Unscrupulous ebay traders

[FastRobPlus]

If fees are given as flat fees in the auction, then charging any price for shipping and handling is appropriate.  After all, you can elect not to bid on the item.  I sometimes give a flat fee based on what I think it will cost, and don't refund the difference if it turns out to be cheaper.  This is because it's a better experience for the bidder to be able to bid on an item knowing the full costs up front, and being able to pay immediately and get thier item sent out quick.

If they don't specify fees in the auction, then I feel this implies actual cost of shipping will be calculated upon auciton close, which should be within 25% plus or minus of the actual real cost that the post office charges.

[FastRobPlus]

You have a good point Cyberus.  If it looks heavy and expensive, but turns out to be light, or qualify for some kind if cost-reduced shipping (like Media mail in the US), you can't be expected to know if you are being overcharged even when the quote is a flat fee.

Oddly enough, I did refund somebody $6 in shipping because I had badly misjuged the cost of shipping.

If I ever get more in to ebay selling, I'll invest in a scale, and some shipping self-study.  As it is, I just read what other are charging in thier simiilar auctions, and quoting the same.

[FastRobPlus]

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I personally do not accept PayPal. PayPal SUCKS !!!! When I put up my auctions on eBay, I always state the S/H charge and I also state "I only accept cash or a Postal money order, from a US or Canadian Post Office, as payment for this item. Buyers outside the USA will have to mail cash". I have never had any problems.
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Yeow!  I never pay money order or cash.  Except that one time when I was new to ebay, paid a money order, and the guy took my money and dissapeared....


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I really didn't realise people systematically charged handling fees. I've always quote the postage cost + a few pence for packing. Guess I've been a bit of a mug then...!
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If you know the exact amount for shipping and handling, be a good player and charge that amount.  For here in the US, I tend to quote what I think will be the most it will cost to ship to the 48-states, and place that quote in my auction.  If it's a little less than that, no buyer will complain.  If I have any shipping money left over, I'll add delivery confirmation to the package.  I happen to think that buyers are more comfortable with the purcahse if they know there's some kind of limited tracking involved.  I will refund money if I was way off on the shipping quote (like several dollars)

[FastRobPlus]

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I never list shipping fees on my auctions. If the item goes for roughly what I think it's worth, I'll charge the price it costs me to ship exactly (I don't take in to account for anything else.) If I wind up getting more than I hoped for, I'll frequently cut the buyer a deal on shipping.  
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Now I don't accept PayPal for payments under 5GBP.
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Those are good policies, and I did them too at first.  But I've found that two things help undecided users bid for an item in an auction:

- Shipping charges quoted up front
- PayPal accepted

With these two things, I realy do think you get more bids, which makes it worth accepting PayPal and giving costs up front.

As we saw in the begining of this thread, it's not a perfect way to do business.  For the second time in a row, I've overcharged a buyer for media mail shipping, and now I need to refund some money.  But as you know, PayPal will eat part of that in the transaction fee.  So while I don't really like offering PayPal or quoting shipping up front, I do it anyway to be as convinient as possible to buyers.