Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Edit: There was a thread on odd collectibles a while ago - this would fit in there. I am also trying to find a vintage cereal box toy from the 50's, the little plastic submarine that works on baking powder. All I can find are new reproductions! I also have all of the cards and albums for them that were in Red Rose tea and complete collections of the Jello car and airplane plastic disks from the 1960's. Does anyone else out there collect this type of stuff?
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I think that the shipping costs are high because it is the Ebay shipping, where it seems the seller ships to Ebay and they ship to the buyer. We had a thread here a while ago.
Odd collectibles, I have a whack of tea and trade cards, a few 'phone cards and other odds. I also have some resin? moulded native American figures that I have been unable to find any details about. Possibly the sort of thing that came with a toy fort and "white man" set from the 50's.
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I used to have a small collection of older Sear's and Eaton's catalogs from the 1970's - still have them somewhere! What I'd love to find are some of the Christmas catalogs from the 1950's and 1960's. I remember toy forts, etc. from that time period that I played with all day. I wish I had them now. They had the plastic(??) figures that you are talking about.
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They do not appear to be made of plastic or chalk/plaster but more a moulded resin. No makers marks that I can see. Here is a photo of the ones I have.
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Harvey, here is the thread regarding Ebay global shipping.
https://stamporama.com/discboard/disc_main.php?action=20&id=26306#184425
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The one that says it is "Global shipping" is $19.11 shipping. Most are significantly higher than that and just say "international shipping rates apply". Most are coming from the US to Canada. The shipping on E-Bay is getting totally ridiculous and I believe some of it is pure GREED from the sellers. I, for one, always check shipping charges before I bid and if the rates are too high (in my opinion) I stay away! That's my option and if more people used their common sense things might improve. Also, before I get yelled at, I don't mind paying legal rates. But some of the rates are well above that!! If the item is something I really want please feel free to charge the $12 (?) legal rate, but it should be advertised with the item so we know before we buy or bid. Again, just my opinion, so please don't jump all over me.
Here is a link to the items I am looking at if anyone wants to check it out.
https://www.ebay.ca/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=buried+treasure+ice+cream&_sacat=0
Mod, Fixed link.
(Modified by Moderator on 2021-03-09 06:26:11)
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{edited}
I'm not defending any of this pricing, but do note that a seller also pays eBay final value fees and payment processor fees (eBay or PayPal) on the shipping charge.
PayPal (I don't know for eBay's payment system) also charges an additional fee on payments that originate in other currencies.
Speaking generally, that "haircut" from eBay, just on shipping is a quick-and-dirty, say, 15% or more of the shipping charge. So that's some of what's going on, I would image. (I don't know if those fv fees on shipping apply when a seller is opted in for the Global Shipping program.)
On these big numbers, it's harder to expect that a seller won't try to include a markup to recover those costs.
In addition, international rates from the US have gone up, in my opinion, an astonishing amount in the last several years.
But I do understand. Some of the seller estimates of charges are astonishing. I suspect in some of those cases, they're just coming up with a "scare away" figure so that they don't have to do international shipping.
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"The shipping on E-Bay is getting totally ridiculous and I believe some of it is pure GREED from the sellers."
Why oh why is it always the sellers ripping off buyers?
Are you actually aware of what the actual cost of shipping is and how much the Seller has to pay?
You buy something from me for $20. The weight and thickness of the package is 120grammes and is 7mm thick.
Cost from the UK to Europe........£4.25, to Australia .....£6.80,to USA.....£5.85
Registered .....£9.20 .....£11.55 ....£10.65
Now you have to do the Exchange rate calculation,
UK to Europe.....$5.78,to Australia......$9.25. to USA.......$7.96
Registered $12.51, $15.71 $10.82
and the fee paypal charge you for that!
Then you have to do the cost of Ebay Fees, Paypal Fees
REMEMBER the higher the postage costs the more Ebay and Paypal charge the seller.
Remember there are packaging charges as well.
