How much is fair for handling?

[jbholio]

I live in Canada and it cost only about $1.60 to ship a game (cart only) via Airmail. However most ebay sellers charge $5 and some even more. How much do you think is a fair amount for a handling fee?

[Kid Ice]

How about nothing? If you are posting something on ebay, you are SELLING something, and you owe at least that much to the CUSTOMER who purchases the item.

It might be reasonable if you are selling a huge lot that would take hours to pack up carefully. But what kind of "handling" is needed to ship a single CD, or a cart?

In your case, it would be reasonable to request $2 to ship a cart, IMO.

[kevincure]

I charge $5 to ship to Canada, no handling fee included, because I (along with many others, I think) ship Global Priority Mail on international packages. It tends to be quite a bit faster, plus the USPS provides all the packaging material you need for free.

Now if you're charged $5 and the seller ships normal airmail, then yeah, that's a jackass thing to do.

[jbholio]

I have purchased over 100 items on ebay over the years and about all sellers (95%) ship items normal Airmail in a padded envelope with a $1.60 price on USPS label. I don't mind paying a little for handling but $3.40 is way too much. Then I don't want to give neutrals or negatives because I know the seller will give me one back.

[Mr-E_MaN]

I would think that the price of the shipping materials is fair.

[jbholio]

I would think that the price of the shipping materials is fair.


You think that $3.40 is fair for a padded envelope?

[Mr-E_MaN]

I would think that the price of the shipping materials is fair.


You think that $3.40 is fair for a padded envelope?

No. I said I think the price of shipping materials is fair. Shipping materials do not cost $3.40...

[jbholio]

There is a guy asking $5.95 for shipping to Canada and he said "It is shipping and HANDLING. That is what it is worth to me." $4.35 for handling, yeah right. I think I'll pass on his auctions...

[Griking]

There is a guy asking $5.95 for shipping to Canada and he said "It is shipping and HANDLING. That is what it is worth to me." $4.35 for handling, yeah right. I think I'll pass on his auctions...


If I don't bid on an auction because of unreasonable shipping and handling fee then I let the seller know. Sure he might have sold it anyways but I won't contribute to jacking up his final selling price. Otherwise he may think it was because the item wasn't in demand or something.

[hezeuschrist]

Some of those envelopes are expensive! 1.60 + 2.00 for the envelope = 3.60. Gas to get to post office and times spent on auction, $4 isn't unreasonable at all.

[Mr-E_MaN]

Some of those envelopes are expensive! 1.60 + 2.00 for the envelope = 3.60. Gas to get to post office and times spent on auction, $4 isn't unreasonable at all.

I buy those bubble mailers 34 cents each, and that is Canadian dollars.

[jbholio]

Some of those envelopes are expensive! 1.60 + 2.00 for the envelope = 3.60. Gas to get to post office and times spent on auction, $4 isn't unreasonable at all.


I don't know where you buy your envelopes but here I can get 3 for CDN $1.

[hezeuschrist]

Well apparently the USPS rips the hell off.

[mumbai]

Well apparently the USPS rips the hell off.

Of course they do. Why would anyone think to get a good deal on packing materials at a US Postal Station? lol

And yet, every time I go to one, I'm always behind someone juggling twenty loose objects who has to buy a box to put them in when he or she gets to the clerk counter.

And people wonder why postal workers go ... well ... postal.

[hezeuschrist]

Eh, I don't have time to drive way the hell outta the way to target/meijer/kmart/office depot ect. to get a bubble mailer for a buck 20 cheaper than at the post office.

[petewhitley]

Eh, I don't have time to drive way the hell outta the way to target/meijer/kmart/office depot ect. to get a bubble mailer for a buck 20 cheaper than at the post office.

Amen. I can't believe so many people get so upset at $5 for shipping. For crying out loud, name any retailer in America that charges less per order. I buy all my packaging material at the place I ship them, and usually it's at *gasp* Mailboxes Etc. Shipping and handling folks, and that handling charge accounts for all the middlemen, and quite frankly, my time. If you don't like it, don't bid. I've gotten emails from people asking me to reduce the fee and I've told 'em flat out no. The item usually sells to someone else.

