eBay to Enforce Anti-Extreme Shipping Cost Rules
Fri Jul 7, 2006 12:37PM EDT
See Comments (14)
If you've bought much on eBay, you know this common frustration: You won the auction with a surprisingly low bid... only you didn't consider the shipping costs, which are five times the price of thing you just bought!
Less-than-honest eBayers love the tactic of tacking on hefty shipping fees for two reasons: First, it draws more attention to the auction, because they can settle for a lower item price, and people are unlikely to see the shipping fees in the bidding frenzy. Second, you only pay eBay a commission on the hammer price, not on taxes or shipping fees. So if you sell an item for a penny, plus $20,000 in shipping costs, eBay doesn't get its fees on all those extra fees.
Well, eBay has long had a no-excessive-shipping-fees policy, but now it says it's going to do something to enforce it. What that something is is unclear, but eBay North America President Bill Cobb (never mind that smiling picture) says this time he's serious.
Well eBayers out there, what do you think? Will this really make a difference in fee gouging? Discuss amongst yourselves. And the rest of us.
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2 Posted by rocktex102003 on Fri Jul 7, 2006 8:29PM EDT Report Abuse
rocktex2003. I stopped buying on Ebay because of the excessive shiopping and "handling" fees. Will start back if the rates become reasonable.
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3 Posted by rawcw7 on Sat Jul 8, 2006 8:34AM EDT Report Abuse
Maybe this is a bit ado about nothing. Why wouldn't a consumer (bidder) include the S/H charges into their bid prior to bidding? It's like checking the description, the seller's feedback, etc. in making the purchase decision.
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4 Posted by dmoose2 on Sat Jul 8, 2006 11:31AM EDT Report Abuse
I shop on eBay frequently. If the stated shipping and handling is too high (in my opinion), I contact the seller and ask if there is a lower S&H rate available. If not, I do not bid. D
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5 Posted by msfoom on Sun Jul 9, 2006 7:36PM EDT Report Abuse
I agree that some sellers charge too much for S&H but if I don't like it, I don't bid. I'm glad eBay is looking into this but everyone seems to think eBay can control every sellers/buyers actions. As a consumer, it's my job to decide what is too much and is it worth it. If it seems to good to be true, it probably is. I find that in recent years prices on eBay are not much better than retail. I pay for things I can't find or for the convenience of shopping at home. Every buyer and seller wants the best price they can get and each has their technique to get it. I generally don't buy items from my home state to avoid the taxes.
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1 Posted by socalblue32 on Fri Jul 7, 2006 4:59PM EDT Report Abuse
I have been an unwitting victim of the excessive shipping and handling fees, the sellers get quite indignent..insulted if you try and get them to charge a more reasonable fee. They seem to feel their "handling fees" are quite appropriate. Hope Ebay can stem the trend of excessive fees.