There is trailing to the Post Office in all weathers,
Remember that if the package goes missing the Seller has to refund the full cost to the Buyer (and Paypal now charges for that)
Are you crying into your handkerchief yet?
Never mind the UPU rules re "merchandise"
All the costs add up and sellers have to guess what a Buyer will Buy. Will a buyer buy 1 item, 5 items or 100 items. Where does the buyer live? In the sellers own country, in Paris , La Paz, Timbuctu, or Inuvik so what does he charge for shipping to each of these places knowing he can only put in one or two shipping costs.
It all adds up and unfortunately we sellers sometimes get it wrong and it is no longer the
"Penny Post".
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I used to be a seller on E-Bay, even though it was a while ago. I do occasionally ship items to the states and overseas - not very often, but enough to have a bit of a clue. Anyone who charges $50 shipping for a small piece of light plastic must be gouging a bit! I knew Ian would be a bit upset with me. His opinion is that anyone can charge whatever he/she wants as long as we are stupid enough to pay it. That's a valid point, all I'm saying is that I refuse to pay inflated, uncalled for, prices. Again, if someone wants to charge for the customs form, I'm fine with that. I've paid it to some of the SOR group for excellent items and don't have a problem with that. But $50 for a little piece of plastic...give me a break!
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Agreed, Harvey -- $50 is a little high!
I think my comment stemmed from your remark that you were find paying the "legal price", which I interpreted as the actual post office cost.
In much simpler terms than my prior post, I was just trying to say to consider grossing up that PO cost ("legal price") by perhaps 15-20% to calculate the actual out-of-pocket cost to the seller, particularly when the PO cost is pricey.
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One other thing I just thought of:
Although I no longer sell on eBay, I still belong to several private Facebook groups for eBay sellers, which is kind of a peer group of colleagues to bounce things off of, particularly challenges with eBay.
I seem to remember recently some sellers saying that eBay had begun showing only the seller's most expensive shipping option on the listing. So, sellers who were offering a range of shipping options, from, say, expedited overnight shipping to qualifying media rates, were finding that buyers were only seeing the most expensive option -- the others were not even available as a pull-down option on the listing.
I'm assuming (and perhaps that's generous) that this was an eBay error (but certainly beneficial to them). I'm not sure if it's been fixed or not, or only for sellers who reported it to eBay, etc. I just haven't been following the saga.
But perhaps that explains the extreme case of the $50 charge on a small plastic item. (Or, once again, it could be "scare away" pricing.)
If it's an item you're particularly interested in, it might be worth sending a quick question to the seller confirming their shipping options and prices.
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Yes I concur send the seller a message I have done it several times and their GSP price has been reduced to standard postal rates .Imagine $25-00 on a $2-00 stamp and there are lots like that on eBay
Brian
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I've done what you suggest about getting in touch. That isn't always easy on E-Bay, not very user friendly. But a few times it's worked, I've had sellers say they had no idea how much the shipping was and I've got it much more reasonably. I've also been ignored several times. I think if a person has no idea what his shipping price is, he should pay more attention. Also, if I had paid the large shipping fee, I bet I wouldn't get a refund. Anyway, I think I've made my point, time to move on to better things.
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"I seem to remember recently some sellers saying that eBay had begun showing only the seller's most expensive shipping option on the listing. So, sellers who were offering a range of shipping options, from, say, expedited overnight shipping to qualifying media rates, were finding that buyers were only seeing the most expensive option -"
Yes that may be the case.
Another problem is due to Ebay's Advertising. They encourage new sellers and buyers to sell and buy on ebay and many of these people have no clue how the system works and the pitfalls within.
Even here on stamporama some members of long standing have not yet fully grasped how the stamporama system works. They do not know how to use the system to their advantage or how the system can be detrimental to them.
Outside in the big wide world "Buyer Beware" is the rule. Not just the quality or the price or the shipping charges or how long the sellers lead time is or what is the process for items purchased "going missing" or mis-described items.
Any time a buyer fails to find out how the seller acts on any of these factors then I am afraid they only have themselves to blame. Nobody is forced to buy anything.