[dave2236]

I buy Bubble mailers in 100 and 200 pack boxes. They cost $.15- $ .35 each. No offense but you guys who pay $1 each for a bubble mailer aren't doing it the economical way. I usually charge $2 -$2.50 for first class shipping, including airmail to canada. I also charge $4 for priority mail.

I feel sorry for you Canadians, because people are so dumb when it comes to shipping. I can often ship games to canada for less than what it costs to ship stuff in the US. You Canadians get gouged by most sellers, if you want something talk to me, I'll try to hook you up AND not overcharge you on shipping. Weight is what kills International shipping, but then you just open a Fed Ex account and ship through them.

[mumbai]

I can't believe so many people get so upset at $5 for shipping. For crying out loud, name any retailer in America that charges less per order.

Hmmm... Amazon.com when the order total goes over $25 (except when they decide certain items don't count). DeepDiscountDVD on every order, if you don't mind Media Mail delivery... if there isn't a game supply equivalent, there should be.

[jbholio]

I buy Bubble mailers in 100 and 200 pack boxes. They cost $.15- $ .35 each. No offense but you guys who pay $1 each for a bubble mailer aren't doing it the economical way. I usually charge $2 -$2.50 for first class shipping, including airmail to canada. I also charge $4 for priority mail.

I feel sorry for you Canadians, because people are so dumb when it comes to shipping. I can often ship games to canada for less than what it costs to ship stuff in the US. You Canadians get gouged by most sellers, if you want something talk to me, I'll try to hook you up AND not overcharge you on shipping. Weight is what kills International shipping, but then you just open a Fed Ex account and ship through them.


What I don't understand is that it cost about the same to ship a cartridge (cart only) media mail to USA or airmail to Canada, so why do Canadians have to pay sometimes up to $5 more for shipping if price is the same? If you want $3.40 for handling to Canada, then why don't you ask $3.40 for handling to USA??????

[dave2236]

What I don't understand is that it cost about the same to ship a cartridge (cart only) media mail to USA or airmail to Canada, so why do Canadians have to pay sometimes up to $5 more for shipping if price is the same? If you want $3.40 for handling to Canada, then why don't you ask $3.40 for handling to USA??????

Because people think it is more difficult to ship to canada. Even though its not. I'm actually heading to the post office now, 2 packages to Canada and one to New York.

To answer your question, people want to profit off of the shipping and because everyone else charges more for Canadian shipping, then I can charge more too.

Like I said before, I feel sorry for you Canadians, you guys get screwed on shipping by most ebayers.[/quote]

[jbholio]

Dave2236, if all ebayers could be like you...

[mumbai]

I think this would be a fair example of overcharging on handling:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3039621969&category=21177

$5 for media mail (which should be the base $1.42 for three carts with ample packing)?

[jbholio]

I think this would be a fair example of overcharging on handling:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3039621969&category=21177

$5 for media mail (which should be the base $1.42 for three carts with ample packing)?

@mumbai

This is about what I have to pay for handling on 95% of items I buy on ebay. :(

[mumbai]

This is about what I have to pay for handling on 95% of items I buy on ebay.

Well, it wouldn't be so bad if it were for First Class or USPS Prioirity ... but if you check his other auctions, it's relatively clear that the approach taken here is that of "average" shipping - that is, he just pegged a number that on average isn't so outrageous, but for particular auctions, is a wee too high in relation to actual postage cost.

Not all that bad on the whole, but when shipping/handling charged on eBay heads toward the 3x and up range relative to actual postal cost, I think it's a bit wonky. Personal opinion, nothing more.

The troubling cases are the "$0.05 common cart with the $4.95 s/h attached" ... hmmm ... nice round $5.00 total ... 99% of the total cost of is in shipping ... looks like fee avoidance (when that $4.95 isn't for Priority+) to me.

Maybe it's just me. Yeah, probably is.

[petewhitley]

Again I'd like to point everyone to the majority of mail-order/internet retailers in America who charge over the cost of materials and shipping to send goods (yes there are exceptions, Amazon over $25, etc.). It's just common business practice, and I fail to see why eBay sellers should be expected to be these great philanthropists who ship items always at cost and never over. x_x

[mumbai]

I fail to see why eBay sellers should be expected to be these great philanthropists who ship items always at cost and never over.

