2007-12-04 01:14:57 · 12 answers · asked by Alberto B 2 in Business & Finance ➔ Small Business
A seller will tell you to rob the customer and charge as much as possible for shipping.
As a buyer, I can tell you that it is one of the most frustrating things to see an item you like and then notice the inflated shipping charge. Buyers are not ignorant. They know that the dvd you're sending them doesnt cost fifteen dollars to ship.
Some sellers try to justify the high charge with the "handling" excuse. Any sane person can tell you this is a line. Most sellers do not operate out of a professional warehouse with 10 million a month in expenses. Putting an item in a box and taking it to the post office does not justify an extra 8 dollar charge.
I would rather spend $10 on an item and $6 on shipping than $1 on an item and $13 in shipping. I simply don't trust a seller trying to make a profit on shipping.
2007-12-04 01:32:00 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, first off, I doubt if there are any good drop-shipping companies, but there may be some ways around it. I used Doba for one month, lost my $50 membership fee and got my feedback ruined on eBay. Shipping took a couple weeks and at times didn't include the correct products. And there is absolutely nothing you can do. It's totally out of your control. You are at their mercy to take care of your customers their way in their time. So... If I had to do it all again, I would pick a company with low or no fees and less expensive products. Megagoods has reasonable electronics items. Research on eBay to see what is selling before listing items. Consider buying a small amount of inventory from the wholesaler (dropshipper). Example: Sell an MP3 player. Mail it to the customer out of your stock. Order one from the wholesaler and have it shipped to yourself to replace the one you sold. That way you know it will go to the right place and be shipped as soon as you get payment, not 10 days later. I would also try to take the incoming revenue for the first few months to build my inventory. Getting several things at once saves on shipping. Of course, this can only happen if eBay is your side job or your sponging off your rich uncle. I quit the drop ship thing, ordered wholesale items and opened a successful eBay store.
2016-05-28 03:15:37 · answer #2 · answered by jennette 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is appropriate for you to charge the CORRECT shipping.
You will see this notion that you can dodge eBay charges by cheating eBay and your customer. If you're a liar, fraud and thief, this is the route to consider. However, you'll cost yourself sales ... for an extra buck or two? Not a very good profit for selling your character.
At the same time, there's no sense in charging low and losing money. No reasonable person thinks you should do that.
Instead, just do it right. It is customary and expected that your "handling" covers the cost of your shipping materials and supplies. Your shipping should be determined appropriately by size, weight and class of shipment. The two together, plus 3% (to account for Paypal's charge) is where you want to be to generate sales, what your customers deserve, and the right thing to do.
2007-12-04 13:27:49 · answer #3 · answered by unclejoeadamson 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ebay only charges the seller on the selling price, so if a seller puts a low "Buy it Now" price on the item and a high shipping price, he'll be charged less, and the buyer will pay the same as always.
2007-12-04 01:26:25 · answer #4 · answered by Bob H 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Most people know that they have to consider the shipping cost when bidding so I think it doesn't matter a lot in most cases. In some cases if it will allow me to keep the opening bid price below one of the higher levels I will raise the shipping to allow that. For example if I have an item that costs me $2.00 and it will cost $2.00 to ship I might list it at a starting bid of .99 cents which is a lower listing fee than if I listed at $2.00 but I will add that extra cost into the shipping cost to make up for it.
2007-12-04 01:29:10 · answer #5 · answered by countryguyhfc 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Best to overestimate, but just a little. Get a quote from the post office, then think about the box you will need, as well as any packaging materials. I was once criticized for $100 shipping on a set of fine bone china worth over $1500. Minimum bid was $500, and people complained about the shipping. I still have the china, and wont be re listing it.
2007-12-04 01:19:45 · answer #6 · answered by Shane Doe 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
High shipping. Usually the cost of the item is cheaper to send than the shipping so you get some more money on the side. The buyer can't negotiate the shipping cause its a set rate.
2007-12-04 01:18:32 · answer #7 · answered by Notorious DPT 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
High shipping charges definitely scare away a buyer. Your best bet would be to list the actual shipping price or lower if you want to attract more buyers.
2007-12-04 01:18:02 · answer #8 · answered by ***~*** 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should try to get the shipping as accurate as possible. People don't appreciate it if they think you're trying to slip in extra profit in an underhanded way and will be less likely to bid.
But don't lose money on the shipping.
2007-12-04 01:18:35 · answer #9 · answered by boiledcrabs 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
To me,a high shipping price is just a way to gouge you for more money.A friend sent me two (two at the same time) laptops not long ago for a little over $8.00 so I know it doesn't cost that much to ship them.How much are these people wanting for their time to go to the post office ! I decided to go local after seeing all the outrageous shipping and handling prices and I am very happy that I did.I bought a laptop at a pawn shop and got a thirty day warranty on it and I am VERY happy with it ! It is DELL INSPIRON 1000 and I got it for $250.00 ...tax included.(they will bargain with you)........
2007-12-04 01:27:22 · answer #10 · answered by Sunshine 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