Tony,
I understand your point - up to a point. First let me say whenever I sell
something on Ebay I always state "the cost will be the actual shipping cost
only." I do this because, yes, I hate paying those fees too. However, there
is another side.
There was a case where I sold an aftermarket intake manifold for a Vega.
Checking the completed items I saw most sold in the $100 range. For
whatever reason mine only sold for the $9.99 starting price. Kind of a
disappointment to say the least.
I think most sellers justify their fees for the following reasons:
1. It has been my experience that it takes about an hour to drag out the
item, photograph it and get it listed on Ebay.
2. It takes about a half hour to answer questions from perspective buyers
and complete the on line transaction.
3. It take about a half hour to fine a suitable (free) box and get the
package ready to ship.
4. In my case it takes about 45 minutes to drive to the shipper, stand in
line and return home.
So, to sell ONE item (the manifold in this case) it took 2 hours and 45
minutes of my time. I spent about $1.50 to sell the item on ebay, about
$.50 to package it (tape) and about $1.50 for gas. In the end my gross
profit was $6.50. I bought the item in a thrift store about 20 years ago for
$6.00. So, now my net profit is all of fifty cents!
I'm not trying to justify those fees but am just state why I think they
(sellers) do what they do. Their time and materials do cost.
There is yet another side to this. I have seen items with a listed
inflated shipping cost. Often buyers will stay away because of that. There
have been cases where I have bought something below the historic average
TOTAL price because in spite of high shipping, I got the item cheap. Cheap
enough that when the high shipping was included I still paid less than
normal. In essence I beat the seller at his own game.
There my be tax issues too. If the seller doesn't have to claim shipping
and handling as income (I don't know) they will profit from that.
Yes, like you, I don't like it, but I do understand it. And at times I
actually come out ahead when buyers are turned away by high shipping
therefore keeping the actual cost down.
Tom.
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