Even on line retailers such as Walthers , Trainworld ,Toy Train Heaven and Model Train Stuff charage shipping that does not vary that much wether you but one box car or six. Some times there is a lesser charge for small parts.They best thing to do is have a quanity of purchases to cut the per item cost of shipping.
Ebay is great to find older or rare and out of stock items that you might be willing to pay their shipping fee.But for new or commonly stocked items if you can't buy local the best bet is some of the online retailers.
Ron High
mlehmanYou're just more likely to find such things with indivdiual sellers, although there are stores that specialize in new old stock (NOS) items. So this is something to consider, depending on what it is you're searching for.
I look for odd things and I have 2 stores that stock detail parts from Atlas and Athearn at reasonable prices-last month I stocked up on some Atlas detailing parts that can be used with any brand like horns,mu cables,antennas,sunshades etc.
You may recall I collect IPD short line boxcars and most e-Bay stores I visit turns up several (usually the ones I already have in my collection) but,I have found some including a Berlin Mills and a light blue Aberdeen & Rockfish 50' boxcar.Whoever painted and decaled that A&R car did a excellent job.IMHO $12.00 with free shipping was a steal.
A real oddity I found several years on e-Bay was a Manufacturers Railway SW1500(Athearn BB).I haven't seen one since.
I would not hesitate to buy from you,Rick and other forum members I grown trust over the years.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
BRAKIEAs far as private sellers no,I only use e-Bay stores since most private sellers has a as is/no return policies and high prices with higher shipping which is a turn off.
Larry,
A transaction happens between a willing seller and a willing buyer. It's your privilege to shop where you're comfortable.
Not being a store, my stock is all pretty much one of a kind. I can't offer a replacement, because I don't have one. Ebay's protection policy still means that the buyer is guarateed the item is as described and I go to great effort to exactly state what it is I offer. That's another reason for my great care in packing things, as it must arrive unscathed.
On the other hand, as an individual seller I'm not here to serve the impulse buyer. While I know it's not you I'm talking about here, it is the case that people often can't decide what they want to spend their money on and this generates returns, because a return generates more money when you change your mind this week about money you already spent last week.
I say this to explain there are reasons other than a desire to cheat people for not offering returns. There's also the feedback score. Despite my policy, people who buy stuff I have to sell seem to get along OK with it. 100% seems like a low risk endeavor to me, but YMMV.
This all leads up to what people who use only the ebay stores might miss. You can generally find current and recent production items at these well enough. But my entrance to using ebay was to find relatively rare things I was having trouble finding any other way, rather than things that were essentially commodities.
My first purchase was a Jonan GE SP #1 HOn3 diesel. I had exhausted all my resources in trying to track down one of these after several years trying. Then I decided to take a chance on this new ebay thing. Sure enough, found one, in Australia. Never would have come across it without ebay and never would have bought it if I'd already written off private inidviduals.
You're just more likely to find such things with indivdiual sellers, although there are stores that specialize in new old stock (NOS) items. So this is something to consider, depending on what it is you're searching for.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
When I sell on Fleabay I use USPS Parcel Post based on weight which gives the buyer the best price for shipping, but alot of sellers, and I mean ALOT, prefer to use the Flat Rate boxes with prepaid labels, then its a simple drop off at the PO, no waiting in line.
But some sellers are either completely DILLUSIONAL or outright CROOKS! Charging 2 to 3 times normal shipping with "handling" fees, but every now and then comes along some joker who's shipping fee is so outrageous that beggers the mind. Recently one jokers shipping fee was $123 for an item I knew could be shipped for $15, when I inquired whether it was a typo or if it was being mailed from Antarctica, he tartly replied "Not Nice!"
Have fun with your trains
Hello All,
Here's another example of the shipping quandary...
I listed a "Mint In Box" MRC powerpack on eBay for $15.00. This item fit perfectly in a USPS Priority Mail, medium Flat Rate Box; shipping cost $12.65. I knew this shipping rate might scare some buyers off.
In my listing I offered alternate shipping. Because of the weight of this item the alternate shipping costs, depending on zip code, was between $25.00 to $35.00 in the exact same size box! I explained that the cheapest way to ship this item would be via Priority Mail Flat Rate Box.
There were quite a few views but in the end no one bought this item. I can't prove it but I suspect the shipping cost versus the cost of the item differential (which has been talked about) had a lot to do with this item not selling.
