Postage overcharging? - Page 3

Tretov · 12-27-2003, 08:30 PM

The only problem is that it is not always that easy just to "not buy", since it happens, occassionally, that a specific item is available form only that specific seller. I have not purchased anything from these three yet, but in the first case, with the HSU's, they are actually cheaper than other sellers: A dealer from which I purchase quite many items sell the same kind of HSU's for 35 USD and charge about 5 USD in shipping. This company asks just 19.50 USD for their HSU's, but 9 USD in shipping. I would save money on the later alternative, but I am well aware that when I recieve the package, the postal cost will be just 4 or 5 USD.

Another postage thing, which I am involved in due to a binding bid, is that a person asks 50 USD for shipping a generals parade tunic to Europe. The price for the tunic itself is lower than average, and includes some nifty accessories. However, I have recieved two similar weight tunics from the same country (USA), the shipping for these with "1-week FedEX" was 26 USD. So, what is then the reason for the higher shipping?

/Patrik

charlet · 12-27-2003, 08:31 PM

well, I'm too really annoyed with a good dealer featuring high 30usd shipping fee...I'm considering the idea to ask a fellow US collector to receive my purchase order (5usd within the USA) and to send me back to europe...it'll be less expensive than 30usd! I won't tell there're all "parasites", since good stuff is only avalaible at 2 or 3 US dealers...
but about european dealers, I'm still waiting for 100% reliability...if you know trustworthy dealers in Europe, please pm me!

sebastien

Tretov · 12-27-2003, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charlet

well, I'm too really annoyed with a good dealer featuring high 30usd shipping fee...I'm considering the idea to ask a fellow US collector to receive my purchase order (5usd within the USA) and to send me back to europe...it'll be less expensive than 30usd! I won't tell there're all "parasites", since good stuff is only avalaible at 2 or 3 US dealers...
but about european dealers, I'm still waiting for 100% reliability...if you know trustworthy dealers in Europe, please pm me!

sebastien

Maybe European collectors could start an organization a'la Western Bid (the company all Ukraine sellers use to cash in their USA payments)... it could be "European Buyers", whereto European bidders could have their items sent cheaply and then dispacthed cheaply "home" to Europe...

Anyway, seriously, I do not say ALL sellers are like this. This overcharging is carried out by a few, and those honest should not be blamed. I have done business with several forum members, and the postal charges have been 100% correct.

/Patrik

charlet · 12-27-2003, 09:00 PM

I know our US colleague are in their immense majority very kind...well, the dealer I'm thinking of is a good one, but first , a businessman...it is his right!

Dave · 12-27-2003, 10:59 PM

This has been one of my chief complaints lately on eBay, where I do most of my buying of non-Soviet militaria. Today, I received a WW2-vintage jacket. When the auction finished, the seller e-mailed me and told me that shipping (for less than 300 miles!) would be $20 (with no insurance, as the jacket only cost $30). I e-mailed him and asked him if that price figure was correct. He replied that he would only charge me $15 for shipping. I paid it (what else can you do?) and got the uniform today. On the box (which was a free USPS Priority Mail box, with a free label) was the actual shipping cost... $7.50! So, this guy just pocketed $7.50 for sticking the jacket in a box and taking it to the post office! Now that's a handsome profit! Just think if I had paid $20 for shipping... He would have walked away with $12.50... Almost HALF the value of the uniform!

From another seller, I bought 3 uniforms. He requested $15.00 EACH for shipping the uniforms, with NO DISCOUNT on buying multiple items! And yes, this box was being shipped from just over 100 miles away! He was going to charge me $45 shipping on a box that weighed less than 10 pounds! I finally did talk his shipping price down to $20 for all three uniforms, which was STILL more than what he paid, but I was happy to walk away relatively unscathed... Unfortunately, he sent the box via a non-USPS shipping source, and it didn't have the price on the label.

Nuts!

