Thread: Buy it now vs Auctions ( Ie High shipping charges)

I don't about you guys here, but I've decided to look more into the "Buy it Now" or "Best Offer" razors than waiting for a 6 day auction to end. I have also quit paying the 6.00+ plus shipping some folks charge on them. I took about 6 off my watch list the past couple of days because of those $6.00+ shipping charges. On a "Best offer" deal I usually subtract any shipping charges more than $6.00 then take off another $5.00 or so. I have one razor they asked for a $44.00 "Buy it now" or "Best offer" with a $6.80 shipping charge. I offered $30.00. We will see how it goes. How do you guys handle the high shipping charges?

In my experience shipping razors a small package via USPS priority mail is between $5.50 to $6.10 to ship. If you go the other route and use a padded envelope ans a prayer you can get down to a little over $3 using USPS First Class mail. Throw in the cost of packaging supplies and it's not cheap.

Shipping is not free.. If the price is fair to begin with and they are asking for $7 to ship when that 7 is even hit for 10% from ebay and 3.2% from PayPal so they are essentially taking a loss on shipping it is tacky to be so petty about it... A small flat rate usps box is $6.80

If someone is asking 800 for a restored sheffield blade and wants 7, fair play to you in factoring that into an offer if available to make... On an inexpensive blade, especially if in good shape? Really? And I've experienced this nonsense where I am offering a blade for 40, someone offers me a low ball and I offer say 27 plus shipping to which they reply with the 27 offer and free shipping saying "now you get 27 like you wanted" really? Declined....

NO, no!
You are not supposed to concern yourself with shipping costs and, as Sashee always tells you;
"Bid NOW to get a GREAT DEAL!"

Even with high dollar items, sellers are kind of loopy to be shipping with inexpensive options. You kind of have to ship belt and braces to be protected by them.

Originally Posted by sharptonn

NO, no!
You are not supposed to concern yourself with shipping costs and, as Sashee always tells you;
"Bid NOW to get a GREAT DEAL!"

Sadly the great deals on open auctions are hard because they have no impetus to stop shill bidding. As a seller these days bin is really safer. You can screen potential buyers a bit and you don't have to worry about the lack of bidder transparency creating bad results for you. I think a lot of guys are turned off on open auctions now

$6 is not expensive to ship a razor. Unless they take your 6 bucks and ship it first class in an envelope. I always use small flat rate boxes. They hold multiple razors if needed, have $50 insurance included, tracking, and only takes 2 days to pretty much anywhere in the US, and it's $6.80 now. Now paying $20-$30 for shipping razors from Japan or Europe is expensive!

Buy it now razors are hit or miss. I just found a goldedge for $55, a satin wedge for $15, and a broken ivory scaled Joseph elliot for $15. Shipping included in those prices

It hits a point of being decent in my mind... If you are getting a nice.... genco.... for $20... give the person the $7 to mail it to you.... If it hurts you to swing it, you might not have the disposable income to be buying straights online...

Don't know how often you ship but shipping has gone through the roof the last couple of years. Personally, I take pride in the way I ship and no package I send will ever be damaged no matter how big and strong the gorilla who handles it.

So, if you send even a single razor and pack it well you will be lucky to get it in a small flat rate box with priority shipping and insurance you be looking at 8-9 bucks. If you need a medium box then 14-15 bucks depending on insurance.

Of course you can just chuck it in an envelope send it first class and pay a few bucks and when it arrives damaged or not at all who is the one who will be complaining and demand their money back and give bad feedback for poor shipping protection?