Passing On Ebay Fees To Buyers?

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Originally posted by nds76

Is this a legitimate practice? I came across an auction that does this. What do you think?

http://cgi.ebay.com/2004-9-COIN-MIN...cmdZViewItem

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When I tried charging for ebays fees they pulled my auction after someone reported it to ebay--Soo, if you report this auction to ebay, they will probably yank the auction and return the seller posting fee(s) like they did with me--

You cannot charge or add or write in your auction with a winning bid with any ebay or paypal fees (unless they have changed the policy) If your going to try and recover those charges do not post it any where on your auction--Just either add it to your reserve or starting price and/or put it with your "shipping & handling" charges--
CiScO

The seller is clearly attempting to make his/her profit off the handling fees while getting around ebay's Final Value Fee. Any legitimate seller trying to make a profit would naturally include his/her costs INCLUDING ebay fees in with the start bid, Buy It Now, or reserve. It's part of the cost of doing business. Since there's no special services for this auction beyond basic insertion fee and FVF (not even a gallery fee since his/her other auctions have none) and unless the seller uses extraordinary packaging materials, s/he is just looking to put a little extra in his/her pocket at ebay's expense.

ebay will catch up to him/her sooner or later.

Zuh, it's a question of ethics and moral standards, not whether ebay can afford the losses or not. Persons can do business with ebay or they can decline to do so; nobody is forcing them. However, if they elect to do so, they are ethically and morally (and legally) obligated to abide by ebay's Terms of Service. It is no different than somebody ripping a CD off a copyright-protected CD or copying software from Microsoft or fudging a little on their IRS Income Tax returns. Sure, the losses incurred by ebay, Microsoft, the US Government or whatever huge organization selected might be miniscule for that one event or person, but collectively they may become, and are humongous. And just because "everybody else is doing it" doesn't make it right.

At some point, persons must take responsibility for their own actions, either morally through their consciences or social positions and status, or legally through our justice system. The prisons are filled with persons who are not criminals. As bad as the miscreants themselves are, those who would condone their behavior are equally responsible.

Oh, dont start the "ethics" and "morals" stuff with anything relating to ebay. ebay is more than happy to charge for all kinds of fees, but when it comes to a seller or buyer having a problem, ebay cant help, unless it is a Powerseller. ebay is glad to help those "Powersellers" with disputes, like estatedoctor or abon or whoever those scam artist are. When it comes to morals, ebay has none. Anyone who wants to charge a high shipping and handling fee is free to do so. Who are you or anyone to say $20.00 Is to much for shipping and handling. Handling charges for you to ship a package could possibly be alot different for me to ship a package, wouldnt you say? Dont like what that person has for a shipping and handling charge, dont buy the item. Dont cry how its "morally wrong." Do you know why the persons set the S&H charges at the prices they do? If they tell you its because they are trying to rip ebay off, then that could be considered morally wrong, but if they dont tell you why, then leave them alone.

Im not trying to be a edited or anything. I dont support fraud either. All I'm saying is, if a person chooses to charge a high shipping price, that is their business.
A friend of mine lives out in the sticks and is 30 miles from the nearest post office. She only lists a few things on ebay every so often. She put a shipping and handling charge of $16.00 on a lot of 10 books. Of course, it didnt cost her $16.00 to ship it. The rest was a handling charge. Does that make her a bad person for charging a "high" S&H price?

I will make 1 comment only--S&H is not just the cost of the stamps if you use USPS--There are other "variables' involved--If you sell on ebay, you know what they are already--

A seller who charges what seems to be a high shipping and handling fee should explain him/herself and what the buyer is getting for his/her money. I explain in all my auctions that for their $1.65 to $2.65, they are receiving an item enclosed in a Safe=T-Mailer packaged in a bubble envelope sent by First Class Postage with Delivery Confirmation (insurance extra, of course). I break even most of the time; that should be enough. Never received any complaints except once back about 2000 when a buyer griped that I charged him $2, but that postage was only about 80 cents; when I explained to him about the packaging and DC, he thanked me for the info. Many or maybe even most honest and successful ebay sellers explain their shipping methods and costs.

I live 25 miles from the nearest PO, so also explain in my auctions that I ship only twice per week. At $7.50 to $8 round trip in my gas guzzler, I also combine trips as nds76 suggests, picking up my RV park's mail and grocery/other shopping, so I cannot justify adding on gas and other travel expenses to a buyer's tab.

If a seller is gonna charge me $5 to $20 s&h (sans insurance) or more for a single coin, I wanna know in which type gilt casket s/he will send it. More likely, if no explanation, I won't bid and will place him/her on my "discouraged sellers" list. And also likely, most other potential bidders will just pass over such an auction.

As a buyer look at the total price, it's only common sence. Let ebay worry about their fees. If someone sells me a 2005 roll of Oregan Quarters for buy it now $7.00 shipping $7.00 I am paying $14. If they say $2 of the $14 is for ebay fees or packaging it don't matter I have agrreed to the total.