Alco .. we do not make a profit on S&H.
Ebay makes more on its fees on many of our items than my wife makes selling them. Their fees are excessive.
She has helped several friends start with ebay, and has done a lot to foster more business for ebay. also, she invested in the company.
In return they act like bullies and lie to her. There have been other listings cancelled for false reasons not pertaining to S&H.
Stop jumping to conclusions.
Again, ebay needs competition.
Many other model railroaders have expressed disatisfaction with ebay.
I'm posting this to benefit other model railroaders who may need to buy and sell used trains.
Ebay has created problems for itself, its customers, and its investors.
(I invest in railroads. Returns are significant for railroads in recent years.)
I would like to see constructive suggestions instead of jugmental remarks.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Ok, here's an example...checked out some cool out of production Ortner cars tosay on e-Bay, reasonable price at $30 bucks....then you go in and they want $14 for shipping and handling! Ridiculous. As a buyer, I'm glad E-bay is creating some standards for shipping cost gouging.
shawnee wrote: Ok, here's an example...checked out some cool out of production Ortner cars tosay on e-Bay, reasonable price at $30 bucks....then you go in and they want $14 for shipping and handling! Ridiculous. As a buyer, I'm glad E-bay is creating some standards for shipping cost gouging.
This has been a long-time method os sellers to circumvent some of ebay's final value fees. The seller really wants $40 for the item with $4 to ship, but by wording it that way, they save the final value fees on that $10. No matter how it's worded, you are still going to pay $44 to that seller. Asian electronics sellers are great for this - I've bought LEDs for $1.00 for 100, but the shipping was $13.75 .... still a good deal IMHO, but they are only paying final value fees on the one dollar. These are the things ebay will be attempting to stop.
Ultimately, we will see shipping costs come down to what they should be, BUT - the price of the item itself will go up even more as the seller attempts to compensate also for the increased fees.
Mark.
¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ
From my perspective, eBay has become increasingly user-unfriendly for years now.
I used to use eBay to sell off unneeded items to someone who might have a use for them. Now I just put the stuff on the front lawn with a sign that says, "Free."
Craig
DMW
Put me in that category as well. I have over 300 E-bay purchases and do not do business with any seller that does not take PayPal. It is the only way to go.
"LOOK" "BID" "BUY" "PAY" all from the old Puter, then just wait for the postman.
Thats my worth and just try and get a commission on that !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My only beef is with a few sellers who block our bids from Canada. You people really need to get into the real world. I.O.W. "Get a LIfe" or at least learn how to check feedback.
Johnboy out..........
from Saskatchewan, in the Great White North..
We have met the enemy, and he is us............ (Pogo)
I actually enjoy getting items online at the retailers or through my local hobby shops. Both of them are very good, first class and usually can get it for you. I cannot ask for any better.
When I learned to get OOP items direct using the stock numbers or factory numbers of the OOP item in question basically Ebay was out of consideration for me at that point. No longer any need to snipe or fight 10 people in the last 3 seconds on something that still costs 35 dollars somewhere with no tax.
Ebay for me has passed into memory. Im just glad I had a good run and good fortune finding homes for the train stuff.
I bet some of the gaming of the shipping charges would come down if they enforced their rules and did not take paypal fees for the shipping charges. I started using flat rate boxes from the post office because it let me just list the shipping cost right out. The boxes don't cost me anything. I still take a small hit on shipping from paypal taking their cut for the transaction, even though it is broken out in their form. I can even see some sellers upping the cost of shipping a $1 for packing materials. I can live with that.
At first I was a bit disturbed by the whole no checks thing. But I am starting to come around. Using a credit card is not free to the retailer. They pay a fee plus a percentage of each charge. Lets the retailer get their money faster. They know right away the money is there. Same with Paypal.
I set up a Paypal account so I could take credit card payments. When I did the number of bids I got shot up. So did the final bid values. Ebay takes another $0.10. Same with Paypal. I am still ahead.
