Is $5.00 a reasonable fee to ship a game?

[RCmodeler]

I charge $5. I base that amount on this math:

$2 cost of box or envelope at post office

$2 shipping cost

$1 miscellaneous (foam peanuts, tape, gas, ebay fees)

=====

$5.00

 

 

 

Do you think I'm being reasonable?

[MrRetroGamer]

I charge $5.  I base that amount on this math:

$2 cost of box or envelope at post office

$2 shipping cost

$1 miscellaneous (foam peanuts, tape, gas, ebay fees)

=====

$5.00

 

 

 

Do you think I'm being reasonable?

 

You are entitled to charge whatever you feel is proper for your situation. Here are a few thoughts (as an experienced shipped), not meant to flame you:

 

Now, are you talking about 1 Atari 2600 cart or similar? I'll assume you are. Buying supplies at the post office is pretty expensive, if you sell alot consider buying elsewhere in bulkier amounts - it's much cheaper.

 

Now, I can't see how First Class shipping on 1 Atari cart would be $2 - are you wrapping it in lead? Keep in mind the weight of the final package when you wrap stuff - every ounce bumps up the price. If you use Media mail, it's $1.33 for up to 1 pound and very small amounts above that for higher weights, but it's sort of slow. Priority is $3.85 for up to 1 pound and is fast - plus the PO provides free boxes and tape for that. Parcel post usually sucks because it's only a small amount cheaper than Priority but can take MUCH longer.

 

A $1 "handling fee" is not unreasonable.

 

So while your charges are basically in line with your costs, consider lowering your costs a bit by getting cheaper supplies if possible, and recycle packing materials and boxes if you can! Your customers will thank you!

[joeybastard]

I ship more CDs then carts but the weight is probably similar so I'll chime in.

 

I charge $3. I get the padded mailers from a 99 cent store and shiping first class just about anywhere in US/Canada for me has been between $1.45 - $2. A couple of times I've been screwed and had to put out a little more for shipping but not often, and only small change.

 

If I have to ship a box instead of envelopes, I usually charge $4 but sometimes $5 depending on the weight.

[Room 34]

If you are paying $2 for a box at the post office, you're getting ripped off. You might just as well send it Priority Mail... it'll be $3.85 and you get the box for free!

 

$1 handling is fine with me... I usually tack on about 50 cents, myself. But I NEVER buy boxes to ship stuff in... I either do it Priority Mail so the box is free or I use a box I have laying around the house.

 

I guess if I were RECEIVING the item from you, I'd rather pay you $4.85 for Priority Mail with your $1 handling fee than pay you $5 and have to wait an extra week and have the box get all mangled by the USPS en route.

[SpendTooMuchOnAtari]

I charge $5.  I base that amount on this math:

$2 cost of box or envelope at post office

$2 shipping cost

$1 miscellaneous (foam peanuts, tape, gas, ebay fees)

=====

$5.00

 

 

 

Do you think I'm being reasonable?

 

 

If you are looking for a simple answer and if this is for a single game cartridge....

 

No, that is not reasonable.

 

 

 

you asked

[sku_u]

For a single game, including supplies, it costs me $2.00 to ship. A bubble mailer works just as well as a box and is a lot cheaper (unless you are shipping a boxed game).

 

$5.00 is only reasonable if you are shipping by way of Priority Mail with delivery confirmation.

[bjk7382]

NO, I probly wouldn't buy a common cart and then pay 5 dollars to have it shipped. Usually anything I send first class, it is always .60 - 2.00 and that 2 dollars is if you are right on the 13 ounce limit for first class.

 

I always only charge 2.00 on my cartriges and even gamecube and PS2 games I ship. AND I always get delivery confirmation. and I rarely go over. And I rarely have an aution end without bidders. And I would probly have a lot more unsold auctions if I had 5 dollars shipping on it.

[jetset]

I charge $5.  I base that amount on this math:

$2 cost of box or envelope at post office

$2 shipping cost

$1 miscellaneous (foam peanuts, tape, gas, ebay fees)

=====

$5.00

 

 

 

Do you think I'm being reasonable?

