Help me understand something about ebay

[volkov956]

sometimes u can contact the seller before bidding and double check but of course not always viable when you find a sale near the end

[30ranfordfan]

a few comments to make.....

If you look at the auction, the shipping charges were only $15 within the USA, and not $60. I would bet that this set was sold within USA.

Seller probably "made" little to nothing off that $15. Between supplies & postage: Yes, that's likely what it cost. $60 to come to Canada? That does sound high to me, but maybe not.

As for the point of selling them for 99 cents, when the shipping cost far more: I suspect the seller is thrilled to be rid of them. Honestly, I'm surprised they got as much as they did. That set is crazy popular, but not many people are looking for those base sets three years later. At a card show, I'd expect to see that 400 card base set for $10-$20 (CND) - so $16 USD sounds pretty fair.

I mean, I suspect if you posted "400 base cards" from UD Series 1/2 from any year.... and priced it at "free, you just cover the cost of shipping + the cost of a box for me to put them in": You'd get no takers.



There was also a question of people padding the shipping charges, to ensure a minimum price... and to possibly skirt eBay fees. They get around no fees. Fees are applied to the shipping charges, at the same rate as the item. Would they pad it just to make things seem cheaper? I suppose so - but that's only going to work if they've got new / unsuspecting shoppers. People will avoid your listings like the plague, if you overcharge for shipping.

Just thinking about mailing a single card within Canada: Assuming you've got a card with multiple bidders, that will sell in the $20-$30 range: I suspect you're costing yourself money, not making it, by charging $5 for s/h instead of $3.

The Global Program, as many have already pointed out: The moment Canadian buyers see that, they walk away.

[cjb]

I just assumed that the cost of shipping was part of the set price

for example if you go on amazon and want to buy a box of cards for 60 bucks, amazon will offer you free shipping.

If you look for other available sellers they will sell it for cheaper but will charge for shipping that will eventually equal the price of the amazon free shipping offer

for example

A box of cards fulfilled by amazon with free shipping = Total 60
A box of cards by seller ABC costs 50 but they will charge you 10 dollars shipping = Total 60
A box of cards by seller XYZ costs 55 but they will charge you 5 dollars shipping = Total 60

[30ranfordfan]

I just assumed that the cost of shipping was part of the set price

for example if you go on amazon and want to buy a box of cards for 60 bucks, amazon will offer you free shipping.

If you look for other available sellers they will sell it for cheaper but will charge for shipping that will eventually equal the price of the amazon free shipping offer

for example

A box of cards fulfilled by amazon with free shipping = Total 60
A box of cards by seller ABC costs 50 but they will charge you 10 dollars shipping = Total 60
A box of cards by seller XYZ costs 55 but they will charge you 5 dollars shipping = Total 60

It could be.... but I will say this: Personally, I do not consider $60 & Free Ship, vs $50 & $10 ship, or $55 & 5 ship to be "equal" (despite the final prices being the same).

Shipping costs money, and I have zero issue with paying the full costs of shipping (which is postage, and supplies). If the shipping cost has been padded a little bit (i.e. it cost $8.50, but you charged $10) I can live with that.

Someone offering free shipping (because they're simply considering the cost of shipping in the asking price for the item) IMO is doing it right. They've given themselves a proper way to "pad" that final price any way they want.

To be honest: I wouldn't buy a large 400 count lot of cards on eBay....the shipping would be too expensive for what the cards are worth. At least on something like those sets. I'd simply try and find those sets local (i.e. a card show) and buy them that way.

But if we're talking about single cards.... if someone has has a card for sale... and Canada to Canada shipping is listed for $15 (example) and it's something I really want: That's okay. I'm expecting for $15 to get tracked shipping, and that's expensive. Maybe I win the auction for $5, but I agree to pay $15... so I'll pay it. Cost me $20.

If I got that card in the mail, in a bubble mailer with $1.90 postage on it: I have a HUGE problem with that, and I'm going to be asking to have most of the shipping costs refunded.

[cjb]

I guess my original question was would anybody pay 61 dollars for a set of cards which is clearly not worth 61 dollars

And why would a seller spend 60 dollars in shipping if he's going to make only a dollar of this sale?

It just makes me think that this shipping costs were really lower than 60 bucks and that he's including the price of the cards in the shipping costs

[Nickwire]

If its ebay global shipping ebay is making all that extra, not the seller. The seller usually has no idea the shipping is crazy.

[30ranfordfan]

I guess my original question was would anybody pay 61 dollars for a set of cards which is clearly not worth 61 dollars

And why would a seller spend 60 dollars in shipping if he's going to make only a dollar of this sale?

It just makes me think that this shipping costs were really lower than 60 bucks and that he's including the price of the cards in the shipping costs

If its ebay global shipping ebay is making all that extra, not the seller. The seller usually has no idea the shipping is crazy.

Yeah, but if you look at this particular listing, and change the shipping info over to USA, instead of Canada (i.e. this USA based seller would ship to the USA) then shipping is only $15. That means someone bought the set for $16 - which is about right.