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What does actual shipping charge mean to you
foo
Member Posts: 93 ✭✭
I had a conversation with someone recently regarding what folks on GB consider it to mean when an auction specifies "Buyer pays actual shipping". With out stirring anyone up I am curious what that means to different folks, Buyers and Sellers.
*Does it mean exactly that: ie, you will be charged exactly what the seller is charged by the shipper and thats all?
*Does it mean you will be charged the shipping cost plus a small handling charge?
*Does it mean the seller will charge you the actual shipping cost to them and any of their fees, including those charged from their FFL to ship?
*Should the seller include what they intend, actual shipping to include?
I'm curious to see if there is a consensus
I believe it can be somewhat vague and lead to misunderstandings, what are some other thoughts?
*Does it mean exactly that: ie, you will be charged exactly what the seller is charged by the shipper and thats all?
*Does it mean you will be charged the shipping cost plus a small handling charge?
*Does it mean the seller will charge you the actual shipping cost to them and any of their fees, including those charged from their FFL to ship?
*Should the seller include what they intend, actual shipping to include?
I'm curious to see if there is a consensus
I believe it can be somewhat vague and lead to misunderstandings, what are some other thoughts?
Comments
foo has a legitimate question. I just think it's a damned shame that some people posing as honest are somewhat less than honest.
Seen a few in the past that try and cheat, IE the item is 1$ shipping is $399.99.
There would be NO handling charge but if they wanted overnight shipping it would cost more than GROUND. I would ship signature required /Insure for value unless they chose not to pay those fees. I soon found out This was a Turn off to many bidders because others that stated ACTUAL cost seemed to cover some very strange claimed cost on behalf of the shipper.. I changed mt write up on Items I sell. I also asked questions Via Either Email or phone of any item I Bid on if I had any question on shipping cost.
I agree with everything you wrote. Actual means actual. But other factors also play into the costs, insurance etc. For instance, I have to ask that sellers specifically request adult signature since my FFL is located in a residential area and there is sometimes a cost with that.
When I list an item for sale, I specify a firm shipping charge. Except for the stuff that I know will fit in a small flat rate box and ship with $5.80 in postage, it is an educated guess. If I tell you I will ship it for $20, then I will. If I guess high on the shipping, maybe I come out ahead a dollar or two. If I guess low, then I eat the difference. It all evens out over time.
I also don't like disguised profanity, which is why a lot of your posts are missing.
...WHAT the way too often stated "Buyer to pay actual shipping" is in reality, the buyer saying...
A)..."I'm too damn lazy to find correct charges, keep up and learn HOW to ship, learn & REMEMBER the shipping charges".
C)..."I'm going to use a LOWBALL starting bid and IF that bid sticks, Im going to gouge out a lot more with shipping charges"...this last one can even have the shipping charges STATED in description...I see it all the time, more so when the "stupid desease" was running rampant with magzines.
Auction w/lot of 4 x 30 round magazines: $ VERY good(low) price...Shipping: $30...if NO "special" circumstances, USPS Priority will ship those mags for less than $10 bucks (Flat Rate Priority) and leave maybe $2 bucks for a cheapie McDoogle burger after you leave the PO...seller just gouged out $20 more bucks for over priced shipping.
Red flag to me..."actual shipping" can be damn near ANYTHING the seller chooses to make it, and stories abound about absurd shipping charges incurred from these types of open statements...I DONT/WONT deal with it.
It is NOT hard to list correct shipping charges...maybe a tad inconvenient to get a small loan to buy a small piece of equipment...$30-$40 digital scale for small items, though that is NOT needed, just nice to have....after a few items the seller SHOULD know off hand the cost to different parts of the US and how long each class takes to get to those areas...and only takes a minute to find the true cost.
Wears me out, it's not rocket surgery to FIND the shipping charges for ANYTHING, with ANY carrier, Ive done it for years and I never have used "actual shipping".
...IF by chance I find something I cant live without and the lazy seller has used that cop out, I email and give complete destination & FFL info/type of shipping and carrier...if no answer or a BS answer, I move on to another auction, dont have time to deal with lazy folks which is a red flag to me, just TOO big of an opportunity for hanky panky.
I had TWO sellers here last week that one lost at least a $1,000 sell on a beutiful/correct A3 03 (neither gun sold, I checked [:D]) because of the one BS answer & one no answer about shipping cost...the one answer I got was so convaluted I dont even know WTH he said except "will have to wait until auction is over" really???, his loss.
In fairness, most sellers do not intend on gouging the buyer with shipping charges, especially here on GB, sellers AND buyers are the BEST on the net...other sites, beware.
I give an EXACT shipping amount with all my auctions.
1) I only use USPS.
I calculate either 1st Class/Priority or Priority Flat Rate & state THAT charge, if the buyer wants something different, I figure the exact cost for what carrier/type of shipping they request.
