Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
I wrote him back and advised that if he made a mistake in listing the postage cost that is not my responsibility.
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When I used to sell a lot of stuff on eBay, I made it a point in my listings to say, "Never a charge for handling", and never charged more than what I actually paid for postage or shipping costs.
Then, eBay went through a phase where sellers would show massive shipping charges in their listings, but charge virtually nothing for the item itself, because eBay did not charge a commission on shipping charges. That's changed. Now eBay also charges commission on the shipping charges. That, in and of itself, is probably an inducement to sellers to inflate their shipping charges.
You might consider visiting Italy's postal service site and see if you can calculate the actual postage on a theoretical shipment to yourself. That's some good leverage to negotiate with the seller on the shipping charges.
But, I'd probably have done what you did.
Some of these South American countries (Argentina, for example) have experienced such severe inflation rates that they can hardly ship anything by airmail for less than like, $12. On the one hand, I think too bad for them. On the other hand, there are a few Argentinian sellers that I have bought quite a lot of stuff from, and it pains me to have to forgo bidding on their stuff because the shipping charges are so high in the listings.
-Paul
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"Some of these South American countries (Argentina, for example) have experienced such severe inflation rates that they can hardly ship anything by airmail for less than like, $12. "
This sounds more like Post Office rip-off rates, unless from the time the $12 gets converted into local currency and the time postage needs to be paid, there is a new 400% inflation in place.
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I guess I forgot to mention this guy is in Italy. I don't think it costs even the $4 postage listed in the auction lot to send me a single cover from Italy.
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" I don't think it costs even the $4 postage listed "
Depending on the size and thickness of the cover therefore the package:-
From the UK it would be either, $3.54 or $5.84 or for registered $14.80
People forget that over the last few years prices have sky rocketed.
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Um, to refute cougar, here's an earlier posting:
Argentine Inflation Cover
The cover bears postage of 470 pesos.
At the time, the exchange rate was about 40 pesos to the dollar, and was going up at the rate of about 7% per month. You do the math.
-Paul
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Even a letter of double weight of 100grams would be 4.8 euros to send to the US.
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Ya, today, 4.8 Euros is $5.74 (xe.com).
If I really wanted the Italian lot, and I felt like being perfectly fair, I'd offer to split the difference with the seller.
-Paul
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Antonio is also one of the two auctioneers here, and, as the other, I need to weigh in. Our rules say that unless you indicate otherwise, one must charge ONLY the cost of the postage, otherwise, the posted amount is what you can charge. If the lot showed $4 postage, that is the max the seller can charge.
In a dispute, that's precisely how an SOR auctioneer would, and must, rule.
David
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11:37:22am
I agree, a rule is a rule. But then I might consider the postage price bump if it was a person with whom I had been buying for a while. Trying to enforce the contract in Italy might be a drag, especially if he already had received the stated amount.
"È Ransom, dico, Ransom !!! "
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Charlie,
we have lots of informal accommodations done among generous and kind people. That is for them to do.
once folks head outside the rules, the auctioneers wash our hands and feet of the matter.
We're delighted that things work well, even outside the auctioneers' oversight.
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This may be a weird twist on the topic, but...
In the last two days, I messaged a couple buyers that their purchases put them just over into a higher postage cost category.
And when I looked more closely at the mailing rates I noticed there were certain "inefficiencies of scale" in the pricing by Canada Post - so that if I took some extra time to split one large package into two, with the right combination of size and weight I could save them each $1-3. Happy to provide another envelope (which is not free to me) and spend the added time to do this - because I figure that is what we do for each other as part of the "SOR family".
And guess what? Both said "don't worry about it - just do what's easier for you - a couple bucks won't break me".
Yet another reason why being a member of SOR is simply great!
David.
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This story has a happy ending. I got the cover. I believe it to be a registered, prepaid cover from the town of Este to Padua in Italy.
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I know it's unrelated, but I'm sputtering this morning. I just received a complaint about a Hipstamp Order where the customer damaged a stamp when removing it from the Envelope. Why tell me???