 

$1-2 "handling" fee is fine, but any more and I think it's too much. There are however LOTS of sellers on ebay who charge only that $2 the stamp costs and somehow stay in "business".

As a buyer, anytime I see more than $3 to ship a game, I email the seller and ask what the method is. If it is media mail, I know they are paying .83 cents (assuming one cart) and charging me with the difference.

Look at it this way....if you went to a yard sale (which, essentially is what ebay was designed as, not as a business or full-time job) and saw a coffee mug you wanted for $1, you might buy it. Now imagine the seller tells you the total is $5 because he has to charge for the ad in the paper, the signs he made, the gas $$ he spent going to city hall to get the permit, etc....a little bit of a stretch but the same concept.

Would you buy that coffee cup?

 

I know...the sellers here will go nuts on me, but I'd be surprised if any buyers disagree. You'll get more repeat business going easy on the "handling" fees is all.....

[Christophero Sly]

No, $5 is not at all reasonable for a single cart. That figure is even higher than what Priority (free box) with tracking should be (~$4.30). I charge $1.50-$2.00, and that includes tracking. It costs about one dollar to ship a single 2600 cart via first class mail. Tracking is $0.55. My materials costs are essentially nil, as I have a stack of recycled bubble mailers, and if I need a box, I quickly build my own from a template. Even if $1.00 was added to cover materials and handling, the shipping charge shouldn't be more than about $2.50, IMO.

[holygrailvideogames.com]

I think $5 is reasonable if it is being sent priority. I charge $5 for every boxed game that I sell. I then ship them priority with confirmation. I charge less for loose games as I usually will send them in bubble wrap inside of a bubble envelope. However if I sell a loose game that is worth more I usually will charge $5 for shipping because I don't want to send an expensive game in a bubble envelope.

[Goggle5]

I think $5 is a bit too much for a single cart. For something like a PS2 or PS1 game, I usually charge $2.50 for Priority mail.

 

For me - I put a small piece of bubble wrap in the game case to help prevent the disc coming loose during shiping and the wrap everything in bubble wrap before it gets put in the padded envelope. To make sure everything gets to its destination safe n' sound.

 

Target sells 5 paks of padded envelopes for about $4 and large rolls of bubble wrap for like $9. You could probably find supplies cheaper ...

[Room 34]

You can also get all of your packing materials at a place like Staples, Office Max, or Office Depot for quite a bit less than at Target.

[SpendTooMuchOnAtari]

I think $5 is a bit too much for a single cart.  For something like a PS2 or PS1 game, I usually charge $2.50 for Priority mail.  

 

For me - I put a small piece of bubble wrap in the game case to help prevent the disc coming loose during shiping and the wrap everything in bubble wrap before it gets put in the padded envelope.  To make sure everything gets to its destination safe n' sound.    

 

Target sells 5 paks of padded envelopes for about $4 and large rolls of bubble wrap for like $9.  You could probably find supplies cheaper ...  

 

 

$2.50 for Priority Mail?

 

Why are you taking a loss on shipping? I would certainly charge more than $2.50 if you are sending by Priority Mail.....the minimum is $3.85.

[Goggle5]

I mis-typed ... I ship 1st class NOT priority for $1.52. Sorry for the mix up

[RCmodeler]

As a buyer,  anytime I see more than $3 to ship a game,  I email the seller and ask what the method is.  If it is media mail,  I know they are paying .83 cents (assuming one cart)  and charging me with the difference.  

 

 

83 cents??? I've never mailed anything for less than $1.35.

 

As for your coffee cup example, I often sell items for 0.01 plus the shipping fee... like the Les Miserables audiobook I sold last week. In those cases I just want to get rid of the item and don't care about making any money.

[jetset]

As a buyer,  anytime I see more than $3 to ship a game,  I email the seller and ask what the method is.  If it is media mail,  I know they are paying .83 cents (assuming one cart)  and charging me with the difference.  