2) I know the cost of my packing materials, and I charge enough to cover the pure cost of those materials, simple...I dont charge extra for my time etc...if I state a price & am wrong figuring shipping, thats MY fault, not the buyer, so I eat it. I eat 50? or so, fairly often...but I also pick up a buck or two here & there on some packages, no biggie, all comes out in the wash.
Certain items are crazy high to ship, like bayos...the size (length) of the shipping box required will throw the box into the Priority class which gets a tad pricey sometimes if its not Flat Rate...but people who buy bayos know the cost.
I ALWAYS give an EXACT shipping cost & stick with it no matter if it cost me more or not...[;)]
I tend to ask what are the "TOTAL" charges are for shipping to my area Before I bid.Seen a few in the past that try and cheat, IE the item is 1$ shipping is $399.99.
Good advice!!
I leaned this lesson years ago when I paid $20 shipping for a mauser firing pin. Have also read feedbacks with complaints of high shipping charges.
If postage is not listed, I ask the seller and make it clear I would not bid unless he quotes a price. No response; best to pass.
The "Ask the seller a question" is one of the best features of GB, however, keep in mind the 15-20% of the sellers do not answer.
Kimi,
I agree with everything you wrote. Actual means actual. But other factors also play into the costs, insurance etc. For instance, I have to ask that sellers specifically request adult signature since my FFL is located in a residential area and there is sometimes a cost with that.
Exactly. And, I covered the "insurance" issue, remember?
It's a good way to advertise a shipping charge when the seller does not know if the buyer wants it "tomorrow" or a "week from tomorrow." So, if someone has already stated what the shipping charges are going to be, and it is not shipped by the carrier the buyer prefers, or if it is not enough to cover the cost of expediting the package, you have another issue to address with the seller. Either way a person goes, they will still have to discuss "details" regarding shipping.
One guy wanted $170.00 to ship a $300 snub nose revolver from CA to IN. I passed without even answering the e-mail back as I knew I was wasting time. The next day he offered to drop the shipping to $90.00. I didn't answer that one either.
Some type adds will say buyer pays actual shipping by xyz method through abc company, or if your FFL requires shipping from my FFL the fees are (some number) extra. I'm okay with a detailed listing of this type but still e-mail for a firm number.
When I list an item for sale, I specify a firm shipping charge. Except for the stuff that I know will fit in a small flat rate box and ship with $5.80 in postage, it is an educated guess. If I tell you I will ship it for $20, then I will. If I guess high on the shipping, maybe I come out ahead a dollar or two. If I guess low, then I eat the difference. It all evens out over time.
Exactly, that is how I do it.
*Does it mean exactly that: ie, you will be charged exactly what the seller is charged by the shipper and thats all?
IMO I shouldn't have to pay the seller to drive it to the shipper, or package it, that is your part of doing business and should come out of your profit.
If charging for packaging and handling to the shipper is charged then I should be able to deduct my expenses from the selling price for having to drive to the Post Office to get a Money Order, plus teh price of the envelope and stamp especially if that is the only form of payment the seller takes. If you want to be a ridiculous seller then I can be a ridiculous buyer.
It is the same shyster mentality as car dealers that charge a "doc fee" or "processing fee". You mean on top of paying you for the car that I am buying from you, you want me to pay you a fee to sell me the car? It is irrelevant to me if that is industry acceptable now, its still a load of crap.
Shipping charges are easy to figure and should be part of the auction price in my way of thinking.
"Actual Shipping" usually means I don't bid or even scroll to the pics. I hate to have a guessing game with someone who is 500-1000 miles away. Just give me the bottom line up front, if I don't like it, adios!
Exactly! I live on the Washington coast. When I sell something on GB, I weigh the item and the packaging. Then I type in a zipcode in Maine, and one in Florida, and one in Hawaii. I average the three, and that's the shipping I state in the auction, and if the value is over $50, you get to buy insurance. All the prices are stated, so you know what you're spending.
I don't figure in the GB final fees, my gas to the post office, the electricity to run the computer, tape and especially the boxes. Boxes can be had for free hell the Post Office will give them to you and deliver them to your house for free. My only other shipping expense is sometimes packing material, but I eat that expense. I sell more on the other website then here and I've never had a single complaint for over charging for shipping.
Since I know some people like to do this I ask what it's going to cost me if I bid and win.
Does GB get their percentage on the shipping charges.. I see sellers who charge a lot for "shipping" meaning the bidder may be bidding less for the item because they are factoring the large shipping cost into their final cost. ie.. If the seller is charging $15 to ship a magazine the buyer may only bid $10 for the magazine instead of $20 or $25 because the shipping is so high.
No, GunBroker doesn't collect any percentage on the shipping. Some years back eBay had to start collecting their percentage based on the selling price plus the shipping charged because sellers were "cutting eBay out" of the transaction by selling items for a few pennies, but charging inflated shipping prices.