Shipping?

[irv]

Originally Posted by megalimey

I use Ebay Global shipping for international and only ebay global shipping
hundred of successful Global shipping transactions .
If not for ebay global I would not even offer international shipping , due the major hassle it can be.
Some International buyers complain about the charges and then ask me to ship it by other means , but there is always a caveat , that being I lie on the customs forms as to its true value or what the contents are , or just put some stamps on it and mail it with no declaration . The buyer saves money with zero risk , because if it gets held in customs,lost or not delivered Ebay will give the buyer their full money back plus the shipping cost , How doing that makes any sense for the seller as good business is beyond me , so if it means losing those customers so be it ,

I understand that some of you guys have been ripped off in the past so I don't blame you if you feel the need to use Global or refuse to ship to CDN's, but I will say, I have a hard time understanding how shipping, using Global can be so expensive when I can receive cards all the way from California or Texas and only pay $3.00 dollars with tracking?

Imo, you guys are being gouged big time and E-Bay is getting rich off of you at a time when you are losing business because you use Global shipping.

99% of my purchases have come from the States, and although I use to pay a higher than average price of $15.00 for shipping from a big E-Bay seller, mentioned more than a few times on this site, I no longer choose to use them, (for more reasons than just shipping) as I can get cards shipped to me for 5x less that cost.

[Snapolit1]

I guess if you haven't been to the post office often you may not have a clue what things cost. A stamp might be 40 something cents. A package isn't. Small priority mail box is 6 bucks 85 I think. Add another buck fifty (?) for signature. And then you need bubble wrap and the time it takes to package it and stand in line. Whatever.
As someone said, if you really care about the card you've bought don't you want it shipped safely?

[Snapolit1]

I mailed a Goudey Premium to a board member this morning. Generally poor condition. I mailed it as cheap as I could because it was only a $25-$30 item. First I stood in line at CVS at 8 am and bought a large enough padded envelope for $3.25. Then I went back to my office and packed it up. Then went to the post office and stood in line for 10 minutes. I mailed it first class since it wasn't going far. Cost $4.35 I think. That's almost $8 bucks not counting for my time. And that's as cheap as I could mail it.

Some of you guys crack me up.

[OsFan]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

I mailed a Goudey Premium to a board member this morning. Generally poor condition. I mailed it as cheap as I could because it was only a $25-$30 item. First I stood in line at CVS at 8 am and bought a large enough padded envelope for $3.25. Then I went back to my office and packed it up. Then went to the post office and stood in line for 10 minutes. I mailed it first class since it wasn't going far. Cost $4.35 I think. That's almost $8 bucks not counting for my time. And that's as cheap as I could mail it.

Some of you guys crack me up.

This is a ridiculous post.

[Snapolit1]

Originally Posted by OsFan

This is a ridiculous post.

Apologies I'm not Amazon and don't have a shipping department.

[OsFan]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Apologies I'm not Amazon and don't have a shipping department.

This is just between you and I. Don't tell the other guys...

There are many locations you can choose from, post office, hardware or grocery/convinces store. They are all likely to sell bubble mailers in Qty among other shipping supplies. This way you can greatly reduce your number of trips. You have your cards and the packaging in the same location. This way once you've packaged your items there is only one trip to the post office.

Also might I suggest adjusting you post office visiting times. I've always had my best luck between 10-11am and 2-3:30pm. This should greatly reduce your time spent waiting in line.

but like I said, keep it on the dl.

[toledo_mudhen]

I stopped posting separate shipping charges on ebay long ago and provide "Free" shipping to US Addresses on every thing I list. As a result - automatic - 5 stars on every transaction for shipping. Typically I just add $3 (on shipments of 1 or a few cards) over my selling price to the auction start price or BIN.

Havent bought a bubble mailer in years - since I am both a buyer and seller I open carefully and reuse most all of the bubble mailers that my purchases come in.

My expenses end up being actual shipping cost - purchased thru ebay (which includes a small discount with free tracking) and clear packing tape

Bought a small digital postage scale years ago and Im sure it has paid for itself several times over now.

I am typically a WAY EARLY riser so shipping dept kicks in most mornings around 4-5 am and everything goes to Post Office on my way to work long before they open using the lobby drop box

Cant remember the last time I had a Canadian sale and needed to calculate that cost.

Bottom line - shipping has pretty much become a non issue for me and I never have customers complain about shipping cost - plus it keeps the ebay gods fat, dumb, and happy.

I suspect that had the OP won the card for $160 with Free Shipping this post would be non existent and he would still have been just as happy with the transaction. YES?

[Snapolit1]

Originally Posted by OsFan

This is just between you and I. Don't tell the other guys...

There are many locations you can choose from, post office, hardware or grocery/convinces store. They are all likely to sell bubble mailers in Qty among other shipping supplies. This way you can greatly reduce your number of trips. You have your cards and the packaging in the same location. This way once you've packaged your items there is only one trip to the post office.

Also might I suggest adjusting you post office visiting times. I've always had my best luck between 10-11am and 2-3:30pm. This should greatly reduce your time spent waiting in line.

but like I said, keep it on the dl.

Thanks! My post office is on Wall Street and don't see many hardware stores in the area. Will look today.
Putting aside time spent, I spent $7.75 on shipping and got 8 bucks something after pay pal fees. Should I go to confession today and apologize to a high power for this terrible price gouging? Now I'm terribly wracked with guilt and shame.