If it looks fishy then it probably is.
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It has been common practice well before ebay to pad with low prices with shipping and handling charges. If you cannot ignore the item and move on, maybe you can contact the seller to ask about the charges. Some sellers are looking for that one person who will pay almost anything to get items.
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I sell on ebay and I List my price as Buy It Now or give an auction starting price.
I clearly list what my Shipping charge will be.
I still get "potential" buyers moaning about the shipping cost and to be honest whenever anyone queries the shipping or the price of an item I am loathe to sell that item to them as you can almost guaranttee that there will be problems over the delivery of that item.
I have even had a non delivery complaint against me within 24 hours of being paid and the buyer lived on the other side of the planet!!
Sellers sell, Buyers buy. If you do not like what you see, don't waste time, pass it and go on to the next item.
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I have a corner in my den called “Alan’s Stack” which are things my Australian car friend has bought on eBay from US sellers who charge a ton for international shipping or refuse to ship there at all! Every few months I send him a package.
Right now the stack is a model car kit of a 1948 Chevy and some chrome parts for his 1935 Ford phaeton.
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01:01:00pm
I was just checking E-Bay for an odd little item I collect - does anyone remember the plastic figurines on sticks that you got with Buried Treasure ice cream? Well, I started collecting them a few years ago. Believe it or not, but they are very collectible and quite pricey. I just had a look on E-Bay and for single items there were shipping prices of anywhere between $20 and $50+ CD. Where are these numbers actually coming from and why such a huge variety? To me, $10 would be too much! Fifty bucks is unimaginable!!
Edit: There was a thread on odd collectibles a while ago - this would fit in there. I am also trying to find a vintage cereal box toy from the 50's, the little plastic submarine that works on baking powder. All I can find are new reproductions! I also have all of the cards and albums for them that were in Red Rose tea and complete collections of the Jello car and airplane plastic disks from the 1960's. Does anyone else out there collect this type of stuff?
Login to Like
this post
re: Can anyone explain how shipping prices work on E-Bay?
I think that the shipping costs are high because it is the Ebay shipping, where it seems the seller ships to Ebay and they ship to the buyer. We had a thread here a while ago.
Odd collectibles, I have a whack of tea and trade cards, a few 'phone cards and other odds. I also have some resin? moulded native American figures that I have been unable to find any details about. Possibly the sort of thing that came with a toy fort and "white man" set from the 50's.
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02:09:29pm
re: Can anyone explain how shipping prices work on E-Bay?
I used to have a small collection of older Sear's and Eaton's catalogs from the 1970's - still have them somewhere! What I'd love to find are some of the Christmas catalogs from the 1950's and 1960's. I remember toy forts, etc. from that time period that I played with all day. I wish I had them now. They had the plastic(??) figures that you are talking about.
Login to Like
this post
re: Can anyone explain how shipping prices work on E-Bay?
They do not appear to be made of plastic or chalk/plaster but more a moulded resin. No makers marks that I can see. Here is a photo of the ones I have.
Login to Like
this post
re: Can anyone explain how shipping prices work on E-Bay?
Harvey, here is the thread regarding Ebay global shipping.
https://stamporama.com/discboard/disc_main.php?action=20&id=26306#184425
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03:22:52pm
re: Can anyone explain how shipping prices work on E-Bay?
The one that says it is "Global shipping" is $19.11 shipping. Most are significantly higher than that and just say "international shipping rates apply". Most are coming from the US to Canada. The shipping on E-Bay is getting totally ridiculous and I believe some of it is pure GREED from the sellers. I, for one, always check shipping charges before I bid and if the rates are too high (in my opinion) I stay away! That's my option and if more people used their common sense things might improve. Also, before I get yelled at, I don't mind paying legal rates. But some of the rates are well above that!! If the item is something I really want please feel free to charge the $12 (?) legal rate, but it should be advertised with the item so we know before we buy or bid. Again, just my opinion, so please don't jump all over me.
