[Palladino]

Can anyone explain to me why an item on Ebay with an asking price of under $5.00 (a 6" tall candle) costs over $30.00 to ship? It's not coming from the moon! Other items that are on auction for $75.00 cost $25.00 to ship. Others cost far more. There doesn't seem to be any pattern that I can make sense of in all this.

I know Ebay sellers try to create bidding wars with ridiculously low starting bids but who is going to pay more than $5.00 for a candle and consent to that outrageous shipping cost? Ebay sellers must pocket some of that shipping charge which isn't ethical in my opinion.

I used to shop on Ebay for unique and hard to find items but I find it all so frustrating that I've given up.

Any Ebay sellers on here who can explain this to me?

 

[Hallow-art]

I agree with you. I ship through the post office frequently and some of the shipping charges are completely unrealistic.

I also see items on there currently where sellers are gouging bidders. Lots of items from Marshall's and TJ Maxx that are going for double and triple the cost of retail. I also noticed a seller who seems to be buying very reasonably priced items from an artist on etsy and selling their work for three times the amount of what the artist charges for their own work!

I understand there are clever ways to make a profit but I don't think it's right

 

[Cloe]

What sometimes irks me is that boxes weighing less than a pound can be shipped first class. Often times it's less than a couple bucks. The transit time is the same as priority don't let them fool you. Often sellers list expedited shipping meaning priority mail charging way more than should be and it won't arrive any quicker. Same with flat rate boxes. Unless your mailing something very heavy it's usually cheaper to pay for size and weight. Although the flat rate bubble envelopes can often be used for bulky items at a discount. While we are on the ebay subject my number one peeve is sellers that list items still available at retailers that they have used, asking more than a new one. Then to top it off charge ridiculous shipping when often the retailers offer free shipping. That and asking 9.95 shipping for a costume for example that comes in an envelope that I know darn well you paid a couple bucks to send. I just scrutinize what I buy there and decide how bad I really want it. I always google the item if I'm unsure about it to make sure it isn't available elsewhere still for less.

 

[grandma lise]

Not a seller, rather a buyer with a 25+ year history on Ebay. When I come across listings like this, I respectfully contact the seller, provide my zipcode, request their's, and ask if item's shipping cost has been miscalculated. Then I check myself. More times than not it's a problem with the Ebay shipping calculator. I notice you live in Canada. Is the seller in the US?

 

[disembodiedvoice]

Ebay used to be fun, like going to an antique store online. Like you said Palladino it was such a good place to look for hard to find items, things from the past and get good deals. Those days have been gone for many years, it turned into a racket. I miss the good ole days.

 

[Tess Skeffington]

Some sellers do this to deliberately try to skirt eBay's listing fees. eBay's fees have grown over the years, and there's multiple types of fees, so it's a way for sellers to pay less to eBay. Since insertion fees are staggered, sellers list the item lower than market price, then pad the shipping cost. I agree with Grandma Lise - respectfully contact the seller and ask if there can be an adjustment - you have nothing to lose by trying.

 

[grandma lise]

I live on the west coast of the US so I pay higher shipping costs than most. If the cost of the item and shipping is reasonable, and the seller has an excellent rating, I purchase.

It's rare that I end up walking away after I talk to the seller. Again, more often than not, it's a problem with the Ebay shipping calculator or an honest mistake. Ebay was a game changer for me. I couldn't afford to travel great distances to acquire items missing from my collection. My husband regrets introducing me to Ebay to this day. [giggle]

 

[Palladino]

HI Grandma Lise,

Sometimes in the U.S., sometimes Canada, sometimes the other side of the world. There is no rhyme, reason or pattern. It's a ultimately a crap shoot not a question of geography.

 

[Bosco P. Soultrane]

If shipping is too high, then don't buy.
Know the price before bidding.
I only buy with free shipping. Occasionally maybe a dollar or two.
I never order from Amazon unless I get the free shipping.
I also never need anything right away, so if it takes a week or two or a month, so be it.

 

[J-Man]

Ebay takes 10% of every sale, even the shipping cost. Back a few years ago, ebay would not take any of the shipping charge, only the item cost. This led to less than honest sellers charging outrageous shipping and selling items for $1. Ebay caught on to this and started taking 10% of the shipping as well as the item cost. Best advice now is to look at the total cost of an item including shipping and base your purchase decision on that.

 

[Spanishtulip]

I've been a part time ebay seller for years. I mostly sell jewelry and I always try to charge only what it is going to cost me to ship the item.