If I dropped the price on this item then the cost versus shipping becomes more skewed. If I raise the price of this item, to lower the cost to shipping rate, I'm over valuing this item.
Where my other analog items sold quickly; because the shipping costs were perceived as "reasonable" versus the asking price, this item is now just gathering dust.
Hope this helps.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"
richhotrainLarry, the problem here is that you are looking at it from a buyer's perspective, and I am trying to present the issue from a seller's perspective.
Rich,I have sold and shipped several models over the past 5 years..I know flat rate may not be popular with some sellers but,its a good option for anybody to use unless one is using inflated shipping in order to compensate some of their e-Bay/Paypal fees then of course its a bad choice to make.
To the point and I think you will agree..$12-15.00 to ship one engine or car is over the top since it can be shipped at a lower cost.
There's no way anybody can justify that high shipping cost unless the item being shipped by UPS or FEDEX which I will not use...
As far as private sellers no,I only use e-Bay stores since most private sellers has a as is/no return policies and high prices with higher shipping which is a turn off.
As a example $15.00 for a BB or Roundhouse car kit with $12.00 shipping? LOL..Noooo deal! If you think I'm pulling your leg grab your favorite refreshment and look over the prices plus shipping.
Experience and observation goes a long way too. I live in the midwest and generally buy/sell midwestern/eastern/southeastern roadnames. The people who buy my roadnames generally do not live on the west coast. I rarely pay even $10 to ship one item, and usually add about $4 for each additional item packed into the same box. The buyers seem happy and that estimate pays my shipping costs.
The oddball west coast buyer usually buys the oddball western roadname I've picked up for some reason. That's the time I have to spend $15 on shipping.
- Douglas
mlehman Often, a seller will have a few boxes to choose from and exact fit ain't gonna happen. Especially for small items, a somewhat bigger box that is well padded is the result.
Often, a seller will have a few boxes to choose from and exact fit ain't gonna happen. Especially for small items, a somewhat bigger box that is well padded is the result.
Waddya gonna do?
Rich
Alton Junction
A larger box happens for a lot of reasons, but it rarely contributes to additional postage, at least it shouldn't.
First, Priority Mail is one price up to a pound. You don't save anything by shorting on packing material to cut it substantially under a pound. More packing means greater likelihood that your stuff will arrive OK. A seller who errs on the side of caution here is much better than one who just plops the thing in a box to rattle around until it gets to you.
There may be discounts for those who qualify for smaller increments, but the pricing seems to be in one pound increments after the first pound for the postal calculator. As with the first pound, so long as it doesn't push the total weight into the next pound, it costs nothing more.
In my experience MB Klein and others I've bought from are generous with the packing peanuts or other cushioning material. The item package is rarely designed for shipping strength except when boxed with multiples of the like at the factory. If there's nothing to cushion an item and it's closely packed, then it's crunch time if the outer carton is dinged. Lots of packing virtually eliminates this problem and makes for satisfied customers.
As a side note, sometimes it is the way they pack things! I recently got an item from ebay, Preiser figures, a whopping 1/2"x 5"x1" and it came in a 4"x6"x8" box and this is by far not the most the biggest box I have gotten for a small item.
Larry, the problem here is that you are looking at it from a buyer's perspective, and I am trying to present the issue from a seller's perspective.
Essentially, when a private seller is auctioning used MR stuff on eBay, and is not out to rip off a buyer, he has three options regarding shipping charges.
1. He can offer Free Shipping and try to recover his cost by building it into the starting bid.
2. He can offer a fixed shipping charge and pray that the law of averages will work to his benefit, depending upon the destination of the auctioned item.
3. He can use eBay's automated shipping calculator and hope that potential bidders do not get put off by the stated shipping charge for that bidder's zip code.
It is a real dilemma for the seller when using eBay.
If you have never paid more than $7.95 in shipping charges to buy used MR equipment from a private seller on eBay, then you may have passed up a lot of good deals because the average shipping cost in those instances is certainly higher than $7.95.
Rich,Again I'm no stranger to shipping and I know how to double check shipping charges against inflated shipping and why use a large box when a medium or large flat rate box can be used?
I don't want a large cardboard box stuffed with shipping peanuts protecting a bubble wrap car or locomotive that results in higher shipping charges.Use a flat rate box with minimal shipping and the seller with get my money.
