[Boatanchors] Estate Sale on eBay

[fkamp at comcast.net]

Michael Crestohl wrote:
> 
>    It  is  interesting  to see the stuff that is being sold off.  It's no
>    surprise that
>    eBay has replaced the flea market/hamfest; a discussion that has take
>    place ad infinitum for the past 5 or 6 years.
>    Incidentally, eBay will be 10 years old this coming weekend!
>    Wonder  why  you/they  are charging so much to ship this stuff.  A key
>    can easily
>    be  sent  for  $3.85  by Priority Post yet the listed charges are over
>    $9.00.

I have often wondered about high shipping charges
and it has been a hot topic of discussion.  I
suspect they are including the cost of packageing
materials and, perhaps labor. In the case of an
estate sale or where there may be lots of stuff,
the seller may be taking the items to a
packing/shipping service.  Those places always
seem to be outrageously expensive, but if you can
pass on the cost to the buyer, it is no longer the
shippers problem.  They may also be trying to
recoup the listing fee that ebay charges.  From a
sellers viewpoint, that may be fair. Not many of
us would work for free, donate shipping materials
or not be pained to pay the listing fee. From a
buyers perspective, the high shipping may be a
deal breaker.  You have to remember that most
people dont sell on ebay to loose money.  So it
all hinges on what total cost a buyer is willing
to bear and how badly he wants that exceedingly
rare, mint conditon, untested, as-is, boatanchor
item.

Regards,
Frank Kamp
K5DKZ