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Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 2150
Location: Orlando, FL | I thought the recent thread about eBay fees was very interesting.
But having just sold a my archtop on eBay to someone in France, I'd like to offer a new warning. STAY AWAY FROM EBAY'S INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING CENTER service.
This is a new Service ebay is pushing, hard. You ship it to their US shipping center and they handle the shipping to it's international destination.
I found out what a ripoff this was when someone from Germany bought a $25 item from me and the shipping was about $20, with a really slow delivery time. And this was a T-shirt, so it weighed about 12 oz! The seller basically said screw that and we canceled the sale. Apparently, a buyer will not know what the actual shipping cost will be until they win the auction. Then they get the big shipping fee!
I thought I had removed that option from all my listings...
Apparently not from the guitar, aaaaarrrrgh! The guitar sold for $1175, I paid about $80 to get it to the shipping center, and the buyer paid about $180 shipping. AND the guitar will take about two weeks to deliver.
The buyer is pissed and so am I. I refunded him $30 when I realized his shipping cost was higher than we both expected. But the delivery time is way out of line.
This sucks! I have 100% positive feedback and I hate to get slammed because I used an eBay service that the are trying to cram down seller's throats.
End of Rant. Time to go play guitar and cool off!
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Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | Wow that's steep.
I would suggest to try FedEx International Economy. Make sure you specify ECONOMY or else the price will about double. But here is the thing, the EXPRESS and ECONOMY ship out of the US on exactly the same schedule. Only difference is that once at the destination if there is a call what goes on the truck and what won't fit, the Economy boxes get second priority.
I recently shipped a guitar worth $1600. declared value and insurance for about $125. I dropped it off at the FedEx center on Saturday and the buyer had it in his hands in France on Wednesday.
YMMV but I would suggest checking it out. |
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Joined:
May 2006
Posts: 4232
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Ebay is making a KILLING off of its fee structure. I dunno why, but they sometimes seems as if they are actively forcing the average person from participating as either a seller OR buyer. It really seems geared more and more to the pros on both sides of the sselling spectrum.
The big problem is that they absolutely KNOW there is no other auction site with their market share and audience, so if you get to the point where you HAVE to sell something, they soon become the most viable option. Hence, they see no need to become more competitive and affordable.
I try my best to avoid them both selling and buying, but they remain my last, desperate resort every once in a while.
And to me anyway, it's a real shame. Going the eBay route used to be a no brainer. It was easy, affordable, quick, and doable. Now it's pretty much priced itself into a premium service full of deal-sharks trying to squeeze buyers and sellers both for every thin dime. And much of the fun is LONG gone from watching an auction with the sniper bots available now.
I keep hoping some other site will eventually give them a run for their tons and loads of money, but I haven't seen any that even come close yet.
SIGH........ |
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Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 2150
Location: Orlando, FL | Standingovation - 2013-11-23 9:03 AM
Wow that's steep.
I would suggest to try FedEx International Economy. Make sure you specify ECONOMY or else the price will about double. But here is the thing, the EXPRESS and ECONOMY ship out of the US on exactly the same schedule. Only difference is that once at the destination if there is a call what goes on the truck and what won't fit, the Economy boxes get second priority.
YMMV but I would suggest checking it out.
Yes, that was actually my plan. I listed some items with using the international shipping center, because it seemed like an easy way to ship. After one small item had a problem, I removed that option from everything. Or so I thought! I missed a big one!
So, this was my screw up, but it's very easy to do. Especially when ebay is hyping the service so heavily. I just wanted to warn others. SELLERS and BUYERS!
As far as fees go. It is what it is, that's the cost of doing business on ebay. |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Anything the evilBay is "hyping" like the Global Shipping Program is GREAT for them...
Usually not so good for the small seller.
As to what might have happened to your "shipping option"...
On the eBay Part-Time Sellers discussion board we are often warned about "new programs".
Often when evilBay has a better idea the will automatically add it to everyone.
You have to go to your "My eBay" Account page, to your "Seller Preferences" and be sure to deactivate the latest "Better Idea" that they may have added to you.
It is always good to check your "Preferences" occasionally to be sure everything is in order and it hasn't reverted to the "Default" which has eBay's preferred settings.... Not Yours.
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Joined:
July 2013
Posts: 21
| I stay away from eBay |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | when I first saw that about the international mailing center all I could do was laugh.
why would anyone pay for a service that you can so easily do yourself?
why put a second step in the sale process?
well I guess I was wrong people would use it.
Just another way for ebay to have total control over your sale and interaction with your buyer.
it is all about $$$$$$$ nothing more nothing less.
give me an extra $5 and I will pack the item way better than e bay or the ups stores will ever do.
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Another eBay rant and new warning for sellers