Here is a link to the items I am looking at if anyone wants to check it out.
https://www.ebay.ca/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=buried+treasure+ice+cream&_sacat=0
Mod, Fixed link.
(Modified by Moderator on 2021-03-09 06:26:11)
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re: Can anyone explain how shipping prices work on E-Bay?
{edited}
I'm not defending any of this pricing, but do note that a seller also pays eBay final value fees and payment processor fees (eBay or PayPal) on the shipping charge.
PayPal (I don't know for eBay's payment system) also charges an additional fee on payments that originate in other currencies.
Speaking generally, that "haircut" from eBay, just on shipping is a quick-and-dirty, say, 15% or more of the shipping charge. So that's some of what's going on, I would image. (I don't know if those fv fees on shipping apply when a seller is opted in for the Global Shipping program.)
On these big numbers, it's harder to expect that a seller won't try to include a markup to recover those costs.
In addition, international rates from the US have gone up, in my opinion, an astonishing amount in the last several years.
But I do understand. Some of the seller estimates of charges are astonishing. I suspect in some of those cases, they're just coming up with a "scare away" figure so that they don't have to do international shipping.
Login to Like
this post
Auctions - Approvals
re: Can anyone explain how shipping prices work on E-Bay?
"The shipping on E-Bay is getting totally ridiculous and I believe some of it is pure GREED from the sellers."
Why oh why is it always the sellers ripping off buyers?
Are you actually aware of what the actual cost of shipping is and how much the Seller has to pay?
You buy something from me for $20. The weight and thickness of the package is 120grammes and is 7mm thick.
Cost from the UK to Europe........£4.25, to Australia .....£6.80,to USA.....£5.85
Registered .....£9.20 .....£11.55 ....£10.65
Now you have to do the Exchange rate calculation,
UK to Europe.....$5.78,to Australia......$9.25. to USA.......$7.96
Registered $12.51, $15.71 $10.82
and the fee paypal charge you for that!
Then you have to do the cost of Ebay Fees, Paypal Fees
REMEMBER the higher the postage costs the more Ebay and Paypal charge the seller.
Remember there are packaging charges as well.
There is trailing to the Post Office in all weathers,
Remember that if the package goes missing the Seller has to refund the full cost to the Buyer (and Paypal now charges for that)
Are you crying into your handkerchief yet?
Never mind the UPU rules re "merchandise"
All the costs add up and sellers have to guess what a Buyer will Buy. Will a buyer buy 1 item, 5 items or 100 items. Where does the buyer live? In the sellers own country, in Paris , La Paz, Timbuctu, or Inuvik so what does he charge for shipping to each of these places knowing he can only put in one or two shipping costs.
It all adds up and unfortunately we sellers sometimes get it wrong and it is no longer the
"Penny Post".
Login to Like
this post
04:26:34pm
re: Can anyone explain how shipping prices work on E-Bay?
I used to be a seller on E-Bay, even though it was a while ago. I do occasionally ship items to the states and overseas - not very often, but enough to have a bit of a clue. Anyone who charges $50 shipping for a small piece of light plastic must be gouging a bit! I knew Ian would be a bit upset with me. His opinion is that anyone can charge whatever he/she wants as long as we are stupid enough to pay it. That's a valid point, all I'm saying is that I refuse to pay inflated, uncalled for, prices. Again, if someone wants to charge for the customs form, I'm fine with that. I've paid it to some of the SOR group for excellent items and don't have a problem with that. But $50 for a little piece of plastic...give me a break!
Login to Like
this post
re: Can anyone explain how shipping prices work on E-Bay?
Agreed, Harvey -- $50 is a little high!
I think my comment stemmed from your remark that you were find paying the "legal price", which I interpreted as the actual post office cost.
In much simpler terms than my prior post, I was just trying to say to consider grossing up that PO cost ("legal price") by perhaps 15-20% to calculate the actual out-of-pocket cost to the seller, particularly when the PO cost is pricey.
Login to Like
this post
re: Can anyone explain how shipping prices work on E-Bay?
