I’m in northeast Florida and just won an eBay item at a cost of AU 15.99 (approximately US 13.79) according to the item description. I proceeded to pay the seller, then found out the shipping cost is AU 15.60 (I guess that’s about $13 U.S.) The item is a paperback book of 190 pages. I doubt that it could weigh any more than half a pound. I’ve been searching online, trying to determine the shipping cost – checked Australia sites, UPS, and USPS, and trying to convert weights and currencies, but gave up – also can’t seem to get anywhere without a postal code for the little info I have on the buyer’s location, which is Jannali, New South Wales. I realize I have to pay up soon, whether I like it or not, but would like someone familiar with Australian shipping to tell me if AU 15.60 is reasonable or not so I can provide accurate feedback on the seller.
You don’t need the Australian postal code for international shipments. From what I got from the Australian postal website, any package up to 250 grams (a bit over half a pound is AUS$9.30. Shipping up to 500 grams is AUS$15.30. That would appear the shipping charges are in the ballpark.
Well, did the seller disclose the S&H charges up front? It’s actually about right for airmail. Seamail is very very slow and you don’t save much.
Now, you don’t really have to pay if you were conned, you know. You can simply *not *pay then dispute the NPS. But it looks like you should here, unless you ask the seller and he allows you to mutually cancel the transaction.
I regularly get things shipped the other way (USA to AUS), and thats on the high side but still within the ballpark. This to me the the greatest downfall of ebay, prohibative shipping costs.
It’s crazy isn’t it. $14.95 item, $80 shipping. All the time.
Not every postal service offers shipping of up to 4 pounds as first class international mail like the USPS. I sell one or two items a month to Australia and I think the reason is the lower cost of shipping that the USPS offers.
I quite often send Tim Tams and such to the US and it is very expensive by air mail.
Appears to me **Sycorax **that US$15.60 is pretty right; airmail from Australia to the US is AU$27.30 for 1-20kg. (Pretty mental - it costs you same to send 1kg as it does to send 20…?)
If it helps, the postcode for Jannali is 2226.
Why does that have anything to do with eBay? EBay doesn’t set postal rates. Sure, in some cases the seller is hwaaay overcharging the “handling” part of S&H, but then you can complain to eBay (it’s against the rules) or just buy from another, honest seller.
I’ve bought a few things internationally on eBay. Often the shipper will state the cost of shipping to the U.S. Other times I’ve asked for the shipping charges. I’ve sold one item to a guy in Australia, but I don’t remember how much shipping was. ISTR discussing shipping charges with him. I sold a G.I. Joe aircraft carrier to someone in Japan, and warned him ahead of time that it was large and heavy and that shipping would be expensive. Same with a Martin-Baker ejection seat part, which was sold to a Japanese buyer.
International shipping is often pricey. I’ve passed on items because legitimate shipping charges were too high. It’s just something a buyer has to be aware of when buying internationally.
I was going to say the same thing. But IIRC from when I would sell stuff on Ebay, the final fee you pay to ebay is based on the selling price of the item, not including shipping. So, a lot of sellers will/would sell an item for very cheap but make it up in the shipping cost. For example if I wanted to sell a $100 digital camera, I could sell it on Ebay for $20, but then charge $80 for shipping and only pay the Ebay fees based on $20. Ebay doesn’t allow this for obvious reasons, but it used to be pretty rampant. Yeah, you can report it to Ebay, but you’re better off just adding the shipping cost to your bid and telling yourself that’s the total cost. In the end, all that matters (to you) is the total amount you pay.
I’ve used eBay for years and learned early on to beware shipping costs. In this case, shipping wasn’t shown on the listing and I didn’t even think about it because it’s gift and was determined to get it. Glad to know the cost is reasonable. I’ll pony up. Thanks everyone.
Well, there’s two things here- yes, it used to be pretty rampant. In the past. I have been around on eBay since the days you could leave FB for a seller you hadn’t even had a transaction with!
Next, if the seller is going to cheat eBay out of a buck or two, he is then also likely to cheat* you. * The only times I got scammed was when I bought from a seller who also cheated eBay.
I got a paperback book from my friend in Christchurch in April sent first class airmale and she paid $6.75 NZ to send it out. The paperback is 300 pages.
Now she does have it marked as a gift on that green customs declarations. I have got a lot of stuff from her and she never has paid more than $10.00 to send me anything. But of course they are sent as gifts.
First of all this is NZ not Aussie so there is obviously a difference in currencies. I am not sure whether or not their are customs duties or taxes on items purchases. That may be jakcking up the price a lot.
The doune declaration does not have an effect on air rates. I’m going to the post office this morning so out of curiosity I will find a book of around 200 pages and find out the air postage to the USA.
You wouldn’t leave feedback until you got the book anyway (how else could you know if it is as described?), so wait until it arrives and check the postage stamp on the envelope. That will tell you exactly how much it cost the seller to mail it (and allowing a little for the cost of the packing materials).
Just back from the post office. For my 200 page paperback I was quoted $15.30 for air postage to the USA. (That was without any wrapping or packaging materials.)
I’d say that you are being charged correctly.