Shipping Costs

Is it common in America for someone who is selling something to deliberately overcharge for shipping?

I get stuff arrive here and it plainly states the true cost of shipping on the package, but the sellers don't care and quite often try to turn it around on me (I always keep all the emails until after the deal is finished). I've only ever had ONE person give me a refund of the excess.

What gives?

 

Shipping ???

That's called Shipping and (HANDLING) Charges.
It's not free for the packaging and no ones time is free.
Just my 2 cents.
If you ever bought anything from JEGS
they fool you and tell you shipping is free. Then they tell you the handling charges are $$$
Same thing as jacking the shipping cost.
and not telling you there is a handling charge.

 

I guess it depends on what you mean by overcharge. When I sell something I only charge for shipping what the shipping company charges. But if I have to go out and buy plywood and crate something, or spend $20 on packaging products to make sure the part gets to you in good condition, I add this onto the shipping price. I don't charge for my labor. Is that what you mean by overcharge?

 

I understand that sometimes there will be a cost for packaging, that's to be expected. But sometimes the seller will blatantly overstate the shipping cost, and when I confront them they either don't bother replying, or will say something like (this is unbelievable) 'there's no such thing as a free lunch'. I always ask if there is a handling charge, so that I know what to expect. Most people don't charge for it.

Now, I don't know about you guys, but when I sell something I try to include all costs up front so that the buyer knows what they are paying for. Things like 'standing in line at the Post Office' don't rate on the Cost-O-Meter. My personal belief is that if one is going to sell something, one should expect to have to do a bit of donkey work. That's part of the cost of selling.

If it's standard practise in America to add that sort of cost onto the sale price, I will remember that in future. I'm just surprised at it, that's all. I know what you mean about JEGs. I discovered that before I ordered something, and quickly cancelled the order.

 

It's only standard with people/companies who don't feel they're getting a fair shake on what they're selling.

If your experience is with Ebay, just plan on it happening more times than not.

If it's with a company, write them off and find another supplier.

I was just gouged 11.00 to ship a single top ring. Something that weighs an insignificant amount, and came in a box barely bigger than the ring itself. Am I happy about it? Hell no. Can I change it? No, once again. Will I remember it? You bet.

 

Shipping Cost

Well I must be honest with you.
I don't know about you but I own a chassis
shop and charge around $200 Hr. for work done.
and because I'm very good at what I do no one complains. And if they do there down the road.
In my town there is no one else that can do the work
and do it as fast as I can.
So with that said my time out side the shop on work hours is worth at least half that $100 Hr.
Now if I have to leave to ship something or one of my helpers have to leave THAT COST MONEY. Any way you look at it.
Now I don't mean I charge $100 Hr. for shipping I just need to break even. So yes I do charge for standing in line at the post office. I have found out that it's just easier to include all moneys in the price and charge the real shipping charges. It saves on the arguments.
And I get what I need.
If that sounds like an (@** h000) it's not it's called
DOING BUSINESS FAIRLY.

 

I disagree. Doing business fairly is having your overhead (boxing labor, driving time and standing in line time) calculated within your profit margin of the stated price.

What you're doing is increasing your profit margin by hiding costs in shipping.

 

Seems like shippers are getting a bad rap! I don't know of anything I seem to buy these days that doesn't have a "FUEL SURCHARGE" added, even though the trucker probably doesn't see a nickle--that said, most people want a shipping estimate before they purchase, so if you are not in business this means a trip (gas and time) to a post office or courier for an estimate and then another trip to ship it--seems nobody wins---
maybe all parts/items should be shipped collect???

 

shipping charges

I can see your concern . I was looking for a new power steering box for my 57 chevy on e-bay . found 2 companies that had the same box . both shipped from cal. and one was $25.00 , the other was $49.95 . Of course I bought the one with the lower cost . Arrived in about a week . No extra charges . I will buy from that company again when I need something .