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Location: West Los Angeles and Rancho Palos Verdes
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In a recent Amazon order, I was charged $4.99 for shipping for one of the items from a third party vendor. However, after the item from the third party vendor arrived, I saw $1.95 on the package. So then, the extra $3 I paid was for somebody to put my order in an envelope?
In a recent Amazon order, I was charged $4.99 for shipping for one of the items from a third party vendor. However, after the item from the third party vendor arrived, I saw $1.95 on the package. So then, the extra $3 I paid was for somebody to put my order in an envelope?
that was a "shipping and handling" charge, which includes the actual cost of shipment, the packaging materials, and a cost of handling the package (preparing for shipment, getting it to the shipper, etc).
On a flat fee basis for small items, this may or may not represent those costs of operation and in some cases, the company may use the S&H charges as a profit center for the business. I've seen small items bring in more profit for the S&H side of the business than the profit on the product with some companies.
That's why it's necessary to verify what a product will cost to ship it to you before ordering it. I've seen this frequently when dealing with on-line purchases, so you must look at the total cost of the item delivered to you. Sometimes it's just not worth it compared to buying locally at a higher price for the item.
Next time google the item you're looking for and see if there is a better price and shipping combo. I've found ordering items directly from the 3rd party vendor is less than ordering it through Amazon. Its like the stair threads I just recieved. They were 14.99 plus 6.99 for shipping at Amazon, but yet at the website for the vendor it was 12.99 plus 1.99. I guess they have to up the price inorder to pay Amazon for listing it. I've noticed these upcharges on Amazon numerous times compared to getting it directly from the 3rd party vendor.
Sellers on Amazon cannot negotiate shipping prices. Amazon sets the shipping price. So it's not the seller charging you $4.99. It's Amazon charging you $4.99 and passing it down to the seller.
i used to be an ebay platinum seller. I'm going to share something with you guys i never really told anyone. eBay charges outrageous fees for sellers to list their product. Amazon is even worse. As a former seller, I used to have to think of ways to keep as much of my money as possible. "If" I had the product in stock and already packed, I knew this could make it across the US in 3 business days using USPS 1st class mail. It cost less than $2.00. But when I sold something I would charge $4.99 and say it would arrive in 3 business days via USPS priority shipping. Since I knew that I kicked arse in shipping, I looked it as an incentive. The only time I would do this was if I could do same day shipping.
So when I saved $2 per shipment across 250 shipments, that was $500 per month that I kept instead of the Post Office keeping it. The packages always got to the customer before the stated time on the ad.
i used to be an ebay platinum seller. I'm going to share something with you guys i never really told anyone. eBay charges outrageous fees for sellers to list their product. Amazon is even worse. As a former seller, I used to have to think of ways to keep as much of my money as possible. "If" I had the product in stock and already packed, I knew this could make it across the US in 3 business days using USPS 1st class mail. It cost less than $2.00. But when I sold something I would charge $4.99 and say it would arrive in 3 business days via USPS priority shipping. Since I knew that I kicked arse in shipping, I looked it as an incentive. The only time I would do this was if I could do same day shipping.
So when I saved $2 per shipment across 250 shipments, that was $500 per month that I kept instead of the Post Office keeping it. The packages always got to the customer before the stated time on the ad.
Um, but if you said it would arrive by PRIORITY MAIL, that should have meant you sent it by PRIORITY MAIL. So you lied to all your customers?
So when I saved $2 per shipment across 250 shipments, that was $500 per month that I kept instead of the Post Office keeping it. The packages always got to the customer before the stated time on the ad.
Actually, that would be money your CUSTOMERS could have kept if you didn't lie to them!
i used to be an ebay platinum seller. I'm going to share something with you guys i never really told anyone. eBay charges outrageous fees for sellers to list their product. Amazon is even worse. As a former seller, I used to have to think of ways to keep as much of my money as possible. "If" I had the product in stock and already packed, I knew this could make it across the US in 3 business days using USPS 1st class mail. It cost less than $2.00. But when I sold something I would charge $4.99 and say it would arrive in 3 business days via USPS priority shipping. Since I knew that I kicked arse in shipping, I looked it as an incentive. The only time I would do this was if I could do same day shipping.
So when I saved $2 per shipment across 250 shipments, that was $500 per month that I kept instead of the Post Office keeping it. The packages always got to the customer before the stated time on the ad.
I don't sell on Amazon so I don't know their fees... but eBay fees are fairly low. I'm a big seller on eBay and only pay 13%-16% in fees.
I sold a book on Ebay the other day. Rather heavy book.
I had my shipping and handling at $5.99.
The buyer, after he bought the book, then tells me, he just noticed, the shipping is higher than Ebay suggest for books which is $4.00.
He came slightly close to demanding that I change it to $4.00.
I did, and then when I created the shipping label it was $3.97.
If it had been a few ounces more it would have cost me about $4.14 even with media mail.
He got the book for far less, than other sellers got, for the same book.
That $4.00 limit has also prevented me from selling a set of books.
As well as more than one old magazine in a lot of 2 or more.
I have a very old set of books from early 1900's.
The weight far exceeds the $4.00 shipping limit, set by Ebay. Which they do in certain categories.
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