Whose cheatin' who???

     This guide is not intended to be offensive in any way, but just to break down the shipping & hadling in cost & labor, for: those who may be as unsuspecting as I was, when, in my first month trying my hand at selling, I ended up spending more in postage & supplies than I made, and those who feel like they're getting ripped off by excessive S&H fees.

Remember that it's our choice who we buy from.  If you feel a seller's terms or fees are unreasonable, they're probably someone that you won't see eye to eye with when it comes to dealing with more delicate issues, like missing or damaged items.

What should I expect to pay for Shipping & Handling?: 

First and foremost.....if the S&H price is listed, I should expect to pay what it says.  The seller has, for whatever reason, decided that this is their fee, so if I'm not okay with it, I should just keep looking. 

Think of it this way.....What happens if you end up never receiving your item, & have to file a dispute?  If you feel like the S&H costs are a way for them to profit, by being dishonest or manipulative.....Do you really trust them to send your item & be cooperative if there is a problem?  Don't count on it.

If the fee is not posted, I'm not buying.  You can be stuck with whatever the seller decides best compensates them for the profit that was lacking on something that I though I was getting an incredible deal on.

I know that postage for an item is less than what I'm being charged.  Why?

Many people believe that the postage fee is all that the seller should be compensated for.  That is generlly only a portion of what I should expect to pay. 

The cost of supplies to both ship items, and manage items that are awaiting shipment is much greater than most people realize.  It costs a lot to keep stocked on; boxes, padded envelopes, peanuts, packing paper, bubble wrap, zip lock bags, labels, post-its, marker, pens, packing tape & dispensers, printer paper & probably most of all Ink Cartridges(if a seller prints their own labels).

Then there is the "Handling" portion, that is another factor that some don't realize really needs consideration.  Once an item is paid for, it must be pulled, protected for shipment, sometimes a box must be assembled, packaged correctly, weighed, and then the information must be entered into the system, labels & packing slips printed & verified, before the package is sealed the label is affixed...and if it's being shipped internationally, there is additional information that has to be gathered for customs forms.  If a seller is paying someone $7 per/hr just to do shipping, they have to be able to compensate for those costs somewhere, the cost of fuel(which is becoming an increasing strain) for taking packages to the post office(and there's more time to compensate for) is an additional cost.

And....don't forget that the seller had to buy the item(and probably pay S&H fees on it) first, so the price you pay is not what their profit is.

Every seller must compensate these costs in some way, whether it be reflecting them as a portion of the S&H costs, or increasing the sell price of their items(especially in cases such as offering free S&H).  Just because the compensation isn't reflected where it says S&H, in no way means that you are not paying them.

When is S&H excessive?

That's a matter of personal opinion.  Obviously some sellers will try and ensure a certain set profit by adding very high S&H fees, but if they feel that this is what their time is worth, then they have the option to charge it, but I also have the option to choose not to buy it. 

Should I consider bringing to their attention, that I know how much postage will be, and really think that a $35 handling fee on an Ipod is excessive?  Most assuradly, they already know this, and have decided that this is the route that they want to go.  If I'm not comfortable with it, I should keep looking.

When it comes to compensating for costs, it can go either way.  While some sellers may charge more for their items, and offer free S&H, others will compensate for the item itself, in the S&H fees(and generally a seller only pays about 3% of the S&H fees, where they pay 5.25% of the actual sell price of the item). 

When it boils right down to it, you should consider the total amount involved when deciding which to buy, instead of considering each charge as a separate entity.

What other factors might I consider when looking for a "good deal"?

When comparing prices, check to see which sellers offer combined shipping.  Most sellers will discount S&H fees when you purchase more than one item at a time from them, if they can go in the same box, due to the savings that they benefit from in supply costs.  Just remember that there is additional handling involved, and the postage may also increase, and discounted rates are generally intended to reflect that.

Also, some will offer other offers or discounts.  For example, in our store, for buyers that decide to come back and shop with us again within 30 days, we offer an additional 25% off the S&H fees, on top of any discounted combined rates.  This makes it easier for our buyers to both: save by combining items in shipment, and save if they want to buy some now, and some later, instead of investing in one larger purchase.

So what's the conclusion? 

 Considering all costs that a seller must be compensated for, to be able to continue selling.....You decide what you think is fair, and trade with those that seem to meet your expectations.  Everyone has their own opinion & therefore, each has different standards.

It's incredible, the gap in satisfaction w/ 2 people who've had identical experiences~ One pleased as punch & the other finding it to be the worst shopping experience of their life.  It's always best to try & find a seller whose standards might best suit our expectations.

Good Luck & Happy Trading!