Max amount you're willing to pay for Shipping?

electrictroy

electrictroy

Banned
[quote name='trent82']any time someone is selling a small item like a game, dvd, or cd and charges more than $4 for shipping they won't get my business.[/quote]


What is the maximum amount the rest of you are willing to pay?
troy


RESULTS
~$3=3 ----- ~$4=5 ----- ~$5=10 ----- "look at total cost"=14 people
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I am not willing to pay much more than what I charge to ship.

light items (PSone, PS2, GC, Xbox games, single DVDs): $3-3.50
medium weight items (2- to 3-DVD box sets): $4-5
heavy DVDs/games/manga: $5-8
 
Maybe I should charge people for wear and tear on my shoes then...
My post office is a 10-minute walk from my house.

$3 for a game
$5 for a 2-disc DVD set
$7 for a 3-or-more-disc DVD set

I use first class for Pokemon TCG cards and the light stuff, Priority for the heavy stuff.
 
it's always weird to click on a new thread and to see yourself being quoted already. but i guess i should point out that my quote is refering to domestic transactions involving small items only. i have obviously had to pay more for shipping for international shipments. for domestic transactions involving small items, i just really like to use priority mail. it's $3.85, the boxes are free, and it gets to the destination very quickly. for some of the boxes, you don't even need tape. all you need is a marker and some packing. i don't like when sellers try to make the bidders pay for the auction and paypal fees...why don't you have them pay for your internet bill while your at it? if your looking to make some extra money on your auctions, make them stand out so that people want yours more than other sellers' similar items. for instance, i just sold a copy of blast corps for the n64. before the auction i looked at the completed auctions to see what other people got, and most couldn't get much more than $5. so i throw in a bonus item of vigilante 8 (a game that sells for $0.99) and my auction finishes with a price of $16.
 
I take into account the gas, packaging, and time a person puts into the item they sold me. But if they start charging me $more then $5 for a game shipped then no way.
 
[quote name='DreamSymphony']I'll pay whatever is reasonable for the TOTAL cost of the game[/QUOTE]
If its something like Ebay I do the same thing. Say its a $20 item, if shipping is $8, I wont pay more than 12.
 
Depends on the game and the price. I've paid $10 for shipping two SNES games. But those games were FFII and FFIII and he only charged me $5 a game :)
 
You just like clicking the 'New Topic' button, don't you?

Anything that pops in your head 'Hey! This would be an AWESOME THREAD!'
 
For a game, dvd, something like that:
5 bucks Priority with DC.
3 bucks First Class.
If you're paying more than .30-50 cents for 'packaging material' you're a dumbass.
And the 'trip to the PO' and 'gas' and all that, that's called 'overhead.' Deal with it.
I charge a flat 5 bucks for Priority, and ship it from my house the business day after receiving payment. There's virtually no need to go to the PO at all.

Obviously 'bigger' or heavier or bulkier things would cost more to ship, and that's fine, but 5 bucks is basically my limit.
 
It depends on the cost of the game. I look at it from a total price perspective. As in, I would pay $X for this game. Thus, the shipping is part of that amount. For instance, if one seller is selling Jak 3 new for $12.99 plus $7.00 for shipping and another is selling it for $19.99 and $3.00 shipping, I am buying from the high shipping seller. I think asking how much someone is willing to pay for shipping is a dumb question cause it's the total unit cost that matters.
 
To an extent that's true, but if someone is charging 9.00 for shipping a single DVD on ebay, the only reason he's doing that is to skirt paying Ebay fees. Ebay provides one heck of a service, and I think it's fair that if someone voluntarily uses that service, they pay the fees and submit to the ToS they've agreed to.
I would rather pay slightly more and buy it from the person doing the 'right thing', just on principle. Principles are, unfortunately, uncommon nowadays.
 
It depends, Where am I buying it from how it is being shipped etc.

Ebay 5 shipped priority mail the most I will pay for a game depending on the game.
 
