An Equal Opportunity Glitch

[frankbmd]

With the apparent glitch reported in the current PWCC thread, I thought it only fair to site my horrifying glitch with and REA auction. This was 13 or 14 years ago and my first experience with a major auction house and what was a significant purchase for me.

I was in Las Vegas the night the auction closed and was of course eager to see of my bids had held up. The auction closed around 4 or 5 AM Vegas time and I was online when it closed. I was exhilarated to discover that I had won both lots.

I then hit the invoice button just to confirm my success. I immediately began to shake and sweat when I saw on the invoice that the shipping cost was going to be $1000.00 for two cards. I was returning home that day and was the trip wasn't pleasant. What small print had I not read. Was I out of my league in the auction game?

That evening when I got home I went online to recheck the invoice. The shipping cost had been reduced to $20.00. Of course I had checked the invoice in Vegas long before anyone at REA would have able to adjust the shipping charge. Apparently at that time the default shipping charge on all invoices was $1000.00 as a place holder. Couldn't they have picked a smaller number for the default?

[tschock]

Originally Posted by frankbmd

With the apparent glitch reported in the current PWCC thread, I thought it only fair to site my horrifying glitch with and REA auction. This was 13 or 14 years ago and my first experience with a major auction house and what was a significant purchase for me.

I was in Las Vegas the night the auction closed and was of course eager to see of my bids had held up. The auction closed around 4 or 5 AM Vegas time and I was online when it closed. I was exhilarated to discover that I had won both lots.

I then hit the invoice button just to confirm my success. I immediately began to shake and sweat when I saw on the invoice that the shipping cost was going to be $1000.00 for two cards. I was returning home that day and was the trip wasn't pleasant. What small print had I not read. Was I out of my league in the auction game?

That evening when I got home I went online to recheck the invoice. The shipping cost had been reduced to $20.00. Of course I had checked the invoice in Vegas long before anyone at REA would have able to adjust the shipping charge. Apparently at that time the default shipping charge on all invoices was $1000.00 as a place holder. Couldn't they have picked a smaller number for the default?

So the Aesop and Son's moral to the above is....???
What glitch is in Vegas, stays in Vegas?
Just two shippings passing in the night?

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by frankbmd

...the shipping cost was going to be $1000.00 for two cards...

Imagine what that number would be these days, with rate hikes taking place seemingly every other day.

[Stampsfan]

Originally Posted by frankbmd

...Couldn't they have picked a smaller number for the default?

It's always easier to reduce shipping than to increase shipping.