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Jings!.....Crivvens!......Help Ma Boab!
Of course it is your fault.
You are responsible for everything:-
If the sun don't shine.
If the envelope gets lost in the post.
If the customer loses a $10 Note.
If they lose their smartphone.
If their cat gets chased by dog.
The cost of gas.
If they spill their beer.
Welcome to planet earth Bob!
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One possibility is that the receiver is trying to provide some useful information on your packaging. I have received some stamps packaged in such a way that it took me as long as 10 minutes to get the stamps out of the packaging materials and it was at great risk to the contents. Just a thought! 
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I've had hundred year old stamps arrive as a blob due to wet weather. I've had stamps arrive in packaging upon which dynamite would have had little effect.
However, there are polite ways to pass this information back to the seller.
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Yup!
Packaging, or the lack of it, can be a problem.
But it is to be expected as not everyone has the knowledge and experience to package correctly.
Of course you then get the buyers that say you can get 200 stamps into an envelope and post it for 66 cents to the other side of the world. They never think that stamps have to be protected from the way postal services handle mail.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avU2aarQUiU
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03:25:27pm
It all depends on HOW you try to take the stamps out of the packaging. The sender usually tries to make the material as secure as possible. They tape down the flaps of glassine envelopes, tape envelopes to cards to stiffen them, etc. It's up to the buyer to be careful getting at the material. There's always the temptation to rip things open to get at the stamps we want to see so badly. If we damage an item due to lack of patience, then it's our problem, not yours!
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I have never used tape when packaging. There is no need if packed properly.
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The tape used could always be the "magic" type that it totally peelable. I do find that some folks get a bit carried away with the packaging, at times I have to actually cut the envelope to even start slitting the edge.
But better safe than sorry, and I'm still waiting on items posted last year in November and December. Time to write to Canada Post, their chat line is useless and I'd rather not 'phone. Not that I expect they will do anything.
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" at times I have to actually cut the envelope to even start slitting the edge."
To me this is the most common problem but the seller is obviously trying to make sure the flap doesn't catch in the automatic sorting machinery.
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07:16:01pm
" ... I have received some stamps packaged in such a way that it took me as long as 10 minutes to get the stamps out of the packaging materials and it was at great risk to the contents. Just a thought! Happy ..."
When I come across that kind of packaging, I simply snip off the corner,
slide an M-50 firecracker into the envelope, light the fuse, and stand
stand back.
-=BOOM=-
And the stamps come falling from the ceiling to where they can be swept
up with a broom.
That also solves the Dennison hinge problem.
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The only tape I use around stamps is the removable Magic Tape...type 3M 811.
rrr...
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Keep in mind the postage for sending a cover to me was already at $4. This fellow in Italy is telling me I have to pay $8 for postage to the US. Of course the lot gave a postage cost of $4 and no additional information was included about extra cost of postage to foreign destinations.
I wrote him back and advised that if he made a mistake in listing the postage cost that is not my responsibility.
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01:49:13pm
re: Overseas Ebay seller just messaged me I owe twice the postage listed in the lot
When I used to sell a lot of stuff on eBay, I made it a point in my listings to say, "Never a charge for handling", and never charged more than what I actually paid for postage or shipping costs.
Then, eBay went through a phase where sellers would show massive shipping charges in their listings, but charge virtually nothing for the item itself, because eBay did not charge a commission on shipping charges. That's changed. Now eBay also charges commission on the shipping charges. That, in and of itself, is probably an inducement to sellers to inflate their shipping charges.
You might consider visiting Italy's postal service site and see if you can calculate the actual postage on a theoretical shipment to yourself. That's some good leverage to negotiate with the seller on the shipping charges.
But, I'd probably have done what you did.
Some of these South American countries (Argentina, for example) have experienced such severe inflation rates that they can hardly ship anything by airmail for less than like, $12. On the one hand, I think too bad for them. On the other hand, there are a few Argentinian sellers that I have bought quite a lot of stuff from, and it pains me to have to forgo bidding on their stuff because the shipping charges are so high in the listings.
