Rip-off international postage charges again

james_autos · Rip-off international postage charges again

I know we've been here before, but earlier on I was quoted $14 to ship 1 tiny Matchbox car from the U.S. I know that it can be shipped for about $4-5, and I told the seller that there was no way on earth it would cost that much. No it cannot, was the answer I got.

You can't reason with them though, can you? They believe that they are right and that it will cost $14 or however much they quote for shipping, even if it doesn't. The item in question was on a buy it now, the quantity available was about 5 and the listing has been running for some time yet rather than make a sale, the seller would rather just keep the items. That's not how business works.

sandie seward

The high "cost" of shipping/postage, does detract people from buying on eBay. Some people see the p&p charge as a means of increasing their income...even if they use previously used boxes and packing.

My recommendations to any buyer is to check the shipping carefully BEFORE bidding, and, quite simply, if you aren't happy with the cost, then simply don't bid!

vincent ryder

keesie25

Something to add here. I only bid if the bid, including postage, is below of what I have in mind.
I bought two separate items from the same (UK)seller, after several messages from me asking about combined postage. Each item was about 4 pounds to send. Only after I bought the items, the seller responded that he would lower the postage of one item to 3.5 pounds. My remark was that he would send in two separate parcels no doubt. There was no answer. Waiting for the items now.

Mr.Blunden

As a long term seller on eBay, I have to say something in defence of postage charges, especially as I have just charged someone in the States £23 to sent a model, all be it a 1/18th scale one.

A large part of the postage cost is the need to send the item via a trackable means. This can add a minimum of £3 to any postage cost, but without it the seller is open to an 'item didn't arrive' claim, and it can be very frustrating. It is not always buyers trying to rip sellers off, but sometimes the dodgy postal workers in some of these foreign countries. These days I have a flat rule, everything goes by trackable means, and if customers don't like it, well there are other sellers out there.

As a buyer I'm sure postal charges can seem high at times, but I also buy and my biggest moan of late is bad packaging. I have had two models damaged in recent months, by sellers cutting costs and sending me my nice shiny near mint boxed model, in nothing more than tape and brown paper.

MISTER C

Roland thats sound advice for selling/tracking items,however I think what gets up buyers noses is the blatant fact of "over" pricing on postage.......A prime example.......today two models arrived off the same seller.one item was £2.50,the other £2.00 p&p,......asked for combined p & p.....£3.50 was the reply

on receiving today in a jiffy bag /padded envelope,of which the "postage" was £1.85............who's robbing who ?? like I've said it's stunts like this that get sellers (good and BAD) a bad name on e-Bay

and no I don't want to hear it cost's them £2s in petrol to get to the post office ....THATS NOT part of the deal unless they have said so...........which they don't or won't as this will reflect on selling.As for the packaging I feel ebay should insist on correct packaging remembering that once they have sold it,it now belongs to somebody else

Mr.Blunden

I agree that some sellers do try and short change on postage, and that is not on. I would never put a model in a jiffy bag to send, even a playworn one, but I constantly receive them here. If the model is fairly heavy it should also be packed outside it's origional packaging, which should then be wrapped securely and put in the same box for mailing.

There is a handling charge allowed to be added, by ebay rules, but this should not be much, and most sellers do not use it. That said, those polystyrene chippings and bubblewrap and cardboard boxes do cost money, and that also is a reason why the price of the stamp sometimes does not equal what the buyer has been charged.

Don't know about the price of jiffy bags, never use them.

MISTER C

Bubble wrap,polystyrene chips and cardboard boxes try local B & Q ,have a word with the manager...............don't be suprized if you get two binliners full of chips and that large type bubble wrap,boxes by the box full

handy shop B & Q

Guzzi Gadgy

Good tip Ian

Ian

james_autos

What Kees said about including the postage cost in the budget for the model you want is a good method to use - one I use myself. But because the models I buy are mostly low-value, a high postage cost will just kill the deal for me no matter what.

I do understand the need for tracking and extra insurance on higher value models where the postal service won't pay out over a certain amount. In my case though, the item I wanted to buy was $3, which doesn't really warrant tracking or extra insurance. Even so, it still wouldn't cost $14 to send. And despite $14 being a complete joke, another seller who had the same item listed was charging $33 for shipping to the UK! Was that to send the model out in a bloody TV box packed with bricks?

I think from now on I'm just not going to bother even asking for shipping costs from the states. It's clearly just a waste of time.

sandie seward

Let's moan about the postal services whilst we can, because next week there is going to be a two day strike by the Royal Mail.....could this be the beginning of the end for the Royal Mail?

Corgi kid

My Postman has been with the Royal Mail for 41 years and a regular in our neighbourhood for 13. He still takes pride in his job and always has time for a quick chat. The service he alone delivers is fantastic. He always calls back in the afternoon on his way back to the depot if I miss him and he has a parcel for me. His only request is that I let him see my ever expanding collection of Vanguards. Sad to say though is that after all these years he is calling it a day. Its his opinion that the RM has had it. And the cause?.. To many Chiefs and not enough Indians. He wasn't sad though. His hobby is Falconery and he intends to spend more time with his birds. I for one will miss him. Thanks for your loyal service and time. A true gent,

On a happier note, He has promised me a day out flying his birds next spring..

keesie25

That is good Corgi! I have something similar with a postman....wonder why I never mentioned it....

Regular mail that fits through the mailbox in the door is done around midday by someone placing a small filled cart here and there, taking the mail out for a certain street.
Parcels that do not fit through the mailbox, are done by a postman by car, who normally comes by late in the afternoon. He is a young Maroccan guy, who most of the times has a small chat with me. Now on the front of our house there is also the front of the garage, which has a big car-door, and a small door that you can open to walk through. When I am working in the garage, I mostly leave this door standing open, and this postman Erkan can see that, and so he then comes in through the garage, and he is always very interested what I am doing. As he is on the job, he always has little time, but all the time it is great fun to see how his reaction is to what I am working on.

Guzzi Gadgy

Corgi he will find his time will fly by

but I must admit to thinking wild things should be in the wild whether their bred in captivity or not. Thats just my way of thinking, not meant as an argument

Ian

Gizmouk

You're righ Corgi - time was when a job with the Post Office was considered as a cut above the rest. The current management's approach seems to be destroying the goodwill of the staff. It's going to get grim.
As businesses take their business elsewhere, and they are already, it'll leave a second rate, and more expensive, service for the rest of us.

Chris

MISTER C

Well competiton with other delivery firms is established "BIG" style and in some cases more efficient..........I received a "X" "Y" cross travel vice through a delivery firm (courier)called DPD,ordered Saturday,with next day delivery which was Tuesday...........the item weighed 20kg, charge was £2.95

still can't work out how

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370174654951