There was a discussion taking place on this subject in the scale modelling forum and I just *HAD* to share this condescending response with you all. This is one persons justification for having a handling fee. If the fee is too high when coupled with the price of the item, I don't bid, but it's not what he says so much as how he says it, like he's doing us a favor or something and we should feel sorry for him - and the 'happy' statement floored me. Talk about condescending... John
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I also sell on Ebay. I am a full time professional who does NOT have ready access to UPS, the USPS, or to free boxes excepting the post office. My time truly is at a premium! I am actually sacrificing time away from my job, kids, wife, etc. to mail this package to another person. I am also incruing costs from packaging materials including bubble wrap, shredded paper, styrofoam pellets, and most importan- tly the packaging tape.
Granted, I never charge more than $2 per package myself for handling fees. I honestly feel that anything below $2 is justifiable because of the time that I'm removing from my life to do this. I get paid apx. $20 per hour to do my job. I feel that you're getting a bargain when I use my materials to securely pack a model in a box so that it won't be damaged, wrap it, and then deliver it to a usps station as well as wait in line for the idiot who doesn't know what flavor of stamps to buy.
I've basically wasted about $20 doing this job and am only going to get $2 in return over the price paid for the model. You should be hap- py inthis particular case. what goes on for other sellers I can't say. Many of them choose to have 'flat' fees so that no one pays too ungodly much for something, while others have it set in other ways. They are their own conscience. I do not presume to tell the manager at the local corner mart what prioces to set, I simply choose not to buy from him if the price is too high. Eventually sellers who's shipping rates are too high will get the clue.
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