Anyone here done business with Chris Long Management?

[Rich Klein]

To your credit the letter was very courteous. However; if the auction in question, and please post the link, did say $4 postage then you technically made a contract to include that amount in your bid. Thus, your email could be considered an attempt to modify the contract and if so, the seller has the right to be upset with you.

Regards
Rich

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

To your credit the letter was very courteous. However; if the auction in question, and please post the link, did say $4 postage then you technically made a contract to include that amount in your bid. Thus, your email could be considered an attempt to break the contract and if so, the seller has the right to be upset with you.

Regards
Rich

Modify, Rich, not break. Frank paid. The overcharging seller has no right to be upset.

[mdschulze]

In the last few weeks I've been forced by my wife to clean out the attic and get rid of several items. Instead of throwing them out, I posted a few on Ebay. It didn't take long to see that if I charged a fair amount for shipping, plus Ebay's listing fees, plus Ebay's final value fees, plus Paypal's fees then it was just not worth the headache to package it and drive to the PO to mail it.

What I've done now is start every auction at $.01, but I've set the shipping charges to what I think the item is worth. For instance, I've got a few limited edition prints that were appraised at $1200. I've got the start price at $.01 but shipping set at $799.00. The $.01 start price qualifies for a free listing and if the item sells for $2.00, then my Ebay fees are kept to a minimum. I've had a few Ebayers question the shipping but when I explain, they understand.

[slidekellyslide]

Originally Posted by mdschulze

In the last few weeks I've been forced by my wife to clean out the attic and get rid of several items. Instead of throwing them out, I posted a few on Ebay. It didn't take long to see that if I charged a fair amount for shipping, plus Ebay's listing fees, plus Ebay's final value fees, plus Paypal's fees then it was just not worth the headache to package it and drive to the PO to mail it.

What I've done now is start every auction at $.01, but I've set the shipping charges to what I think the item is worth. For instance, I've got a few limited edition prints that were appraised at $1200. I've got the start price at $.01 but shipping set at $799.00. The $.01 start price qualifies for a free listing and if the item sells for $2.00, then my Ebay fees are kept to a minimum. I've had a few Ebayers question the shipping but when I explain, they understand.

This is against ebay rules...it won't take long before someone will turn you over to ebay for excessive shipping charges. I don't know what ebay does about it though.

[T206Collector]

...really confuses me.

Question for Sellers:
Do you guys honestly just eat ebay/paypal fees, post office/bubble envelope purchase travel and time costs, and charge only what the actual envelope costs with shipping charge? And if so, why would you do that?

Question for Buyers:
Do you guys honestly expect sellers to just eat the ebay/paypal fees, post office/bubble envelope purchase travel and time costs, and charge only what the actual envelope costs with shipping charge? And, if so, why do you think the buyer should not have to bear any of those additional costs?

[slidekellyslide]

Originally Posted by T206Collector

...really confuses me.

Question for Sellers:
Do you guys honestly just eat ebay/paypal fees, post office/bubble envelope purchase travel and time costs, and charge only what the actual envelope costs with shipping charge? And if so, why would you do that?

Question for Buyers:
Do you guys honestly expect sellers to just eat the ebay/paypal fees, post office/bubble envelope purchase travel and time costs, and charge only what the actual envelope costs with shipping charge? And, if so, why do you think the buyer should not have to bear any of those additional costs?

As a seller I try to keep the cost as low as possible and not lose money on shipping...those stars are important because I earn 20% off my final ebay bill if I keep a good rating. As a buyer I always take into account the shipping charges when bidding...if they are unreasonable...and I always determine that when the item arrives as per my example above of $6 to ship an 8x10 photo...which would be okay if it had been protected, but it was just thrown into the envelope with no protection and the mailman bent it putting it into my mailbox which caused a crease.

As a side note it has been noted by a lot of sellers on ebay that if you don't charge anything for shipping you will take a hit on your stars.

