I've been looking at all the N scale stuff for sale on ebay and one thing really struck me. The over priced shipping! Some sellers are charging as much as $7 for ONE car! That's nuts. Put it in a case, and a padded envelope and first class will be MAYBE $2.00, the envelope is worth maybe 99 cents. So 3 bucks should more than cover it. Anybody else think these people are way out of line?
Or Even Worse One seller sent me and engine in a manila envelope with no padding and charged $6.95 :tb-hissyfit: But I do agree that the shipping is way over priced and getting worse. I think it is to cover the cost increases e-bay is putting on the sellers. I do not think I will be doing anymore purchasing there.
It helps keep the "item" price appealing. What they don't make from the bids, they make up in shipping fees. This site on the other hand, has a great FREE service.
Personally, I ship everything USPS Priority small flat rate ($4.90 plus delivery confirmation of $.70) for a total of $5.60. Nothing extra for handling and I do combine shipping. I've been burned on people saying a shipment didn't arrive so I make delivery confirmation mandatory. The places to look out for are those places that do the selling for other people. They seriously mark up the shipping. If it is something I really want, I slam their shipping prices in the feedback.
When I sold items on EBay, I always shipped everything USPS Priority mail and delivery confirmation as well. ($4.90 plus 0.70 for a total of $5.60) The shipping charges were what the USPS charched me, the sender. I never threw things in a padded envelope and mailed it for $3.00. I wouldn't want to receive items shipped that way. "Different strokes for different folks". All the train items I receive from e-tailers or manufacturers are never shipped to me in a padded envelope. I wouldn't accept it.
When I was buying and selling on DaBay thats exactly what I did as far as shipping. When I would bid....I would add the shipping in the total I was willing to pay. A car with a +8.00 shipping for example I would limit my bid to say 5.00 (If the item was worth 13.00 to me). I always posted a note in the item watch list...per item...like "max $5.00". If the bids went above my 5.00 limit...they where immediately deleted from my watch list. :tb-wink: .
I would stand to say that I do purchase still on Ebay from time to time if I run across a deal, but you really have to be careful these days; "Desperate Times, Desperate People, & Desperate Measures" + Ebay = Caution! Enough said:tb-wink:
I go after the things that I am unable to find at an e-tailer or brick and mortar shop. Yes the shipping is high and almost never can I connect to do a multi purchase and combine the shipping, but what is one to do?
It was costing me up to $7.70 to sent a package with USPS. That was Priority Mail, Ins., & delivery confirmation. Which is why I charged $8.00. People wouldn't buy because they thought I was ripping them off. Until it showed with the price on the box. Now I just give free shipping & if it shows up crushed,oh well. I wanted to give good service, but people don't want it.
If you print the labels right from the "sold items" section of E Bay shipping for up to one pound is $4.80 including delivery confirmation. I always combine shipping. I tried using First Class Mail, but it became a hassle with buying a small box, packing, weighing, applying the correct postage. Now I just use Priority Mail. I print from my computer. Makes selling real easy. I bought some cars on "I Sold it on E Bay" Evanston, Il store (Now Out of Business) I paid more than $20.00 shipping for a few cars. They put some wadded up paper in the bottom of a box, Added the cars, then put another wad of paper on top. My RTR cars arrived as kits. Nothing really broken, but a lot of loose parts. I reported them to the corporate office. I really wanted the cars and still don't regret the transaction. Finally. I total the cost to get it in my hands. My maximum bid + shipping = the cost to get it in my hand. That's how I determine my maximum bid. I won't bid on auctions that have high shipping unless I really want the item. On some of these rip off shipping guys. Look at their "completed auctions". Most of the time they don't sell much.
Anything on ebay that has outrageous shipping gets passes over by me.......but even "normal" shipping has an impact........I can buy almost ANYTHING new at my favorite shop for less than ebay prices + shipping. Most of what I buy on ebay is stuff that's no longer available any place else.....which is a whole different thing anyway. How bad do you want it.....out-of-production stuff goes for 2 or three times what it originally cost. If you're willing to pay $100 for a $30 kit, what's a couple extra bucks for shipping?
The USPS labels on the last two boxes I received were both over 15 dollars. You think it's all just the sellers, you need to do some selling yourself and see just how far the buck goes at the Post office yourself!! I put a lot of stuff at the beginning of the year with shipping prices that felt normal in 2007-2008 and immedaitley lost about $30.00 off the top because I underquoted the shipping. That flat rate shoebox now ships for 9.55 with Delivery confirmation. I bet it will be higher by the end of the year. USPS is down in their business by quite a lot. You will see higher prices and poorer service int eh near future if not already.
I do sell stuff. I sold a Nikon flash recently, weighs about the same as 30 cars probably or more. $15 to ship with $400 insurance. Using a flat rate box for something that weighs a couple ounces (a boxcar for example) is ridiculous IMO. Even using a box and not a padded envelope as I stated would only cost a couple bucks based on weight at the post office. First class is nearly as fast as Priority, but can save up to a dollar. Anyway, I am free to NOT buy, so I really shouldn't be complaining. I know.
I need to stop buying stuff on ebay! Grrrr. Too many cool things! hahaha. I live in Canada and I've found that most suppliers or sellers are pretty good with shipping. Though there is the odd fellow out there who still refuses to ship here. That all said most of my shipping costs have been great. But you need to ask and sometimes suggest lower rates.
If it wasn't for eBay I wouldn't have been able to afford any of my North Amercian rolling stock. For example, the Athearn Challenger cost me US$286 in April 08, which worked out at £148. The price from a UK Retailer was £250 pre-order I now limit my ebay activity to sellers on my Favorite Sellers list.
