Since many comments in this thread have revolved around shipping brass, years ago when I was buying brass engines, I always paid extra for 2nd day air shipping. Granted, back then brass and shipping was a lot cheaper than today. I am a firm believer that the less time a parcel is in the shipper's hands, the less chance it will be damaged or lost.
PRR8259Shipping is not generally cheap anymore and some are either taking risks or living in the past or some combination thereof.
Or some love jacking up the shipping prices to help cover e-Bay fees. Who gets the left over money for shipping? Not e-Bay.
I can say it costs $14.95 to ship a boxcar but,if I had a e-bay store then there are cheaper shipping methods from USPS which costs less and I'll get to pocket the difference in that $14.95 shipping to the actual costs or I can charge $14.95 shipping then slip the car in a flat rate $6.95 box and send it..
However, since I am honest I would refund the shipping difference.
How can private seller A ship 1 car for $14.95 while private seller B sells 1 car and ships for $6.95 seeing both sellers live in the same place?
If you fail to believe that there are endless examples to look at on e-Bay.
IF I did ship a $3,000 brass engine I would want honest insurance and a signature -around $30.00.
As far as marking anything "fragile" I would need to think twice since to some wise guys that's a open invite to see how far they can toss it or make a bank shot off the wall.Remember USPS does use contract carriers that has their own distribution and sorting centers..
The reason I won't use UPS is because I've seen packages pitched onto the porch or into the bushes around the porch.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
PRR8259 Hi Tom- Well you did great but that is an exception as not all that much brass is indeed that affordable. I was referring to a dealer who has more of the higher end stuff. I am mainly trying to refute the claims of some who claim it costs nothing to ship. I in fact did a trade with said high end dealer where shipping was on him and he did the full insurance and signature requirement and I know his cost was way more than some are quoting, likely close to $40 if fragile was declared. Shipping is not generally cheap anymore and some are either taking risks or living in the past or some combination thereof.
Hi Tom-
Well you did great but that is an exception as not all that much brass is indeed that affordable. I was referring to a dealer who has more of the higher end stuff. I am mainly trying to refute the claims of some who claim it costs nothing to ship.
I in fact did a trade with said high end dealer where shipping was on him and he did the full insurance and signature requirement and I know his cost was way more than some are quoting, likely close to $40 if fragile was declared.
Shipping is not generally cheap anymore and some are either taking risks or living in the past or some combination thereof.
PRR8259The largest and most well known brass dealer in the US now charges a $40 minimum to ship a brass model with signature required and full insurance as a must.
John,
I recently purchased a nice used brass 0-6-0 from a very well-known US brass dealer for $300 and he only charged me $6.88 S&H (USPS or UPS). It was very well packed and the locomotive was nestled inside a Reboxx box. (The original locomotive box was missing.)
Had it been a $1,500-$2,000 Division Point steamer then, yea - full insurance and a signature would probably be a wise investment. Most other purchases, however, don't need to be that expensive - even for used brass.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Commercial rates are definitely part of the reason. I know that applies to MB Klein shipping, for example. And some large eBay sellers benefit from commercial rates as well.
Also, eBay does discount USPS charges as part of the deal it has with USPS. Trouble is, the eBay calculator posts the undiscounted rate along with the item for sale. Only after the item is sold and the buyer's zip code known can eBay calculate the discount. Then, it is up to the seller to decide whether or not to pass on the discount to the buyer.
As far as USPS Flat Rate Shipping, it is hit and miss depending upon the size of the box to be shipped. The USPS Medium Flat Rate Box is roughly 14"x12"x4", and the flat rate is $13.45. The USPS Large Flat Rate Box is roughly 24"x12"x3", but the flat rate is $18.75.
Rich
Alton Junction
With respect to shipping materials, I always save boxes and peanuts from items I purchase and have shipped. I have never needed to buy one box or one peanut ever. If any thing I have a surplus of both.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Rich,Something funny about those prices-is USPS that foul up or is flat rate priority better?
Why such a gap in shipping? One seller wants $14.95 to ship from Califorinia and another in the same state was $6.95 to ship (say) one freight car.