Thankfully I never found the need to pay more then $7.95 shipping-exception being a large switch and flex track order from MBK and that was around $12.00.
BRAKIE Guys,I thank those e-Bay sellers that places the real shipping charges in the auctions instead of trumped up shipping you are seeing with e-Bay's shipping costs.. Why is it 99% of the sellers (e-Bay stores) I use places the real shipping costs in their auction or they have you to use the USPS shipping calculator for the real cost.
Guys,I thank those e-Bay sellers that places the real shipping charges in the auctions instead of trumped up shipping you are seeing with e-Bay's shipping costs..
Why is it 99% of the sellers (e-Bay stores) I use places the real shipping costs in their auction or they have you to use the USPS shipping calculator for the real cost.
The one exception is the USPS Flat Rate box, assuming that the item will fit in the box.
When an online retailer like MB Klein posts a fixed shipping charge like $8.99 for example, that may or may not be its real shipping cost. How can it be when the size and dimension, the wieght, and the destination of the shipping box varies by customer? MB Klein either eats some of the cost on larger, heavier packages or it has an agreement with one of the major shippers (Fed Ex, UPS, or USPS) to pay $8.99 on each and every shipment.
Lastly, yes, some sellers quote a fixed shipping charge that is unrealistically large as their way of protecting their profit margin or even making a little extra on the sale.
The hidden dark side is some sellers tries to improve their profit by overcharging shipping costs--we all seen that.Only a fool would pay $12-15.00 for shipping on a single boxcar or locomotive yet there are those that try to charge that while other sellers charge the more realistic $6.95 shipping.. Guess who gets my business?
I'm no stranger to shipping and know it doesn't cost a small fortune to ship a 2-3 cars or 1 or 2 locomotives by using the flat rate boxes..
Yeah, people really should do that when the shipping calculator delivers such a irregualr result. My policy is to refund the difference on shipping if it exceeds $1.
Thing is that most model RR stuff comes in under $50 (excluding high value items like locos, craftsman style kits, etc.) Shipping is going to be at least $5, so right there it's at least 10% of the purchase price, sometimes 20% or more. Older out of production, rare, collectible kits or stuff just unlikely to be found at a LHS any more are big reasons why people shop ebay. It's virtually impossible to find some things any other way. So customers do want what you have IF they're not scared off by shipping costs under those terms.
Mike, when using eBay to create the shipping label, I always choose to suppress the shipping charge, not because I am cheating the buyer but rather because you don't know the final discount until the shipping label is printed. In some cases, I have actually refunded a portion of the shipping charge to the buyer if the difference between what the buyer paid and the amount that I incurred is substantial.
As an example, I sold a collectible late last year to a buyer in Atlanta GA, and I live in the Chicago area. When I first listed the item using the eBay default shipping method (Expedited Shipping), the shipping charge appeared in the listing as $33.90. Yikes, that was more than 50 percent of the starting bid for the item. So, I took the listing down and then re-listed using USPS Economy Shipping. At that point, the shipping charge appeared in the listing as $22.80. When I eventually sold the item to the high bidder, I used eBay to print the shipping label. The shipping charge was $10.98. What more can I say?
richhotrainMike, I wasn't suggesting that you were an inexperienced eBay seller. I meant that as a general comment. As to the shipping charge discount of as much as 54 percent, I just checked with my wife who is my packer and shipper. She reminded me that to get the deep discount you have to create your shipping label through eBay and the discount is automatically applied. So, that is the key. Create your shipping label through eBay. Rich
Rich,
Nah, didn't take it that way at all. I just wanted to note that, while I make not representations to being big time on ebay, I've been around long enough the obvious should be, well, obvious.
And it's not in this case, which is far from the first time for me to miss things. They're always coming up with new things, but the implementation for the user can range from EZ to Say What?!?
I do create all my postage through ebay, but there's no option at that point to fiddle with the discounts. You have to define what your shipping rules are beforehand is how I undertsand it. Since mine seem to work well enough, never dealt too deeply in that. I suspect that's what your wife meant in terms of how they're enumerated, as they will show when you print the label with postage unless you suppress actual cost on the label.
I suspect the really deep shipping discounts are tied to the regional rates you mentioned earlier when combined with the deepest USPS discounts. I can see those rates going that low and will definitely be looking into them when I make my next auction. The problem will be that these would only apply to packages sent to nearby buyers. Stuff sent from the Midwest to the coasts probably wouldn't benefit, for instance.
