Hmmm. I've had no problems. I just sold something tonight - weighs 8 pounds
and goes in a 15 x 15 x 15 inch box. USPS site says Priority Mail from my
zip to this zip would be $42.75 or $39.10 if paid online. eBay calculator
said it would be $39.10 and put that in the invoice. Right on.
Also just packed a 35 pound item going to Taiwan and now I just checked and
see that the USPS site gives exactly the same cost that the eBay calculator
put into that invoice.
The only problem I have is now having to pay eBay a percentage on the
shipping cost - that just doesn't seem fair and it causes me to lose quite a
bit on the heavier items.
The eBay calculator also shows me what the cost would be if I used any of
the Regional Priority Mail cartons, whereas I don't see that on the USPS
site. Sometimes using these cartons (have to order the cartons online from
USPS) saves quite a bit and allows me to refund the buyer some postage. And,
sometimes a buyer might pay for Parcel Post but if I see that a Regional
Priority Mail carton is about the same price or even cheaper, I'll use that
to provide faster delivery with free tracking.
-- Greg
----- Original Message -----
From: "john robles" <john9...@pacbell.net>
To: "Antique Phonograph List" <phono-l@oldcrank.org>
Sent: Monday, October 10, 2011 2:31 AM
Subject: Re: [Phono-L] shipping cost tricks on eBay,and the tricksters who
do them
I must say that I can't agree with the opinion on the ebay shipping
calculator - I find the shipping calculator to be quite faulty. I lost some
money on a couple of shipments by trusting it. Ever since then I use my
postal scale and USPS online, and the result is that the Priority Mail cost
to ship is always quite different than the ebay calculator says!
________________________________
From: The Farmers <g...@usfamily.net>
To: Antique Phonograph List <phono-l@oldcrank.org>
Sent: Sunday, October 9, 2011 11:48 PM
Subject: Re: [Phono-L] shipping cost tricks on eBay, and the tricksters who
do them
Yes, it sure doesn't sound like the seller is trying to keep his customers
satisfied. Too bad you missed out on a great looking phonograph. Actual
shipping should be around $20-25 for a light-weight phonograph like that,
and would probably be that much only because of the size of the box needed
to protect that horn. In my opinion, getting it packed at UPS is for the
seller's convenience and it always rubs me the wrong way to have to pay
extra for that when I buy something.
I would like to mention though that I've found eBay's shipping calculator to
work quite well. When selling, I find an appropriate box and weigh it plus
the item plus packing material, and enter that, along with measurements,
into the listing, along with several options for shipping (parcel post,
priority, etc). After it sells, eBay's invoice automatically will include
the shipping costs for each shipping method to the buyers actual zip or
country, and it seems to always be accurate. This makes sending out the
invoice with correct shipping cost MUCH easier and quicker than manually
figuring it out after the sale. Most buyers must be happy with this since my
eBay feedback rating for shipping & handling charges is now averaging 4.96
stars out of 5 possible. I think there's always that odd buyer who won't
give sellers 5 stars because he thinks the post office is charging too much,
even though that is out of our hands.
-- Greg
----- Original Message ----- From: "Peter Fraser" <pjfra...@mac.com>
To: "Antique Phonograph List" <phono-l@oldcrank.org>
Sent: Monday, October 10, 2011 1:00 AM
Subject: [Phono-L] shipping cost tricks on eBay,and the tricksters who do
them
I changed the subject line since this is how the conversation is drifting.
And here's the full story.
There are lots of folks on eBay now who put random shipping prices into
their listings because of the restrictions eBay automatically imposes. For
example, I always put $1 in there and clearly state in the listing that
I'll get the actual shipping cost once we know the winner's location, and
bill that amount. That's the fair thing to do.
This guy said in his listing that he would ship it as "cheaply as
possible," but then also had $50 showing in the shipping slot.
So all I did was politely enquire as to whether he wanted to quote actual
shipping now that he knew my location. That could have worked in either
direction, by the way.