Is it because one is a private seller and the other a e-Bay store and they get commerical rates then we have the "free" shipping-we know that's more then likely added to the price but,in more cases then not the free shipping price is still less then the seller with the $14.95 shipping..
Because prices are high on USPS Priority service, I have switched to USPS First Class, which gets the item to the buyer in about 2 to 3 more days. Not sure why Priority is used so much. Who needs model trains so quickly?
As far as shipping brass, I assume the dealer who charges $40 for shipping, because it includes inurance and requires a signature, has probably either been ripped off by a buyer claiming they never received the item, or the shipping service lost it. That $40, which requires a signature by the buyer, is not really about shipping costs but more about theft prevention, IMO. And its probably a smart requirement on the part of the dealer.
- Douglas
Larry, we admire your fighting spirit.
But the fact remains that it can cost more than $14.95 to ship a locomotive.
I use USPS Priority Mail because it is almost always less expensive than UPS or Fed Ex. I don't buy peanuts or bubble wrap because we recycle what we get when we purchase items that are shipped to us.
Using the USPS Postage Calculator on the web site, I calculated the cost to ship a typical loco in its original box from Chicago to Los Angeles, as an example. The shipping charge is $14.10. From NYC to LA, the shipping charge is $16.65.
PRR8259I don't think I would trust you to ship to me.
John,I'm yet to receive a complaint about something being broken in transit. Your item will arrive safe and sound.. I don't gouge on shipping charges.I use flat rate priority shipping just like the the dealers I buy from.
I don't ship brass because I don't buy brass and if I did buy brass those would be keepers not excess.
It still doesn't take $14.95 to ship a single car or locomotive safely.
I wouldn't pay $40.00 for shipping even if they was shipping a wing Pegasus.
I buy a large roll of bubble wrap and it works just as well as the USPS wrap.A large size bag of shipping peanuts last a long time plus the peanuts I recycle..You can recycle bubble wrap as well.
Hi John:
With respect, I'm not sure that you are comparing apples to apples. Certainly, if I was buying an expensive brass engine (or even a cheap one for that matter) I wouldn't question paying for proper shipping, including appropriate packaging and insurance. I don't think many people would disagree with that.
However, when I want to buy an Athearn BB for $6 or $8 I won't spend $30 on Priority shipping. Even First Class, which now costs about $20 Cdn, causes me to pause most times. I have to really want the particular model to pay even the First Class shipping price.
Like I said in a previous post, the whole situation is saving me a lot of money. I hardly look at eBay anymore at all.
Regards,
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
How many ho brass models have you ever shipped? Proper packing involves a few inches of those recycled peanuts all around or if one doesn't have them a couple rolls of bubble wrap at nearly 4 dollars per roll. The USPS bubble wrap is best but not cheapest.
I have shipped nearly 100 brass models with no damage. How many have you ever shipped?
I don't think I would trust you to ship to me.
The largest and most well known brass dealer in the US now charges a $40 minimum to ship a brass model with signature required and full insurance as a must.
John
bigpianoguy:
I hope that your making our legislators aware of the problem with the Global Shipping Program (GSP) has some effect. I have long lamented the GSP charges. Like you suggest, they are a total scam for those of us who live north of the border.
When I see an item that I want which uses the GSP, I contact the seller to see if they will ship via USPS First Class. In many cases they have agreed to do so, especially when I explain what is actually happening with the money being collected by the GSP. In fact, I'm not sure the sellers even see the amounts that we are being charged when they check off that they want to use GSP as the shipping method.
In some cases they will not change the shipping method because they have had bad experiences in the past with people claiming non-delivery. In that case you really can't blame them for wanting to verify that the shipment actually arrived, but they could do the same thing with USPS Priority Mail for somewhat less than the GSP charges.
Also, I believe the shipping process is simpler from the sellers' point of view.
There is one other factor which may preclude shipping via USPS First Class and that is weight and size. I believe there is a limit on how big and how heavy a package can be for First Class. I'm not sure what the limit is.