And the 'trip to the PO' and 'gas' and all that, that's called 'overhead.' Deal with it.
Click to expand...
Businesses that pull "overhead" out of their own pocket, eventually go bankrupt from lack of money. A business has no money, except what comes from the customer, so its the customer who pays *all* the bills... even gasoline. (Also, ebay clearly states "handling" may be charged... driving to the P.O. is handling.)[quote name='DreamSymphony']I'll pay whatever is reasonable for the TOTAL cost of the game[/QUOTE]Ditto. I just bid on two separate games, but the one I actually bought had *free* shipping...... so it ended up being cheaper.

troy
 
And the 'trip to the PO' and 'gas' and all that, that's called 'overhead.' Deal with it.
Click to expand...
A business has no money, except what comes from the customer, so it's the customer who pays *all* the bills... even gasoline. A business that doesn't charge its gasoline (and labor & advertising & store lease) to the customer, goes backrupt, from unpaid debt. (Also, ebay clearly states "handling" may be charged; gasoline expense = handling.)[quote name='DreamSymphony']I'll pay whatever is reasonable for the TOTAL cost of the game[/QUOTE]Ditto. I just bid on two separate games, but the one I actually bought had *free* shipping...... so it ended up being cheaper.

troy
 
I always look for sellers who are charging actual or just above actual shipping.

For games:

Media Mail/1st Class: $3.00
Priority: First I ask for 1st Class/Media Mail. If they won't comply then I don't go over $5.00.
 
i always figure shipping in to the total cost of what im buying, especially since people on ebay practice rape shipping. if the max im willing to pay for something is $15 shipped, i bid $15-shipping. i never get caught in bid wars, if the bidding goes over my limit, theres always more auctions ^^
 
[quote name='onikage']I always look for sellers who are charging actual or just above actual shipping.

For games:

Media Mail/1st Class: $3.00
Priority: First I ask for 1st Class/Media Mail. If they won't comply then I don't go over $5.00.[/QUOTE]

I usually try to keep it under $4. The post office is within walking distance from my house, I can accept PayPal, and there are plenty of bubble mailers lying around the house here -- I just recycle them. Passing the savings on to you! :D

When buying, I try to look for the same. $5 is my max.
 
id also like to add that, say i win something that is $9 and then $6 shipping, i will be much more likely to question the seller if the item does not arrive post haste, since its my understanding that i spent $6 on shipping, i expect nothing short of priotity.

while on the other hand if shipping is $2 and i bid $13 ill wait a week or 2 before even bringing it up.
 
[quote name='Kayden']If its something like Ebay I do the same thing. Say its a $20 item, if shipping is $8, I wont pay more than 12.[/QUOTE]


:thumbsup:
 
As long as it's less than half of the value that is being shipped. But if it's something I really, REALLY want I'll pay more than half.
 
shipping doesnt matter to me as long as the final total is what all the other auctions are ending at

i hate auctions that make u read for the shipping cost
like those penny auctions with $10-$15 shipping
 
It really depends on the situation for me. If I'm buying a cd or game domestically I will not pay more than $4-5. But if I'm getting a great deal I will pay more shipping. There is a limit I will pay however. I don't like people who bump up the shipping to sneak in extra profit and the more they raise it, the amount I need to be saving on the pre-shipping cost increases exponentially. There is no good excuse to overcharge that much on shipping. Materials are cheap and are totally free if you use priority mail. Gas and time are not a factor since you don't even need to leave your house to mail stuff anymore. Just schedule a pickup from your letter carrier and have it waiting for him.
 
It drives me nuts when these crooks charge something like 7 or 8 dollars for shipping and when you get it there is a tag from the post office for 1.85 on it. All for a few extra bucks. You wonder how scummy people can truly be.
 