Well, there's over cost and then there's *over* cost. Resonable additional amounts for "effort/time/etc." are one thing, but how about this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3039711771&category=3540

Maybe I'm not up on Canadian shipping practices - despite the lengthy talk about it lately here - but isn't $16.00 USD a *little* much for two hand controllers and five carts for intra-Canada shipping?

That being said, sellers are free to do what they want. You're right that there's no reasonable expectation for sainthood.

[Predatorxs]

Just wanted to thru this in, I'm in the UK! and buy alot off snes games from Canadian and US ebayers (Mainly American) also most sellers are very friendly out going sellers, normally we sort out shipping come to a price and thats it, i pay via paypal..

Now sometimes i might buy maybe 20 - 25 snes games all boxed so it might be around $28 to $32 for shipping when it's this many games i get them to send surface, but in the main i always us Airmail / Airmail letter.

But awhile back i came across an ebayer that came out with some terrible bullsh*t, i had bought 3 snes games he said it would be $9 for the first which sounded a few dollars more than normal but i let it go i try not to argue over a few dollars here and there, then he said the full shipping would be $18 i asked why it was that much.

He said that he had to get his little niece to get it all boxed up and he said it would be unfare not to pay her?!?! all i could do was laugh out loud!?!?

You can just imagine, this little girl crying as she is packing the stuff together, come on lets get real here, there is no niece!! who was he trying to fool...

He must have thought, ohh fella from the UK maybe a dumbass!! i'll squeese him for a few more dollars...

Now he is one bad seller out of many many good sellers i have encountered on ebay.com..

I shouldn't have, BUT I paid up!! i was more after the games and so not to cause aload of messy e-mails about NPB's and Negative feedback, he left me Pos+ feedback, i do my up most to never leave any seller / buyer NEGATIVE feedback!! .....ever.

So i left him non at all!!

I also recently bought 13 snes games boxed etc! off another turkey and he charged me $40 dollars, he said it would be heavy i'm guessing that there will be a brick in the parcel along with the games LOL !!!

Before everyone starts saying i'm a sap!! and that i have it coming for paying a silly amount for shipping these 2 times are the only times i have given in!!
and the only 2 times people have tried to get extra (thru shipping)

he has left me feedback and when i get the parcel in the post if the shipping isn't vey close to $40 then he's getting aload of Negative feedback, but i'll offer him the option of paying back what ever amount of money was left over from the original $40 for shipping..

I'll let you know what happens... i can almost hear your screams of laughter and pity lol!!! yes at me!!! O_O

[dave2236]

Again I'd like to point everyone to the majority of mail-order/internet retailers in America who charge over the cost of materials and shipping to send goods (yes there are exceptions, Amazon over $25, etc.). It's just common business practice, and I fail to see why eBay sellers should be expected to be these great philanthropists who ship items always at cost and never over. x_x

It all depends on your morals......I was raised with good morals.

[mumbai]

Here's another example of overcharging (just to beat a dead horse with the short end of the stick Canada seems to get here):

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2746676374&category=179

"If Canada shipping is necessary; add $15 to the base shipping price for this auction and include it in your total payment."

Atop a $7.50 base charge to ship a PC game (just the CD?) and a strategy guide. Hmmm...

[jbholio]

Here's another example of overcharging (just to beat a dead horse with the short end of the stick Canada seems to get here):

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2746676374&category=179

"If Canada shipping is necessary; add $15 to the base shipping price for this auction and include it in your total payment."

Atop a $7.50 base charge to ship a PC game (just the CD?) and a strategy guide. Hmmm...


Hahaha... $22.50 for shipping to Canada, $5 for insurance and he does not combine shipping :o "Also, Shipping and Handling is just that. You are paying for the actual cost of shipping and my time to box it up and ship it to you. Therefore, the actual amount you see on the box that arrives to you may be less, equal to, or more than what you paid." This means that you will receive the CD in a cheap padded envelope with a price of $1.60 on the post office label. This idiot will never sell this item (plus it has a reserve price). Please don't outbid me...