Bartertown.com

Hey Everyone,

I recently won an Ebay auction for 25 tyranid models (10 Genestealers, 9 hormogaunts, 1 Biovore, 4 spore mine and 1 ripper swarm) for 12.50 GBP ($19) + 4.85 GBP (7.50 ) shipping. So I thought I was getting a decent deal to get all of that for 17.50 is GBP (which is roughly $26 USD

Now, I should've asked the seller to confirm, but I thought the shipping would still be roughly 5 GBP, turns out, it's more than double that!!
The shipping he wants is 11.50 GBP, Do you think that's reasonable or a bit over done?
He said he could take the off some for delivery confirmation, which would reduce the price by 2 GBP.

But that's still 8.50 GBP, or $13 USD.

I took approx the same amount of models today, (8 Genestealers, 12 gaunts, 1 large metal Carnifex Torso) in a box to my local Post office, and the price was only $7.50 or so to ship to the UK at the lowest rate (First Class).

Does anyone from the UK know if $8-$11 is too much much? Or does that sound about right?

I order a lot from the UK and their shipping is on the higher side. So it seems a reasonable rate for me. For example last month i ordered 4 blister packs containinng10 metal miniatures and shipping was right around what he's asking from you. Now you mention he can reduce it by 2GBP if he takes off DC,Which means If I remember correctly you will have to sign for it. But really it's up to you on that part.

Dude, international shipping is very expensive. Go ahead and price a few boxes USPS / UPS / FedEx, and you'll see.

It seems to me that if the shipping was listed in his add, then he should be honoring that rather than charging you more.
That point aside, the shipping does sound about right.

did the ebay ad list overseas shipping for that price, or was that "in the UK" only? If it is worldwide, then he needs to honor the initial price.

Ebay Rules.

-P

porkuslime wrote:did the ebay ad list overseas shipping for that price, or was that "in the UK" only? If it is worldwide, then he needs to honor the initial price.

Ebay Rules.

-P

Exactly.


Got a link to the auction, so we can be better informed?

If there was a listed price for shipping to the US, then you should hold him to that price. No gouging shipping after the fact.

Eric

Here is the link to the auction.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEWNX:IT

Unfortunately, I'm going to say it's my bad for not reading or asking the seller about the price of international shipping. It does say that he ships internationally, but you could incur additional charges. I just didn't expect them to double the price of the auction. I mean going from 4.85 to 11.50, that's going from 7.50 to about 17.50 for shipping. I expected it to be a few more GBP, but not for it to MORE Than Double.

I admit I should have read the auction more thoroughly, but I recall asking other Seller's in UK, and the shipping didn't seem to be nearly that much.

I would chalk it up to an expensive lesson learned, then.
Always check shipping prices if you're dealing with an International Seller who doesn't have them listed.

If the box arrives & the charges don't match the cost, I'd ask for a refund of the difference, though.


Eric

Ya, in the 'old days' feebay was a great place to get a great deal, usually. Then the schlepps/suckholes moved in selling an item for 10% of the cost and then charging 320% of the shipping.

I know when I've shipped to the UK, it hasn't been cheap; however, even if the package arrives and it's a few bucks lower than what he charged you for shipping he'll say, "that's the handling charge." I know, BS, but that's how they 'roll' now-a-days in feebay land.

go to the uk post office site.. there has to be one and price it yourself.

feebay allows 'reasonable' handling charges. unless he's charging double plus on actually cost.... you're SOL.

From http://www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/olpu ... tid=102316 :

You are sending an item that weighs less than 310.0 grams to United States.


Select one of the following:
Price a new item
Select Service Compensation Tracking Price
Airmail Letters Airmail Letters Up to £39 No £7.74
Airmail Printed Papers Airmail Printed Papers Up to £39 No £4.35
Airmail Small Packets Airmail Small Packets Up to £39 No £4.35
International Signed For International Signed For Up to £39 Within UK £11.44
International Signed For Printed Papers International Signed For Printed Papers Up to £39 Within UK £8.05
International Signed For Small Packets International Signed For Small Packets Up to £39 Within UK £8.05
Airsure Airsure Up to £39 Delivery Confirmation £12.24
Airsure Printed Papers Airsure Printed Papers Up to £39 Delivery Confirmation £8.85
Airsure Small Packets Airsure Small Packets Up to £39 Delivery Confirmation £8.85
Surface Mail Surface Mail Up to £39 No £3.86
Surface Mail Printed Papers Surface Mail Printed Papers Up to £39 No £2.44
Surface Mail Small Packets Surface Mail Small Packets Up to £39 No £2.44

As a UK resident shipping to the US/Canada several times a week, as well as an eBay buyer and seller, a few comments.

Firstly, the shipping doesn't sound that far off. A pound or two perhaps, but after packing and materials are taken into account, it's more reasonable than many. Certainly these shipping charges could happily be doubled and wouldn't fall under excessive as per eBay T&C's, so you have no legal redress here, although you may be able to talk nicely and negotiate something.

Secondly comparing UK to US doesn't work - you use flat rate boxes and ship primarily by volume, we ship only by weight etc. Somethings are much cheaper one way, others are much cheaper the other. As a general trend however the US has cheaper internal post than the UK, but more expensive international.

Thirdly, it doesn't matter what it costs him to ship it's what was in the advert, and eBay sellers normally inflate international, because they don't want to deal with it. A *huge* point to bear in mind though is 'combined' shipping eBay style (typically like most expensive and half of all the others) is *much* more expensive than it should be, even if the cost for one item isn't too far off. This certainly applies in the UK, and I'm sure International won't differ. Basically the postage and materials tends to get covered in the first item, and all the others 'reduced' costs are extra profit. Not all sellers are like this, but 95% are - this is where a large part of eBay's sellers margins come from.

eBay is a great place to look for odd things you need and buy it. If you want a load of things, then unless you can buy it in one big lot it works out very expensive because of the individual shipping charges - just like Amazon sellers for the same reason.

I think the problem here is you not reading the small print, and not being used to eBay.