[quote name='electrictroy']A business has no money, except what comes from the customer, so it's the customer who pays *all* the bills... even gasoline. A business that doesn't charge its gasoline (and labor & advertising & store lease) to the customer, goes backrupt, from unpaid debt. (Also, ebay clearly states "handling" may be charged; gasoline expense = handling.)Ditto. I just bid on two separate games, but the one I actually bought had *free* shipping...... so it ended up being cheaper.

troy[/QUOTE]

I don't get charged an 'electricity' fee when going to WalMart. I don't get charged a 'water' fee when using the restroom at a movie theater. Charge a fair shipping cost and take your 'overhead' into account when pricing your item. The only reason to charge 9 bucks shipping is whatever is because you're trying to cheap Ebay out of their fees.
And like was said earlier, there is absolutely no reason to incur any 'handling' expense anymore. Order Priority Mail boxes for FREE delivered FREE to your home; print Priority postage no add'l cost, and tell the mailman to pick it up at your mailbox [or to totally eliminate any "handling" bullcrap, leave it at your doorstep].
And yes, if someone charges me more than 5 bucks shipped, it needs to arrive quickly and well packed. Ironically, I've found that the higher the shipping charge, the crappier the actual shipping.
 
[quote name='dtcarson']I don't get charged an 'electricity' fee when going to WalMart. I don't get charged a 'water' fee when using the restroom at a movie theater. Charge a fair shipping cost and take your 'overhead' into account when pricing your item. The only reason to charge 9 bucks shipping is whatever is because you're trying to cheap Ebay out of their fees.
And like was said earlier, there is absolutely no reason to incur any 'handling' expense anymore. Order Priority Mail boxes for FREE delivered FREE to your home; print Priority postage no add'l cost, and tell the mailman to pick it up at your mailbox [or to totally eliminate any "handling" bullcrap, leave it at your doorstep].
And yes, if someone charges me more than 5 bucks shipped, it needs to arrive quickly and well packed. Ironically, I've found that the higher the shipping charge, the crappier the actual shipping.[/QUOTE]

Sure you don't get charged an electricity fee or water fee, but you do pay for them one way or the other. When selling stuff like games or anything really, it's nearly impossible for a small time dealer to work their overhead into the cost for the actual item because then they wouldn't be able to sell anything at a discount enough to make people want to buy from them as opposed to Best Buy. Working it into the cost for shipping and "handling" is cleaner and easier. I personally do not overblow the shipping charges in my auctions and I agree that most people are likely using the shipping fees as a way to shirk ebay fees, but I don't think it's as easy as you make it out to be to cover your overhead.

You do make an excellent point though about the ease of shipping stuff priority mail through the USPS website. Also, if you use Paypal, it's very easy to ship using any menthod for a very small fee for printing the label (20 cents I think).
 
[quote name='dtcarson']I don't get charged an 'electricity' fee when going to WalMart. I don't get charged a 'water' fee when using the restroom at a movie theater.[/QUOTE] True, it's not a separate fee. It's included in the price. That means you're still paying, indirectly.




But if you ask for delivery, Wal-Mart *will* charge you. Two years ago, my store charged $10 to ship a game from a neighboring store.

$10 may sound high, but it's shipping *and handling*, not just shipping.

troy
 
If their stuff's not selling because people would rather buy from Best Buy, maybe they need to rethink their business [Of course, the whole issue of Ebay-as-business versus Ebay-as-way-to-get-rid-of-stuff is another discussion.]. There are some things I haven't sold on ebay, because I know the high bid plus shipping cost would be less than I "wanted'. So I didn't sell it.

I know you're paying for those things. I'm also paying for every employee in that store, even the ones I don't ever use. It all comes down to your pricing structure.

And if WalMart charged 10 bucks to ship "and handle" a game, I'd be trying to buy it somewhere else. However, with something like that, that charge is at least trying to cover some of their costs, which I can understand. I think most people would think that charging 7 bucks for shipping a single DVD or game on Ebay is *far* more than "handling" would account for, and is in the realm of "fee avoidance".
 
[quote name='DreamSymphony']I'll pay whatever is reasonable for the TOTAL cost of the game[/QUOTE]

I have to agree. But I guess the most I willing to spend on shipping is $5.
 