-Paul
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re: Overseas Ebay seller just messaged me I owe twice the postage listed in the lot
"Some of these South American countries (Argentina, for example) have experienced such severe inflation rates that they can hardly ship anything by airmail for less than like, $12. "
This sounds more like Post Office rip-off rates, unless from the time the $12 gets converted into local currency and the time postage needs to be paid, there is a new 400% inflation in place.
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re: Overseas Ebay seller just messaged me I owe twice the postage listed in the lot
I guess I forgot to mention this guy is in Italy. I don't think it costs even the $4 postage listed in the auction lot to send me a single cover from Italy.
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03:03:59pm
Auctions - Approvals
re: Overseas Ebay seller just messaged me I owe twice the postage listed in the lot
" I don't think it costs even the $4 postage listed "
Depending on the size and thickness of the cover therefore the package:-
From the UK it would be either, $3.54 or $5.84 or for registered $14.80
People forget that over the last few years prices have sky rocketed.
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03:18:32pm
re: Overseas Ebay seller just messaged me I owe twice the postage listed in the lot
Um, to refute cougar, here's an earlier posting:
Argentine Inflation Cover
The cover bears postage of 470 pesos.
At the time, the exchange rate was about 40 pesos to the dollar, and was going up at the rate of about 7% per month. You do the math.
-Paul
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re: Overseas Ebay seller just messaged me I owe twice the postage listed in the lot
Even a letter of double weight of 100grams would be 4.8 euros to send to the US.
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05:25:56pm
re: Overseas Ebay seller just messaged me I owe twice the postage listed in the lot
Ya, today, 4.8 Euros is $5.74 (xe.com).
If I really wanted the Italian lot, and I felt like being perfectly fair, I'd offer to split the difference with the seller.
-Paul
Login to Like
this post
re: Overseas Ebay seller just messaged me I owe twice the postage listed in the lot
Antonio is also one of the two auctioneers here, and, as the other, I need to weigh in. Our rules say that unless you indicate otherwise, one must charge ONLY the cost of the postage, otherwise, the posted amount is what you can charge. If the lot showed $4 postage, that is the max the seller can charge.
In a dispute, that's precisely how an SOR auctioneer would, and must, rule.
David
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Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy..
30 Mar 2021
11:37:22am
re: Overseas Ebay seller just messaged me I owe twice the postage listed in the lot
I agree, a rule is a rule. But then I might consider the postage price bump if it was a person with whom I had been buying for a while. Trying to enforce the contract in Italy might be a drag, especially if he already had received the stated amount.
"È Ransom, dico, Ransom !!! "
Login to Like
this post
re: Overseas Ebay seller just messaged me I owe twice the postage listed in the lot
Charlie,
we have lots of informal accommodations done among generous and kind people. That is for them to do.
once folks head outside the rules, the auctioneers wash our hands and feet of the matter.
We're delighted that things work well, even outside the auctioneers' oversight.
Login to Like
this post
08:22:19pm
re: Overseas Ebay seller just messaged me I owe twice the postage listed in the lot
This may be a weird twist on the topic, but...
In the last two days, I messaged a couple buyers that their purchases put them just over into a higher postage cost category.
And when I looked more closely at the mailing rates I noticed there were certain "inefficiencies of scale" in the pricing by Canada Post - so that if I took some extra time to split one large package into two, with the right combination of size and weight I could save them each $1-3. Happy to provide another envelope (which is not free to me) and spend the added time to do this - because I figure that is what we do for each other as part of the "SOR family".
And guess what? Both said "don't worry about it - just do what's easier for you - a couple bucks won't break me".
Yet another reason why being a member of SOR is simply great!
David.
5 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
re: Overseas Ebay seller just messaged me I owe twice the postage listed in the lot
This story has a happy ending. I got the cover. I believe it to be a registered, prepaid cover from the town of Este to Padua in Italy.
