Originally Posted by Mitch's mom
Originally Posted by dunster
Originally Posted by Mitch's mom
I buy and sell on Ebay. If I run across an auction with a starting bid of 99 cents, knowing there is no way it could be that inexpensive, I check shipping charges. If I saw your auction with 40.00 in shipping I would know you were trying to make up the cost of your item in shipping fees. Ebay has rules against this practice.
I'm not saying 40.00 is out of line to ship a machine. I have shipped many and I know the costs. I can usually send one in new packing boxes and materials via UPS for 30 to 35 dollars for a full size vintage Singer.
If you want to get back what you have in an item price it that way in the auction, set your shipping to a realistic amount and you'll probably sell it.
She wasn't trying to make up the cost in shipping fees; they were realistic. There was a reserve price set for the machine. But this feeds into my theory of not using reserve prices - it puts some buyers off because they then think that the seller is inflating the shipping price. I just don't care for reserves! (Sorry, I've said that before, and I shouldn't keep beating a dead horse. Now I'm done, and I'm off to Quilts in the Garden in Corvallis.)
I know she wasn't trying to make it up in this instance and I did say her cost wasn't out of line. I agree with you on the reserve auction thing; It is a waste of time unless the item is very rare or very expensive.
I meant no offense and I certainly wasn't questioning her honesty or integrity as a seller!
Nor did I mean to imply that you were accusing her. I am truly sorry if my comments came across that way. It's too hot here today, and we quilters don't do well in the heat.