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 Aerethan wrote:

 insaniak wrote:

 Aerethan wrote:
It's been commonplace for some time now. There aren't any rules against it.

I haven't spent a lot of time on eBay in a while, but there certainly used to be. Padding the shipping charge was a common way sellers used to try to get around paying eBay as much in fees, so eBay tended to take a dim view of it.

I haven't read the ToS, but I've never seen any such rule. People can charge whatever they want for shipping, and they don't have to provide any proof of the cost.

That said, if ebay wanted to police such abuses, they'd have to install a rule requiring a scan of the shipping receipt or something and have someone verify it for every auction sold, which one can only imagine how many of these happen each day. The cost in labor would outweigh the difference in ebays cut from charging those few people who abuse shipping.

Honestly though, prices for warhammer models on ebay are so inflated that the only items I buy there anymore are OOP ones that I can't find here or on bartertown. Some people don't realize that ANY plastic GW kit can be bought brand new at 30% off, which means that(at least to me) a brand new kit on ebay needs to be at least that % off if not more. People who think that retail prices online are acceptable do not have a realistic grasp on this market.

I havent checked recently but excessive shipping indeed was at one point and may still be against ebay rules.

I believe it still is, but with them getting a percentage cut of the shipping now....how much effort you think will go into enforcing that now???

 Aerethan wrote:

 insaniak wrote:

 Aerethan wrote:
It's been commonplace for some time now. There aren't any rules against it.

I haven't spent a lot of time on eBay in a while, but there certainly used to be. Padding the shipping charge was a common way sellers used to try to get around paying eBay as much in fees, so eBay tended to take a dim view of it.

I haven't read the ToS, but I've never seen any such rule. People can charge whatever they want for shipping, and they don't have to provide any proof of the cost.

That said, if ebay wanted to police such abuses, they'd have to install a rule requiring a scan of the shipping receipt or something and have someone verify it for every auction sold, which one can only imagine how many of these happen each day. The cost in labor would outweigh the difference in ebays cut from charging those few people who abuse shipping.

Honestly though, prices for warhammer models on ebay are so inflated that the only items I buy there anymore are OOP ones that I can't find here or on bartertown. Some people don't realize that ANY plastic GW kit can be bought brand new at 30% off, which means that(at least to me) a brand new kit on ebay needs to be at least that % off if not more. People who think that retail prices online are acceptable do not have a realistic grasp on this market.

There is rule in their T&C's on ebay uk at least as said it is a way to get around their fee structure a lot of the time on ebay uk you have a maxiumum allowed postage limit. You can also report auctions that have a extremely high postage charge, most of the time ebay relies on other members reporting infractions to alert them to take action.

Talking of inflated prices, here one for you and it is my auction

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/320970900411?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649#ht_500wt_1288

I only paid 100pounds for both box sets and this is only for cultists from one box set

Just the cultists? Woah!

I remember a few weeks ago, I was looking for a new hauberk of chainmail for WMA, and found an Indian store who had loads. They even promised to refund the entire thing if there was any issue, accidental or not, for two years!

Although the only bit they would refund, was the actual cost, not the shipping.

The 'actual cost' was 9.99, the shipping was 99.99.

 insaniak wrote:

 Aerethan wrote:
It's been commonplace for some time now. There aren't any rules against it.

I haven't spent a lot of time on eBay in a while, but there certainly used to be. Padding the shipping charge was a common way sellers used to try to get around paying eBay as much in fees, so eBay tended to take a dim view of it.

Its still pretty common. Like other have mentioned, always look at all prices/fees involved. Sometimes the item still works out cheaper, sometimes not. A big thing for me is feedback %. Ill spend a couple dollars more to a seller Im familiar with, or one that has a much better rating.

flonky wrote:
Just the cultists? Woah!

Yep, the 20 cultists made 43.75 gbp and have been paid for, for all the chaos (except 20 cultists I traded) I have made 142pounds plus the ltd ed chaplain still has 2 hours to go. I paid 50pounds per box from 4tk gaming it is mad.

If someone offered bits on eBay but told you the bits would be sent in a standard small envelope with a postage stamp (maybe some cardstock inside for minimal protection) would you purchase cheap bits with cheap shipping ? You get bits for cheap. Small chance of damage or loss. I forget how much US postal tracking prices are, but they are fairly cheap. What do you guys think?

 TheLionOfTheForest wrote:
If someone offered bits on eBay but told you the bits would be sent in a standard small envelope with a postage stamp (maybe some cardstock inside for minimal protection) would you purchase cheap bits with cheap shipping ? You get bits for cheap. Small chance of damage or loss. I forget how much US postal tracking prices are, but they are fairly cheap. What do you guys think?

to give you a reference:
getting 10 items from an pro ebay bits seller cost me $7 shipping from US to Belgium
total weight was 9 oz.
took 5 business day to arrive; so quite fast.

his charges are
First item: $1.99 (International - Canada:$3.25; Worldwide:$3.99)
Each additional item $0.33
I mean, how cheap are you speaking in your post? because that's pretty damn cheap imo.

came in a box with styrofoam nuts, all items separated in ziplock bags.

when I say "items", high elf griffon from IOB or 5 nobz from AOBR or even 20 cultists from DV count as only one item.

and you don't get to choose; if there's damage or lost package it's on the seller, not the buyer; pretty sure it's in ebay or paypal TOS. Anyway almost all the pro buyers offer to resend for free if pkg is lost or damaged in their own tos.
Oh and it's an international law (edit: well maybe only European), if a package get lost in the post you can claim up to ~$50+shipping costs from the post office as the seller/dude who sent the pkg; even if you didn't get insured shipping.

This would Probably not work internationally. More of a cheap way to trade parts in the us. Sounds like the parts dealer you used ships a lot of volume and has a great deal with whatever shipping company he uses. Real boxes and peanuts add up in price. The envelope and stamp idea is more meant of for single or just a couple bits (say you just wanted 5 space marine backpacks). Everytime i looked for bits it always seems that the shipping cost destroys the cost and makes it not worthwhile.

As someone who's sold internationally, I can tell you that some of those 'excessive shipping charges' aren't so excessive. I've sold a number of mugs overseas, and it's nothing for the shipping cost to exceed $60 USD. I shipped a 12"x12"x14", 19 LBS box to Australia for $150...the kicker is, the price of the contents of the box were only $110

I used to work for a 3rd party logotics company. I know what shipping costs can cost. My mother once shipped TOWELS to our Aussie cousin who was going to school in California (we live in NJ). She spent $100+ to ship $40 worth of towels. I asked her why she didn't just wire my cousin the money. The company I worked for could have fedexed the shipment for around $26.

I will have to do some price checking and see what I can get shipping prices too with out a business shipping account.

People make money by shipping, its up to you if you want to pay for it