Gouging! Re: My first problem w/ ebay came up... needs your advices

From: Russ Blakeman <rhblake_at_bigfoot.com>
Date: Tue Apr 24 11:48:55 2001

I have had to "drop ship" items to customers from warehouses, to include
from HP PartDirect. Not a big deal normally but of course many resellers add
on shipping charges that the original shipper (such as HP) has included in
the price, and make money by adding phoney shipping.

In some instances the large flat fee is good, especially if you live in
Florida and buy from a seller in Washington state. I usually use a nearby
zip to estimate what the shipping would be for UPS and then figure in what
the seller has to get involved with in packing and materials to see if it
would be worth my while. I have seen stuff that was priced really low, to
include the buy-it-now, only to see a ridiculous flat rate shipping.

I have a heavy Lexmark laser on ebay now and I calculated (realistically)
that packing materials to ship it properly would cost me about $9.50
(bubblewrap, peanuts, heavy wall box (or two identical single walls) so I
posted that as a "packing/material fee" and then posted that actual UPS
ground applies to the bid and packing fee. I can't get anymore real with the
buyer than that.

I just bought a different Lexmark strictly to get one with a duplexer and
network card, and they had a flat $45 shipping listed. It shipped from
Sacramento, CA to me in middle KY and I estimated that the 60+ lb box by UPS
ground would cost $42 alone so they got $3 for a very well done packing job.
I made out on that one where I've bought printers for customers (to resell
essentially) and needed one super fast so I've gone for a $65
shipping/packing from Ohio but I made that back from the customer, as well
as being able to snipe my way in last minute and get a good price. The total
of bid and shipping still allowed me to make about $25 on the resale.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org
> [mailto:owner-classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org]On Behalf Of Joe
> Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2001 12:05 PM
> To: classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org
> Subject: Gouging! Re: My first problem w/ ebay came up... needs your
> advices
>
>
> At 10:23 AM 4/24/01 -0400, Larry wrote:
> >
> > One of my big beefs are the guys that ask a big shipping and handling
> >charge. I sometimes wonder if that is how they really make their money.
> > I've passed on many desired things due to that rip-off.
> >
>
> This isn't confined to E-bay. This is common practice (at least in the
> US). In fact, MANY times when you mail order stuff you're not even getting
> it from the distributer/manufacturer. Many of them have agreements with an
> outside company whereby the other company stores it in their own warehouse
> and handles all the packing and shipping in return for those fat "handling
> and shipping charges". It's not a practice that I approve of. I feel like
> I'm paying twice for something.
>
> FWIW Everytime that I see anything about "handling or shipping charges"
> on an auction, I e-mail the seller and ask for the exact charge BEFORE I
> will bid on their item. Many times I do not bid on an item specificly
> because I feel that their charges are excessive or because they fail to
> reply to my questions.
>
> There are some bargains on E-bay but you really have to pay
> attention to
> the details!
>
> Joe
>
Received on Tue Apr 24 2001 - 11:48:55 BST