--Dave

***Art*** · 12-28-2003, 04:26 AM

Patrik,

I never do business with people who operate like that. Postage is a necessity so that the seller can move his merchandise. It would be like asking you for a dollar for the gas it takes me to drive to the post office. I guess what I mean is that the customer is doing the seller the favor of buying merchandise from him, not the other way around. It's just a way to gouge people of their hard-earned money.

But, don't take it lying down. Tell the seller you are interested in their items but you want a fair shipping rate. You want to pay for the item to get to you. No more. If he gives you a smart-mouth response, tell him he just lost a customer. He might change his mind and he might not. If he disagrees with the fair amount for postage, tell him you want to charge him a handling fee for sending him the payment for his merchandise. Same thing if you think about it.

Art

Quote:

Originally Posted by tretov

Maybe European collectors could start an organization a'la Western Bid (the company all Ukraine sellers use to cash in their USA payments)... it could be "European Buyers", whereto European bidders could have their items sent cheaply and then dispacthed cheaply "home" to Europe...

Anyway, seriously, I do not say ALL sellers are like this. This overcharging is carried out by a few, and those honest should not be blamed. I have done business with several forum members, and the postal charges have been 100% correct.

/Patrik

Nota Bene · 12-28-2003, 04:20 PM

Guys,

I think in many cases US dealers, selling abroad, simply don't know or don't bother to check the actual rates. In my experience the most cost-effective way of shipping overseas is Global Priority Mail. A small envelope (3-5 medals and documents) will cost $6 to ship to most European countries, except for Italy, and a box (up to 4 pounds) is $12. Your package will usually arrive in under 10 business days. You can always ask for this service and tell your dealer the rates.

When dealers charge a "processing fee" or a some other crap like that it's usually just a rip off, but sometimes they include in this fee the cost of packing materials and professional packaging service.

Alexei

sovvisor · 12-28-2003, 05:31 PM

Well you´re not alone on this problem. A big US dealer taht have some medals I want charges 25 dollars for any shipping to europe no matter the actual cost. A medal costs about 4 dollars to ship to Sweden. There is no consideration to what a package weights. Damn, if this man where selling tanks I would buy one and then pay 25 dollars for shipping!!!!
Best

charlet · 12-28-2003, 06:12 PM

well, it remains for us a consolation: the very very looooow exchange rate between dollar and euro...on some orders you save the shipping fees...(good times for european collectors, bad times for european exports...).

Tretov · 12-28-2003, 06:28 PM

Yes, when buying things (read: Soviet items) from USA it is happy days, as an dollar is just about 85 euro cents... but on the other hand, when selling something to the States, the exchange rate sucks. I have taken advantage of the rates the whole autumn, and I guess I will keep the business "inbound" on a high level 'til it changes.

And, what is quite good as well, many sellers in the Ukraine and other locations "east" (except for Estonia/Tallinn it seems) also use the dollar!

/Patrik

12-27-2003, 08:31 PM	#22
charlet Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Germany Age: 49 Posts: 791	well, I'm too really annoyed with a good dealer featuring high 30usd shipping fee...I'm considering the idea to ask a fellow US collector to receive my purchase order (5usd within the USA) and to send me back to europe...it'll be less expensive than 30usd! I won't tell there're all "parasites", since good stuff is only avalaible at 2 or 3 US dealers... but about european dealers, I'm still waiting for 100% reliability...if you know trustworthy dealers in Europe, please pm me! sebastien __________________ Sebastien "a spectre haunts Europe, the spectre of communism" (a well-known german bearbed)

12-27-2003, 09:00 PM	#24
charlet Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Germany Age: 49 Posts: 791	I know our US colleague are in their immense majority very kind...well, the dealer I'm thinking of is a good one, but first , a businessman...it is his right! __________________ Sebastien "a spectre haunts Europe, the spectre of communism" (a well-known german bearbed)

12-28-2003, 05:31 PM	#28
sovvisor Bearer of the Red Star Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Uppsala Swden Age: 49 Posts: 229	postage Well you´re not alone on this problem. A big US dealer taht have some medals I want charges 25 dollars for any shipping to europe no matter the actual cost. A medal costs about 4 dollars to ship to Sweden. There is no consideration to what a package weights. Damn, if this man where selling tanks I would buy one and then pay 25 dollars for shipping!!!! Best __________________ sovvisor