Good luck! Thank you for your efforts.
gmpullman Quote Rich: "High shipping charges were a way to avoid higher seller's fees." It was also a way that sellers could list an item with a teaser price, say 99¢, then tack on a $500.00 shipping charge. I don't see that anymore but it used to be somewhat common. Regards, Ed
Quote Rich: "High shipping charges were a way to avoid higher seller's fees."
It was also a way that sellers could list an item with a teaser price, say 99¢, then tack on a $500.00 shipping charge. I don't see that anymore but it used to be somewhat common.
Regards, Ed
I never saw anything that extreme, but I will take your word for it.
LensCapOn Always thought the HIGH shipping charges were a way to avoid the HIGH fee's eBay charges the seller. It does seem that the-bay tries to put a giant woodscrew through the seller with their "fees".
BRAKIEAlways thought the HIGH shipping charges were a way to avoid the HIGH fee's eBay charges the seller. It does seem thaat the-bay tries to put a giant woodscrew through the seller with their "fees". Note to self: Always look at shipping when bidding on eBay. richhotrain Those of us who sell locomotives and rolling stock know what it costs to ship. And I am not referring to "handling charges" or bubble wrap or peanuts. I am talking about the sheer cost of shipping, namely via USPS which is invariably cheaper than UPS or Fed Ex. Rich,I too have shipped several dozen engines and dozens of freight cars so,I am experienced in that area and know over changed shipping when I see it. It does not cost $14.95 to ship a single car or locomotive or a pack of decals. I refuse to have anything shipped by UPS.
Note to self: Always look at shipping when bidding on eBay.
richhotrain Those of us who sell locomotives and rolling stock know what it costs to ship. And I am not referring to "handling charges" or bubble wrap or peanuts. I am talking about the sheer cost of shipping, namely via USPS which is invariably cheaper than UPS or Fed Ex.
Rich,I too have shipped several dozen engines and dozens of freight cars so,I am experienced in that area and know over changed shipping when I see it.
It does not cost $14.95 to ship a single car or locomotive or a pack of decals.
I refuse to have anything shipped by UPS.
One more point about cross-border purchases through eBay: Ebay has instituted something called 'The Global Shipping Program'. This setup charges an import fee based on the selling price of the item. Even before currency exchange, this often DOUBLES the price with shipping.The criminal point about this is that thanks to NAFTA, there are NO 'import fees' payable on used toys, which is what most of our purchases are classified under. So none of that collected money ever goes to Canadian Border Services or Canada Customs, but only into the pockets of eBay & Pitney-Bowes, the company engaged to run this little scam.I have asked a couple of legislators on this side of the border to challenge the legality of this 'program' & will keep everyone posted on the outcome...
hon30critter Larry: I wish I could get stuff shipped from the US to Canada for $14.95 Cdn. That would be a bargain! Actually, the increased cost of shipping has saved me a lot of money. I just stopped buying. Dave
Larry:
I wish I could get stuff shipped from the US to Canada for $14.95 Cdn. That would be a bargain!
Actually, the increased cost of shipping has saved me a lot of money. I just stopped buying.
Dave,I've heard songs of woe about shipping things from Canada and vice versa.Sounds like a wild nightmare come true since there's a lot involved.
Seems like anything with USPS or Canadian post should be expedited not bogged down after all last time I looked we was on the same continent...
richhotrainThose of us who sell locomotives and rolling stock know what it costs to ship. And I am not referring to "handling charges" or bubble wrap or peanuts. I am talking about the sheer cost of shipping, namely via USPS which is invariably cheaper than UPS or Fed Ex.
BRAKIEVideo game(s) is much heavier in their case then a pack of Microscale decals and still three can ship for $1.99-2.49 in a padded envelope..
Probably because the PO has a media rate for such items. I think that is less expensive than their other rates.
$14.95 for shipping decals? Yes, I would agree that is more than excessive.
Oh well, what is the point of discussing this any further?
Those of us who sell locomotives and rolling stock know what it costs to ship. And I am not referring to "handling charges" or bubble wrap or peanuts. I am talking about the sheer cost of shipping, namely via USPS which is invariably cheaper than UPS or Fed Ex.
