Shipping

[rusty513]

I'm amazed at times that how many people back out from buying items once they get a shipping quote. Especially when people go calling dibs on an item when they don't even know a price. A complete bike for instance, it's pretty much a guarantee that you are going to pay between $40 and $80 to ship a complete bike. All I'm saying is it cost money to ship stuff, shipping doesn't cost a dollar.

 

[Fahrrad]

Good to know, I am fixing to to start sellig some of my bikes, need the money for Christmas.

 

[SSG]

It can be a big sticker shock that's for sure. I've had bikes were the shipping cost more than the price of the bike. There are some tricks to save money. Shipping service for one, usps, ups, and fed ex will all have variations in the rate. One might be cheaper to ship a small box and one might be cheaper to ship a large box. If the buyer does the leg work and gets some quotes are what not, most sellers will drop the package off at the place of their choice. Box size is a huge issue. If the box is considered oversize by just an inch they'll stick you for another $20 or so. Some sellers will with with you a bit. Lets say the bike i want has a junk set of wheels and i already have a sweet set of rims and tires at home. Shipping the bike without the wheels may knock a few dollars off the price. No sense shipping dead weight.

 

[Tailwinds]

I'm amazed at times that how many people back out from buying items once they get a shipping quote. Especially when people go calling dibs on an item when they don't even know a price. A complete bike for instance, it's pretty much a guarantee that you are going to pay between $40 and $80 to ship a complete bike. All I'm saying is it cost money to ship stuff, shipping doesn't cost a dollar.

Your thread here runs parallel to the one I started yesterday about making buying commitments. Frankly, this "how much is it shipped to Fresno" window-shopping stuff is a crock. No, I really don't know how much it's going to cost shipped to Fresno, or Des Moines, or Hackensack, but we both know it's not going to be free. If you see an item you want, or more importantly NEED, the cost of shipping really ISN'T (or shouldn't be) a deal breaker. I'm about the most frugal guy in this hobby, but I know it's going to cost more than a fiver to ship a set of fenders 3,000 miles.

Also, this Parcel Post shipping method is shoddy at best (Yes, I understand that the cost of shipping in this hobby often surpasses the cost of the item being shipped, I get that). Somebody shipped me an unobtanium chain guard to me the other day via parcel post, and it got annihilated en-route, no insurance, no recourse. Nobody wants to pay for tracking and insurance, but it's often warranted.

Again, this isn't so much a gripe session as it is a call to action, it's time for the community to get onboard with these concepts.

 

[Walker]

This is one of the reasons i include shipping whenever I can. Saves getting 1/2 a dozen shipping quotes for nothing.

 

[NewOrleansFlyer]

The dibs cryers are a real pain in the A.....neck! Several times I've received pms from folks who say the person first in line dumped the deal and was I still interested. I haven't been on the selling end yet, on this site, but I'm sure it can be frustrating. I've had a few problems with sales on Ebay and Craigslist regarding shipping and my time is worth something.
So, now, I post MY zip code and the approximate weight of the item. Let the buyer get an estimate BEFORE they even email me. it doesn't always work, but my first reply on shipping is to send the potential buyer my zip and weight.
I think part of the problem (at least on Ebay) are sellers make the bidding price low and jack the shipping price. Their thinking is that the fees are based on price and not shipping. Then when the item comes and the buyer has paid like $50 for shipping and the UPS/FedEx/USPS tag says $13....well I can see their point as well.
To date, the sellers on RRB have been more than fair with shipping costs vs. actual shipping charges. Maybe I've been lucky.
I'm just offering up a possible solution.

 

[KJV]

stop whining. :roll:
figure shipment cost to lower 48,
& include in price. :mrgreen: :idea:

 

[rusty513]

stop whining. :roll:
figure shipment cost to lower 48,
& include in price. :mrgreen: :idea:

Ok, if I ever ship something to you I'll just figure it as going to Califonia

 

[KJV]

stop whining. :roll:
figure shipment cost to lower 48,
& include in price. :mrgreen: :idea:

Ok, if I ever ship something to you I'll just figure it as going to Califonia

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Danimal]

I think the problem is, some people (and I am not saying people here do it) try to rip you off and make extra cash on shipping. I usually try to figure exact shipping and only charge that, but I may start including the fee in my price. It is just easier.

 

[schwinnmesa]

but I may start including the fee in my price. It is just easier.

Easier it is. :mrgreen:

 

[62hotrod]

i sell a lot of my bikes on cl with no shipping and people come pick them up just because shipping is such a hassle i get a lot of calls asking all about a bike and then they ask will you ship it. they want you to go to town and drive around loking for a box and packing when gas is over 3.00 bucks a gallon then tear the bike all apart pack it in the box then drive back into town to send it off and ship this heavy 1950's bike 6 or 8 states away for 40 bucks just not worth it to me maybe thats why i still have a bunch of bikes 4-sale in my barn because i dont ship its the same any were someone wants a nice old vintage bike cheap and shipped to them cheaper.............. :roll:

 

[jerrykr]

NewOrleansFlyer.

What you say about eBay sellers jacking the shipping price and lowering the item price is now history.

Recently eBay started charging the seller their Final Value Fee on the (sale price + the shipping price) = their total Final Value Fee charged to the seller. Yes their fee is calculated in part on the shipping that the seller charged the buyer.

eBay is encouraging sellers to bundle the item price with the anticipated shipping price into a total item price, and offering Free Shipping. eBay says that their Final Value Fees for items offering Free Shipping are reduced, but it is impossible for the seller to prove that one way or the other. eBay says that buyers prefer Free Shipping.

Small item, low cost sales are going to disappear on eBay, especially anyone offering Parcel Post (lowest cost) shipping, as the seller cannot anticipate which postal zone the item is going to be sold to, and therefore the shipping cost to get it to the buyer, especially if Free Shipping is offered. Auctions where the shipping is calculated and charged to the winner after the auction ends will still work for awhile, but due to all the uncertainties expressed in this thread, I predict that they will slowly go the way of the dodo bird.

eBay's seller model is the eBay Store and is pushed to sellers very hard now. But, for that to work, you really need to have a retail store selling new stuff, not one-off used items wrenched off an old bike.

The days of selling a small item such as a $10 chain ring on eBay are numbered.

It's the New Normal.
.