Slightly OT: Excessive Shipping Charges with eBay Shipping Calculator

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robbelothe@aol.com - 07 Dec 2005 01:13 GMT

I occasionally sell kits on eBay. The last few days, prospective
customers have reported that eBay's shipping cost calculator is
returning wildly inaccurate estimates of shipping charges. Example: a
1/48 scale Bf 109G would cost $27 to ship. In reality shipping this kit
should cost about $3.85 via Priority Mail (assuming no additional cost
for insurance, handling, etc.)

I tried it myself and also came up with unreal shipping cost estimates.

eBay's response -- once I was able to actually communicate with them --
was essentially (not a quote) "Well, we never said it was supposed to
be accurate." My response was that they should not provide a tool that
is so grossly wrong but eBay disagrees. If I don't like it, I don't
have to use it. Fair enough. I won't.

Has anyone else had this experience (I mean besides getting "attitude"
from eBay).

Ed

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Mad-Modeller - 07 Dec 2005 05:58 GMT

I had one or two brushes with that thing and I was left feeling slightly
screwed. I don't/won't use it in my own sales.

Bill Banaszak, MFE Sr.

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Stephen Tontoni - 07 Dec 2005 07:39 GMT

> I occasionally sell kits on eBay. The last few days, prospective
> customers have reported that eBay's shipping cost calculator is
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>
> Ed

Oh wow; a shipping in ebay thread! Just when you thought it was safe...
lol... regarding the shipping calculator, I have no doubt that it's
absolutely spot-on accurate. What is seriously in question is the
seller's estimate of the weight of the package. It's gouging... no more,
no less.

And that is my only response to this! (for the un-initiated, we had a
thread that wouldn't die not too long ago that was about ebay shipping).

--- Tontoni

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frank - 07 Dec 2005 14:20 GMT

I agree with Stephen, the seller has to enter a weight for the
calculator to use. Put in an excessive weight & it gives an excessive
rate. Hey, that rhymes! A poet & didn't know it. :)

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Kaliste - 07 Dec 2005 14:09 GMT

> I occasionally sell kits on eBay. The last few days, prospective
> customers have reported that eBay's shipping cost calculator is
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> eBay's response -- once I was able to actually communicate with them --

Ed,

I read somewhere that the seller can built into the shipping calculator
his "handling" charges as well. Maybe this also accounts for the
disproportionate calculations.

Signature

Kaliste Saloom #30703
IPMS/Acadiana Plastic Modelers Society
Lafayette, LA

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Peter W. - 08 Dec 2005 08:27 GMT

Yes, that calculator can be configured using many different extra fees.
It is up to the seller to add whatever fees they want and what they
estimate the weight of the item is. All of that will have a bearing on
the final calculation.

Peteski

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Drake - 07 Dec 2005 18:03 GMT

>I occasionally sell kits on eBay. The last few days, prospective
>customers have reported that eBay's shipping cost calculator is
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>
>Ed

This sounds fishy. Not enough information followed by a request for
others to support the claim.

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Model Forum / General / Models / December 2005

Slightly OT: Excessive Shipping Charges with eBay Shipping Calculator