[ARC5] R23A - Go Figure

[WA5CAB at cs.com]

At least for USPS. the main things we find wrong with the eBay shipping 
rate calculator come up whenever we sell two or more different items to the 
same buyer.  The rate calculator calculates the shipping on each item and sums 
that instead of adding up the individual shipping weights and then 
calculating postage for that.  The result may be a little high (unless individually 
the items could ship First Class but combined they have to go Priority) 
because the individual weights are gross, not net.  But not as bad as the way 
they do it.  Of course their programmer was also too dumb to know there is a 13 
ounce limit on First Class.  Which is the other problem.  Otherwise, the 
only real complaint we have involves Sales Tax, which they seem to turn on and 
off at random.  And their constant harping on Free Shipping.  To which I 
always say "TANSTAAFL".

But otherwise, since we post actual shipping weights and don't (despite 
their prodding) use UPS, for single items they get the same answer we do.

In a message dated 11/5/2010 1:19:35 PM Central Daylight Time, 
kk7iz at cox.net writes: 
> Thing is, its all based on honesty. If you tell the calculator your piece 
> of 
> 5 lb junk weighs 20 lbs its gonna figger shipping on 20 lbs and you are 
> gonna pocket the dif. Ebich has no way of knowing what your stuff actually 
> 
> weighs so they depend on the "honesty" of the seller.
> Thanx
> Lloyd Godsey  KK7IZ
> kk7iz at cox.net
> 480-620-7145
> www.kk7iz-parts.com
> www.lloydsdipsydumpster.com/
> 
> --------------------------------------------------
> From: "Michael A. Bittner" <mmab at cox.net>
> Sent: Friday, November 05, 2010 9:48 AM
> To: <kgordon2006 at frontier.com>; "Discussion of AN/ARC-5 military radio 
> equipment." <arc5 at mailman.qth.net>
> Subject: Re: [ARC5] R23A - Go Figure
> 
> >I have found that eBay's shipping calculator agrees with the USPS 
> shipping 
> >calculator based on weight, box size, shipping distance and type of 
> >service. If not USPS, who knows what the stated shipping cost is based 
> on? 
> >I add a handling charge that is equal to my actual cost of the shipping 
> >box, but only when I have to buy same and can't use a used box.  I still 
> >loose on this due to the cost of packing materials and tape. Of course, 
> >PayPal takes its cut out of everything including shipping charges. 
> >Nevertheless, an occasionally a buyer will give me a bad rating because 
> he 
> >thinks the shipping cost was excessive. Something as a seller you just 
> >have to live with.   Mike W6MAB
> >
> >  ----- Original Message ----- 
> >  From: Kenneth G. Gordon
> >  To: Arc5 at mailman.qth.net
> >  Sent: Friday, November 05, 2010 8:55 AM
> >  Subject: Re: [ARC5] R23A - Go Figure
> >
> >
> >  On 5 Nov 2010 at 11:09, gordon white wrote:
> >
> >  >How does he get $42 for shipping?
> >  >   - Gordon White
> >
> >  Ebay now has a policy that the seller MUST use eBay's shipping 
> >calculator. I
> >  don't know what the figure is based on, but I suspect it is based on 
> the
> >  asking price. ACTUAL shipping costs should be much less, normally.
> >
> >  However, not all sellers acknowledge any of the above facts. Some do, 
> >some
> >  don't. Those that do, charge the buyer actual costs. The others take 
> what
> >  they can get.
> 

Robert & Susan Downs - Houston
wa5cab dot com (Web Store)
MVPA 9480