Still rubs me a little the wrong way that they are forbidding checks and money orders. Maybe they are tired of all the little old ladies and others who get ripped off when they get a money order for an extra $1000 and asking to send the difference back to them complaining all the time.
If your Paypal account gets hacked, exactly how is it different from getting your bank account hacked? Same problem. Same path to resolution. Don't keep lots of money in it. Paypal pays interest on accounts with $250 or more in them. Not a lot, but comparable to the big bank savings account. And it is available for instant use. More online retailers are adding the Paypal option all the time. I've seen one post here, and just seeing the two subjects together may finally get me to buy his videos, now that I have sold some stuff on EBay.
If you are selling and losing money on EBay you are doing it wrong. You need to reconsider what you are doing. If they are constantly cancelling your auctions you need to either better explain the shipping charges in the listing or figure out a higher cost for your opening bid to cover the increased cost to you.
I have been selling on Ebay for over 10 years; done more than 600 sales; 100% satisfaction rate.
The first two years I ran a hobby shop; the last 8 years I have been slowly selling off inventory after I closed the retail portion. I have no expectations of selling anything at big profits. Most times, I start items at $0.99, with no reserve, and let the auction take its course. I am happy if I get what I paid, wholesale. I ship everything USPS priority mail, with delivery confirmation.
I am not happy at the changes at ebay. I can live with the Paypal only, although I have accepted money orders in the past. My observation is that about 25% of folks who pay with a money order have to be prompted to send a money order; whereas most folks pay with Paypal quickly. As I use the USPS automated postal center; I have literally shipped items within an hour of an auction end because someone paid me via Paypal.
What gripes me is that I can no longer give accurate feedback to someone who stiffs me. I have had four buyers not pay me in the last year. I didn't ship, but there is no way to warn other sellers. Yes, they get a "strike", but I believe a honest feedback reflecting actual events is more fair to all parties involved.
Sellers pay all the fees on ebay. One can argue that buyers are paying the fees, because they are the ones paying for merchandise, but the fees are netted out of receipts going to the seller. For a seller, it doesn't make much sense to sell an engine that costs $56.00 ($100 retail) in an auction for $50.00; netting about $44.00 after all the fees associated with Ebay and Paypal. That is assuming shipping costs are charged at actual cost. But wait, Ebay wants sellers to offer free shipping; so deduct another $8.00 for Priority Mail with delivery confirmation. Pretty raw deal. Yes, I know you can do a "Buy it now" at a higher price, but there is no assurance that those will sell at a higher price.
Factor in time. It takes a lot of time to run ebay auctions. Taking pictures; accurately describing the item; uploading pictures; storing merchandise; arranging boxes and packing materials. At auction end; invoicing, securing payment, and packing the merchandise. In my case, taking the package to the post office. Conservatively, I spend at least an hour on each and every item I list. I do try to pack my boxes well; I use bubble wrap, peanuts, grocery sacks (cheap, light filler) or a combination of all to safe pack. I have not had 1 item damaged in 10 years (although 2 boxes were damaged). What is your time worth? If I still had a retail shop, I would be paying someone to run the auction; I paid my help $7 an hour. So the net gets smaller....
I haven't closed my accounts, but I haven't sold anything on ebay in over 3 months. That is probably bad, because most of the stuff I sell is brand new, and somebody gets a bargain. And when something sells at a premium, I add extra stuff to make up the difference.
I emailed a vendor and they replied that EBAY can NOT refuse other methods of payment like money orders. They have a setting for an item "OTHER" "PICKUP ONLY", its pretty obvious to me their pushing the paypal is their promoting the paypal. So often when you buy an item and it had paypal or money order set that to get to the money order setting you HAD to click away from the paypal default setting. The new setup is another rather forced way to promote PayPal and the vendors are not allowed to promote other pay methods. Buyers should contact the vendor if they will accept money orders. I reccomend for buyers if they might accept other payments to have pickup set so the buyer can bid without paypal. I recall trying to bid on an item and it refused me because I don't have paypay setup, and I dont. I have no credit cards which is required for paypal. I don't want the easiness of someone stealing a credit card number off of me. phooey.