[quote name='dtcarson']And if WalMart charged 10 bucks to ship "and handle" a game, I'd be trying to buy it somewhere else. However, with something like that, that charge is at least trying to cover some of their costs, which I can understand.[/QUOTE]
What costs? Why would it cost Wal-Mart $10 to ship a game, that costs me ~$4 priority?

troy
 
How do they ship it? It's not like its on a truck which they get every day, and it's not 'regular' mail'. They've got to track the inventory, make sure it gets to the right place, etc.
And you're proving my point--if they tried to charge me 10 bucks for shipping, I wouldn't buy it from them. You obviously would. Count that 10 bucks as 'handling.'
 
PS2 with 56 games including Rez

"Shipping

For US bidders: there will be a flat rate of $75.00 to ship the games which includes insurance through the USPS. All others must contact me for a shipping quote."

Does that sound like reasonable shipping?
 
I usually charge $2.00 to ship a game or DVD within the U.S. mainland. Only once was it more than that. Bigger items, or outside the U.S. I take to the post office, get it weighed, then get a price quote. If it's >$2.00, I charge $2.00. More, I charge the actual cost. By the way, you can reuse packing envelopes, so every time I receive an order from an online store, such as EB Games, I save the envelope and reuse it. I've not had to buy any envelopes for a long time because of this.
 
Actually, depending on how it's shipped and where to, that doesn't sound too off the mark. Of course, for big things like that you're generally better off UPS or FEDEX, faster and cheaper.

I'm making assumptions here:
56 games x 10 ounces each = 560 ounces or 35 pounds.
Call the PS2 and accoutrements 5 pounds, call shipping material 5 pounds.
45 pounds. From my zip in NC to the classic 90210.
USPS Priority - 80 bucks [I would expect Priority]
USPS Parcel Post - 40 bucks [if I paid 75 shipping and got it shipped Parcel Post, that is too much.

UPS Ground - 50 bucks
UPS 3Day - 94 bucks.

So it's a either just right, a little high, or alot higher if shipped Parcel Post.
 
[quote name='dtcarson']How does Wal-Mart ship it? It's not like its on a truck which they get every day, and it's not 'regular' mail'. They've got to track the inventory, make sure it gets to the right place, etc.[/QUOTE]
Yes true. "Handling" So don't you think that Ebay businesses *also* have to "track inventory", et cetera, et cetera, "handling"?




BTW, I was willing to pay $10 to ship if from the Baltimore Wal-Mart to the Lancaster PA walmart, because it was a rare, hard-to-find game - Suikoden 2. I would have spent twice as much on Ebay.

troy
 
I think there's a hell of a lot more 'handling' involved when you're a huge store and you have to send one item, via abnormal channels, to another store, than when you're some guy selling stuff on an Ebay "storefront".
I think the "store" aspect of Ebay is part of why it's gotten so bad. For the average person selling 5-30 things a week, say, there is, or can be if he runs his 'business' well, very little 'overhead'. And, again, part of the reason people have high shipping handling fees is to evade paying Ebay fees, WalMart doesn't have that reason. I still think 10 bucks is ridiculous, however.
 
I'm willing to pay almost any amount, it just effects my bid price. Like I wanted to get an XBox game and the most I was willing to pay was $10 total. Shipping was $8 for First Class but the final bid was only $2.0x so I just got it for a lower bid price than normal. It is the same difference to be if it was $5 plus $5 shipping because the end result is I am paying $10.

I have paid as much as $12 shipping for 1 game (from Japan, where the expensive shipping is because it truly is expensive to ship a game through EMS). I still got a way better deal than I could have gotten off of EBay so it was worth it to me.
 
I usually look at the total price. Yes, I know people mark up shipping to cheat eBay, but that's between them and eBay, so it wont deter me, if the total price is right.

An example would be the (complete) copy of Shaq-Fu for Genesis I got this morning. I paid $.01 plus $3 shipping, though the shipping seems about right for the game.
 
[quote name='electrictroy']RESULTS
~$3=3 ----- ~$4=5 ----- ~$5=10 ----- "look at total cost"=14 people
.[/QUOTE]Looks like $5 is the cutoff for most people..... good to know, because I've been charging $5 all along.



But it appears the majority look at the *total* cost, and don't care about the shipping..
troy
 
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