12-28-2003, 06:12 PM	#29
charlet Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Germany Age: 49 Posts: 791	well, it remains for us a consolation: the very very looooow exchange rate between dollar and euro...on some orders you save the shipping fees...(good times for european collectors, bad times for european exports...). __________________ Sebastien "a spectre haunts Europe, the spectre of communism" (a well-known german bearbed)

12-27-2003, 08:30 PM	#21
Tretov Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Republic of Finland Posts: 1,129	The only problem is that it is not always that easy just to "not buy", since it happens, occassionally, that a specific item is available form only that specific seller. I have not purchased anything from these three yet, but in the first case, with the HSU's, they are actually cheaper than other sellers: A dealer from which I purchase quite many items sell the same kind of HSU's for 35 USD and charge about 5 USD in shipping. This company asks just 19.50 USD for their HSU's, but 9 USD in shipping. I would save money on the later alternative, but I am well aware that when I recieve the package, the postal cost will be just 4 or 5 USD. Another postage thing, which I am involved in due to a binding bid, is that a person asks 50 USD for shipping a generals parade tunic to Europe. The price for the tunic itself is lower than average, and includes some nifty accessories. However, I have recieved two similar weight tunics from the same country (USA), the shipping for these with "1-week FedEX" was 26 USD. So, what is then the reason for the higher shipping? /Patrik

12-27-2003, 10:59 PM	#25
Dave Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: California Age: 49 Posts: 700	This has been one of my chief complaints lately on eBay, where I do most of my buying of non-Soviet militaria. Today, I received a WW2-vintage jacket. When the auction finished, the seller e-mailed me and told me that shipping (for less than 300 miles!) would be $20 (with no insurance, as the jacket only cost $30). I e-mailed him and asked him if that price figure was correct. He replied that he would only charge me $15 for shipping. I paid it (what else can you do?) and got the uniform today. On the box (which was a free USPS Priority Mail box, with a free label) was the actual shipping cost... $7.50! So, this guy just pocketed $7.50 for sticking the jacket in a box and taking it to the post office! Now that's a handsome profit! Just think if I had paid $20 for shipping... He would have walked away with $12.50... Almost HALF the value of the uniform! From another seller, I bought 3 uniforms. He requested $15.00 EACH for shipping the uniforms, with NO DISCOUNT on buying multiple items! And yes, this box was being shipped from just over 100 miles away! He was going to charge me $45 shipping on a box that weighed less than 10 pounds! I finally did talk his shipping price down to $20 for all three uniforms, which was STILL more than what he paid, but I was happy to walk away relatively unscathed... Unfortunately, he sent the box via a non-USPS shipping source, and it didn't have the price on the label. Nuts! --Dave

12-28-2003, 04:20 PM	#27
Nota Bene Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: New York USA Posts: 2,296	Guys, I think in many cases US dealers, selling abroad, simply don't know or don't bother to check the actual rates. In my experience the most cost-effective way of shipping overseas is Global Priority Mail. A small envelope (3-5 medals and documents) will cost $6 to ship to most European countries, except for Italy, and a box (up to 4 pounds) is $12. Your package will usually arrive in under 10 business days. You can always ask for this service and tell your dealer the rates. When dealers charge a "processing fee" or a some other crap like that it's usually just a rip off, but sometimes they include in this fee the cost of packing materials and professional packaging service. Alexei

12-28-2003, 06:28 PM	#30
Tretov Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Republic of Finland Posts: 1,129	Yes, when buying things (read: Soviet items) from USA it is happy days, as an dollar is just about 85 euro cents... but on the other hand, when selling something to the States, the exchange rate sucks. I have taken advantage of the rates the whole autumn, and I guess I will keep the business "inbound" on a high level 'til it changes. And, what is quite good as well, many sellers in the Ukraine and other locations "east" (except for Estonia/Tallinn it seems) also use the dollar! /Patrik

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