[Bunno Smurf]

Its been a long time since I won some sockels so cheaply. I won these two this morning for only 99c each ($US). Hope they don't rort me on the postage now!

[Syd Smurf]

Nice buys Linda and what a great price. It's always nice when you find great bargains like this.

Let me guess...the postage will be about $13 US give or take $50 for gas, tyre usage, brake fluid usage, personal time off to post the package and the fact that it's international postage and that means it would be so much more difficult to deal with.

I hope they don't do that to you...I have 4 invoices which I am dealing with cos they want about $50 Aus to post the item when it should be under $20 in the real world. I gave my brother some cash to use his account but now I am worried that there won't be any credit left in his account by the time I sort these postage rorts out. I think we would save a bundle if we actually moved to the US.

Dyar

[Bunno Smurf]

They're only charging $3US for priority mail in the US so I am fairly confident that they will be reasonable. Its scary when they're charging $10 or so just in the US when you know they can post it to you for that! It does also say on the auctions that theres no extra postage charge for the 2nd or 3rd item so thats encouraging also. I am expecting the postage to cost around $5 or $6 at the most.

But yeah, I know what you mean!

[Syd Smurf]

We should have that seller stuffed and mounted when they cark it

Nice to hear that you REALLY did find a bargain there Linda...well done

Dyar

[Smurfysmurf]

Sounds like you found a good seller, the minimum cost for shipping priority usually is $4.05 or around that amount, so I think they would have shipped that via First Class, which seems to be a fair price... let us know if they are fair to you also.....

I am really shocked to read about all the trouble you guys have with US sellers. .. it can be a hassle sometimes to ship overseas but usually it's not that much trouble. ... there is no reason for overcharging you guys by that much, however, you have to keep in mind that shipping a package overseas via Airmail is expensive.... for example, I shipped a package to Finland today with around 25 smurfs in it and actual shipping cost me $11.00 because it was not letter mail but parcel mail.... I was pretty shocked about that especially since I hadn't charged the buyer quite that much for shipping... but I rather undercharge then overcharge.

[Syd Smurf]

Hi Maureen

I usually have a pretty good idea on what the postage should be and Linda and me don't usually complain if we are overcharged anything under $5 but I have been charged 3 times the actual postage cost on the package several times which has made me focus on this a little more especially when the postage is for larger packages.

I usually cop abuse when I kindly question why I have to pay so much, which I think has made the situation worse for me as the sellers get really defensive about it and start calling me another ebay lunatic.....the problem is that ebay does not support the buyers who are getting ripped off so it's just a case of accepting it or refusing to deal with the sellers. I have argued my case with sellers before sending the payment and the seller has gone through all of the reasons why they had to overcharge including paying for envelopes and boxes, even when it comes in a recycled box they still claim they had to buy it. It drives me mad and I will probably stop buying from the US as it just isn't feasible anymore. I have also noticed that it has become more popular overcharging in the the UK & Australia as well. I don't seem to have problems in Europe and if I do it seems to be quickly sorted out. Maybe it's because these sellers also buy and get charged extra and therefore return the favour when they sell to other people...who knows. I haven't received any neg feedbacks as yet but I think I have been around long enough now to not care so much about getting some bad feedbacks as some people are really just rorting the system.

A classic example is gas money. If a seller sells about 10 items each week which is not that much and charges $5 gas money on top each time then they are basically filling up their car at other people's expense....sounds like a pretty good scam to me but I just couldn't live with myself charging people like that and I don't charge any handling or packaging fees at all. I have no problems with sellers charging packaging expenses as that is fair enough but I don't drive their car and therefore I fail to see why I should have to pay for their gas/petrol. As far as I am concerned they would have to drive past a Post Office anyway at some stage during the week so they should just post the items then even if it's not straight away. If they feel they have to charge gas/petrol money then I think the only fair way of doing this is to add it to the starting price at the beginning but some sellers won't be prepared to do that cos that means they get less money. However if they don't, then their starting price is not really accurate as there are hidden charges that will automatically be added to that price at the end which seems deceitful and misleading to the buyer.

