Shipping Costs!
Why are the shipping costs so variable from one store to another and why do some insist on registered post all the time where in many cases the shipping costs are more than the value of the stamps!
I know shipping costs are displayed but you don't always get to see them properly especially in auction. Once bitten twice shy though and I now keep a list of stores to avoid! What happened to common sense - first class for low value sales - registered for high value sales!
I know shipping costs are displayed but you don't always get to see them properly especially in auction. Once bitten twice shy though and I now keep a list of stores to avoid! What happened to common sense - first class for low value sales - registered for high value sales!
Comments
Regarding your comment regarding shipping registered for all high value sales. it is not always possible to ship registered mail, especially when it comes to international mail. Italy does not permit incoming registered mail. Canada does not handle registered mail from the US as registered mail. Some countries, like Bulgaria, require stamp shipments to be sent to a special postal department that then forwards the stamps to the recipient. Some countries that indicate a mail piece as "registered" is not truly registered by UPU rules. PR China is a good example. Those are a few samples, and the actual shipping costs can be affected by how the other country handles incoming mail.
If you have a question about shipping for something that you want to buy, the best thing to do is contact the seller. If you find a seller charging excessive shipping fees, then contact the site administration so they can investigate.
I'll keep hammering this issue until Mark recognizes the problem and fixes it.
Even John Coles has raised the issue, and was surprisingly ignored by management
.
On Ebay it is impossible to tell because the sellers are not allowed to give negative feedback to buyers anymore. But in well over 3000 transactions on Ebay I can only recall one item that was never received..
On the stamp sites like this one, there's feedback, but also take notice of when someone joined the site. How long have they been a member? If the site shows it, see how much they have bought and/or sold. Also, take notice of the members who are active in the discussion boards. Longevity and participation are good signs that you won't have any trouble with that person.
In my more than 20 years of selling online, I have had only 1 stamp shipment go missing, and I still question that buyer's integrity. In my more than 20 years of buying online, I have had four shipments never arrive. All were proved to have been bad sellers.
Finally, most stamp sites like this take quick action when a member acts fraudulently.
The rest is up to you regarding how much of a risk you are willing to take.
I have never had a shipment go missing when buying from States even with most sellers just sending 1st Class mail.
After the event of course - I now keep a list of the heavy chargers. Once you have a store name its quite quick to check and just not go there! There loss!
I know - check the feedback - well yes for both sellers and buyers!
I take it that stamp collectors are people just like me. They have a hobby that allows them to relax, have some leisure time a few hours a week. I don't start from the premise that buyers are out to defraud me.
So far. it has served me well, except maybe twice (Russia) many years ago. That has not stopped me from shipping to Russia, and all has been going smoothly these past few years. I must say that I regret no longer using nice, attractive stamps on shipments to Russia.
China, never had any problem. Italy, Spain, Mexico, only once. I have been selling since July 2000, over 10,000 transactions on various sites.
The only buyers that have requested and paid for registration were in the region of Egypt, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Republic, Saudi Arabia. They were all, without exception, fast payers too.
This has been my experience so far.
Francois
https://www.hipstamp.com/store/stampboutique
Here is a link to the Canada post customs by country rules, I'm sure Royal Mail has something similar...
https://www.canadapost.ca/tools/pg/manual/PGintdest-e.asp
Paul, I didn't know that so I must find out how to block. Can you apply that to auctions as well?
My approach is to sell with first class shipping and say that 'other' standards are available. If a buyer then prefers to have registered to protect their stamps they can drop a message and get a quote from me for the cost!
How do I block a seller.?
I am really tired of sellers who add 10-25c to each and every item, and offer a reduced shipping above such a high threshold that it is just impossible to meet. Being able to block them from my view permanently would keep my blood pressure down!
Along the same line, I am itching for the capability to block sellers to continuously advertise sales that are not!