Bo Eder
Platinum Member
I'm a little annoyed with this.
On eBay, when you see a listing, it usually tells you how much the cost of shipping is, or there's no cost of shipping, meaning they'll calculate it after the item is bought - which both are fair practices. Or, there could be free shipping.
I saw this neat vintage marching drum and along with the drum's Buy It Now price, there was also listed the shipping cost - a flat rate, so it doesn't matter where in the US it's going to - which is what I assumed. Also, on this drum there was a "Make an Offer" box.
So I make the offer, figuring if he accepts my offer, I know what the cost will be because the shipping is priced already.
Lo and behold, I get a counter-offer back that's higher, which isn't too strange (I can accept or decline it). The strange part is the price was higher because the shipping was higher to my zip code! The seller tells me because I'm so far away the shipping is higher, so he'll sell it to me at my price, but with an additional $6 on the shipping.
Granted, we're only talking $6, but on principle I declined. For one, I questioned him if I were closer, then I get a break on the shipping? And he said yes, meaning my price would be less. To which I asked, then why post a flat rate shipping price in the first place? It seemed a questionable practice to make the price go up or down because of the shipping, especially if you've already posted a flat-rate shipping price! He apologized for the confusion - whatever - but he'd split the $6 and still do the deal to make up for it.
I told him no, and that I'm buying a vintage snare that cost more than his anyway (just to make a point). I recommend he not post a shipping price if he was then going to base it off of the actual shipping cost to a location. Beware of the people who post a shipping cost and then change it, I say! Annoying.
Thanks for letting me vent.
On eBay, when you see a listing, it usually tells you how much the cost of shipping is, or there's no cost of shipping, meaning they'll calculate it after the item is bought - which both are fair practices. Or, there could be free shipping.
I saw this neat vintage marching drum and along with the drum's Buy It Now price, there was also listed the shipping cost - a flat rate, so it doesn't matter where in the US it's going to - which is what I assumed. Also, on this drum there was a "Make an Offer" box.
So I make the offer, figuring if he accepts my offer, I know what the cost will be because the shipping is priced already.
Lo and behold, I get a counter-offer back that's higher, which isn't too strange (I can accept or decline it). The strange part is the price was higher because the shipping was higher to my zip code! The seller tells me because I'm so far away the shipping is higher, so he'll sell it to me at my price, but with an additional $6 on the shipping.
Granted, we're only talking $6, but on principle I declined. For one, I questioned him if I were closer, then I get a break on the shipping? And he said yes, meaning my price would be less. To which I asked, then why post a flat rate shipping price in the first place? It seemed a questionable practice to make the price go up or down because of the shipping, especially if you've already posted a flat-rate shipping price! He apologized for the confusion - whatever - but he'd split the $6 and still do the deal to make up for it.
I told him no, and that I'm buying a vintage snare that cost more than his anyway (just to make a point). I recommend he not post a shipping price if he was then going to base it off of the actual shipping cost to a location. Beware of the people who post a shipping cost and then change it, I say! Annoying.
Thanks for letting me vent.