One other thing I just thought of:
Although I no longer sell on eBay, I still belong to several private Facebook groups for eBay sellers, which is kind of a peer group of colleagues to bounce things off of, particularly challenges with eBay.
I seem to remember recently some sellers saying that eBay had begun showing only the seller's most expensive shipping option on the listing. So, sellers who were offering a range of shipping options, from, say, expedited overnight shipping to qualifying media rates, were finding that buyers were only seeing the most expensive option -- the others were not even available as a pull-down option on the listing.
I'm assuming (and perhaps that's generous) that this was an eBay error (but certainly beneficial to them). I'm not sure if it's been fixed or not, or only for sellers who reported it to eBay, etc. I just haven't been following the saga.
But perhaps that explains the extreme case of the $50 charge on a small plastic item. (Or, once again, it could be "scare away" pricing.)
If it's an item you're particularly interested in, it might be worth sending a quick question to the seller confirming their shipping options and prices.
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this post
Auctions
re: Can anyone explain how shipping prices work on E-Bay?
Yes I concur send the seller a message I have done it several times and their GSP price has been reduced to standard postal rates .Imagine $25-00 on a $2-00 stamp and there are lots like that on eBay
Brian
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05:40:50pm
re: Can anyone explain how shipping prices work on E-Bay?
I've done what you suggest about getting in touch. That isn't always easy on E-Bay, not very user friendly. But a few times it's worked, I've had sellers say they had no idea how much the shipping was and I've got it much more reasonably. I've also been ignored several times. I think if a person has no idea what his shipping price is, he should pay more attention. Also, if I had paid the large shipping fee, I bet I wouldn't get a refund. Anyway, I think I've made my point, time to move on to better things.
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Auctions - Approvals
re: Can anyone explain how shipping prices work on E-Bay?
"I seem to remember recently some sellers saying that eBay had begun showing only the seller's most expensive shipping option on the listing. So, sellers who were offering a range of shipping options, from, say, expedited overnight shipping to qualifying media rates, were finding that buyers were only seeing the most expensive option -"
Yes that may be the case.
Another problem is due to Ebay's Advertising. They encourage new sellers and buyers to sell and buy on ebay and many of these people have no clue how the system works and the pitfalls within.
Even here on stamporama some members of long standing have not yet fully grasped how the stamporama system works. They do not know how to use the system to their advantage or how the system can be detrimental to them.
Outside in the big wide world "Buyer Beware" is the rule. Not just the quality or the price or the shipping charges or how long the sellers lead time is or what is the process for items purchased "going missing" or mis-described items.
Any time a buyer fails to find out how the seller acts on any of these factors then I am afraid they only have themselves to blame. Nobody is forced to buy anything.
If it looks fishy then it probably is.
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re: Can anyone explain how shipping prices work on E-Bay?
It has been common practice well before ebay to pad with low prices with shipping and handling charges. If you cannot ignore the item and move on, maybe you can contact the seller to ask about the charges. Some sellers are looking for that one person who will pay almost anything to get items.
Login to Like
this post
Auctions - Approvals
re: Can anyone explain how shipping prices work on E-Bay?
I sell on ebay and I List my price as Buy It Now or give an auction starting price.
I clearly list what my Shipping charge will be.
I still get "potential" buyers moaning about the shipping cost and to be honest whenever anyone queries the shipping or the price of an item I am loathe to sell that item to them as you can almost guaranttee that there will be problems over the delivery of that item.
I have even had a non delivery complaint against me within 24 hours of being paid and the buyer lived on the other side of the planet!!
Sellers sell, Buyers buy. If you do not like what you see, don't waste time, pass it and go on to the next item.
Login to Like
this post
Approvals
re: Can anyone explain how shipping prices work on E-Bay?
I have a corner in my den called “Alan’s Stack” which are things my Australian car friend has bought on eBay from US sellers who charge a ton for international shipping or refuse to ship there at all! Every few months I send him a package.
Right now the stack is a model car kit of a 1948 Chevy and some chrome parts for his 1935 Ford phaeton.
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