I see the old shipping and handling has reared it ugly head again. I may be wrong here but I do not see the problem with charging anything you want to if you just list it that way. I find it a little hard when I win a derailleur on ebay and then they tell me it is 8.00 shipping only to see on the box that it was 2.00. So that is 6.00 handling that I did not even get a chance to decide if I wanted it or not. When I list a bike I charge boxing and state it up front so just do the math and if you do not want it please do not buy it. And yes I will let people pick it up and save the money. Well that is my two cents worth. Steven Willis 1778 East Second Street Scotch Plains NJ 07076 908-322-3330 http://www.thebikestand.com
> In a message dated 10/30/2004 8:15:46 AM PST, corgwyn@erols.com writes:
>
> I have noticed the same thing. And it makes no sense to me, either.
> Maybe at a large mail order house it evens out over time, but that means
> some are overpaying & some are underpaying. All I can say is that I only
> charge for actual shipping-not packing, etc. If the seller overpays for
> shipping because I overestimated it, I refund the difference (well, if
> it's more than $1).
>
> However, I also require insurance, unless it really is silly to get it
> (i.e. a $5 item, etc). It's not that expensive & I just don't want to
> get into it with the buyer, should something happen in transit. I put
> that in my auction listing. If they really don't want it, I make them
> send me an email stating they don't want it & I'm not responsible for
> the loss, should it occur. As a buyer, I also request insurance from
> most sellers, whenever appropriate.
>
> I just think charging for handling, packing, etc is a way to rip off
> the customer. Unless it really is packed professionally. Or I have to
> buy some unique supplies to protect the item. Then I would send the
> buyer the receipt for the packing charge, as proof of cost.
>
> Perhaps, I'm in the minority. I just don't think it's right to rip
> people on S & H.
> -----------------------------------------------------
>
> Mary-
> If you are in the minority, then at least I have company. I don't think
one
> needs to have advanced training in rocket science to properly package a
bike
> or bike part. Heck I have been doing since I was 14 and nobody have ever
shown
> me how. Sure it can take up to half an hour to really go all out and wrap
each
> frame tube--in you go to that extent---as you pack a bike, but I would
rather
> do that than add on some "professional $75 packaging" fee and not really
know
> exactly how it was packed, only to mumble incessantly to the buyer if
arrives
> askew. I could go into other examples, but for brevity sake, I will only
say
> that, I am proud to be in the minority along with you.
> cheers-
> Dave Anderson
> Cut Bank MT