The old Get them with shipping trick:

[vanman]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...1&category=3528

 

[sku_u]

$1.95 + $3.95 = $5.90 for a sealed game

 

It's hard to find something for less shipped through Ebay.

[jetset]

Actually there are quite a few sellers that ship for way less.

 

steveandelena http://stores.ebay.com/id=1066468 Ship both loose and sealed games for $1.49 for the first game, .15 cents for each after that. (I've spent my kids' college education buying from them!)

 

mrandmspacman http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?View...sort=3&rows=25) They are really fair too, though I haven't bought from them in a while

 

undergroundstudios http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?View...&sort=3&rows=25 This seller charges $2 for shipping, regardless of how many carts you buy, loose or sealed. I bought 20 carts from him one time and the shipping came to.....$2 dollars.

[sku_u]

Actually there are quite a few sellers that ship for way less.

 

I absolutely agree. It shouldn't cost more than $2.00 to ship an individual sealed game through no-frills shipping channels.

 

Try to find one where the total cost (the cost of the game AND the shipping together) equals less than $5.90 for a sealed game.

[video game addict]

Id rather pay $3.95 and get my game in a mint priority box than the $1.49 media mail bubble mailer. Somehow I don't think sending sealed games in a cheap bubble mailer would be a good idea.

[sku_u]

Id rather pay $3.95 and get my game in a mint priority box than the $1.49 media mail bubble mailer.    Somehow I don't think sending sealed games in a cheap bubble mailer would be a good idea.

 

This seller charges $5.95 if you want Priority Mail

[Albert]

Id rather pay $3.95 and get my game in a mint priority box than the $1.49 media mail bubble mailer.    Somehow I don't think sending sealed games in a cheap bubble mailer would be a good idea.

 

The seller is using Media Mail for $3.95. I would charge $3.85 shipping for the same item, but it would be shipped via Priority Mail, in a box (and this generally how we ship everything through our store also). Priority Mail is expensive, and Media Mail is much less so. I know I can send a one pound Media Mail package for $1.42, so the seller is padding his shipping by $2.53, effectively doubling his take on the item. If the seller is using new boxes, you can take 50 cents off that (and I can get boxes in that size even cheaper in reasonable quantities), so to be fair, $2.00 extra profit when you take into account packing material. Given that he's charging an extra $2.00 for Priority Mail (which would cost him $3.85), that works out about right, and with Priority Mail he doesn't have to pay for the boxes.

 

It is interesting that the seller justifies his (higher) shipping charges with the following text,

 

The shipping and handling charge includes the time it takes to order, receive and unpack items, postage, shipping supplies, packaging your order, answering emails, traveling to and from the Post Office and occasionally standing in a very long line.

 

I do all these things, too, but I don't charge any more than actual shipping charges. In my opinion, your profit should come from the sale of the items you are auctioning, not from charging higher shipping and handling rates. I'm not slamming the seller here, it's just a practice I don't agree with.

 

..Al

[RCmodeler]

I don't see what the big deal is? If the guy charged $10, then you'd have a legitimate complaint. But $3.85... that's nothing. In fact, I don't see how anyone could ship for less? The postage, the box, the tape to seal it, plus gas and ebay listing fees. If the guy charges, say, $2 and only collect $0.01 on the auction, then he actually ends up *losing* money instead of making.

 

So I repeat: I don't see what the big deal is? $3.85 sounds reasonable to me.

[gamerz]

I charge $1.25 for one cart to be shipped first class...I still make money, so I dont buy thsi "I need to rip people on shipping to make a profit"...if you need to jack the price of shipping then your not selling the right things...or not selling them right

[Albert]

I don't see what the big deal is?  If the guy charged $10, then you'd have a legitimate complaint.  But $3.85... that's nothing.  In fact, I don't see how anyone could ship for less?  The postage, the box, the tape to seal it, plus gas and ebay listing fees.  If the guy charges, say, $2 and only collect $0.01 on the auction, then he actually ends up *losing* money instead of making.

 

Then he should increase the starting bid (and/or BIN) of the item to a point where he's comfortable with the profit, rather than inflating the shipping and handling. I would rather buy from a seller who has slightly higher prices, but doesn't gouge on the shipping and handling.

 

..Al

[donkeykong1]

I don't see what the big deal is?  If the guy charged $10, then you'd have a legitimate complaint.  But $3.85... that's nothing.  In fact, I don't see how anyone could ship for less?  The postage, the box, the tape to seal it, plus gas and ebay listing fees.  If the guy charges, say, $2 and only collect $0.01 on the auction, then he actually ends up *losing* money instead of making.

