Panfilov 30 Mar 2008 4:45 p.m. PST
Agree, some real clueless buyers out there. You don't want to pay for packaging & handling?
I don't pay for packaging and handling. I have no problems with sellers who charge for packaging and handling, I just don't buy from them. If I sell something on ebay or elsewhere I don't charge for packaging and handling. If a business wants to operate on ebay they must be prepared to win/lose bidders for all sorts of reasons.
You think I can just pick up packaging materials on the street?
I never want for packing materials or boxes. Perhaps it's because I have kin all over the country. We used to take our excess styrofoam to one of the local commercial mailbox places. Now, to be fair, I'm not an ebay business so I'm not mailing dozens per day nor hundreds per month. However, I understand that charging the customer for boxes, packing materials, and handling may be part of the business model. And, there will be people that won't care about such, all they want are the minis – that's fine.
Except for the Priotity mail boxes, EVERYTHING costs.
Yes, everything costs. Every business decision must be weighed by what you gain and lose with each one. You win some customers, you lose some customers. If you win more than you lose you stay in business, if you don't……
…I PAY for them. Thus, the P&H Cost.
As a selfish consumer (they're the only kind), I'm not concerned with all the costs the seller accrues to get the product into my hands. As a selfish consumer I'm only concerned with the bottom line cost to me. If two hobby shops in the area sell the same item and one is less expensive than the other, all things being equal, I opt for the less expensive item. That's why Wal Mart, which I do NOT support, does a booming business. The consumer is interested in saving money, especially in a "recession."
PLUS, a hidden cost on ebay/PayPal (Remember, they are the same corporation), as the seller, you PAY (PayPal) a percentage of whatever I have invoiced for S&H; Thus, you are at BEST breaking even chargng $5 USD USD for the $4.60 USD USD Flat Rate Prioroity Mail.
I'm perfectly happy mailing an USPS MO, and waiting a week or two to get my items. Patience is a virtue.
Hey, do you walk to the Post Office?
Occasionally, I used to. They closed the local one in December. However, the next closest one is on my way to/from work, and isn't much further than the one recently closed. UPS store is just a block from the USPS. Two birds with one stone.
Neither do I, the IRS auto rate is now $.50 USD USD a mile. Which means it is low…
Sorry, I'm not a business so this doesn't affect me. However, I should think a business would load up the vehicle so the costs could be spread out among the customers and save wear and tear costs on the vehicle.
Also, please remember the original question from abelp01:
So to this end I have to ask: On what IS the consumer of the wargaming hobbies interested in bidding??
Speaking as a consumer, I answered his question honestly. To have ignored that particular personal preference would have been dishonest and misleading.
BTW – The issue of charging or not charging for packing, handling, and et cetera has been hashed about several times on TMP.
Cheers
experiments with Finger Drills.