eBay: Killing Me with Shipping Charges
You know, I could spend hours on eBay. I sell old books or maternity clothes from time to time, but I really enjoy searching for bargains. I can buy craft supplies in bulk, find hard to locate items such as fireman birthday candles, and browse for cute clothes and shoes. While there’s some fun stuff for sure, I’m finding there are fewer bargains to be had.
I used to marvel at finding a blouse for .50 cents or a book for a quarter. After all, who wouldn’t want to pay that? Then I get to the part about shipping charges and I’m no longer feeling the love. A $7 shipping charge on a ten cent paperback? That’s not a bargain! Sending an average-sized paperback via Media Mail will cost perhaps $2, $4 if Stephen King wrote it.
Really, there’s nothing that turns me off to a seller than paying $8 for shipping and receiving the package to see it cost $1.75. I understand making a profit, but I also understand going too far. I’m getting better at telling who grossly overcharges for shipping and these are the sellers I avoid.
I’ll tell you what; these shipping overchargers are ruining it for the eBay junkie. We’re on a renovating the house budget at home. It’s getting harder and harder to justify purchases when the end result is paying more for them on eBay than I would if I shopped at the mall.
May 22nd, 2007 at 10:25 am
Yah, that’s a pretty common problem. My kids will come running in telling me of this great deal they found on some small item. when I check there is a $50 shipping cost. You see this a lot with new, not yet out of the package items.
That’s a pretty dishonest way to get your profit. It probably works though, people often forget to read the “fine Print”