buyers beware ebay suggestion

[cheyenne10]

I almost always try to get a shipping quote before bidding on ebay. Sometimes sellers provide UPS calculator or other method to assist. I have to assume when they do this they are able to add handling costs to calc. nad hold bidder to that.

See this auction for beware example (UPS calculator at bottom of add). My thought was $59 to ship steering column too high? This will probably make it very unattractive price when done. Make sure to check with seller or watch for these things.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...sPageName=WDVW

[boraxman]

Good to know shipping cost, on something like this I would factor shipping in on my bid.

[Hotrodhenryj]

51.95 to AZ. I sent one to the east coast for less than 20.

[Jimbotronics]

What does he mean by "hitting it on the end" to shorten it? I know alot of people install the van columns but is that really ALL you have to do to make it fit? Shipping to me was $26 bucks, but then he's only 6 hrs north.

[Joe67]

Shipping & Handling: $26.70
Insurance (included): --
to ship to Detroit.

I always ask for a shipping quote before bidding if it isn't stated in the auction description

$59 shipping may not be much depending on how much you get the column for

[Blue Beard]

Couple of things to consider:

Usually a Shipping and Handling charge for boxing, etc.

And with fuel costs, UPS and others are putting extra charges on shipping.

[griesel72]

only 31 bucks for me??

[junkyardjohn]

IT WAS $59 TO ME HERE IN NEVADA. I'VE BEEN SHIPPING THEM UP TILL ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO THRU FED EX , & THEY ARE USSUALLY AROUND 10 OR 12 BUCKS ANYWHERE IN THE U.S. JOHN

[TEXAS 68]

That's why it's nice to buy from members here, I think with a common interest there is no gouging on shipping prices. IMO

[c-1072]

I know there are scammers out there for sure but let me tell you it sure is alot of fn around to get shipping quotes and it takes time . The best is when you give a person a good deal and the cheapest shipping you can find and them they dont even buy it . Its frustrating . Thats why most people wont even concider shipping large items anymore .

[bigfaulknwally]

that almost happened to me on a 68 horn button, the ups calculator quoted $18. i contacted the seller and he said he would ship it for 6.50 i was happy he worked with me.

[fast71]

it was 22.00 for me . Ups is getting really high on thier shipping cost. I had a stick of memory for a puter that I sold and told the guy 5.00 to ship to New York. I went to my local Ups store and it was like 8.00. i told them to forget it and I went to USPS and shipped it with insurance for less than 5.00 priority mail. Whats up with that!

[bigfaulknwally]

if you went to a ups store they charge you more than going to a big ups hub. remember mailboxes ext. ups bought them out because they realized people would go there to ship ups and pay twice as much. i have used dhl in the past. and use fedex ground quite a bit. better rates there.

[Randy70C-10]

Originally Posted by bigfaulknwally

that almost happened to me on a 68 horn button, the ups calculator quoted $18. i contacted the seller and he said he would ship it for 6.50 i was happy he worked with me.

Wow, I could have shipped it 2 day priority from the post office for about three bucks!

[PICKMUP]

I just sent this thread to the guy for his information and use...if Ebay doesn't stop it for some reason.

[69sixpackbee]

I NEVER use that free calc. It detracts more than helps. Like said in previous posts...way inflates the actual cost. I charge WHAT IT COSTS TO SHIP and I don't use "handling charges"
Guess I am conscientious and practice ethical treatment of possible return customers.
Do yourself a favor and weigh it before you post it that way you know the wt. and dims. so you can give the prospective buyer(s) an accurate cost or just "flat rate" it. You'll get alot more hits that way.

[camelot]

Looks like your seller looked at the thread and fixed his shipping at $20. I bought a column and had to have it in 2 days. I paid about $60 in shipping from I think Tenn. to California.

I'm not sure what happened with the shipping calculator, but what a lot of people do on eBay is sell and item for $1 and ship it for $40. This is a kind of fee avoidance. When you sell on eBay, you pay a fee to sell (based on your opening or reserve price) and you pay a final value fee (a % based on the ending price). If an item sells for $40, then I have high fees. If it only sells for $1, my fees are very small. eBay usually will not end an auction for this, unless it is totally obvious that they are trying to avoid the fee schedule. By obvious, I mean you cannot in anyway justify adding in time to pack/ship and wait in line the send, supply's used, etc. I know eBay has looked at this before and they have a very hard time ending auctions for this.

ok, so to make a long reply even longer.......... when you bid, think about the shipping when you are thinking of your bid amount. If $1 for the product is a steal and $40 for shipping totalling $41 is still a good deal, then don't complain. They are just trying to say a little $$$.

[cheyenne10]

I commend this seller for revising add to state fixed shipping. If I was really interested in item I would email for response. I often get no response from sellers in which I almost always then refrain from bidding. I know as sellers it is a pain to calc. shipping for everyone. Bottom line for both though is that good communication leads to good transactions by both seller and buyer. I just cannot bid on something or promise to buy when a few sellers try to make hidden money. I beleive in up front deals with no surpises. I only support deals that work out well for both parties.

Just some friendly comments about something I run across now and then.