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Aug. 21st, 2008
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I hate ebay
Aug. 21st, 2008 09:06 pmThey've updated their policies again and are getting a lot more aggressive about shipping charges. They are setting *maximum* allowable shipping charges on several categories (including magazines, which are what a lot of what I'm selling fall under)
Of course, they're ignoring the fact that (after checking a few listings) many of the "cheap rates" people are using are actually *illegal*. They are using media mail. And as I was told at the post office, magazines are *specifically* excluded from being sent that way. Even used or collectible ones.
And on top of that their answer in the FAQ to "my actual costs are higher than the maximum charge ebay allows" is to rill the charges into the starting bid on the item.
This sucks two ways. First off, the folks who have the higher costs are the folks selling small lots of stuff. Businesses generally have the volume to do shipping discounts or get lower prices.
Second, it means that if folks buy multiple items, they pay the shipping costs several times. When the "handling" costs were allowed to be included in the shipping costs, when I combined several purchases I could adjust the costs accordingly. But now, I won't be able to.
Yeah, I might make more money. More likely I'll get fewer bidders because I'll have to set higher starting bids.
Ebay definitely is against small sellers.
Of course, they're ignoring the fact that (after checking a few listings) many of the "cheap rates" people are using are actually *illegal*. They are using media mail. And as I was told at the post office, magazines are *specifically* excluded from being sent that way. Even used or collectible ones.
And on top of that their answer in the FAQ to "my actual costs are higher than the maximum charge ebay allows" is to rill the charges into the starting bid on the item.
This sucks two ways. First off, the folks who have the higher costs are the folks selling small lots of stuff. Businesses generally have the volume to do shipping discounts or get lower prices.
Second, it means that if folks buy multiple items, they pay the shipping costs several times. When the "handling" costs were allowed to be included in the shipping costs, when I combined several purchases I could adjust the costs accordingly. But now, I won't be able to.
Yeah, I might make more money. More likely I'll get fewer bidders because I'll have to set higher starting bids.
Ebay definitely is against small sellers.
