TL;DR - Some sellers are very clear on the costs while others leave out details. How can we standardize seller listings to provide more clarity?
Hi all, I've been on FM for several years now... One thing that takes extra time and some back/forth with the seller is to understand the costs associated. Every seller is different... Some say PP fees are on the buyer, some sellers cover them. Some exclude the details. Some cover shipping, some don't... Some use USPS, some use FedEX, etc.
The main thing I'm looking for is how much I need to pay, in total. There's been times I've made a deal and after the PP money is transferred, I've been hit up for additional fees - something that was unclear in the seller's post.
My initial thoughts are that the posts should contain a section "who pays what" and the total cost to the buyer.
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Example 1:
Item: $1000
Paypal fees: Seller
Shipping: Seller
Shipping co.: UPS
=======================
Total costs to buyer: $1000
[Item]
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Almost on every listing my first few messages are to understand my costs... So my goal is to reduce that confusion and create more clarity up-front.
I know there's a bit of a template already, so I'm just adding onto it. Btw, these are just rough ideas and suggestions. Hopefully I'm not missing anything obvious...
I think back and forth between seller and buyer is important to get a feel for each other. Having to discuss all fees and shipping methods is important to discuss, as well as condition of the equipment. Shipping costs vary by destination so it’s hard to indicate just one shipping price.
I personally like the communications with the other side to gain confidence with the transaction.
chez wrote:
I personally like the communications with the other side to gain confidence with the transaction.
Thanks for the comment. I totally understand the communication part, especially about the condition. That can still be done even with clarity on the price.
Sometimes when the price changes in the discussions, it feels like a bait and switch. It's largely due to omissions in the original listing and/or assumptions by either party. i.e. lack of clarity...
I understand shipping varies and I used the ~ tilde symbol to show an approximation, but it can also be a range... the goal is to get closer to the total number for buyer... Which right now it seems like there are opportunities to improve this part of the transaction.
mannyfresh79 wrote:
Thanks for the comment. I totally understand the communication part, especially about the condition. That can still be done even with clarity on the price.
Sometimes when the price changes in the discussions, it feels like a bait and switch. It's largely due to omissions in the original listing and/or assumptions by either party. i.e. lack of clarity...
.
It is like the "spider and the fly" rhyme.....Most of the sellers on B&S are that...sellers, not photographers. If they can't get a proper business transaction info clear enough, I move on.
Dan
How is an individual seller supposed to list every possible cost for every shipping method, shipping destination, payment method, and combination thereof, without padding their selling price with a huge margin, like retail stores do?
Cliff L. wrote:
How is an individual seller supposed to list every possible cost for every shipping method, shipping destination, payment method, and combination thereof, without padding their selling price with a huge margin, like retail stores do?
I'm not sure what you mean. I'm referring to domestic shipping costs (ex: contiguous 48 in US). Can sellers not list a range something like "Shipping: Buyer ($25 - $45)" ?
mannyfresh79 wrote:
I'm not sure what you mean. I'm referring to domestic shipping costs (ex: contiguous 48 in US). Can sellers not list a range something like "Shipping: Buyer ($25 - $45)" ?
Sure, and then give a range of price for payment method…so all you have in the end is a fuzzy price which you have to communicate with the seller to get the actual cost anyway. So what have you actually gained?
chez wrote:
Sure, and then give a range of price for payment method…so all you have in the end is a fuzzy price which you have to communicate with the seller to get the actual cost anyway. So what have you actually gained?
That’s a fair point. The range could still lead to follow-up conversations. They may happen anyway, but at least with a shipping range, the buyer has an upfront idea of what they are committing to, rather than being surprised later. From there, they can decide if it is worth continuing the discussion.
The goal is not to eliminate conversations but to make them more productive by adding clarity at the start. If you look at the examples, they also specify who pays what, which reduces ambiguity.
I am curious about your perspective though. Since you mentioned that you enjoy the back and forth with sellers, how do you see these kinds of listing changes affecting that experience for you?
mannyfresh79 wrote:
That’s a fair point. The range could still lead to follow-up conversations. They may happen anyway, but at least with a shipping range, the buyer has an upfront idea of what they are committing to, rather than being surprised later. From there, they can decide if it is worth continuing the discussion.
The goal is not to eliminate conversations but to make them more productive by adding clarity at the start. If you look at the examples, they also specify who pays what, which reduces ambiguity.
I am curious about your perspective though. Since you mentioned that you enjoy the back and forth with sellers, how do you see these kinds of listing changes affecting that experience for you?...Show more →
Won’t affect my approach at all…but since I’m in Canada those shipping fees most likely will not apply so I’d be starting from scratch anyways. Don’t forget FM is international.
I’m not big on putting restrictions or rules onto people trying to sell their gear. Communications is the key to a smooth transaction and it’s always good to double check everything before buying as mistakes happen.
. And then there are those Sellers who assert the addition $25 or $50 for "associated fees" secondary to the sale of their equipment that is alleged to be BNIB w/ original invoice to Buyer. And those offers also appear to be accompanied by a warning to post to the Seller only via PM. Sellers indeed!!!