I am probably boring people with this rant but I am always paying more for postage than I do for the items which is a bit annoying after a while....a bit like these rants

Dyar

PS - OK, I am going to the sin bin for a while until Karen or Rach says I am allowed to play nicely again.

[attombomb7]

hi!

first I should say how nice those socles are! love those!

nice win!


second I agree with outrageous shipping charges are profit making sellers look really disgusting..

I have had so many auctions I've won blackmail me into paying more

then is fair.. sometimes I get a lot for $3.50 us shipping from Europe to

Canada and other times I get a $14.00 shipping charge for one smurf!

the shipping on EBAY is so out of wack!

off course the good sellers are always fair!

[SMURFYSTEVE1]

Lovin those Sockels Linda and at such a bargain price too If the seller comes through with cheap shipping for you then it sounds like they're worth their weight in sockels...........
Smurfy regards
Steve

[Bunno Smurf]

$11 for 25 smurfs seems a reasonable cost to me, Maureen. I was charged $18US postage for 5 smurfs and when the package arrived the actual postage on it was $8.85US. That kind of thing really really annoys me. I can understand a couple of dollars to cover packaging and even maybe paypal fees but $9 more is excessive.

While I am ranting I will rant about the Paypal exchange rate. Is it just me or is the exchange rate always in favour of Paypal by a lot??? When I look at the price in $AU on ebay the item is one price and 5 secs later when I pay for it on Paypal its $5+ dearer. I thought ebay and paypal were owned by the same people so this seems strange to me. I'm sure Paypal is skimming a bit off the top. Last time I had a refund on an amount over $100 I lost about $11 on the conversion back too. I can't believe the rates changed that much in a month or so.

[Smurfysmurf]

Hi Dyar,
I totally agree with you. I have seen outrageous shipping charges even within the US, like $5.00 for one smurf via First Class, when it actually only costs $0.77 to ship one smurf and that's with delivery confirmation. I have now started to state that in the Feedback. If I am satisfied with the condition of the smurf, I still give them positive Feedback, but put a note in there that shipping was very unreasonable. It probably doesn't matter to the seller since they are still getting the positive Feedback though. There is one seller that used to charge outrageous shipping charges, but he received a lot negative Feedback and now has great shipping policies. So, if the seller gets enough negative Feedback, it does help...
The funny part is they only save ebay fees, because Paypal still charges them for the total amount, including shipping.

While I am ranting I will rant about the Paypal exchange rate. Is it just me or is the exchange rate always in favour of Paypal by a lot

I have never paid any attention to this......... but I will do so from now on, because that is absolutly shocking to me.....

ok, now I'll be on my rant, but I get tired of people just wanting to make a buck off the back of others (sorry, that's probably the wrong word, but it's too early for me to think clearly). . ebay for me is about fun and meeting people (albeit "only" via the internet) and if you manage to break even or even earn a bit of money, so much the better..... but don't cheat others out of their money

[Rachel]

Wonderful Linda, it is great to see such bargains.

They are lovely sockels too and the price just makes them even nicer.

[SA Smurfette]

Bargains Linda

Well done

I especially like the card player one

[steveparkes]

Nice sockels Linda..I'll get round to the sockles...eventually

[Bunno Smurf]

Well postage is $6.02...I guess the 2c is to round the amount to an even $8 lol. So $4US each for the sockels is still a great price and I am happy.

[Smurfysmurf]

I am glad it worked out so good for you.

[Little lucie @ Simon]

Congratulations Linda , those sockels are really nice, and a bargain too! How many sockels do you have now? Lucie

[Bunno Smurf]

Hi Lucie, I am not really sure. I have bought these two plus a drummer one and 5 Schonwalds in the last week. I think I have about 50 now as last time I counted I was sure I had about 38. When I get back home tomorrow I will count them and let you know

[XoioX2000]

Good stuff Linda!

What's the status of the great Australian Sockel race so far then??

:):):)

[Bunno Smurf]

I think its like this David:

Dyar: Kicking Butt - Linda: Sulking in the Corner

[SMURFYSTEVE1]

Smurfy regards
Steve