What’s the difference?
What a de-coder that can be put in an envlope,costing $4.95 shipping???
JIM
Good posts above.
I always check the sellers feedback. I need to see 99.5% or better. On the feedback I look over the replies as sometimes one buyer will have 10 or 20 replies. You have to take into account that SOME Ebay sellers use family members or friends to bid up or even buy items that don’t meet the desired bid prices. The same items will be relisted over and over again.
I’ve seen this over a year period with a Metroliner car set (no longer manufactured since the early 1990s), yet this hobbystore “miraculoulsy” seems to have an endless supply of the sets! Final bid price is always in the $50 range plus shipping. Then the set is relisted 2 or 3 days later! As much as I like Metroliners (I have a set), they need plenty of work right out of the box. The truck motor in the lead car is “junk”, so I’m not paying anymore than $40 for a set, or $15 for one car…shipping included.
One thing I do find annyoing: When sellers not familiar with our hobby that don’t do their research list items as “Very Rare” or “Collector’s Item!”. Then you something like a beaten up Blue Box Athearn GP9, a Roco powered Atlas GP40, or a set of Con-Cor passenger cars… GIMME A BREAK!
There is no duty on model trains imported to Canada from the USA. What your buyer was trying to avoid was sales tax. The federal GST - Goods and Services Tax - and any provincial taxes are levied on main-order items from outside Canada that are valued over a minimum ($CAD 20, I think). I’ve been dinged for extra tax when someone forgot to label the value on the package, and when the inspectors examined it they found the original price tag and taxed me on that - about double what I’d paid! Canada Post also charges a flat fee of $5 for collecting this tax. That seems steep, especially on low-value items, but it’s a lot better that than the flat-rate brokerage fees charged by courier companies on international shipments, which can be as high as $50!
It’s all part of importing items as a consumer - you’re right not to let one guy’s ire that you didn’t help him commit tax fraud discourage you [:)]. A stated policy of labelling Canadian shipments with actual purchase price will satisfy the honest, and save you the hassle of dealing with the dishonest. I just think of these taxes and fees as part of doing business cross-border.
Some of those guys are pretty crazy (but not me of course) I have seen many low priced items have shipping rates as higher than the bid itself! A couple weeks back, I thought I would bid on a N scale Bachmann set, The Frontiersmen, for my brother since he is beginning to start his own layout. It was perefect, new in box never ran, all that stuff, I was ready to place a bid when I saw the shipping rate…$25!! [:O][:O][:O][:O] I thought what kind of idiot would bid on that? But whada you know some guy bids on it! One more thing like that happened. Still browsing for N scale stuff for my bro, came across an SP diesel, $15 for shipping, it was a new guy to and I knew that was definitly not the way to start! In the end, I just bought him a new set from the train store!
Again, if the winning bid on the set with the $25.00 shipping was say $10.00 and the best price elsewhere is $40.00, isn’t that a good deal?
More hints on shipping to Canada
-
NEVER use UPS…(see earlier thread on UPS). UPS will charge a flat $30 brokerage fee on shipments no matter what the value.
-
Using the post office and all couriers: GST the dreaded goods and services tax plus provincial sales tax are charged on cross border shipments… If shipping by mail the limit is $20 Cdn if the green form says it is a commercial shipment, the limit is $60 if you say it is a gift.
Canada Customs is now the Border Services Agency and increasingly oriented toward securiy.
The web page for mail import info is
http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/import/courier/postal/ind_duty_free-e.html#value
See the right side menu for choices
As I said in the earlier thread on UPS, FedEx only charged me a $7 brokerge fee on a shipment.
Let’s assume the item fits in a 8 dollar flat rate priority mail box due to it’s weight. It can be sent anywhere in the USA for that fee plus Delievery confirmation and insurance. Call it $10.00 shipping on a winning bid of $10.00
That is a really good deal.
Now if you sold me a computer and shipped that 70 pound monster in 3 boxes for $25.00 Air Ill pay it. It depends on the type of shipping.
I built gaming computers for myself in the past and had no qualms having Fed Ex fly a pair of RAM Modules to my house 3 days at 45.00 shipping.
I think it depends on the final price of the item. 25 dollars shipping on a 1,000 dollar item seems not so bad. But when you go low… into the low 10’s or 100’s then the percentage becomes somewhat out of line.
HighIron,
I see your point, but shouldn’t buying decisions be based on the total cost? I really don’t care how much is for the item and how much is for the shipping/handling I want to know how much comes out of my bank account.
