When ever you buy an item that must be shipped to you make sure that you specify your preferred method of shipment. For example if you say first class mail insured and it is a porcelin plate; it isn't likely that the seller will send it in a padded envelope. If you say first class mail and stop there then there is no telling how they will pack the item. Some companies such as DHL, Fed X and UPS do not stop at post office boxes for insured shipments in the larger towns. In these circumstances you must specify USPS or priority mail.

       In my position as a seller i generally provide only priority mail. for one they provide most of the boxes [$3.85 for 1 pound and the cost goes up from there]. They do not provide packing material such as  peanuts , newspaper and bubble wrap [ approximately $1.45 per package]. The insurance is $1.15 and up depending on the value of PURCHASE [ not replacement]. Then some one has to pack it and take it to the post office [ time is money and so is gas and credit card charges approximate costs around $2.60 per item]. This is why my charges are stated so high in my shipping policy. Second priority mail is usually 2-5 days guaranteed. We as sellers also incure a lot more expense that the buyers don't even realize [ ebay ad costs can run from 85 cents up to $76.00 plus their commission on sold items approximately 5-10 percent of sale price and then there is the 3 and 1/2 percent paypal fee]. So when you see something start at 99 cents don't be surprised if the auction is canceled if the bids aren't appropriate within a reasonable amount of time. That 99 cent item cost the seller approximately $8.50 to ship , 80 cents to list or more , 9 cents for ebay commission, and 3 cents for paypal fees , plus our time [ the time is money too unless you are a charitible corporation]. True the buyer pays for shipping unless otherwise stated but consider this 92 cent cost to list the item for a 99 cent start. This is one of the resons i stated in my last article that the last minute bidding is not profitable for anyone.

Many people do not realize that when something is put on ebay or other auction sites it is already posted in local dinners , flea markets, curio shops , clubs [ such as a knife collectors club, masonic lodge, etc] and literary publications [such as knife world , auto trader, etc] dedicated specifically to those who are interested and seriously invested in that area. Then there are also the big collectible stores that are known internationally [ such as Parkers knife collectors service and Cabella's , etc]. Any wise seller has at least 4 or more of these going for them at one time so the likely hood of getting what you want is more likely. This is exactly why some of the stuff in my auctions never makes it to the end of the auction but gets removed [ sold at a reasonable price]. I have noticed more of my items are being sold outside of ebay due to non active bidding  or late bidding than anything else. This is why i said know what you want and what you are willing to pay for something before you go out shopping for it in my other article. The collectibles market there is really no book for [ well there is but it is just a barometer of approximate retail value that changes from day to day according to supply and demand -------collectibles supply usually dwindles and demand usually goes up]  because as in the words of another collector "They only made so many and as years go by they dwindle so if you really want it be ready to pay for it when and if you find it ".

So if you purchase the Mona Lisa on ebay and the start is 99 cents don't be surprised if the shipping is $22,000. After all there was only one made and if you spent half your life looking for it  and about lets say 3 million for it .how would you feel if for lack of insurance the UPS truck drove over it and said "Okay here is the first $100 we cover"? Again this comes down to the last article ------COMMUNICATE !!!! It will save all of us a lot of trouble and insure the things you treasure most because in most cases they cannot be readily replaced.

By the way don't think i'll see the real Mona Lisa on ebay and i'm sure if it starts at 99 cents it wont end there or even close to 3 million bucks.

This is just food for thought and some inside knowledge for the buyer to consider when bidding ...............bid wisely, high and within your means and always insure unless you can get it again somewhere else and absorb the cost loss yourself.

happy shopping !!!!!!