On Tue, 31 Mar 2015 22:00:11 -0500, Unquestionably Confused
wrote:

On 3/31/2015 11:41 AM, wrote:
On Tue, 31 Mar 2015 05:13:26 -0500, Unquestionably Confused
wrote:

On 3/30/2015 11:33 PM, Tony Hwang wrote:
IGot2P wrote:
On 3/30/2015 10:57 PM, wrote:
On Mon, 30 Mar 2015 19:12:08 -0700 (PDT), ItsJoanNotJoann
wrote:



[snip]


One needs strong self control and patience shopping on eBay. Otherwise
may spend too much money by impulsive buying or reckless bidding. Next
follows buyers remorse. For some items eBay price is quite higher than
else where.

How true! Secret in bidding is set a limit and exercise self-control to
stick to it and/or use sniping software to post your max bid at the last
possible second to keep from driving up the price.

I've been an avid "eBayer" for years and gotten excellent bargains over
those years. In recent years, however, there are sellers there that
post "Buy It Now" prices that are easily three to four times suggested
retail. Nothing wrong with that since it's all open and up front. I
figure their market has to be the clowns who don't have enough sense to
come in out of the rain but have heard there are great bargains to be
had on eBay. Amazing!
What bothers me most is selling prices that are very reasonable - or
even unreasonably low, and then insanely exorbitant shipping fees.

Something that retails for $20, BIN price of $0.99 and shipping of $60
- for somthing that weighs a few ounces and will fit in a padded
8.5x11 envelope.

Agreed, but those charges are plainly stated and if you're willing (or
dumb enough) to pay them, who's the problem? I'm fairly reasonable when
judging other people's shipping charges. If I'm selling you an iPad or
Netbook, what's fair? You and I both want it to get to you, I have to
wrap it properly, schlep it to the post office of UPS store, pay their
charges, etc. etc. My time has value, just like yours. Maybe I'm
spoiled because I'm self-employed - not retail nor internet sales - and
my knowledge, skills and time are the only thing I have to sell. I sell
them by the 1/10th hour increment. If I'm going to "gift wrap",
transport to the USPS, a Flat Rate Priority Mail pack with the vintage
whatever you just bought from me for $15 that will cost (cheapest way)
$12.80 or whatever to ship, don't expect me to charge you $13.00 to
ship. That's why they call it shipping AND HANDLINGg




True - I'm self employed too - I check the shipping cost before I
place a bid, for sure. Sure makes you wonder how the Chinese can ship
something half way 'round the world for less than I could send a
letter from Windsor Ont to Detroit Michigan!!!!
I bought some electronic components for less than $3, that would have
cost me a minimum of $7 - more likely $15 anywhere in North America,
and a minimum of another $7-$12 to ship from Texas, California, or
Florida- and the shipping was included!! Shipping from Toronto would
have cost me more than $3 - even picking it up in Cambridge would have
cost me that in gas alone!!