Save Money on Shipping
Save the seller time, get your item sooner, and cough up less money for shipping.
I hate being ripped off, and one of the most common rip-offs on eBay is inflated shipping charges. The problem is that most sellers who overcharge for shipping donât even know theyâre doing it.
Sellers want to cover all their costs, so itâs the buyer who ends up footing the bill for packing materials, shipping charges, insurance, and the bagel the seller ate while waiting in line at the post office. But even those who charge only for shipping charges may still be charging their buyers too much, simply because they donât know a cheaper or more efficient shipping method.
The problem is that most sellers donât care how much they spend on shipping because, in theory anyway, the buyer is the one paying for it.
Tip
If you donât know what method of shipping a seller is using, just ask. You have a right to know what youâre paying for, and many sellers will be willing to use a cheaper (or faster) shipping option if you request it.
A Little Knowledge Can Be Dangerous
Fortunately, every buyer has access to the same tools sellers use to estimate shipping costs. The first thing to do when quoted a shipping charge that seems a tad high is to look it up for yourself.
The three largest couriers in the U.S. are FedEx (http://www.fedex.com), UPS (http://www.ups.com), and the United States Postal Service (http://www.usps.com), and all three have online shipping-cost calculators. (Most ...
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