SCP Auctions and shipping cost

[thehoodedcoder]

Originally Posted by prestigecollectibles

I just looked at the FedEx website and to send a 1 pound (which is the minimum) package from here in Florida to California without any insurance their published rates are as follows:

Thu Sep 12, 2013 8:00 AM FedEx First Overnight® 98.60
Thu Sep 12, 2013 10:30 AM FedEx Priority Overnight® 64.66
Thu Sep 12, 2013 3:00 PM FedEx Standard Overnight® 58.25
Fri Sep 13, 2013 10:30 AM FedEx 2Day AM® 30.17
Fri Sep 13, 2013 4:30 PM FedEx 2Day® 26.23
Mon Sep 16, 2013 4:30 PM FedEx Express Saver® 20.64
End of day(4 Business Days) FedEx Ground® 9.04

For most items the USPS is more economical, but many auction houses won't use them.

then you have to pay the guy to box stuff it with your package stuffers, bubble wrap, shipping labels, ink for the invoice they print out, tape it all up, mark it paid in their billing systems, etc. he gets a decent salary to handle your valuables, with health care, life insurance, maybe a pension, 401k like the rest of us.

there isn't a room full of elves handling this process for candy canes.

kevin

[HRBAKER]

Originally Posted by thehoodedcoder

then you have to pay the guy to box stuff it with your package stuffers, bubble wrap, shipping labels, ink for the invoice they print out, tape it all up, mark it paid in their billing systems, etc. he gets a decent salary to handle your valuables, with health care, life insurance, maybe a pension, 401k like the rest of us.

there isn't a room full of elves handling this process for candy canes.

kevin

In fairness I would expect the 20% (or so) Buyer's Premium to cover some of that, not the S&H.

[thehoodedcoder]

Originally Posted by HRBAKER

In fairness I would expect the 20% (or so) Buyer's Premium to cover some of that, not the S&H.

that is what makes it a free market. much like all of the other pricing that gets discussed....you can chose to take your business else where or pay the price that it costs to do business with a particular business.

i don't really see much point in arguing really about the whole thing. the prices are listed on the webiste. you sign up and agree to pay a price when you knowingly bid on a card.

its almost like bitching about how TGIF fridays doesn't have cheaper hamburgers after you bought and ate your hamburger.

go to mcdonalds and pick yourself up a quarter pounder. you know they are cheaper there. they even ship your burger to you through a window.

kevin

[cyseymour]

UPS is ridiculously overpriced. I don't think that if there is a package for $17 that it actually goes to the shipping department and paying the guy's salary, or any of their other expenses. I would bet that the $17 goes straight to UPS. Considering the cost of UPS, I doubt that SCP makes much if any money off of shipping.

But, Dan makes some good points that it is insensitive to the "little guy" who might just want one card. The auction houses would do better to send packages under $1000 via USPS. It would be better for the small collector. Yet that is not where the profit lies for the large auction houses, so they will cater their systems to the large purchasers who spend large sums, and if that means going with UPS, then that is what they will do.

[RCMcKenzie]

I have sold cards on occassion on ebay since 1998. I learned that it is just easier to ship for free. Bidders factor in the free shipping and the lots sell for a little more. It's easier than explaining that my Maserati only gets 8 miles to the gallon and I live a long way from a post office.

[wonkaticket]

Dan, I’m sort of tired of explaining this to you. I have said time and time again my fuel charge to run and ship something out for you isn’t cheap.