$10 with free shipping, or Free with $10 shipping both cost you the same amount for the same item.
Principle. If I pay for something, I want to get it... If you buy a $7 game and a $10 lunch, or a $10 game and a $7 Lunch. Are they equal? Don't be silly, of course not, despite final money spent being the same.
That is a ridiculous analogy. You are buying two clearly distinct things that clearly have different values and expectations.
I think as long as the information is transparent and clearly advertised, I don't really call all that much and I just care about total price, from a buyer's perspective.
Whether a game is $15 with $5 shipping or $20 with $0 shipping or $10 with $10 shipping makes absolutely no difference to me if I am comparing from different sellers and looking at options. When I make bids or purchase BINs from ebay I just look at the total cost.
I've found that much of this abuse has gone away or significantly decreased since ebay changed their policies on fees anyway.
If I really want an item, and I'm willing to pay $20 for it, and I see the advertised shipping is $15, then maybe I'll bid a max of $5. If I get the package and the actual cost is $3 for shipping, I don't really care that much. I don't really see how I'm harmed if everything is clearly advertised. Yeah, I'm sure some could see it as a bit manipulative, or maybe confusing to figure out the cost, and maybe isn't the most technically exact representation of how the breakdown should be, so I understand some of the comments here - but at the end of the day, I just want my item for whatever price we both agree on.
The beauty of ebay is that as a buyer, if this bothers you, as some people here mentioned, you can skip over that seller and not choose to purchase from them, putting your money where your mouth is on other sellers who don't do this. And that works for me too, because the fewer people bidding on items with higher shipping, maybe means I get a better price in the end because I'm willing to overlook the allocation for a cheaper total price
Having said all of the above, there ARE a few situations where it could be a problem, such as issues with returns and who pays for shipping, or if there is an insurance claim, and a few other scenarios, so it's not a completely irrelevant concern - but I haven't really noticed this to be a major issue for me.
$10 with free shipping, or Free with $10 shipping both cost you the same amount for the same item.
Principle. If I pay for something, I want to get it... If you buy a $7 game and a $10 lunch, or a $10 game and a $7 Lunch. Are they equal? Don't be silly, of course not, despite final money spent being the same.
That is a ridiculous analogy. You are buying two clearly distinct things that clearly have different values and expectations.
If the item is $15 and the shipping cost is advertised at $5, you are agreeing to pay $5 for the postage and packing to get that item to you. If they sent it for $2, they screwed you for $3, period. It was something you never agreed to.
Having said all of the above, there ARE a few situations where it could be a problem, such as issues with returns and who pays for shipping, or if there is an insurance claim, and a few other scenarios, so it's not a completely irrelevant concern - but I haven't really noticed this to be a major issue for me.
That is about the only legitimate concern I could imagine.
But aren't original shipping costs returned to the buyer in the event of a return?
If the item is $15 and the shipping cost is advertised at $5, you are agreeing to pay $5 for the postage and packing to get that item to you. If they sent it for $2, they screwed you for $3, period. It was something you never agreed to.
Why would you, it would make no sense. The cost you were paying was for postage. ..if you decided to pick up for free, you wouldnt be paying for postage. But if the postage was free anyways, then... This situation it's like complaining that the bonus the guy sent you is broken
My point is, I wouldn't let some random from the internet pick up something for free in the first place, because it is both an inconvenience to me and a significant increase in risk (depending on the transaction value).
Why would you, it would make no sense. The cost you were paying was for postage. ..if you decided to pick up for free, you wouldnt be paying for postage. But if the postage was free anyways, then... This situation it's like complaining that the bonus the guy sent you is broken
My point is, I wouldn't let some random from the internet pick up something for free in the first place, because it is both an inconvenience to me and a significant increase in risk (depending on the transaction value).
This is why I sell everything on eBay BIN with free shipping. People get weirdly emotional about money. Besides, what things sell for is what they sell for. Mario Kart 64 goes for about $40, whether you charge $40 with free shipping, or $37 with $3 shipping, or $20 with $20 shipping. I've never seen my sales affected by charging more and having free shipping.
Yep, you learn this crap when you're 16 and you buy a new computer keyboard off of ebay for $1 super excitedly, just to see that they had a $29.99 shipping charge.
Stupid 16yo version of myself. Same idiot traded in his entire NES collection (2 massive dresser drawers full) towards an OG Xbox when they launched. Made sense at the time!
The only time I conceptually treat shipping and "total price" as different is on large or fragile items.
If I'm buying a neon sign, I'd be more comfortable with $900 + $100 shipping than $1000 shipped. I wouldn't want the guy cutting corners on shipping to maximize profit and send me something that gets broken in the mail.
But if you're talking $15 items, just negotiate the cost as shipped and don't worry about the cost of mailing. It's more important to stress how it would be mailed (in a box vs. bubble mailer) than the cost of doing so.
Yep, you learn this crap when you're 16 and you buy a new computer keyboard off of ebay for $1 super excitedly, just to see that they had a $29.99 shipping charge.
Stupid 16yo version of myself. Same idiot traded in his entire NES collection (2 massive dresser drawers full) towards an OG Xbox when they launched. Made sense at the time!
2 drawers full! For an OG Xbox? OUCH! We all make questionable decisions when we are in our teens. lol!