My single most favorite schtick that seems to be growing fast on eBay USA is “We will ship worldwide but not to Germany or France because they don´t support our troops in Iraq”. Land of the free, no discrimination? Besides, what do my governments politics (I admit that I support them) have to do with me wanting to buy an SD45T-2 on eBay? Then again, if they don´t want my Euros… Note: I have ~180 feedback, 100% positive, several transatlantic transactions among them, in a nutshell: I know what is involved when buying in the USA. Still, like when I tried to order from trainworld.com, the climate seems to get harsher…
As for the customs bit - before I have to face legal charges, I tend to cough up the German sales tax (16% - gack!). Besides, those sellers who list less value on the customs´ sticker actually rip YOU off - insurance will only pay the amount declared…
Davekelly, As a buyer I agree with you. I want to spend the least amount of $ for one specific item. Be it availible at the LHS? Internet mail order? Another LHS in another state via email? Ebay? or even a local trainshow.
Once I decide i would like a “widget”; be it a loco, pass car or structure, I go hunting for the cheapest price I can find including shipping if needed.
I suppose I see too many sellers trying to charge 15.00 for something that should only cost 3.95 to send.
Your example beats the best price of 40.00 by at least 5.00. That is still a good buy but I have problems with the amount of shipping incurred in our “Theoratical” auction.
To all…dont feel so bad,I sympathize with all whom have boughten stuff on Ebay.I have had my fair share of "problems “with Ebay too,including some that when you send a payment to them,they pull the item and return your money,“cause they dont have the patience to wait for payment ,when you have sent it out to them…3 days later”.payPal,I would NEVER open an account with them.Some sellers “prefer” to use and will “ONLY” sell to PayPal members… I say,[ censored][censored] to them.I dont think that this is fair to anyone who would like to bid on the item,and cant because you need a credit card or ?.Tough luck to the"picky sellers”.They dont deserve my business.
If I recall the way ebay works it that the seller pays a certain fee for listing and that varies by the inital price of the auction. Then after the auction is completed they pay an additional fee based on the amount of the winning bid. No additional profit is made by ebay based on the cost of shipping as of yet. I’m sure they’re working on that as well.
Best bet, as previously metioned, as a buyer is to calculate what your total cost will be on an item you’re interested in purchasing, including whatever the shipping cost they seller provides, prior to bidding and then bid accordingly.
Ebay has raised there fees to sellers in the recent past. Sellers who have been tired of getting nickled and dimed to death simply start with lower opening bids (lower fees) and may make a little more in the shipping.
It’s all a matter of trying to understand the system. They sellers want to make a few pennies. They buyers want a good deal and Ebay wants to make a killing every step of the process. Sorta surprising they having instituted fees for bidding on items yet.
OOPS! I hope they don’t get any ideas.
I havent’ sold on ebay for a couple of years, but shipped items all over the world. Some sellers don’t understand how easy the USPS customs forms are to complete. I think the concerned is more about the payment than the shipping.
I only had one person complain about shipping cost overseas. I took the package to the post office and provided a direct quote and he thought I overcharged because I was just passing on the amount quoted by the USPS.
When I first posted,I didn’t think it would attract so many quality comments in so short time.However,I’m most pleased to see that my post has generated such a nice discussion amongst nice people who express their feelings in such gentlemanly manners.Thanks guys.
I fully agree with the few who say that the end result that should really count is the final cost of the item,after delivery.So, being canadian,I have to take into account first the value (in my mind) of the item and then deduct the followings…shipping,money order fees,GST/PST and an extra $5 CDN flat rate fee then bid accordingly.Needless to say that I only buy on Ebay what I can’t get from my LHS as regular items would be prohibitive all the time.And if a seller asks for outrageous shipping fees,it kills the bidding potential right off,at least for me.
I don’t have a credit card and don’t feel the need for one so Paypal isn’t much of an option for me.Just as bad,I don’t feel easy knowing that anybody could make transactions directly into my bank account.I know that PP would make Ebay purchases easier and also cheaper (fees to the seller I think),but to me a money order is a nice option,although costly to me.My very best option would be a personal check but an even greater number of sellers don’t accept them…and,knowing myself,I’d hate to wait an extra 10 days to get my stuff anyway.
I don’t think shipping to Canada should be complicated or may be it is,but whatever is,if a seller won’t ship to me,then he won’t sell.Just that simple.I accept this fact though it does frustrate me sometimes,specially when a much desired item happens to be available.
Man, that stinks. It’s amazing what some folks think patriotism is about. I may disagree with the governments of Germany and France, but it is the decision of each country to determine the course their country will take. (And to those that will attack me on the “support the troops thing” My dad served in Korea and Vietnam and I served in Mogadishu during Restore Hope and am currently working on transferring to a unit that will deploy to the Iraqi theater next spring). After the WTC attack it was sickening to see Mosques in the U.S. attacked and other acts of stupidity. Don’t judge all of us on the acts of a few.
