Thread: Ridiculous postage charges. What's the worst you've had?

I sent one razor to the Netherlands from US for somewhere around thirty dollars. I felt terrible about it, but that's what the calculator told me and every dime of it went to the USPS. The buyer then had to pay import duties on top of that charge as well, so I know he paid out a bunch. In the end, the razor was restored, and ended up with it's own thread here in SRP, so I guess it all worked out for the best. But sometimes I choose US only, just because I hate having to be the one to send an invoice with such a hefty shipping price. I think they're ridiculous charges as well, but that's why I've never bought any of AJ's stones too. lol. So I see it from both sides.

To answer the OP: The most I've ever paid was 8 dollars for a small packet from the UK. I know...not so ridiculous is it. What can I say? I'm cheap.

I find shipping to outside of Canada less expensive than shipping inside of Canada. It can be very frustrating at times. I don't understand why they would charge so much. Maybe they've been burned and want to make sure it makes it to the destination.

The vast majority of high feedback ebay sellers are honest people,I have gotten and givin many postage refunds,in the past 13 years on ebay.
International postage can at times be difficult to calculate with all the mailing options available.
Talk to the seller long before an auction ends about your shipping concerns if any.If you feel that the seller is trying to gouge on the shipping and you can give him a better less costly shipping option by doing your own calculations,all may be well,if not,do not bid,simple solution,no grief.

Nothing more annoying than paying $20 US shipping and recieving a small brown padded envelope with a $4.25 sticker on it...

Originally Posted by EisenFaust

Nothing more annoying than paying $20 US shipping and recieving a small brown padded envelope with a $4.25 sticker on it...

Ask for a refund,most reputable sellers will issue one.

When you buy on ebay it's the seller's responsibility that the goods are delivered to the buyer, not simply shipped. The fact is that the shippers charge that much money to provide delivery confirmation and insurance for international shipments.

So the seller has the choice between taking the risk themselves and shipping uninsured/without delivery confirmation or pay/charge the expensive shipping and drive off prospective buyers.
The buyer has only the choice to bid or not to bid given the shipping costs which are always disclosed ahead of time and the seller cannot charge more than that.

Several months ago I sold something on ebay to a guy in Israel. It was with USPS (flat rate priority international) within 2 hours of the auction close and his immediate payment, yet the last scan was at the local distribution center and that was all. Two months later the buyer still hadn't received it and the only thing the post office told me is that that type of postage doesn't include any insurance or tracking. The buyer was rather unhappy, but another month later (3 after my mailing) he received the package and after seeing the post stamp was glad to see that I hadn't lied to him.

So I didn't end up losing the money this time, or the buyer the merchandize, but international shipping is risky or expensive.

you make a very good point, Gugi.

I have no complaint about shipping charges in general. When you live in Australia you take what you can get and are grateful for it. I remember when I was a lad we had to walk 15 days to get to ebay, sleeping under a disused tissue each night on the side of the information highway. All the rich guys would zoom by in their Gixens and never offer us a lift until the last minute. It was tough, but we were made of strong stuff back then.

James.

Originally Posted by johnmrson

I'll make sure I check the envelope for the actual cost when it arrives.

This has been discussed before. I, like many others, charge more than raw postage.
The padded envelope costs a dollar and a half as well. A box 2 euros.
Add a half euro for the packaging chips / bubble wrap.
Add a percentage for the insurance.
Add a euro for driving to the mail center in the next village.

And suddenly (and with the insurance included) 20 or 25 dollars is a very reasonable price.
Especially concerning the insurance. Many people ship things and then leave unsaid who is taking the risk.
I don't. If you buy something from me, you either agree to take the risk for all shipping related risk, or you pay for insurance.

EDIT: I just noticed I didn't include shipping registration and confirmation.
Without the first, your package goes in the open mail room instead of in secured bag that is secure till the destination. Without the latter, the package is just shoved in the mailbox, left on the porch, or just dropped off somewhere in the vicinity of the mailbox (or the lobby of the apartment building)

I just checked the web site, the cost for a small box is showing as $39.97 CDN for a padded envelope $7.40. The seller might not want to take a chance it won't get broken in an envelope. Maybe I did something wrong, but if so, the seller may have made the same mistake. Shipping with Canada Post is insane, I can get something from the UK for much less then it costs to ship from only a few hundred kilometers away.

EDIT: Bruno makes an excellent point.The cost for a registered and signed for envelope is $27+