The E-Sylum:  Volume 10, Number 50, December 9, 2007, Article 4

ON NUMISMATIC LITERATURE SHIPPING AND HANDLING CHARGES

Regarding eBay shipping and handling charges in relation
to selling numismatic literature, Greg Heim of South Plainfield,
NJ writes: "Earlier this year I sold my own personal Red Book
collection via eBay - it included the first 10 editions, plus
many of the Special Editions (including the Milwaukee). My
eBay ID is "gynandroidhead."  More recently I've listed bulk
lots on consignment - two different 100+ lots of Bowers &
Merena Rare Coin Reviews, some auction catalogs (1980s to
date with a lot of Stack's Ford Sales), etc.

"In my town, I have an APC, or Automated Postal Center in
my lobby which is available 24/7.  However, you cannot use
it to ship Media Mail packages.  To complicate matters, the
Post Office lobby does not open until 10AM.  There is a very
legitimate component to 'handling' which must be incurred
by the buyer.  There is the time in processing the lot,
which includes the packaging, packaging materials, and time
to and from the post office (especially at this time of the
year if one chooses to do business).

"Now please do not get me wrong, I am not an advocate of
running up your handling charges to offset a chunk of the
seller's eBay fees.  However, time and materials cost money
and too many uninformed buyers only look at the postage.
I take pride in my customer service and my feedback, and
I try to be as fair as possible by combining shipping for
multiple lots, etc.  The only thing that I ask a buyer to
do is evaluate shipping & handling carefully when leaving
opinion on the feedback.  Thanks for your time and have a
wonderful holiday season."

  Wayne Homren, Editor

	coinbooks.org Web

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