16% sales tax? Wow. I guess I can’t complain too much.
Dave
Regarding the Ebay fees… I dont want to spin the topic off thread… but will toss in my [2c]
1- A low open bid price like a 1.00 defends against high initial fees that ebay charges upon item listing.
2- Use just one or two photos and possibly the gallery view which puts a picture next to the item headline in the main ebay list shown to the buyers.
3- be prepared to pay 10% of your auction totals upon completion of the auctions. This is the second time ebay charges you for the privelidge for using thier service.
4- Charge the actual shipping charges to the customer no matter how many items they win. I have tried to offer discounts or free shipping on multipule auctions. But discovered that sometimes the costs are so high as to potentially wipe out the profit from the second auction.
5- For Canada, consider using Air Parcel Post. And list the value of the item on the customs form. The post office will give you a “Green sticker” and get the box across the border without any trouble.
I did consider shipping to other nations but those auctions will be shipped at actual charges to the buyer.
I once bought an item from Singapore which is a Chinese city. That item was posted with a tracking number and took something like 50 days to make the trip. Interestingly the tracking number posted on the internet AFTER I recieved the item at my local post office. Talk about a slow boat from China. I was literally ready to declare a “Dispute” with ebay against that seller for non delivery of a item. But that seller’s “perfect” ebay ratings, feedback and constant contact via email rewarded my patience.
Regarding the German 16% sales tax… I cannot complain. My LHS is in a city that is already at 10% and is considering a election to go to 11% rate to pay for the library. I suppose as long the discount I recieve at the LHS is greater than this rate I will continue to support the store.
High Iron,
Excellent points. Your story about the item from Singapore is an excellent example of why I read each individual’s feedbacks when making my decisions rather than just the percentages. I’ve seen many folks post negative feedback than when, you check the listing, state they haven’t gotten the item after allowing only 5 or 6 days from the auction close and the stuff is coming from overseas!! I’m sure the seller in your case appreciates your actions.
I think the issue varied per seller and their preferences.
The buyer will have to pay shipping, the seller has to take the time to deliver the product if they dont have regular delivery pickup.
That sounds fair to the seller and I accept that. An expensive loco needing careful packaging to insure no damage on delivery, the shipping price sounds OK by me if its pricey.
If you believe a shipping is outa whack for an item, dont buy it.
dont bid it.
but if its that rare item thats hard to get, it may be worth it.
Agreed, I am a Canadian who was living and working in Manhatten for 4 years. When I want to make purchases in US$ cheques drawn on my Canadian bank account all I have to do is write payable in USD on my Canadian cheques, no problem the bank takes care of it, likewise being able to deposit USD cheques drawn on US banks into my Canadian Accounts. However when tried to write a cheque payable in C$ from my US$ account, my bank (Citibank) couldnt do it. In all of Manhatten theres only 1 branch that is able to handle foreign transactions and the window is only open 3 hours a day every second day.
After Manhatten I moved to Moscow, Russia. My payroll was in USD, drawn on an Austrian account and used the standard European system of wire transfers. My Citibank account started charging me USD15 to deposit my paycheck in my account. I still have a US bank account but its inactive and my paychecks went to a bank in Guernsey instead.
Jsoderq, I’d let him cry all he wanted to. He was requesting that you falsify a government form so he could save a few bucks. The “Gift” category is if you were giving (not selling) the item to him. Customs forms to another country from the Post Office are not that difficult to fill out, and I’ve shipped many things to other countries as an Ebay seller. All foreign bidders need to know I will NOT falsify the documents, but remember, you don’t need to include the shipping cost as part of the value declared (if it sold for $50 and you charged $10 shipping, you declare the value as $50, not $60). Experiences like this are probably why many sellers have restrictions, as someone said above, they probably got burned in the past. And some sellers just don’t want the hassle.
Remember Ebay is a US based website, so most of the buyers and sellers are in the US. I prefer PayPal both as a buyer and a seller because of the speed and guarantee of the money getting to me or the seller. Plus, they’ll also do currency conversions, I believe, for no extra charge. It falls directly into the K.I.S.S. principle, and that’s the way I like it, why make things more difficult for yourself.
What was said about US banks above has also been my experience. Long before the Euro dollar, we did have a universal world currency, it was the US dollar. It probably pissed off a lot of people in other countries, but no matter where you went in the world, the US dollar was like gold.