12-27-2003, 11:08 PM
I am getting more and more annoyed over the way some sellers (mostly eBay but also other ones) treat customers, especially from overseas. I can tell from the beginning, to avoid confusion, that this does not apply any of you here in the forum.
First - about shipping rates.
The last week I have been "negotiating" with a company that sells various militaria. For two small items (two copies of HSU) I would be charged 9 USD shipping PLUS 2 USD handling fee. This was for normal 10 day air mail, which can be done for 4.75 USD according to other letters with similar items that I have recieved lately.
Another company, with a huge inventory of eastern bloc items, ask 30 USD for any overseas shipment.
A third seller asks "three time domestic shipping rate". This mean, that I would have to pay 15 USD for one book.
Most annoying, I think, is when I recieve the item. The USPS tend to have the paid amount stamped on the letter. More than once, this amount have been far lower than what I have paid. Who took the rest? The seller of course, and it was pure profit.
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Second - what is a handling fee? I can't see the point, why do I have to pay the seller for buying from him? The grocery store on the corner does not ask me 3 euros fee (on top of the actual cost) when I buy my daily food, so why do I have to pay when buying things over the net? The amount I pay for the item itself should be enough "fee"! Or is the fee supposed to cover the work that the seller put in wrapping it? Then I would love to be a wrapping man, earning 3 EUR (or USD, whatever) per wrapped item.
What do you other people think? I am sick and tired of it, but what can one do?
/Patrik
First - about shipping rates.
The last week I have been "negotiating" with a company that sells various militaria. For two small items (two copies of HSU) I would be charged 9 USD shipping PLUS 2 USD handling fee. This was for normal 10 day air mail, which can be done for 4.75 USD according to other letters with similar items that I have recieved lately.
Another company, with a huge inventory of eastern bloc items, ask 30 USD for any overseas shipment.
A third seller asks "three time domestic shipping rate". This mean, that I would have to pay 15 USD for one book.
Most annoying, I think, is when I recieve the item. The USPS tend to have the paid amount stamped on the letter. More than once, this amount have been far lower than what I have paid. Who took the rest? The seller of course, and it was pure profit.
---
Second - what is a handling fee? I can't see the point, why do I have to pay the seller for buying from him? The grocery store on the corner does not ask me 3 euros fee (on top of the actual cost) when I buy my daily food, so why do I have to pay when buying things over the net? The amount I pay for the item itself should be enough "fee"! Or is the fee supposed to cover the work that the seller put in wrapping it? Then I would love to be a wrapping man, earning 3 EUR (or USD, whatever) per wrapped item.
What do you other people think? I am sick and tired of it, but what can one do?
/Patrik