[HBroll]

I completely agree with FUBAR that complaining about 4$ for shipping is being petty. Its not like he was charging you $20 to ship the card, it was $4.

You don't know why he was charging $4 anyway. I live out in the country and the closest post office to me is 11 miles away in one direction so thats a 22 mile round trip to ship a card. It roughly cost me $4 just in gas to ship a package (my truck gets 17 MPG). If you count the shipping cost, delivery confirmation and the cost of a bubble mailer and gas, it costs me between $7 or $8 to ship a package. I ususally charge $3.95 for shipping and eat the rest just to get a decent feedback.

What people don't realize is that not everybody is 2 minutes from a post office.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Yeah that bubble wrap really adds up.

[egbeachley]

Originally Posted by HBroll

I live out in the country and the closest post office to me is 11 miles away in one direction so thats a 22 mile round trip to ship a card. It roughly cost me $4 just in gas to ship a package (my truck gets 17 MPG). If you count the shipping cost, delivery confirmation and the cost of a bubble mailer and gas, it costs me between $7 or $8 to ship a package. I ususally charge $3.95 for shipping and eat the rest just to get a decent feedback.

What people don't realize is that not everybody is 2 minutes from a post office.

In the time it takes you to mail your next package you could learn how to size and weigh your packages and calculate your own postage and put the stamps on. Heck, even delivery confirmation can be done at home. Round up to make sure and you still save a ton on gas.

[FrankWakefield]

Well for folks that live 11 miles from a post office, there's a way they can save time and avoid paying for gas...

Someone can put that little red flag up on a mailbox and the carrier will stop. Leave him an envelope with money and he'll leave you an envelope with stamps next time by. Or you can order stamps through the USPS and they'll mail them to someone. Then, someone can put the flag up and they'll pick up the packages that are ready to mail. I think with Priority mail someone can schedule pickups. So a person doesn't have to drive 22 miles round trip while getting 17 MPG, they can choose to do that, or choose to use less gas, save time, and save postage costs.


As for bubble wrap costs, save the packaging when you receive stuff.... I use new envelopes, and use pieces or corners of bubble wrap envelopes that I've received in the mail. Saves money, gets a second use out of that environmentally unfriendly bubble wrap. It's not rocket science.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by mdschulze

In the last few weeks I've been forced by my wife to clean out the attic and get rid of several items. Instead of throwing them out, I posted a few on Ebay. It didn't take long to see that if I charged a fair amount for shipping, plus Ebay's listing fees, plus Ebay's final value fees, plus Paypal's fees then it was just not worth the headache to package it and drive to the PO to mail it.

What I've done now is start every auction at $.01, but I've set the shipping charges to what I think the item is worth. For instance, I've got a few limited edition prints that were appraised at $1200. I've got the start price at $.01 but shipping set at $799.00. The $.01 start price qualifies for a free listing and if the item sells for $2.00, then my Ebay fees are kept to a minimum. I've had a few Ebayers question the shipping but when I explain, they understand.

That seems a bit sleazy to me.

[slidekellyslide]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

That seems a bit sleazy to me.

I'm pretty sure ebay considers it "theft of services."

[Doug]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

I'm pretty sure ebay considers it "theft of services."

I thought eBay had found away around that. I occasionally sell used video games on eBay and they have a $4.00 limit on shipping charges in that category.

[mdschulze]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

That seems a bit sleazy to me.

Sleazy? Really? What's the difference of listing an item's start price at $799 and free shipping, versus listing the start price at $.01 and $799 for shipping? The buyer still pays $799 regardless of the scenario and is not injured at all. The seller saves several bucks and Ebay loses a few.

BTW, I don't regularly sell on Ebay but I did notice several categories where the shipping fees are capped (cd's, books, movies, etc). I've sold about a dozen or so miscellaneous items in categories that aren't capped.