 

 

83 cents??? I've never mailed anything for less than $1.35.

 

As for your coffee cup example, I often sell items for 0.01 plus the shipping fee... like the Les Miserables audiobook I sold last week. In those cases I just want to get rid of the item and don't care about making any money.

 

Yes, a single cart in a bubble envelope via media mail costs .83 cents. $1.35 I would guess is parcel post. I just bought a cart...the shipping cost was in the auction @ $4.00. Of course being nieve I assumed he was using priority mail. Nope. Parcel post, $1.06. I emailed him about it, here's his response...

"I charge $4 shipping and handling on all. Covers boxes, peanuts and postage. Most times I come out even."

Um...he used a bubble mailer which the dollar stores have in packs of 3, which makes one .33 cents. And he didnt use a box, or peanuts, or a label even.

So basicially I got ripped on close to 3 bucks. My own fault for not emailing him BEFORE and ASSUMING he wasn't ripping me off, (of course, the auction stated "buyer to pay for all shipping costs", which leads one to believe what the po charges only) but in effect I paid $3 more for the item than the ending bid for nothing.

 

And I use the coffee cup ex. for exactly what you said. Ebay has become a full-time job for many people. My hat's off to them, but that isn't what ebay was started for.

So, he got his $$, I got my game. I will NOT buy from him again ever, and I did leave him pos feedback but made mention to the excessive shipping fee in my comment.

[Room 34]

Yes,  a single cart in a bubble envelope via media mail costs .83 cents.  $1.35 I would guess is parcel post.

Actually, 83 cents is First Class mail (3 ounces). Media Mail starts at $1.40, I believe.

[RCmodeler]

I just bought a cart...the shipping cost was in the auction @ $4.00.  Of course being nieve I assumed he was using priority mail.  Nope.  Parcel post,  $1.06.  ....... he used a bubble mailer which the dollar stores have in packs of 3,  which makes one .33 cents.  And he didnt use a box,  or peanuts,  or a label even.  So basicially I got ripped on close to 3 bucks.  ....... I did leave him pos feedback but made mention to the excessive shipping fee in my comment.

 

Well maybe he's naive (like me) and buys his bubble envelopes at the post office for $1.80. Plus $1.06 shipping. Plus ~$1 for ebay selling fees. That brings shipping to $3.86. -=- So his $4 shipping/handling charge was not excessive IMHO. And you agreed to that fee when you bid. If you thought it was excessive, you should not have bid.

 

One of my buyers actually mailed me a *pre-paid envelope* instead of the shipping fee... which was fine by me. It saved me a lot of work to just drop it in the mailbox instead of visiting the post office. So, maybe you should do that in your next purchase?

 

 

 

I don't see how anyone could survive off ebay. The profit would be too small for me to keep up with my bills. Yeah, I make a *little* bit of money by purchasing cheap clearnace items at JCPenney (my job) and then selling it on ebay, but it's just pocket change... just enough to support my gaming habit. NOT enough to pay the rent.

 

But if someone is business-savvy enough to make a living off ebay... *cheers* to them! Making a living off internet auctions is no different than making a living off live, in-person auctions (Sotherby's) or flea markets. Ebay/Auctions/Markets are capitalism at its best.

[gamerz]

I still only charge $1.25 to ship a single cart. I do refuse to pay more than $2.50 to have one shipped to me. Just my hang up I guess.

[Mock]

$5 for priotiry is ok, $5 for anything else is crappy, unless it requires some sore of special double boxed packing or something for a rare game...

 

IMHO

[donkeykong1]

Too much IMO. I ship for 2 bucks, usually between $1.00-$1.25 for the shipping and $.50 for the padded envelope. Staples sells them for like 5 bucks a dozen. Imagine you buy a common game for a buck or two and then you have to add another 5 bucks. You're basically paying twice as much for the game. But if someone wants to pay 5 bucks then that's on them.

[Joe Stella]

as long as you're up front about it, charge whatever you want.