I looked at the language on USPS discounts.
USPS discounts for qualified eBay sellers. eBay Top-rated sellers and any seller with an average of 2,500 or more transactions per month now get Commercial Plus Pricing—savings of up to 35%—on domestic Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express shipments. No enrollment is necessary—qualified sellers automatically receive the discount when you pay for postage and print your shipping labels with eBay Labels.
So quantity is a qualifier for the 35%. Or being a Top-Rated Seller. I ship within 1 day of payment, which seems to be the qualifying metric. I suspect my intermittent use may be what's holding things back, no matter how good you are, I suspect doing that every week remains important. Wish I had enough stuff to sell to do that, could use the $$, but I don't.
But the bottom line is "qualified sellers automatically receive the discount" and ebay decides that. No box to check or info to enter.
Buyers of model RR items should keep this in mind, because what they usually care about, once they've decided ebay has assessed you won't rip them off, is the particular item they're bidding on. There is a lot of that out here in the hands of individual sellers who won't be able to offer such substantial discounts, but still offer good value. Sorry about the shipping, but drop them a note and, if like me, they'll see what they can do.
As someone who both buys and sells on Ebay, I can offer my experience that since I am not a store, packing economically can be difficult. My packing materials are limited to what I can scrounge from work, and what I save from my own purchases.
Also, you must consider the items being sold. I try to combine like items into a lot to save on shipping, but for some items, they are better off by themselves. My experience is that quickest shipping is worth the extra $, and I compensate by starting my auctions low (in some cases ridiculously low).
When you buy, a quick glance through the seller's other items will tell you about why the shipping costs are what they are. Most are also willing to combine shipping when you buy multiple items.
My two cents.
Modeling whatever I can make out of that stash of kits that takes up half my apartment's spare bedroom.
richhotrainhave to create your shipping label through eBay and the discount is automatically applied. So, that is the key. Create your shipping label through eBay.
Yup..Today is July 4th..My order that I bought last night has "shipped" according to e-Bay..What e-Bay should say is your shipping label was printed today..
I like that idea of being notified my order was shipped with the tracking number even though it hasn't been shipped.Very nice touch IMHO..
mlehman richhotrain I have under 200 eBay transactions, total, as buyer and seller, so it is not linked to volume. OK, I believe that, I've just never seen anything close to 35% discount on shipping. Then again, since ebay regularly changes policies and the wbesite, it's pretty hard to keep up with things. Not doubting it may be true, just that if there's a way to do it it's not obvious, so I would caution buyers to not get in a huff if a seller says he or she hasn't a clue about that deep a discount, because how one goes about enabling that is far from obvious. richhotrain Blame eBay, not the seller. A relatively inexperienced seller, selling a used piece of MR equipment, is not going to wind up offering the least expensive shipping charge because he doesn't know better. I wouldn't say I'm inexperienced since I've been on ebay since 2000 IIRC and have over 500 feedbacks (100% positive BTW). If ebay wanted people to use this, they could easily make it easy, like the way they started taking a cut of shipping, too...which may be why it's not at all clear how it works. BTW, I actually have found the shipping calculator to be relatively accurate in the last couple of years after it being all over the place previously. But that's just for the standard 10% discount shipping. As for them forcing everything onto paypal, I suspect that will change, given they two companies are no longer tied together as they used to be.
richhotrain I have under 200 eBay transactions, total, as buyer and seller, so it is not linked to volume.
OK, I believe that, I've just never seen anything close to 35% discount on shipping. Then again, since ebay regularly changes policies and the wbesite, it's pretty hard to keep up with things. Not doubting it may be true, just that if there's a way to do it it's not obvious, so I would caution buyers to not get in a huff if a seller says he or she hasn't a clue about that deep a discount, because how one goes about enabling that is far from obvious.
richhotrain Blame eBay, not the seller. A relatively inexperienced seller, selling a used piece of MR equipment, is not going to wind up offering the least expensive shipping charge because he doesn't know better.
I wouldn't say I'm inexperienced since I've been on ebay since 2000 IIRC and have over 500 feedbacks (100% positive BTW). If ebay wanted people to use this, they could easily make it easy, like the way they started taking a cut of shipping, too...which may be why it's not at all clear how it works.
BTW, I actually have found the shipping calculator to be relatively accurate in the last couple of years after it being all over the place previously. But that's just for the standard 10% discount shipping.