Let's face it, when we list on eBay, we want to sell, so it is only self-defeating to overcharge for shipping.
For those of you who are convinced that private sellers of used model railroading items are out to make a profit through excessive shipping charges, continue to fool yourselves and miss out on some great opportunities.
Guys,,A roll of bubble wrap is bought once and used many times before its gone-its not like you're buying a new roll with every shipment.Pennies worth is used at best. A large roll of shipping tape seals many boxes.A large bag of shipping peanuts is several shipments worth.
I didn't fall off the hay wagon yesterday well,maybe the day before.
I have ship a lot of models and received a lot of models and I am well aware some recycle the shipping peanuts and bubble wrap that comes in their packages.
You can ship a PS4 or XBOX one for $9.95-12.95 tops why should a HO freight car or brass or plastic engine cost more to ship even with insurance?
Flat rate shipping is your friend.
What about those decals with $14.95 shipping? Video game(s) is much heavier in their case then a pack of Microscale decals and still three can ship for $1.99-2.49 in a padded envelope..
Generally, unless you are shipping bricks or lead ingots, the Post Office flat rate is a rip off! 90% of the time, if I am sending something Priority Mail, unless it is small and HEAVY, shipping by the pound is generally cheaper than flat rate. Most HO engines will weigh 2 pounds or less packed. I can wrap and pack 2 40' HO freight cars in a new box and have them weigh 13 ounces or less, allowing them to go 1st class parcel for around 4 bucks.
Like I suspect many other Ebay sellers do, I only charge the buyer exactly what the USPS charges me (not counting any other charges for materials, printing, etc). Some folks now complain of gouging, because the rate at the USPS counter is more than if you print it out at home (if your printer isn't broken; ours died). The difference may only be 50 cents or so, but still they complain or mark you down on the 1 to 5 rating scale.
Who pays for the printer when they don't last very long (less than a year) without failure?
The buyers forget that bubble wrap costs money, and the packing tape costs money. It is not free, and at my USPS if you think you are going to use their packing tape, they complain and suggest you buy some! Those are hidden charges that many sellers just simply eat. Not all of us have a big bag of styrofoam peanuts in the basement, and some models actually need better protection afforded by bubble wrap.
Finally, Ebay in their sheer greed now takes the selling fee out of the shipping too, so you can never break even on shipping cost. If you inflate it at all, the would-be buyers complain you are gouging them.
I routinely understate weights just a bit so as not to overcharge buyers; they get a bit ticked off if you refund any shipping overcharge to them, too. They expect you to get it right, which is nearly impossible to guess at home.
Even when I get the shipping charge perfect, invariably the buyers complain about the USPS rates, as if somehow I had any control at all over the rates.
Now there's a nearly $10 "fragile" charge, and any insurance adds a great deal to the charges as well. It is best to roll the dice and hope the package doesn't get lost or damaged, because it saves a lot of money. If there is a claim, they will come up with every reason in the book not to pay it at all, saying you packed poorly.
Ebay really wants the seller to offer totally "free" shipping. Either way they are going to get their 10% out of it!
John Mock
I recently rolled the dice and sent an $800 (my cost) brass model to brasstrains, from PA to FL, with no insurance and no fragile charge. Shipped on a Saturday USPS regular priority, and it arrived on Monday, 2 days early! I should do that more often, but that's a dangerous practice as it's high risk for whomever owns the model.
Larry--the brass model still cost about $15 to ship, with no extras at all, and no signature requirement.
Recently I purchased a Con-Cor Aerotrain set that also included a 3-car add-on set. The seller lived in NZ so shipping was a bit pricier than the standard USPS shipping. When I checked one of the international shipping companies to see whether I was being overcharged, the US shipping cost from NZ given by the seller was spot on. Sometimes the size of a shipped item does dictate how much you pay in shipping costs.
Sometimes you need to ask, many really charge only the real shipping amount and refund the rest, some sellers just use the standard in their add and have no idea how to change it.