Shipping & Insurance RIP OFF

[Seeds for Africa]

My point is very simple. What is charged for shipping must correlate to the actual cost the seller pays to pack and ship. By all means add in your TIME, packaging, vehicle costs.. Forget about the purchase I made, I am talking about the principle of what constitutes shipping costs. I dont charge what the post office charges me, that would be crazy as I would lose out. I as all buyers do, have costs to ship an item (in addittion to what they pay the post office).

[Libertas Computers]

My point is very simple. What is charged for shipping must correlate to the actual cost the seller pays to pack and ship. By all means add in your TIME, packaging, vehicle costs.. Forget about the purchase I made, I am talking about the principle of what constitutes shipping costs. I dont charge what the post office charges me, that would be crazy as I would lose out. I as all buyers do, have costs to ship an item (in addittion to what they pay the post office).

I fully agree with you there!

[geewhizz]

A nice big permanent indent on top of the listing page in big bold letters for filling in shipping charges should be introduced.
If it is not filled in then the listing should not be accepted just as it would not be accepted if a price was not added.

[SProducts]

My point is very simple. What is charged for shipping must correlate to the actual cost the seller pays to pack and ship. By all means add in your TIME, packaging, vehicle costs.. Forget about the purchase I made, I am talking about the principle of what constitutes shipping costs. I dont charge what the post office charges me, that would be crazy as I would lose out. I as all buyers do, have costs to ship an item (in addittion to what they pay the post office).

I have paid more than R80.00 for a parcel sent via normal post which costed about R24.00 at the post office. Because I agreed to it before hand then I couldnt complain, because I wasnt happy with that I decided not to buy from the seller again.
As much as I understand your point, its the seller's decision on how much they charge for shipping. Another point is when the buyer decides to buy and pay, they are paying for shipping costs and not post office costs.

I know Bidorbuy doesnt allow sellers to overcharge on shipping, but again they dont decide how much must be charged as each seller ships differently.

[mellowred]

R50 does not look excessive, and if extra packaging is used and time taken it would most likely be fair. But in this case Grant described the packaging - very basic and nothing extra but for some black plastic. Little time taken and minimum costs. So I can understand that the postage was seen as excessive only after the package had been received.

I buy very little packaging material as I use recycled boxes and polystyrene, newspapers etc. The only outlay is wrapping paper and tape. But it takes time to wrap so my "profit" covers my time - well 1/2 glass of wine to calm the nerves while pondering the minimum wage strikes .

[Seeds for Africa]

SProducts - Agreed. At the end of the day, regulation by bidorbuy not the way to go. I feel that
there should be some correlation between the cost of shipping to the seller and what is charged
to the buyer. I have clearly said that I charge more than what I pay postage. I have packaging, labelling,
My time, my vehicle costs and incidentals to recover.

The said seller justified there shipping charge by putting R15 listing fees down to shipping costs. By NO stretch of
the imagination is an advertising cost recoverable in shipping. That admittance by the seller makes my point of being over charged very
Valid.

Came accross a sellers ratings where the buyer was disgruntled having paid R400 shipping for a parcel
That cost R45 to post!!! Whether agreed or not, by no stretch of the imagination can this be coonstrued as fair.

And yes, if one feels you have been overcharged on shipping avoid that seller and buy from someone who has fair charges.

[geewhizz]

A nice big permanent indent on top of the listing page in big bold letters for filling in shipping charges should be introduced.
If it is not filled in then the listing should not be accepted just as it would not be accepted if a price was not added.

What I meant by this was that the shipping should be easily visible not down at the bottom of the page so that it can be picked up instantly.

[Libertas Computers]

What I meant by this was that the shipping should be easily visible not down at the bottom of the page so that it can be picked up instantly.

Agree with that.. Will make it easier to spot. Most buyers who've been on the forum long enough has a general idea of what they'll need to pay and skim over the shipping cost. Then comes checkout and BAM! R200..

@Grant, I think I should start adding listing fees in the cost of shipping. I understand what he means by what he's done, he just doesn't see it as wrong: "BoB is competitive, but if I add it to my shipping, I'll get more sales.." Perfect scheme!

I will be working out some success and listing fees now and add it to my shipping..

[Seeds for Africa]

Agree with that.. Will make it easier to spot. Most buyers who've been on the forum long enough has a general idea of what they'll need to pay and skim over the shipping cost. Then comes checkout and BAM! R200..

@Grant, I think I should start adding listing fees in the cost of shipping. I understand what he means by what he's done, he just doesn't see it as wrong: "BoB is competitive, but if I add it to my shipping, I'll get more sales.." Perfect scheme!

I will be working out some success and listing fees now and add it to my shipping..

It doesnt look like bob are taking any action against the seller for adding listing fees into a shipping charge, and if they dont take action, it could be deemed as a precedent being set. So when I max enhance an item, it should be okay to add the enhanced listing fees to the shipping cost! What next!!

[Seeds for Africa]

R50 does not look excessive, and if extra packaging is used and time taken it would most likely be fair. But in this case Grant described the packaging - very basic and nothing extra but for some black plastic. Little time taken and minimum costs. So I can understand that the postage was seen as excessive only after the package had been received.

I buy very little packaging material as I use recycled boxes and polystyrene, newspapers etc. The only outlay is wrapping paper and tape. But it takes time to wrap so my "profit" covers my time - well 1/2 glass of wine to calm the nerves while pondering the minimum wage strikes .

Wine is DEFINITELY an allowable shipping cost!!! I dont drink, but the cigarette to calm my nerves after a post office trip is a definite cost!

[Seeds for Africa]

What I meant by this was that the shipping should be easily visible not down at the bottom of the page so that it can be picked up instantly.

Agreed - go one better - show a cost inclusive of shipping! Buyers can then work out for themselves what the cheapest product is delivered without having to sift through the mine field of the various different sellers who sell the same products different shipping costs!

[SProducts]

SProducts - Agreed. At the end of the day, regulation by bidorbuy not the way to go. I feel that
there should be some correlation between the cost of shipping to the seller and what is charged
to the buyer. I have clearly said that I charge more than what I pay postage. I have packaging, labelling,
My time, my vehicle costs and incidentals to recover.

The said seller justified there shipping charge by putting R15 listing fees down to shipping costs. By NO stretch of
the imagination is an advertising cost recoverable in shipping. That admittance by the seller makes my point of being over charged very
Valid.

Came accross a sellers ratings where the buyer was disgruntled having paid R400 shipping for a parcel
That cost R45 to post!!! Whether agreed or not, by no stretch of the imagination can this be coonstrued as fair.

And yes, if one feels you have been overcharged on shipping avoid that seller and buy from someone who has fair charges.

If you have a valid complaint Bidorbuy do look into it, there are many threads about overcharging shipping and many sellers have been warned and most changed their costs. Cannot however say if there was anyone who was blacklisted.
I do agree with you, some sellers are greedy and will do anything to get an extra Rand. Its a matter of ethics and conscience, I would struggle to go to bed if I charged someone R400.00 and only paid R45.00 at the post office.

[admin]

It doesnt look like bob are taking any action against the seller for adding listing fees into a shipping charge,

Hi Grant,

As you are aware of, Bennet is handling this matter and the reply that you sent, regarding this issue, on Friday at 15:31, still has to be read by him as he did not get to it before leaving for the weekend. I am sure he will take the appropriate action on Monday.

You also requested Bennet to close the matter as you are satisfied with the product and shipping cost, so I am closing this thread.

Thank you.