Comments
Principle. If I pay for something, I want to get it... If you buy a $7 game and a $10 lunch, or a $10 game and a $7 Lunch. Are they equal? Don't be silly, of course not, despite final money spent being the same.
That is a ridiculous analogy. You are buying two clearly distinct things that clearly have different values and expectations.
Whether a game is $15 with $5 shipping or $20 with $0 shipping or $10 with $10 shipping makes absolutely no difference to me if I am comparing from different sellers and looking at options. When I make bids or purchase BINs from ebay I just look at the total cost.
I've found that much of this abuse has gone away or significantly decreased since ebay changed their policies on fees anyway.
If I really want an item, and I'm willing to pay $20 for it, and I see the advertised shipping is $15, then maybe I'll bid a max of $5. If I get the package and the actual cost is $3 for shipping, I don't really care that much. I don't really see how I'm harmed if everything is clearly advertised. Yeah, I'm sure some could see it as a bit manipulative, or maybe confusing to figure out the cost, and maybe isn't the most technically exact representation of how the breakdown should be, so I understand some of the comments here - but at the end of the day, I just want my item for whatever price we both agree on.
The beauty of ebay is that as a buyer, if this bothers you, as some people here mentioned, you can skip over that seller and not choose to purchase from them, putting your money where your mouth is on other sellers who don't do this. And that works for me too, because the fewer people bidding on items with higher shipping, maybe means I get a better price in the end because I'm willing to overlook the allocation for a cheaper total price
Having said all of the above, there ARE a few situations where it could be a problem, such as issues with returns and who pays for shipping, or if there is an insurance claim, and a few other scenarios, so it's not a completely irrelevant concern - but I haven't really noticed this to be a major issue for me.
Principle. If I pay for something, I want to get it... If you buy a $7 game and a $10 lunch, or a $10 game and a $7 Lunch. Are they equal? Don't be silly, of course not, despite final money spent being the same.
That is a ridiculous analogy. You are buying two clearly distinct things that clearly have different values and expectations.
Having said all of the above, there ARE a few situations where it could be a problem, such as issues with returns and who pays for shipping, or if there is an insurance claim, and a few other scenarios, so it's not a completely irrelevant concern - but I haven't really noticed this to be a major issue for me.
That is about the only legitimate concern I could imagine.
But aren't original shipping costs returned to the buyer in the event of a return?
If the item is $15 and the shipping cost is advertised at $5, you are agreeing to pay $5 for the postage and packing to get that item to you. If they sent it for $2, they screwed you for $3, period. It was something you never agreed to.
You are entitled to that opinion.
Why would you, it would make no sense. The cost you were paying was for postage. ..if you decided to pick up for free, you wouldnt be paying for postage. But if the postage was free anyways, then... This situation it's like complaining that the bonus the guy sent you is broken
My point is, I wouldn't let some random from the internet pick up something for free in the first place, because it is both an inconvenience to me and a significant increase in risk (depending on the transaction value).
Why would you, it would make no sense. The cost you were paying was for postage. ..if you decided to pick up for free, you wouldnt be paying for postage. But if the postage was free anyways, then... This situation it's like complaining that the bonus the guy sent you is broken
My point is, I wouldn't let some random from the internet pick up something for free in the first place, because it is both an inconvenience to me and a significant increase in risk (depending on the transaction value).
And to arch, I feel that sellers fhat think it don't matter should acknowledge the allotment.
Total price is all that matters.
It is silly, in my opinion, to get wound up about how that price gets itemized.
Right, but that is just your opinion. Many others feel differently, and when selling need to consider to cater for averages.
I would be interested to hear what somebody considers a legitimate reason to care about anything other than the total price that they paid.
I would be interested to hear what somebody considers a legitimate reason to care about anything other than the total price that they paid.
Stupid 16yo version of myself. Same idiot traded in his entire NES collection (2 massive dresser drawers full) towards an OG Xbox when they launched. Made sense at the time!
If I'm buying a neon sign, I'd be more comfortable with $900 + $100 shipping than $1000 shipped. I wouldn't want the guy cutting corners on shipping to maximize profit and send me something that gets broken in the mail.
But if you're talking $15 items, just negotiate the cost as shipped and don't worry about the cost of mailing. It's more important to stress how it would be mailed (in a box vs. bubble mailer) than the cost of doing so.
Yep, you learn this crap when you're 16 and you buy a new computer keyboard off of ebay for $1 super excitedly, just to see that they had a $29.99 shipping charge.
Stupid 16yo version of myself. Same idiot traded in his entire NES collection (2 massive dresser drawers full) towards an OG Xbox when they launched. Made sense at the time!
2 drawers full! For an OG Xbox? OUCH! We all make questionable decisions when we are in our teens. lol!
The worst offenders are when I try to buy Strategy Guides.
$15 for the guide and another $15 for shipping.
Can't tell you how many times I've had to argue with sellers that that's what Media Mail is for.
Even normal Priority Mail isn't even half that much for something that weighs less than 16oz.
Some guides won't pass media mail because they have ads in them. I've had some that I received postage due because of this.
Yeah, I know about their "no ads" rule.
My argument is to use Amazon as an example. Media Mail is all they use.
Was doing some research on that policy and the best I could come up with is Marijuana Ads. So they just ban ALL ads.
All you need to do is say it's a book. Don't call anything a magazine.