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An open Message to KRISTINA KLAUSEN Re: Specified Shipping Costs |
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Auction Voice
13 May 2008
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The Problems with Specified Shipping Costs and Why ebaY's Changes are Deeply Flawed
MESSAGE TO KRISTINA KLAUSEN Re: Specified Shipping Costs
http://forums.ebay.com/db1/thread.jspa?threadID=1000697586
Dear Ms. Klausen:
Are you really going to punish proven, high-feedback sellers who sell items without specified shipping, by giving them less exposure in a "Best Match" because they cannot comply with the new "specified shipping cost" rules?
I have to assume that you don't spend much time around really old car parts or cars...and have never handled or sold any of them. If you did - you might better understand why it is nearly impossible to specify a shipping cost.
Try to imagine a head gasket - for example. These pieces encompass the majority of items I sell. If you've never seen one, picture two pieces of very thin copper with a piece of asbestos sandwiched between them - lengths range between 16" - 40", widths range from 5" to 16", and each no more than 1/8" thick. Corners bend if handled incorrectly, asbestos tears, copper buckles/crimps... in other words, it's a very fragile piece.
Now try to imagine a muffler, manifold, and other similar items.
To make sure my items arrive safely and in one piece - these gaskets are mounted on boards cut to size, wrapped with several layers of padded tissue, sandwiched between two cut pieces of heavy cardboard - the same size as the boards, taped closed, overwrapped with heavy brown paper, and taped up with USPS Priority Tape. EACH piece takes well over 30 minutes to pack and prepare!!! For that effort, and for the expenses of my packaging materials, I charge a $1.50 handling fee on top of actual costs.
International packing is different - depending on the size of the gasket. Sometimes it's cheaper to box...sometimes the wood has to be thicker. Packing method cannot be determined until I know the winner's country.
In any event - the packing weight of the domestic piece and weight of an international piece is almost always different.
Many times, buyers will bid on/win more than one item. Again, specially sized packages/boards/packing materials are created specifically for THEIR win.
My friends ship world-wide: fenders, glass, fragile pieces of chrome, manifolds, transmission parts...and other items that need to be individually packed, boxed, or crated. Again, many of these people sell more than one part to the same person, and sometimes, combining items is workable, and other times, it's not.
In other words, Ms. Klausen -- I cannot "pre-pack" my gaskets for Ebay's benefit. I can't even come up with a "ballpark" weight, because it depends on the wood cut at the time, and weight of the cardboard. I don't "cut" unless the item has a winning bidder. A bad guess would be deceptive. Each situation is handled individually.
My shipping statements are as follows:
US SHIPPING: Buyer will pay for safely packed Priority Mail PLUS Delivery Confirmation PLUS $1.50 Handling. Same/next day shipping upon payment by Money Order!
INTERNATIONAL/CANADIAN SHIPPING: I am pleased to do a very large amount of overseas business! However, special terms apply: Shipping/handling charges will be higher, and will be determined after I have your address.
I'm not the only "old car" person with exemplary feedback who has to specially create crates, boxes, or other packing methods for a specific item - AFTER it is sold.
People in the antique/vintage car business understand this.
Why are you going to punish good sellers, and make us comply with rules that CANNOT and DO NOT comply with our business?
How are you going to handle situations like these, when we can't follow your rules??
Your response is appreciated - as this message has been passed on to a list of 25+ 1000+ HIGH feedback Ebay sellers of vintage car parts, who do not post on these discussion boards.
Thank you.
Caryl