Life may be full of runt sellers or buyers, but I had success with money orders.
I think its rather bad business practice what they have done.
dinwitty-States pretty clearly in the new rules that money orders and checks are ONLY permitted for high $$$ items like cars/boats/trailers/real estate.http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/accepted-payments-policy.html(down towards bottom.)
Just another scam to make you use THEIR bank.They've lost my business...
The last time I sold something to someone in Canada, it raised my fee by 8.00 because of the extra postage. There went 1/2 of my profit. Not to mention the extra b.s. paperwork at the post office. No more sales to Canada for me.
The last time I bought something from someone in Canada it cost me 10.50 for shipping for a 16.95 item. Why would I want to waste my money like that?
N Scale Diesels......I like 'em
No more checks or money orders bothers me somewhat:
A quote from the site...On eBay.com over 90% of transactions are paid with online payment methods and the use of offline paper methods has declined by 40% over the last 3 years.
On eBay.com over 90% of transactions are paid with online payment methods and the use of offline paper methods has declined by 40% over the last 3 years.
I guess you can't stop progress.
Bob Berger, C.O.O. N-ovation & Northwestern R.R. My patio layout....SEE IT HERE
There's no place like ~/ ;)
loatharJust another scam to make you use THEIR bank.They've lost my business...
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
Heartland Division CB&Q Ebay has created problems for itself, its customers, and its investors. (I invest in railroads. Returns are significant for railroads in recent years.) I would like to see constructive suggestions instead of jugmental remarks.
I don't know how much money your wife has invested in order to actually have any sort of leverage on ebay, but maybe just a well worded letter to the CEO or whoever is in charge to voice her concern might get the wheels moving in the right direction.
TONY
"If we never take the time, how can we ever have the time." - Merovingian (Matrix Reloaded)
Remember the adage, "thems that own the company makes the rules"? Well, it applies. But since I don't buy from vendors that don't accept Paypal, it doesn't affect me either.
Marlon
See pictures of the Clinton-Golden Valley RR
Another money grubbing tactic of ebay is forcing sellers to use only one type of USPS mailing. I used the USPS site to see a 1 pound item sent to Canada by 1st class mail Int'l package is $4.76. Ebay (or the seller) now use Priority mail Int'l flat rate box and charge $15.00. Since when is a certified money order not a method of payment, seems most sellers prefer them as they are redeemable the same day. I will not buy from vendors that accept only paypal.
I've seen extensive threads over ebay on MANY forums lately, and I always get a chuckle out of all the posts by those who don't know how to work the system !
Want a guaranteed way of protecting your financial information ? - simple .... Open another checking account at your bank and keep the minimum funding in it - less than $100 usually. To be able to make and receive instant paypal payments, you need to have your paypal account linked to your credit card. Don't want your credit card information on file at Paypal ? - simple .... right after you create your account (or any time for that matter), call your bank and tell them you lost your credit card - the bank will cancel the card and issue a new one. As long as you don't pay your paypal purchases through your credit card, Paypal never knows the card has been cancelled, you can still send and receive payments immediately.
As for ebay "forcing" you to use Paypal or "forcing" you to use a higher class of shipping - do any of you guys actually contact the seller ? Ebay cannot force you to use the methods of payment and shipping they give you. If you you and the seller / buyer agree offline to pay by check or money order, then that's how you pay. You and the buyer / seller can also agree as to how you want to ship it as well - offline. If both of you agree, you could have it shipped by pack-mule if you want !
How has it come to be that everyone is so up in arms over these Ebay "rules" ? Granted, these rules are being made to give the buyer / seller the utmost protection in their online transaction - which it does .... but you are by no means bound by them ! Just remember, if you opt to deal with the buyer / seller outside of Ebay's recommended practices, you won't be as protected, if at all, in case something goes awry. I've had numerous sellers approximate the postage to Canada, put some stamps on the package and just toss it in the post box - with no customs documentation what-so-ever .... I've received every one !
