about buying on ebay

phillyj said:

I never bought anything on ebay and so I was browsing through the watches there. Why is the shipping so expensive? Most are $15 USD for a watch selling for $20 or $30. Sounds unbelievable to me.

Thanks

Click to expand...

There are fees for insurance, and many shippers charge a shipping and handling fee. They also jack up shipping to recover eBay costs.

That's eBay for you. Don't buy it if you don't like the seller's policies.

Its a way for the sellers to increase the price a little without showing it unless you look.

ClarkJ said:

Its a way for the sellers to increase the price a little without showing it unless you look.

Click to expand...

Well considering the shipping is listed right next to the price I don't think there's too many fast ones being pulled.

There is a very simple reason. Buyers are only going to pay so much for a watch and that is not going to change whether the shipping is $1 or $100. Only a fool would ever push the button not knowing what the bottom line cost was. And since that's how it is, sellers often keep the shipping high so they're not dinged quite as bad on the Ebay fees which are based by % of the sale.... they still have to pay the Paypal ones. (which you'll never see a buyer volunteer to pay)

It all makes sense if you understand it. Not to say it's the best system for everyone because there's nothing that will ever accommodate millions of people to a 100% complete satisfaction.

Funny this would come up..A couple of days ago I was cruising the bay looking at Ball watches. I came up on a Ball Diver with a Buy it now of $1!! On further investigation I saw the watch was $1 BIN plus $1455 shipping!!!

I e-mailed the seller to ask what the he!! he was doing asking so much for shipping... His reply was: "I do this when I sell high priced items, this way I don't have to pay the high e-bay seller fees!!!! WTF!!! Some people will always find a way!!

It seems to me that e-bay would be wise to something like this??? I never did follow up on the item to see if it sold or not, I personally would not trust a deal like that.. If it went bad how would you get your money back from PayPal??

Be careful on e-bay!! Read the ENTIRE item description and shipping terms!!!:rodekaart

I just wish sellers would refrain from pulling auctions especially when I'm in the lead - happens half the time in my experience. The other day loyswatch pulled a yellow dial Seiko 7002 with little explanation.:rodekaart
I would never conceive of doing this myself - if you don't mean to follow through, don't list.o|

Arent ebay fees limited to $50 anyway?