If Ebay wishes to "punish" me for a rule infraction... so be it! Half the crap I'm selling/sold is under $50 and it's stuff that would have been thrown out or donated anyway. Ebay has access to my Paypal account so I guess if they really wanted to, they can go in and recover a few bucks or whatever they think I owe!

[botn]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

That seems a bit sleazy to me.

Really? In a hobby in which virtually everyday someone lowers the standards just a tad more? I would reserve the word sleazy for other charming elements in the hobby.

eBay has turned their site upside down for sellers. Only place where the seller assumes the entire burden and cost of selling an item. The seller gets charged for selling the item and as well as charged for accepting payment. Shipping has to be kept extremely low, if not free, in order to avoid backlash from a buyer. Those costs cannot be recouped. On top of a typical buyer's premium of 17.5%, private auction houses charge outrageous amounts for shipping and virtually none of them have to accept a form of payment which costs them anything to process.

[Leon]

I just factor in shipping costs into the price I am bidding/paying. If they are way, way out of line then I might say something or ding the seller. There is no reason for them to charge WAY more and try to recoup their fees in the shipping....even if they stated it. That being said I can't remember ever dinging anyone. I am just stating an opinion. I don't sell on ebay anymore for a variety of reasons and one of the main ones being the egregious fees they charge (including forcing an online payment, knowing they will get an extra 3% by doing so). regards

btw, I think the worst change of all has been not allowing sellers to leave feedback

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by botn

Really? In a hobby in which virtually everyday someone lowers the standards just a tad more? I would reserve the word sleazy for other charming elements in the hobby.

eBay has turned their site upside down for sellers. Only place where the seller assumes the entire burden and cost of selling an item. The seller gets charged for selling the item and as well as charged for accepting payment. Shipping has to be kept extremely low, if not free, in order to avoid backlash from a buyer. Those costs cannot be recouped. On top of a typical buyer's premium of 17.5%, private auction houses charge outrageous amounts for shipping and virtually none of them have to accept a form of payment which costs them anything to process.

OK not sleazy but still it seems to me that if you are going to use someone's service, i.e. ebay, you should play by the rules and not try to cheat them out of their fees. Easy for me to say I suppose as I don't sell much.

[T206Collector]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

It seems to me that if you are going to use someone's service, i.e. ebay, you should play by the rules and not try to cheat them out of their fees.

I would agree with that. But if ebay is going to get a huge slice of the pie, I see no reason why the seller must eat the entire cost of that slice and cannot pass -- up front and prior to accepting bids -- some of that cost to the ultimate buyer.

[Bilko G]

Originally Posted by mdschulze

In the last few weeks I've been forced by my wife to clean out the attic and get rid of several items. Instead of throwing them out, I posted a few on Ebay. It didn't take long to see that if I charged a fair amount for shipping, plus Ebay's listing fees, plus Ebay's final value fees, plus Paypal's fees then it was just not worth the headache to package it and drive to the PO to mail it.

What I've done now is start every auction at $.01, but I've set the shipping charges to what I think the item is worth. For instance, I've got a few limited edition prints that were appraised at $1200. I've got the start price at $.01 but shipping set at $799.00. The $.01 start price qualifies for a free listing and if the item sells for $2.00, then my Ebay fees are kept to a minimum. I've had a few Ebayers question the shipping but when I explain, they understand.

wow..... just wow. Your auctions wont last long.

[DaveW]

Just to get the thread back on topic - I also won 3 of his raw T206s last month. He charged me $6 for shipping. I paid and the cards came and were much better than I had expected. I don't care what it really cost him to ship the cards - he stated clearly in the auction that shipping was $4 for the auction, and I was happy that he combined shipping on 3 cards and charged only $6. They were packaged pretty well so I had no problem with the transaction. When I bid, I had accounted for the $4 in the final price so I was happy with the final price also. If I was willing to pay $20 for a card and shipping was $2, I would bid $18.
If shipping was $10, then I would only bid $10. What difference does it make to me?