 

Then he should increase the starting bid (and/or BIN) of the item to a point where he's comfortable with the profit, rather than inflating the shipping and handling. I would rather buy from a seller who has slightly higher prices, but doesn't gouge on the shipping and handling.

 

..Al

I totally agree with Al. Just raise your damn starting bid. If you start an auction at a penny and that's what it sells for, too damn bad. I got jipped afew days ago. I bought a CD for $0.99 and paid $5.00 for shipping expecting Priority. All I get is a bubble envelope that cost $1.00 to ship.

[Joe Stella]

doesn't matter how he wants to run /his/ auction, as long as he's up front about it.

 

if he wants to charge 10x the normal shipping rate, and states it up front, fine. if he tries that in an underhanded fashion, he must be from new york.

 

i've had people bid on my auctions and win, then whine about the terms that were clearly stated in the ad. that pisses me off. a) learn to read, and b) if you don't like the terms, you have the option to move along...

[jetset]

doesn't matter how he wants to run /his/ auction, as long as he's up front about it.

 

if he wants to charge 10x the normal shipping rate, and states it up front, fine.  if he tries that in an underhanded fashion, he must be from new york.

 

i've had people bid on my auctions and win, then whine about the terms that were clearly stated in the ad.  that pisses me off.  a) learn to read, and b) if you don't like the terms, you have the option to move along...

 

It actually does matter. Ebay allows for sellers to charge reasonable shipping charges. If you charge $5 bucks to ship and the stamp costs $2, the seller in 99% of the time does not know you are gouging him unless you add a description detailing the extra fees for things like....

the box

tape

shipping peanuts (even if not actually used of course)

gas to the post office

air conditioning in your house

child's college fund

toothpaste (gotta fight cavities right?)

 

Whether or not someone is from New York or not (I'm still trying to figure THAT comment out ) overcharging for shipping is underhanded. Period, Dot, End of Story.

[RCmodeler]

JCPenney charges $5 for catalog orders and $10 for shipping items from one strore to another. I guess they are ripping people off too?

 

Anyway, it is NOT possible to ship a CD or DVD game for $2. I've tried it, but ended up losing money, because it cost me more than that. (And a cart costs more because my postal inspector does not allow media mail for carts.)

[Room 34]

...the tape to seal it...

What, is your tape covered in gold leaf?

 

...plus gas...

Live out in rural Montana, 50 miles from the nearest post office?

 

...and ebay listing fees...

I'll give you that one, especially if the buyer pays with PayPal.

 

I think sellers who are trying to recoup their eBay and PayPal fees ought to be up front about it:

 

I am tacking on $2 extra because eBay and PayPal are reaming me on these tiny auctions.

[sku_u]

...and ebay listing fees...

I'll give you that one, especially if the buyer pays with PayPal.

 

I think sellers who are trying to recoup their eBay and PayPal fees ought to be up front about it:

 

I am tacking on $2 extra because eBay and PayPal are reaming me on these tiny auctions.

 

The only problem with that is there is a good chance Ebay will pull their auction, since on EbayUSA it's against policy to charge handling fees for Paypal and Ebay charges.

[Mendon]

This seems like a no win scenario if someone wants to recoup their costs and time for selling:

 

Someone raises their starting price to do this and people here post "What a loser charging $$$$ for that cartridge".

Someone charges extra on shipping to do this and people here post "What a rip-off on shipping".

 

Ya can't win.

 

Mendon

[Joe Stella]

It actually does matter. Ebay allows for sellers to charge reasonable shipping charges. If you charge $5 bucks to ship and the stamp costs $2, the seller in 99% of the time does not know you are gouging him unless you add a description detailing the extra fees for things like....

the box

tape

shipping peanuts (even if not actually used of course)

gas to the post office

air conditioning in your house

child's college fund

toothpaste (gotta fight cavities right?)

 

Whether or not someone is from New York or not (I'm still trying to figure THAT comment out ) overcharging for shipping is underhanded. Period, Dot, End of Story.

 

my point is simply, let people run their auctions any way they please, as long as they are being honest and upfront about their terms. advance disclosure cannot be underhanded.

 

as far as new york goes, you've probably not mail-ordered from one of the "camera shops". don't take my word for it, check out epinions some time.