Assuming you are reasonably accurate and state it up front,
fixed shipping should not be a problem for most. Shipping to
Canada is not much more maybe add 5 to 10%.

Then there are those who state "Actual Shipping Cost" in
their ad. This comes with a responsibility... honesty.

Maybe it is because I am in Canada and I buy a lot of stuff
from the US, but I have had more than a few experiences
where "Actual shipping charges" are roughly twice what the
USPS international rate calculator would quote for a given
weight.

http://ircalc.usps.gov/

I remember one instance in particular where I was buying 13
issues of VW Trends, and when I did the math backwards on
the post auction $20 "Actual Shipping Cost" the shipping
weight equated to 13 pounds. Admittedly I am excluding
packaging material but how does one issue of VW Trends weigh
one pound?

I questioned the high shipping to which the seller replied
if I didn't like the shipping cost I could walk away from
the deal. Basically I think they weren't happy I was the
only bidder and they only got their initial $5 price... and
wanted to make up the rest by inflating the shipping. $20
shipping on a $5 item take it or leave it.

I left it. They got all self riteous about it. I told them
to get over themselves as they knew they were ripping me off
(how could you not know). They never e-mailed back.

Thanks,
Chris

---- Original message ----
>Date: Sat, 7 Sep 2002 03:09:04 -0400
>From: Vanagon man <vgonman@MSN.COM>
>Subject: Re: Selling on the list
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>
>When I sell something on ebay, list whatever, I guesstimate
the shipping and
>put it in the auction.  Then there is no question.sometimes
I make an extra
>couple bucks sometimes lose a few, so it evens out.   i
know for one, I do
>not have time to box it up weigh it and go online for
actual shipping
>charges............heck, every vendor i deal with that
sells stuff never
>charges what is on the shipping tap for shipping and
handling.........
>
>Adam P
>81  Westy "The Brick "
>70 Single Cab "Whitey"
>74 Beetle "Ol Yeller"
>73 Transporter (STILL at paint shop)
>1988 Vanagon Wolfsburg
>75 Campmobile "for sale'
>Used Vanagon Parts for sale (mostly aircooled)
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Ben T" <BenTbtstr8@AOL.COM>
>To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>Sent: Friday, September 06, 2002 11:44 PM
>Subject: Re: Selling on the list
>
>
>> In a message dated 9/6/02 6:06:51 PM Pacific Daylight
Time,
>> msnichols@MINDSPRING.COM writes:
>>
>> <<  It is best when sellers on the list post a sales
price. >>
>>
>> I agree with this totally. I have a small Classified
section in my
>webpage. I
>> only accept postings with price and locations unless it
is a parting out
>ad.
>>
>> <<  For the newbies on  buying on the list, take heed:  a
posted price is
>one
>> where the seller is up front and not afraid of
competition.  As to the
>parts
>> listed with no price?  When you pmail for a price, you
have already worked
>to
>> get information. >>
>>
>> Another good point.
>>
>> << Oh yes, as to shipping---Unless you want to pay
Mailboxes Inc double
>the
>> UPS rate to ship UPS, plus a boxing/packing fee, tell
your seller or buyer
>> who pays what and from which shipper---FedEX, UPS, or
USPS.  If you ship
>UPS
>> or FedEx, never go to Mailboxes Inc.  They double UPS
rates!  Use the
>> Customer Counter at UPS or FedEx.  I received a large
pkg. from Victoria
>B.C.
>> that cost US$8.00 via Canada Post.  But, the same item
shipped from Pa.
>would
>> be $16.00.     Why? >>
>>
>> This is sometimes a question of logistics. I once bought
some stuff from a
>> fellow who had to drive to a customer counter which was
45 miles away.
>Mail
>> Boxes etc. was a few blocks away from him. Another
example: My UPS counter
>> only opens until 5pm. My Office Depot UPS counter is open
until 9pm. They
>> charge the same as the UPS counter anyway. Ask your
seller first. When I
>sell
>> stuff on ebay, it will say exactly what the shipping
terms are including
>the
>> type of service I will use. It eliminates
misunderstandings.
>>
>> <<  Because the seller also wanted to get paid for
putting the item in a
>box.
>> This is a sore point with me---it is like paying to park
at or enter a
>Yard
>> Sale.   >>
>>
>> I can understand your frustration with this in some
situations. However,
>in
>> some cases, the seller has no choice but to do this. For
instance, I sold
>> some wheels which had to be shipped. It required 2 large
boxes plus a ton
>of
>> packing material. I made it very clear in my auction that
I needed the
>extra
>> cash to use for supplies. They did not have to buy if
they did not like
>the
>> terms which was in predisclosed. I changed $5 for each
box. They actually
>> cost me $5 plus tax. So about $5.45. Plus I used a whole
roll of tape
>which
>> was about $3. Packing peanuts I get for free. Plastic
bubble wrap I get
>for
>> free. My labor they get for free. I've done this on ebay
and on the list
>> hundreds of times. I have hundreds of positive feedbacks.
Zero negative or
>> neutral.
>>
>> My point is there are reasonable charges and there are
rip-off charges.
>You
>> need to clarify your position and the seller's ahead of
time. Happy
>trading.
>>
>> BenT
>> <A
HREF="http://hometown.aol.com/bentbtstr8/myhomepage/index.htm
l">Vanagon
>> Cafe</A>
>>