higher than a cat's a$$

[gearhead]

I bought a receiver that should weigh less than 30 lbs from a guy.
He says it's going to cost $92 for shipping PLUS $16 to pack it-coming from Nevada to central IL.
WTF!!
It's eBay, should I tell the guy to shove it, or what?
He must've crated it up with railroad ties or something.
That's absurd.
I'm ticked.
Ideas?

[jpdylon]

Packing materials, even labor to pay someone to stuff it in the box should be no more than 45 dollars tops....

I would get some quotes from packing places in the location he is shipping from based on demensions and weight, and give him the info. kind of a polite way of calling him an insane lunatic. I think he's trying to get just a litle extra with 108 dollars.

what a croc of chit.

[gearhead]

Well, come to find out he was quoting some super-speedy shipping, or something.
He got it down to $46, but is still charging $16 for "handling." (must be a "I wanted more for it" charge) :thumbsdn:
*edit*-I forgot to say "the obnoxious bastard"

[markthefixer]

16 is a bit high BUT I recently shipped 3 tektronix scopes in packing designed to survive. Between the cost for a new box, bubble wrap and etc, it would cost a pretty penny. They shipped with about 7.00 of bubblewrap each, and that was cheap thin ebay available s**t wrap. The rest of the stuff that came in before had much thicker plastic for the bubbles. Sytrofoam board isnt cheap for the "expanded" stuff, and the "extruded" harder stuff is about 2 to 3 times more expensive. the smallest quanitity of new boxes I could get was in multiples of 10 at about 7 to 10 dollars apiece, if I read that webpage correctly (from uline).
I MADE boxes from several using contact cement to hold them together, and to secure the reinforcements inside at the corners and edges. They survived....

[gearhead]

16 is a bit high BUT I recently shipped 3 tektronix scopes in packing designed to survive. Between the cost for a new box, bubble wrap and etc, it would cost a pretty penny. They shipped with about 7.00 of bubblewrap each, and that was cheap thin ebay available s**t wrap. The rest of the stuff that came in before had much thicker plastic for the bubbles. Sytrofoam board isnt cheap for the "expanded" stuff, and the "extruded" harder stuff is about 2 to 3 times more expensive. the smallest quanitity of new boxes I could get was in multiples of 10 at about 7 to 10 dollars apiece, if I read that webpage correctly (from uline).
I MADE boxes from several using contact cement to hold them together, and to secure the reinforcements inside at the corners and edges. They survived....

Yeah, I know what you mean, but I'll bet you a dollar it shows up packed EXACTLY like the guys who don't nickel & dime the $#1t out of ya.

[markthefixer]

Well, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for ya...

I seriously envy Wardsweb's access to that neat green foam.(shipping that pioneer ct-f1250 is his latest example).

[AudioAddict]

Heck Man , I sold a Carver TFM-35 to a dude in N.Carolina and it weighed
26 lbs and didnt cost but I think was 13.00 to ship the thing at UPS..

AudioAddict

[Charivari]

I can understand the $16 worth of materials to pack it up right. Not everyone is so fortunate as to have free packing materials available everywhere. Some of us have to purchase them. For me, a receiver could cost ~$15 to pack properly when all is accounted for (cost of box, cost of bubblewrap, cost of styrofoam board). Even a bookshelf pair of speakers such as the Smaller Advent cost me nearly $40 in materials, before the gas required in 3 hours of running around a larger town a bit of a drive away that actually had what I needed, to pack in a way to ensure their safe arrival. I lost money on that deal when all the costs were factored in. Same with most everything else I've sold, so I'm getting to wonder what's the point there -- but that's a matter for somewhere else.

You guys hate people who nickel and dime you on the packing. I dislike those who don't understand the above (I'm not talking about you, of course).

- JP

[SDA SRS 1.2]

If he insists on the $16 fee and it arrives packaged no better than average, I would let others know on his feedback. Good luck.

[gearhead]

Here's an update-
I got the receiver-packed in a box with nothing but peanuts. There was supposed to be an original owner's manual and original sales brochure included.
The box looked like it had been re-taped on the bottom, like the receiver had fallen out the bottom. No manual or brochure. UPS picked up box in February, and I hadn't heard anything from them, so I emailed them. Here's their May 1 response-

Thank you for your inquiry. Our system does indicate that there is a
pending claim for this shipment. Unfortunately, the information you have
requested is only provided to the shipper. UPS finalizes all claims with
the shipper, and I am unable to provide this information to the receiver
or third party. For further information about this claim, contact the
person or company that shipped your package for final resolution.

If the shipper has questions about the claim, please have them contact us
directly. If your package was shipped on your behalf through a Commercial
Counter or Authorized Shipping Outlet that location is considered the
shipper.

Please contact us if you need any additional assistance.

Sergio Sanderson
UPS Customer Service

So it's too late to leave feedback, and UPS could have sent the seller a check. Am I supposed to ask him if he got a check from UPS? What do you think he'd say?

[EchoWars]

Ask the seller WTF.

Receiving $$ for something and receiving nothing is still a crime.

[gearhead]

Oops--I got the receiver, but the manual and brochure are missing.
I basically paid for primo shipping and got shafted.
It was a Pioneer SX-3900.

[piece-it pete]

GH,

Sorry for your luck. This guy is obviously a jerk. Since he lied about the accessories I'm with Glenn. Take a hard line, be pissed. Did you pay with Paypal? If so consider a complaint and tell him so.

Pete

[yamahammer]

Gearhead Go Get Em If You Want To Go Mobile To Go Get"em I Will Drive You There Just To See A Good A*** Whippin Lol

[KingBubba]

When I bought my Onkyo TX-8500MKII from Vintagestereo, I paid premium for double box shipping. He and I were both shocked to find that all 80lbs of it was shipped in a thinwall box with a little bubblewrap and some peanuts. The box was almost round because the corners had all caved in. This was not Chris's fault as he thought he was getting a premium job. I got lucky and the Onkyo was okay. It is not always the Ebay seller's fault when this stuff comes out packed like shot. Most of the shippers suck and all of them will only deal with the shipper, including the UPS store. I believe if shipping is done directly through UPS the recipient can make the claim. All of this of course mean "Buyer Beware".

[pustelniakr]

Sorry about your transaction. Ethics are not uniform in the world.

Concerning $16 for packaging...Here is what it cost me to make the packaging that I sent to an ePay seller (empty), to ship my new PL-630 home in:

1 double wall inner box (20x20x12): $5.30
1 double-wall outer box (24 x 24 x 18): $7.15
Total for boxes alone (w/tax): $13.39

Sheet styrofoam, 2" thick: $24 for a 4x8 sheet
Other sheet styrofoam goes down as the thickness goes down, and I keep many different thicknesses on hand. And, don't forget wide reinforced strapping tape.

Bottom line: It is very easy for packaging for delicate, large, vintage audio gear to cost $16 to $20+

Spending a bit more on packaging, to provide the safest shipping, is better than fighting to get insurance payoffs and/or appeasing unhappy customers. Anyone who has received one of my shipments knows what that kind of packaging looks and works like.

Rich P