Merle, Ah...the old "eBay fee avoidance strategy". In the public world I think we call it "tax sheltering" or is it "laundering money"....I forget...
Do you mean that someone actually told you that they are [intentionally] overcharging for shipping (beyond a handling charge or similar necessary/reasonable costs)? I assume that someone did tell you and it is because of that that you realize someone is doing it. Or are you just suspicious of it as I am? As far as I know, shipping and handling on eBay are all rolled up into one number and unless you ask a seller directly about handling costs then there really is no way to know for certain. I have had (and still do have at times) suspicions that people were/are doing such things as you imply but the few times I have bothered to ask I never get a reply from them (as they probably suppose it is not of my business, which of course it isn't) but I never bid on items that I know weigh 6 oz and the seller is charging 20 bucks for first class mail. A couple bucks for a box, gas, and so on, but 20 bucks to mail a lousy envelope just ain't right. You may be noticing it for the first time during the past few months, but I have been suspicious of such things since I first started buying on eBay back in 1998. Sadly, it is nothing new, and existed even before eBay. I'd say a good rule of thumb is to not bid on an item if you think the seller is doing such things. eBay doesn't care even though they have "Rules for Everyone" - I have written them. Caveat Emptor - Walt -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Merle Sprinzen Sent: Sunday, November 26, 2006 7:11 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [Phono-L] Shipping charges -- a new pricing scheme In the past few months I've noticed that sellers on eBay have been charging inflated shipping charges -- often $10-$15 more than the actual shipping charges, when the real shipping charges are only a few dollars. At first I thought these were just handling charges to pay people for their materials and trouble, but now I realize that this is a way for sellers to get more for their item without having to pay the percentage to eBay the seller would have to pay if this was part of the bid. Anyone else experiencing this? It's getting me annoyed... _______________________________________________ Phono-L mailing list [email protected] Phono-L Archive http://phono-l.oldcrank.org/archive/ Support Phono-L http://www.cafepress.com/oldcrank -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.14.16/551 - Release Date: 11/25/2006