That said, even a small 2 ounce package containing a ring will cost nearly $3 postage, even when I eat the cost of packaging, travel to post office, labels etc.

There are dishonest sellers out there who find that charging extra shipping can pad their bottom line but sometimes it actually does cost quite a bit to ship items. Hopefully you can find honest sellers to deal with, I save a list of my favourite sellers who I've worked with in the past.

 

[Palladino]

Ebay takes 10% of every sale, even the shipping cost. Back a few years ago, ebay would not take any of the shipping charge, only the item cost. This led to less than honest sellers charging outrageous shipping and selling items for $1. Ebay caught on to this and started taking 10% of the shipping as well as the item cost. Best advice now is to look at the total cost of an item including shipping and base your purchase decision on that.

Thanks for the response.

I do base my purchases on the total price which is why I don't buy anything from E-Bay anymore. I have no problem paying a fair price. It's just disappointing to find something for a reasonable price then check out the shipping options and find that is 2-3 times higher than the item!

 

[RCIAG]

I had no idea Ebay took a piece of the shipping charges too, that's B.S.

That said, I still use Ebay but always figure in the shipping into what I'm willing to pay especially if it's an auction which seem so few & far between these days.

I too miss the good ole days of it just being auctions instead of just another storefront. It really is a love/hate thing though, but as with any site these days, you gotta figure in the shipping costs into it all.

 

[J-Man]

Thanks for the response.

I do base my purchases on the total price which is why I don't buy anything from E-Bay anymore. I have no problem paying a fair price. It's just disappointing to find something for a reasonable price then check out the shipping options and find that is 2-3 times higher than the item!

When you search on an item and the list comes up, you chose the sort option "Price + shipping lowest first". It will show each listing with the shipping so you can quickly find the best deals. Ebay can and is a great place to get good deals but just like any purchase from any source, "Buyer beware".

 

[Palladino]

When you search on an item and the list comes up, you chose the sort option "Price + shipping lowest first". It will show each listing with the shipping so you can quickly find the best deals. Ebay can and is a great place to get good deals but just like any purchase from any source, "Buyer beware".

Yes, I know how to navigate the site. My point is that an item's shipping cost shouldn't be triple the cost of the item. Especially in the case of something that fits in a business sized envelope!

 

[Screaming Demons]

Sale prices and shipping costs have no relation to each other though.

Many times a seller won't create a new listing, they'll modify an old listing to save time. This is how things end up in the wrong category, the photo isn't even close to what they are selling, or shipping charges are too high. Best thing is to email them and see if there was a mistake in the listing.

Some sellers also raise prices to a ridiculous amount so that no one will bid until they get more inventory in. I found this out when I asked a seller why a $10 mask was listed for $1,000. It's easier to stick a high price on it, let the listing sit there, and then correct it when you get some in than to relist it later and take a chance that it will expire and you'll have to type everything out again.

 

[grandma lise]

Some sellers also raise prices to a ridiculous amount so that no one will bid until they get more inventory in. I found this out when I asked a seller why a $10 mask was listed for $1,000. It's easier to stick a high price on it, let the listing sit there, and then correct it when you get some in than to relist it later and take a chance that it will expire and you'll have to type everything out again.

Thank you for explaining one of the mysteries of Ebay!

 

[lizzyborden]

Package size plays a big part of the shipping price too, though I doubt a candle would be considered oversized. I was going to make a large tombstone for my reaper victim last year and had it about 75% complete when I thought to check shipping prices. It was going to cost over $80 to ship something that weighed about seven pounds because of the dimensions. Also the farther away the seller is from you, the higher the shipping cost will be. With USPS a good rule to remember is try to keep your shipping boxes 12 x 12 x 12 or less or you'll be subject to oversized rates.

 

[J-Man]

Yes, I know how to navigate the site. My point is that an item's shipping cost shouldn't be triple the cost of the item. Especially in the case of something that fits in a business sized envelope!

One of ebay's requirements for any top rated seller is that each sale must provide a tracking number. A standard envelope sent via regular mail won't suffice. The cheapest 1st class package that weighs under 4 oz. is $2.60. Add to that the cost of packaging and you're at $3 as someone mentioned earlier. Now add 10% for ebay and 3% for PayPal and that 4 oz package shipping cost is $3.40, you get the picture. Again, as a buyer, you have to look at the total cost of any item and base your decision on that.

 

[Zombie4*]

I completely agree ebay is a total rob job. I recently tried to purchase some foam heads for 20$ and the shipping cost 38$! I will just try to purchase locally.