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Nice brush, but $10 shipping???
I emailed him, asking if this was a mistake. His response-
"No. It's for shipping and handling."
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this subject in general, and on this seller in particular. You can pretty much guess what my feelings are.
I'd do business with him. I don't care what anyone charges for shipping as long as they state it up front. Then I just figure it into the net price that's the highest I"m willing to pay. Whether for the product or the shipping, it's all part of the net price and when it's listed very clearly like that, there aren't any surprises. What pi$$es me off tremendously is when someone lists "buyer pays actual shipping cost" and they tell you after the auction that you owe a flat rate that's twice what the "actual shipping cost" would be - or sometimes more than twice that amount.
Unless a seller lists his shipping fee or fee policy, I won't bid. I've ended up paying more for shipping than the item itself when I assumed the shipping would be the actual shipping cost on some auctions where that information was conspicuously absent.
Papabull makes some valid points. After all, the total price is the only thing that matters. Still, I am offended by a ten dollar shipping charge for a 2 ounce item. For ten bucks, he's going to have to handle something other than my brush.
I would rather have him raise the minimum bid, or utilize a reserve, even though the final cost would be the same. I applaud your policy of not dealing with anyone who doesn't state a definitive s&h, but I extend that to include those who charge a fee that is unwarranted.
Moreover, when I choose to question the policy and receive a sarcastic reply, my opinion is finalized. If you choose to do business with him, fine. But bear in mind what he feels about the customer.
I have always used the same philosophy as papabull. For me, an ebay deal is only a good deal if I can buy it cheaper on ebay than I can locally. I don't really care what method the seller uses to divide his revenue. I've bought a number of items on ebay for $.01 and paid $5 shipping -- and it was a good deal at $5.01 total cost!
As I recall the exorbitant shipping fee practice started when ebay raised their fees some time (years?) ago -- it was (and still is) a way of screwing ebay out of some income since ebay's fee to the seller is composed of a fixed fee + a % of the sell price... the shipping fee never enters into the calculation.
I do get a little miffed, however, when the seller charges actual fees but will only ship UPS (at $9+, for example) when parcel post (@ $3) would suffice... that often makes a good deal a bad deal and damnit, I really want the item! ...LOL
Joe, I know what you mean. Shipping UPS or FEDEX on most things puts an Ebay seller at the bottom of my Christmas list most times. Especially if we're talking about relatively small items with a fairly low value. I assume actual shipping charges on these types of things to be 3.85, the cost to ship USPS Priority Mail and I get it in 2 days. Paying 6.00 in shipping for a shaving brush that I won for $27 and then having to put up with 6 days transit time was an unpleasant surprise lately, but..... It was a really great Simpson super badger that was well worth the wait and the extra few bucks I got slapped with unexpectedly for shipping. It's still a pet peeve of mine, though.
I also HATE winning a bid that turns out to be for an item for which the buyer won't accept PayPal. I forget to check sometimes and have to bite the bullet on that but normally, if the seller doesn't take PayPal, I'll pass and wait until something just like it comes along from a buyer who will.
I just figure the shipping as part of the final cost and bid accordingly. I have not bid on some things I really wanted just because the seller only took money orders or cashier checks. If they don't take Paypal, I pass.
I would agree that the $10 is pretty steep for such a small item. Do remember though that not eveyone ships things themselves and many use those franchise PacknShiplaces which charge nearly double the actual cost.
I always do the actual cost methods via Priority Mail since it can be done on the computer with Insurance and saves a trip to the Post Office. I also get taken to task nearly weekly for even this fair price by buyers wanting Media Mail and balking at the xtra dollar or two Priority requires. A few weeks ago I sold a $200+ book and got the same beef, Media mail for $1.85 or Priority for $3.85. Can't make everyone heappy.
Tony