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

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Posted by Clinton Hunt (Member # 2072) on 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.

Posted by Mark Todd (Member # 96) on 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.

Posted by Clinton Hunt (Member # 2072) on 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?

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on 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.

Posted by Robert Crewdson (Member # 3790) on 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.

Posted by Panayotis A. Carayannis (Member # 1220) on October 11, 2018, 02:10 PM:

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

Posted by Kev Morrison (Member # 6338) on 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!]

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