How to deal with eBay and spiteful buyers?

[weirdami]

If the vendor cannot be arsed to calculate a realistic P&P charge, and cannot explain the difference satisfactorily when asked, then it's tough if they get low P&P feedback ratings.

If I see that shipping is way too high, I don't bid on it. I also don't bid if there's no shipping cost listed. If you know what you're going to be charged up front, you have no reason to complain when you are actually charged that much.

[abbub]

We are being punished for something we have no control over, the cost of shipping is controlled by UPS and USPS, or whoever your local post might be.

Sort of.  If it's a five dollar hassle for you to 'handle' the shipping, then set your minimum up by five dollars and keep the 'shipping cost' the actual cost of shipping.

As it is, shipping costs are severely broken on ebay.

[redrumloa]

abbub wrote:
As it is, shipping costs are severely broken on ebay.

Keep in mind my average handling fee is $2, unless something is bulky or needs extra material then it can scale up to $5. I have an account with a box manufacturer, I buy new boxes, bubblewrap, peanuts, tape, antistatic bags etc. Each of these cost money, that is why there is such a thing as a handling fee. Go to any box/shipping supply company online and calculate how much all this costs. See what a pack of 100 boxes costs to be shipped to you.

What some people miss is there is no Voodoo here, everything is stated up front. Back when I was selling comic books on eBay for a while I tried a flat $2 shipping first comic, all additional comics ship free. I plainly stated in the listings basic shipping would ship in a padded envelope by media mail, unless buyer opted for upgraded shipping. The comics being sold were anywhere from $.35 each to a couple dollars each. I'd have people buy ~25+ comics and pay just $1.99 shipping. My actual costs were about $8.00 and people would complain the comics didn't ship Priority Mail or boxed. So they pay ~$15-$20 for comics and expect it to be shipped at a higher cost than what they paid  :roll:

[LoadWB]

A colleague of mine put me on to this site: bidtopia.com

[alexh]

weirdami wrote:
If you know what you're going to be charged up front, you have no reason to complain when you are actually charged that much.

Sure. There are no grounds for complaint just because the P&P price is too high as you knew how much it was going to be.

BUT at the same time the buyer expects a certain level of quality associated with P&P and if it is not met then it is grounds for complaint.

It is 100% upto the buyer to choose whether or not they felt they got value for money with the P&P amount.

[Bezzen]

If you know what you're going to be charged up front, you have no reason to complain when you are actually charged that much.

If I see that something's going to cost me $30 for S&H I expect that it will get to me fast and secure with UPS or something. And then I get it four weeks later with a $3 stamp on it sent by surface mail. Then I think I actually do have reasons to complain even if I knew up front how much I would have to pay.

(and no, this isn't in any way related to red and his auctions.

[redrumloa]

@Bezzen

Where the heck you been? Long time no see :-)

[dannyp1]

I think one thing we are overlooking is the misleading definitions of what the number ratings mean.  If you read the definitions if someone were to give all 4's it is a great transaction.  After reading the definitions of what a 4 rating is, I don't see any way that EBay should be penalizing sellers for receiving them.  Even all 3's indicate a normal, average transaction, which is what most transactions are.

[Plaz]

Gee, more great news from ebay...

eBay Holiday Contest Overrun By Automated Scripts, Honest Users Disgruntled

And no way to leave bad feedback for any deadbeat bidders using scripts, sweet. Everyone make sure to post lots of $1 items with $75 shipping and handling charges. ;-)

Will you get paid? That's another story.

Plaz

[ZeBeeDee]

Put simply, if you want the item then you pay whats stated. If you don't want the item then don't bid.

Basic and simple!

When it comes to selling, you can't please everyone so you just have to bear the brunt of a few whingers who vote with a click of their mouse.

Why complain about it all? Thats part and parcel of the online experience ... move along!

[recidivist]

 Right!

And I hate to hear of "binning" items you know people want/need ;just set the minimum bid such that you won't lose money ,you might be lucky and get more.
Sellers who start items they know are worth $100 at 1 penny deserve to get bit when an item sells cheap.
Remember,it is an auction,and like the stock market.today's price is no guarantee of tomorrow's price.

[taunusand]

@ZeBeeDee
I could not have said it better!