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| Thread ID: 125660 | 2012-07-11 06:43:00 | Inflated shipping and bidding rip-offs on TradeMe? | braindead (1685) | PC World Chat |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 1287721 | 2012-07-11 06:43:00 | Am I paranoid or do others here have the uncomfortable feeling that some sellers inflate their delivery prices to up their profit? I can't prove it but there seems to be a wide variation of freight costs for very similar items from different sellers in the same location. I also wonder if some sellers have a few mates to help drive up the bidding, evidenced by a string of bids from one "buyer" when there are few if any bids from others. What do you think? |
braindead (1685) | ||
| 1287722 | 2012-07-11 07:10:00 | You not paranoid at all. I have been wondering the same thing about price inflation. Some sellers charge way too much for shipping costs. The helping mates thing I have never experienced (I think). |
ChazTheGeek (16619) | ||
| 1287723 | 2012-07-11 07:24:00 | Some sellers may be making a small profit and boosting it by charging higher postage which would be Tax deductible if they are been IRd'ed That's why it is more attractive using DealExtreme or the likes as the item you buy is usually the price of just the postage here |
Lawrence (2987) | ||
| 1287724 | 2012-07-11 11:53:00 | Some may be charging for packaging time and materials. It can be quite time consuming for fragile items and although I have never charged myself, I have been charged a reasonable sum on odd occasions. I'm picking that the ones most likely to charge are either newbies or professionals, the rest apply the knock-for-nock principle. Cheers Billy 8-{) |
Billy T (70) | ||
| 1287725 | 2012-07-11 13:51:00 | I've noticed the high-volume-low-cost sellers often charge twice or even more what postage really costs, and also provide minimal or no packing, just a plain courier bag. Some charge courier prices (and may even state courier in the auction) then send via standard post. | Agent_24 (57) | ||
| 1287726 | 2012-07-11 21:02:00 | Just post this in your feedback. Or just contact the seller and ask for a better deal. | ooh yeh (2935) | ||
| 1287727 | 2012-07-11 21:53:00 | If you have a problem with the postage simply dont bid on the item - there, problem solved. | Clod (7853) | ||
| 1287728 | 2012-07-11 22:06:00 | This topic has been done to death many times in the discussion forums on Trademe. Simply put, you need to calculate the total cost for the item including postage. If the seller wants to overcharge for postage for various reasons, don't bid as high as you would on another auction with less postage. Some do rip you off for the actual cost of postage, others include costs of packaging, petrol to the courier point and their time (rather than just the cost of sending it). If you don't like it, bid elsewhere. You know what the cost will be before you bid so don't complain afterwards when you are charged that exact amount. Simple eh? | user (1404) | ||
| 1287729 | 2012-07-11 22:08:00 | A couple of times I've had what seems like excessive freight charges, but on the whole it's been fair. As for the multiple bids from one person that could just be autobid doing it's thing, I don't think it shows the bids that are lower than an existing autobid. And Clod, I'd agree except not everyone states shipping costs before the auction closes. When I sell stuff I usually ask the buyer what option he prefers, unless it's small and will fit in a prepaid bag. |
dugimodo (138) | ||
| 1287730 | 2012-07-12 22:22:00 | Yes dugmodo, your right to. Unless its something I think I really want I either ask the seller before bidding or dont bid if theres no postage price. | Clod (7853) | ||
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