[Milsurplus] Asking about lowest price

[CL in NC]

I have had luck with asking folks about maybe taking a lower price, especially when the epay shipping calculator seems off the chart.  On two items I bought, the sellers accepted my low ball  offer when, contingent upon receiving the unit and checking for completeness, where I said I would pay the full BIN if it checked out.  Both those deals, I did send them the rest of their BIN, they were probably surprised, but I was happy with both the things the sellers dealt on.  Some folks when you tell them them epay shipping seems excessive, will offer to refund the difference between epay and actual shipping.  Anything that will fit in a USPS flat rate box, needs to go that way as long as their is sufficient packing material.  Have you ever read the 'contract' you complete with FedEx or UPS?  In the fine print, it says items should be double boxed, in all new boxes, with a minimum of 4-6 inched of packing material between all 6 sides of the inner box and the outer, and be able to survive a 3ft fall.  How many items have you received a box with the item, or inner box, resting on the bottom, and covered with packing worms?  The item has to be suspended in a cushion that has give on all sides, and a solid boxed item surrounded with hard styrofoam sheeting is like no outer box at all.  Watch a youtube video of what happens to packages, and you will be amazed at the impacts they endure.  When you pack something up, take pictures of the process, this will expedite your claims when they destroy your treasure.  People ship broken items to their relatives and make claims for damages that did not exist, and the shippers first thought is that is what you have done too.

Charlie, W4MEC in NC