As for them forcing everything onto paypal, I suspect that will change, given they two companies are no longer tied together as they used to be.
As to the shipping charge discount of as much as 54 percent, I just checked with my wife who is my packer and shipper. She reminded me that to get the deep discount you have to create your shipping label through eBay and the discount is automatically applied. So, that is the key. Create your shipping label through eBay.
richhotrainBlame eBay, not the seller. A relatively inexperienced seller, selling a used piece of MR equipment, is not going to wind up offering the least expensive shipping charge because he doesn't know better.
richhotrainThose Flat Rate boxes are just not big enough for a lot of MR-related items. Rich
True dat but,as we know some manufacturers' boxes seems to be oversize for their content and there are larger flat rate boxes available.
Is that a advertising thing? Perhaps, since those big boxes are eye catchers-you can't miss a Genesis box since its large and colorful as is BLI boxes. .
yougottawa...
Here is the deal with shipping. You just have to check shipping on a case by case basis and decide if it's too much or not. That's it. Why get mad really? Just decide what you are willing to tolerate and ignore the rest. It's that way with many things out in the world isn't it? The Corvette is so expensive it makes you mad, so move on and buy a Toyota, or whatever. There, problem solved.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Larry, a few months back, I made two separate purchases of new BLI steam engines, and each came in a BLI box measuring 13" x 7" x 3", too big to fit into a USPS Medium Flat Rate box which, as you point out, measures only 11 inches.
Those Flat Rate boxes are just not big enough for a lot of MR-related items.
richhotrainThe big problem with shipping charges on eBay transactions is that you don't know beforehand where the seller lives (i.e., zip code). Except for USPS Flat Rate, which is a tough way to ship because of the limited box sizes (most are too small), you have to ship in customized boxes, so I keep every cardboard box that we receive in our household
Rick,I hate to disagree but,90% of my e-Bay purchases for locomotive or freight cars comes in a USPS flat rate box and those that don't is either free or the majority being around $6.95.
The 11" x 8-1/2" x 5-1/2" flat rate Priority box is what my MBK orders comes in.
Several of my cars and locomotives I bought off e-Bay came in 11-7/8" x 3-3/8" x 13-5/8" flat rate Priority boxes wraped in bubble wrap.
I am also a ebay seller as well as a buyer. I dont sell much now on ebay, but from 2005 to 2008 I sould alot. With ebay they want you to use paypal whenever possible which is most of the time. Beside the fee ebay takes (just sold something and ebay took 10% for their cut, but can be as high as 13% to 15%). Paypal also takes about .5% in addition for themselves of the total. Sellers have to be able to make something on the items they are selling.
On a side note, some ov the stuff for sale on ebay is way over priced. I like athearn cars and engines. Someone had 2 athearn cars (part of tropican orange juice train thing) 57 foot cars with a buy it now for $90 plus $7.15 for shipping. The shipping is ok, but the cars to me are high. It has a piece of paper stating they are limited edition, but still.
love any kind of train
Yeah, that's what I meant. A $20 shipping charge isn't a big deal if you're buying a $400 item...its about the price of sales tax or lower. But if shipping is the same $20 for a $50 item, that's way more expensive than the sales tax you'd pay at the LHS.
I think the OP was complaining about paying $7.50 to have his $15 item shipped. The price of the item really has nothing to do with it's shipping costs.
I think ebay and online shops work best for expensive items...not so much for inexpensive items.
Doughless Circling back to the OPs issue, if that loco and set of passenger cars being sold are Tycos worth about $50, the shipping charge will still be the same as if they are a $400 Walthers set.
Circling back to the OPs issue, if that loco and set of passenger cars being sold are Tycos worth about $50, the shipping charge will still be the same as if they are a $400 Walthers set.
richhotrain As far as the USPS Medium Flat Rate shipping box is concerned, it is too small for items such as locomotives, set of passenger cars, etc., especially if it is to be packed and insulated properly. Rich
As far as the USPS Medium Flat Rate shipping box is concerned, it is too small for items such as locomotives, set of passenger cars, etc., especially if it is to be packed and insulated properly.
Heartland Division CB&Q Rich .. I won't argue with your 13% ... My wife sells other stuff on ebay and her experience is 15% or more, but it is not model railroad items.
Rich .. I won't argue with your 13% ... My wife sells other stuff on ebay and her experience is 15% or more, but it is not model railroad items.