From: "No Junk Mail" &lt;3sdiarftt02(a)sneakemail.com&gt; To: cctalk(a)classiccmp.org Subject: Re: Re: Help with pricing on EPay Send reply to: cctalk(a)classiccmp.org <mailto:cctalk-request@classiccmp.org?subject=unsubscribe> <mailto:cctalk-request@classiccmp.org?subject=subscribe> Date sent: Tue, 14 Jan 2003 18:11:08 +1100 I always try to give bidders some idea of what the shipping costs are going to be. I start by stating what the total estimated weight of the package is, then give a link to the USPS Domestic and International Rate Calculators and make sure that my ZIP code shows up in the Location section of the listing. If a package is going to be under 1 pound, then I state that shipping will be $3.85 for USPS Priority Mail for U.S. bidders. If it is a real small item, such as a video game cartridge for example, then I state a flat $2.50 U.S. or $4.50 overseas to cover 1st Class (or Air Mail) postage and the cost of a padded envelope. If it is books, magazines, computer software, music, videos, or several game cartridges, then I go with USPS Media Mail (stateside). For heavy items, USPS Parcel Post is best, and overseas, I will offer USPS Air Parcel, Surface Parcel, or even Global Express. And sometimes, I list Global Priority as an additional option. When all is said and done, I try to keep the package weight as close as possible to what I had estimated. If it is significantly less than the estimate, I will either refund the difference (if payment was via PayPal) or spend the excess on insurance and/or delivery confirmation. If I underestimated, then it's "too bad, so sad, my loss", and just go ahead and absorb the extra expense (though quietly hoping that the buyer might decide to reimburse the difference if he notices when the package is received.) :) As for those who will only ship within the U.S.; I can understand a few reasons for that, though most of the time, I think it's just laziness. In some cases, there may be export restrictions. A prime example was the MS Outlook CD I recently sold. Right on the front label on the case was printed "Unlawful to sell this outside of the U.S. or Canada" (or something to that effect); so naturally I had to limit it to the U.S. and Canada. Also, on one occasion (it was for a Girls Gone Wild DVD), in the Will Ship To Section, I had to select U.S. and everything except for The Middle East, due to extreme Muslim anality on how much flesh can be shown. :/ There are also USPS size restrictions for both Air and Surface Mail going overseas. You can find the info somewhere on their web site: usps.com About the only other time I have limited an auction to U.S. bidders was when I tried to sell a couple Cromemco systems via eBay. My reason for limiting the ship-to location was because I was covering shipping (UPS in this case) myself, and had set the opening bid and the BIN with what I figured the average cost to ship anywhere in the lower 48 States would be. Neither of them received any bids unfortunately. However, one of my buyers from a couple TI-99/4a auctions I did is now in the process of purchasing them. He is in Canada, and is willing to pay shipping costs (any excess of which will be reimbursed). The biggest challenge is going to be finding boxes large enough and strong enough to hold a System Two and System Three (at least UPS will come pick them up.) Fortunately, I have time to work this detail out due to the way we have arranged payment and shipping into three parts (starting with just the software and manuals...) Anyway, enough babbling from me for tonight. About time to go catch a few Z's and sleep off this migraine. :/ -- Scarletdown