3 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
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re: Overseas Ebay seller just messaged me I owe twice the postage listed in the lot
I know it's unrelated, but I'm sputtering this morning. I just received a complaint about a Hipstamp Order where the customer damaged a stamp when removing it from the Envelope. Why tell me???
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09:34:50am
Auctions - Approvals
re: Overseas Ebay seller just messaged me I owe twice the postage listed in the lot
Jings!.....Crivvens!......Help Ma Boab!
Of course it is your fault.
You are responsible for everything:-
If the sun don't shine.
If the envelope gets lost in the post.
If the customer loses a $10 Note.
If they lose their smartphone.
If their cat gets chased by dog.
The cost of gas.
If they spill their beer.
Welcome to planet earth Bob!
2 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
re: Overseas Ebay seller just messaged me I owe twice the postage listed in the lot
One possibility is that the receiver is trying to provide some useful information on your packaging. I have received some stamps packaged in such a way that it took me as long as 10 minutes to get the stamps out of the packaging materials and it was at great risk to the contents. Just a thought!
2 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
re: Overseas Ebay seller just messaged me I owe twice the postage listed in the lot
I've had hundred year old stamps arrive as a blob due to wet weather. I've had stamps arrive in packaging upon which dynamite would have had little effect.
However, there are polite ways to pass this information back to the seller.
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
03:00:49pm
Auctions - Approvals
re: Overseas Ebay seller just messaged me I owe twice the postage listed in the lot
Yup!
Packaging, or the lack of it, can be a problem.
But it is to be expected as not everyone has the knowledge and experience to package correctly.
Of course you then get the buyers that say you can get 200 stamps into an envelope and post it for 66 cents to the other side of the world. They never think that stamps have to be protected from the way postal services handle mail.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avU2aarQUiU
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This is my diabetic cat OBI! I think, therefore I am - I think! Descartes, sort of!
18 Apr 2021
03:25:27pm
re: Overseas Ebay seller just messaged me I owe twice the postage listed in the lot
It all depends on HOW you try to take the stamps out of the packaging. The sender usually tries to make the material as secure as possible. They tape down the flaps of glassine envelopes, tape envelopes to cards to stiffen them, etc. It's up to the buyer to be careful getting at the material. There's always the temptation to rip things open to get at the stamps we want to see so badly. If we damage an item due to lack of patience, then it's our problem, not yours!
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03:33:31pm
Auctions - Approvals
re: Overseas Ebay seller just messaged me I owe twice the postage listed in the lot
I have never used tape when packaging. There is no need if packed properly.
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re: Overseas Ebay seller just messaged me I owe twice the postage listed in the lot
The tape used could always be the "magic" type that it totally peelable. I do find that some folks get a bit carried away with the packaging, at times I have to actually cut the envelope to even start slitting the edge.
But better safe than sorry, and I'm still waiting on items posted last year in November and December. Time to write to Canada Post, their chat line is useless and I'd rather not 'phone. Not that I expect they will do anything.
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05:54:39pm
Auctions - Approvals
re: Overseas Ebay seller just messaged me I owe twice the postage listed in the lot
" at times I have to actually cut the envelope to even start slitting the edge."
To me this is the most common problem but the seller is obviously trying to make sure the flap doesn't catch in the automatic sorting machinery.
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Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy..
22 Apr 2021
07:16:01pm
re: Overseas Ebay seller just messaged me I owe twice the postage listed in the lot
" ... I have received some stamps packaged in such a way that it took me as long as 10 minutes to get the stamps out of the packaging materials and it was at great risk to the contents. Just a thought! Happy ..."
When I come across that kind of packaging, I simply snip off the corner,
slide an M-50 firecracker into the envelope, light the fuse, and stand
stand back.
-=BOOM=-
And the stamps come falling from the ceiling to where they can be swept
up with a broom.
That also solves the Dennison hinge problem.
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
Approvals
re: Overseas Ebay seller just messaged me I owe twice the postage listed in the lot
The only tape I use around stamps is the removable Magic Tape...type 3M 811.
rrr...
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