weird amount, but seeing a 29.99$ means that seller is using a flat rate for everyone, thus making more money than what the real cost is.

So yeah, my feeling is that e-bay should look into that.  Handling fees should be handle by a maximum percentage of the value of the item.  Flat shipping rate should not even be an option

[marnotom!]

There's no way a seller can mail anything to Canada by Priority International for ten bucks U.S.  Check the USPS online rate calculator.

I also don't fathom why handling fees should be a percentage of the item's value, and I don't see how that would work for auction format listings, anyway.  Why would a thirty dollar pair of pyjamas warrant a larger handling fee than the same pair of pyjamas selling for ten dollars?

[mamie_et_papi]

You are right my bad on that one, 9.95 was first class, the international priority was 14.76$ still a long way from 29.99$

As for handling fees, i said at MAXIMUM a percentage of the value.  People would not have to go "max" a 10$ or 30$ could have a set handling fee, but i think max % would prevent people from selling things way low and boosting handling charges, like selling the item for 10$ but adding 20$ in handling fees.

But yes i get your point that on auction items this could not work, so scratch that idea  lol

Still something should be done on that

[marnotom!]

For what it's worth, if the shipping method was described as "international priority" and not "Priority International" then we're looking at a shipment through the Global Shipping Program, not one through the postal system.  Especially at $14 and change.

[mcrlmn]

lol... Check this one out:

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Uncirculated-Canadian-1-Bill-1954-Ottawa-/381420326959?hash=item58ce6c502f

Shipping:: US $39.00 (approx. C $51.53)

How much does it cost to mail a letter to Canada from Illinois, USA?

[dmil8030]

According to the listing, 'mccrlmn', it is coming "Priority Express", -- which is always beastly expensive.

Any time you see that word "Express" in the shipping it is sure to be expensive.

And even though it can be mailed in an envelope for the price of a stamp, the seller wishes to avoid those

people who get the item, see it is not recorded, and then lie and say it never arrived.

[00nevermind00]

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@dmil8030 wrote:
And even though it can be mailed in an envelope for the price of a stamp, the seller wishes to avoid those

people who get the item, see it is not recorded, and then lie and say it never arrived.

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Seriously? This was a $5.00 item, not the crown jewels! Five bucks will get you a small cappuccino tomorrow morning at Second Cup, with one dollar (more or less) to put back into your pocket. This is a theory you hear often but for items of this value, it just doesn't make sense.

The seller priced him/herself out of a sale with that ridiculous shipping quote. Unfortunately, he/she has lots of company!

[reallynicestamps]

Still something should be done on that

Something has been done.

The seller pays fees to eBay on her shipping charges.

So if one seller is charging $5 to ship and another is charging $10 to ship, the second seller is paying eBay twice as much.

EBay hoped this would discourage the practice, which is sketchy though not actually illegal.

That's the short answer. Want the complicated one?

If the seller is charging $5 to ship domestically to all her American customers , whatever she charges her international customers, she still pays fees only on the $5.

So there is that.

Then

Many US sellers don't realize that there is a special rate for Canadian destinations, and use the much higher overseas rate.

And.

If one seller is shipping directly, the buyer may face import charges (duty+SALES TAXES+$10 and up* service fee) on the doorstep before the parcel** is handed over.

If the other is shipping through the Global Shipping Program,the buyer pays duty +SALES TAXES+ ~$5 service fee) before the item is shipped.

*Canada Post charges $9.95, but couriers like UPS may charge over $25, based on a percentage of the value of the item.

** If the item is valued over $20CDN( $15.00USD)

[dmil8030]

<<This was a $5.00 item, not the crown jewels!>>

Oh, I absolutely agree with you.  I have seen sellers who insist on Priority shipping to Canada for 

a cheap little item that would come in an envelope with a stamp.  Like you, I have to buy elsewhere.

Having said that, when you see a listing like this, it costs nothing to ask the seller if he would consider

offering a less expensive alternative to Canada.  The worst thing he'll say is 'no', and often when you

tell sellers how much the Express is to your house, they didn't realize it was so costly.  Or so they say.

You can even offer this link to sellers to show them you do understand about shipping fees:

http://ircalc.usps.com/?country=10054

[mcrlmn]

I'm well aware of all that.

I'm also aware the it doesn't cost $51.53 to provide tracking and require a signature upon pickup for a letter sized envelope..

It costs a 1/5 of that.

Save me the DNR excuse; the 1954 banknote's value is about $4 CDN.

[dmil8030]

<< it doesn't cost $51.53 to provide tracking and require a signature upon pickup...>>

You're right.  It costs $38.50 USD to ship it with Express if you had used the link I provided.

It is up to the seller to send an item by whatever shipping method he chooses.  This particular seller claims to

offer 3 shipping choices.  As only one -- the expensive Express -- appears, not only is that a good indication that

the seller hadn't had Canadian buyers in mind, and certainly not you in particular, but that there may even be

a mistake which he overlooked.  

A savvy buyer wishing to bid on this item would ask questions, especially since the seller clearly invites inquiries

by repeatedly saying, "Please ask questions".

As to the value of the bill, well, applying your formula it would today be worth "$6.54".