It all comes down to how willing you are to work outside the system. Are you a gambler with your purchases or not ? If you are, contact the seller and continue to pay by check or money order and go for the cheap shipping .... if anything happens, are you willing to just chalk it up to experience ? If so, go for it. Not a gambler ? - then follow ebay's rules .... they're put in place for a reason, not because they want to make things difficult.
Funny how everyone loves to hate PayPal. I don;t see why, I've used it for eyars and never had a single problem. The fee? Guess what, EVERY merchant who accept credit cards pays a fee like that. That's why some try to set minimum order requirements, even though the credit card companies generally don't allow it. On a small transaction, say less than $5, the credit card fees when you pay that person with a card eats most if not all of the seller's profit. When the individual used PayPal, they see the same thing any merchant running a store on any street or in any mall sees.
Every time I sell something on eBay, I specify PayPal. And when the auction closes, I usually have my money in a day or two, and can ship out right away. I NEVER accept personal checks - not only does paying with check give you no recompense if the seller doesn;t ship, but if I accept a check and put it in my bank and the person has written me a bad check, I'M the one who gets charges for it!
eBay has made some big changes over the years, and alot of them are stinkers, like the change in the feedback system. It needed change to prevent abuse, but they made it virtually useless. This particular change to no checks is not even in the same ballpark. Bonus for free shipping is not a good idea. And limits on shipping fees I don't particularly think is needed. I just never would bid on things with crazy shipping fees - if someone wasn't paying attention, well, too bad I guess. There's more than enough nanny attitude in this society, we don't really need more. I know people would try to get around auction fees by selling a $20 item for $1 and then charging $24 shipping, but I thought they cracked down on that one a long time ago. And if someone bid the $1 item up to $20 and still paid $24 shipping - well, a fool and his money.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
It's your choice to use it or not. No one is being forced to use Ebay or PP.
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein
http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/
I have no problem with this has I only pay if its Pay pal
rrinker Funny how everyone loves to hate PayPal. I don;t see why, I've used it for eyars and never had a single problem. I know people would try to get around auction fees by selling a $20 item for $1 and then charging $24 shipping, but I thought they cracked down on that one a long time ago. And if someone bid the $1 item up to $20 and still paid $24 shipping - well, a fool and his money. --Randy
Funny how everyone loves to hate PayPal. I don;t see why, I've used it for eyars and never had a single problem.
I know people would try to get around auction fees by selling a $20 item for $1 and then charging $24 shipping, but I thought they cracked down on that one a long time ago. And if someone bid the $1 item up to $20 and still paid $24 shipping - well, a fool and his money.
The thing with PayPal is that it's a simple and effective way to pay a buyer and as a seller to recive guaranteed payment.
Up until a few months ago, I would have championed PayPl to the bitter end. I had always enjoyed a very satisfactory experience with them. An then one day it all turned to broken glass and the sharks began to circle. There was a misunderstanding on the part of all three parties involved - the buyer and the seller were prepared to reach an amicable agreement that would have seen the sale finalized to each others satisfaction. Then PayPal steped in and made a mountain out of a mole hill. They lacked any clear understanding of the situation they became involved in - their customer relations people were either pre-programed by an android or just wanted to be plain obtuse and un-helpful.
In the end, their interference and list of almost impossible demands for identification of the two interested parties and written verification of the items original purchase prior to it's listing on eBay saw this matter tumble headlong into an abyss of black tar and feathers. Like many entities, PayPal are just fine when all is going well and is a matter of routine, but when something happens that requires somebody in paypal to use even a small portion of their brain it becomes similar to the process of mud wrestling an eel.
A few weeks ago, I saw listed on eBay a poster of two SAL locomotives operating a phospahte train in Florida. The opening bid of .99 was a steel if I could get the poster at the price. However, and with reference to your point, Randy, the shipping amount was $34.00. Eventually the poster sold for six bucks or something. But there you have an example of how one person trys to manipulate eBay to make a bit extra money.
I've noticed that many sellers in China do, or have done, the same kind of thing on eBay
Cheers
Bruce