8mm Forum: Curious about who set shipping prices on eBay

»	8mm Forum » 8mm Forum » Curious about who set shipping prices on eBay

UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!

Author

Topic: Curious about who set shipping prices on eBay

Clinton Hunt
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 845
From: Waharoa,North Island,New Zealand
Registered: May 2010

posted October 10, 2018 04:59 PM

I know I’m not the only one who’s moaned about this but here I go ...
I live in New Zealand and most of the films I’d like to collect are overseas in U.K. or U.S.A. for example.
I’ve recently bought a Standard 8mm 200ft reel from Greece and the postage was only US$7 .... great and reasonable and yes it will take a couple of weeks to get to me.
But at the other end of the scale there is a trailer on Super 8mm in U.K. that is at present £4 bids but the postage is £25 ... expedient or super dooper class and no other options available,there must be cheaper options?
Another example is I saw a 16mm 50ft film for buynow in USA for US$4 but the only postage option was US$45!! I did message him and he was surprised at the charge and said he can sent it for US$15 ... much better.
Are eBay sellers locked into these postage prices?
I know some collectors are willing to pay any amount as that’s great and their choice.

--------------------
Cheers from me in New Zealand :-)

| IP: Logged

Mark Todd
Film God

Posts: 3846
From: UK
Registered: Aug 2003

posted October 10, 2018 05:45 PM

Hi Clinton I think sometimes ebay sets them too high, but also some times very reasonably too.

Same with sellers as well.

Have you contacted the seller as I would guess £3 or £4 ish from the UK for a 50 ft trailer on super 8, Maybe a fiver max.

Best Mark.

| IP: Logged

Clinton Hunt
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 845
From: Waharoa,North Island,New Zealand
Registered: May 2010

posted October 10, 2018 05:59 PM

Hi Mark,
I haven’t contacted that seller but I have sometimes if I’m really interested in a film.Thankfully lots do have alternatives [Smile]

Surely these prices must hurt the sale or if overseas bidders actually bid?

--------------------
Cheers from me in New Zealand :-)

| IP: Logged

Steve Klare
Film Guy

Posts: 7016
From: Long Island, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted October 11, 2018 10:21 AM

That's interesting about Greece: I spied a print from there I wanted, but I thought shipping from Greece would double the price.

-it turned out to be less to ship than I'd expect to do the same thing stateside.

--------------------
All I ask is a wide screen and a projector to light her by...

| IP: Logged

Robert Crewdson
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1031
From: UK
Registered: Jun 2013

posted October 11, 2018 11:36 AM

I've found that shipping prices for the same weight (16mm feature on 2x 1600ft spools ) can vary from £10 to £16 or a bit higher, and this is from the same seller in the U.S, using the GSP.

| IP: Logged

Panayotis A. Carayannis
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 969
From: Athens,Greece
Registered: Jul 2008

posted October 11, 2018 02:10 PM

So,do prefer buying from Greece.Postage IS low [Smile]

| IP: Logged

Kev Morrison
Film Handler

Posts: 76
From: Land of the Mouse, USA
Registered: Feb 2018

posted October 11, 2018 02:24 PM

Folks,

Shipping costs on eBay vary as much as people have different opinions. Some sellers just pull a weight number out of.... whatever, plug it in the eBay 'system', and go from there. Some sellers use a flat rate shipping charge (usually within their country), and it's usually a bit high. And some sellers set the price of their items low, but charge an exorbitant shipping fee because they think that eBay doesn't charge fees on shipping costs (wrong)!

Me? I use a digital scale and weigh the actual item, shipping container, packing, etc., and try to ship my items as inexpensively and safely as I can.

Moral of the story: learn the weight of what you want to buy, and see if you can negotiate with the seller to ship the item at a reasonable price. If not, move on to the next auction.

Speaking of auctions and shipping costs - for your amusement:

I was glancing at this Eumig projector auction for giggles, noted the high shipping cost, then started reading the Item Description a little closer.....

https://www.ebay.com/itm/8mm-eumig-p8-projector/173582191410?hash=item286a4e0b32:g:JPsAAOSwEUVbc0R8:rk:1:pf:0#shpCntId

Wow. Dunno if the seller was a bit tipsy when he wrote this auction up & posted the pictures, but I'll think I'll pass!
[Eek!]

| IP: Logged

All times are Central

Printer-friendly view of this topic

UBB.classic^TM 6.3.1.2