In return I got a rant about how he doesn't know how to pack and how he
has UPS pack for him, and that he actually wouldn't ship it "as cheaply as
possible" as stated in the listing, but for $50. I immediately went back
to him agreeing to that (because it wasn't worth the quibble over a $10
overcharge), but asking him to please make sure the tip of the stylus was
protected before handing it off to the random UPS folks. We all know how
easily Columbia floating reproducers can bang into mandrels, but others
don't.
And I heard nothing back, even though I pinged him a couple more times. So
I looked him up and phoned him, politely seeking to complete our contract.
He cursed at me and hung up on me, but still got nothing via eBay from
him. I went thru eBay to try to get him to complete the deal, but no
luck - but did succeed in getting him a black mark. If I had paid, it
would have been more severe and eBay would have paid me, then delisted
him. But when he didn't respond I knew it was fishy, so I held up on the
money, thank goodness. The transaction is STILL live now, btw...I could
still send the money.
Yeah, I was surprised at his seemingly good feedback, too. According to
it, he's your standard "A+++++++++ best ebayer ever! will do business
again!" which is so meaningful and special as we all know, right?
-- Peter
pjfra...@mac.com
On Oct 9, 2011, at 9:42 PM, The Farmers <g...@usfamily.net> wrote:
Yes, that does look like an exceptionally nice machine - wish I had seen
it and bid on it! And I could have just picked it up here in Minneapolis
since he offered free local pickup (ebay 370545662693). Somehow, when
someone advertises right in the eBay ad what the shipping will cost, most
buyers just figure that into their bid limit and so it makes no sense to
question it AFTER you bid. It really makes no difference to your
pocketbook to pay little for an item plus lots for shipping, or lots for
the item and little for shipping - that used to be a way sellers lowered
eBay final value fees until eBay started charging the fees on the
shipping cost too.
I just wonder about the problem since this seller had 2584 feedbacks with
100% good feedbacks over the past 12 months, until now. Looks like a good
seller, except it certainly wasn't right for him to sell it elsewhere so
quickly.
Sorry, I don't have the reproducer or the machine you are looking for.
-- Greg Farmer
----- Original Message ----- From: "Peter Fraser" <pjfra...@mac.com>
To: "Antique Phonograph List" <phono-l@oldcrank.org>
Sent: Sunday, October 09, 2011 10:27 PM
Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Columbia B Eagle and/or Columbia floating cylinder
reproducer wanted
That's immaterial because you don't have the particulars, nor have you
seen the communication.
Too bad it turned out like this, but they turn up, and I'll certainly
find one. His business practices and attitude were quite poor despite
the best efforts of both me and eBay, so I thought I'd pass the warning
along. I smelled a rat so held up payment, which was a real stroke of
luck.
-- Peter
pjfra...@mac.com
On Oct 9, 2011, at 6:44 PM, Vinyl Visions <vinyl.visi...@live.com>
wrote:
You won a nice original machine... original reproducer, original belt
cover (which is usually missing), original patent disc (which is often
missing and can cost $50 or more), original lid - overall nice
machine - not bad for $368 and $50 shipping - I wouldn't ship one for
less than $50, because of the inherent risk and required packing. I
doubt that you will find one in that condition for less...
From: pjfra...@mac.com
Date: Sun, 9 Oct 2011 11:02:37 -0700
To: phono-l@oldcrank.org
Subject: [Phono-L] Columbia B Eagle and/or Columbia floating cylinder
reproducer wanted
Hey gang -
I'm looking for a Columbia model B "Eagle" graphophone, as well as a
Columbia reproducer that is correct for an early (plain-case) Columbia
AT.
Any leads or offers? Thanks...
I'm using the reproducer off my Q on the AT for now, but want it to
have its own.
And I won an Eagle on eBay last week, but the fraudster seller sold it
out from under me when I tried to give him some safe shipping tips and
questioned his exorbitant shipping charges. Beware seller Jason Kudrna
of Minneapolis aka eBay ID "oraetlabora" - eBay has been notified.
Sent from my iPhone
-- Peter
pjfra...@mac.com
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