eBay Surcharges by a Seller

[Keith A]

I stumbled across this auction where the seller (bike shop) is charging $100 on top of the actual shipping costs. Here is their reasoning...

Frame and Wheel Product Analysis and Service

Frame and Wheel includes a product analysis and service (PAAS) charge in the shipping cost. The PAAS charge is what the buyer pays Frame and Wheel for making the effort to obtain the item, clean the item, make sure it works properly, make repairs if needed, take many good pictures of it, describe it accurately and thoroughly, provide an opinion about it, purchase custom made boxes (if the item is a high value wheel set or frame set), pack it carefully, ship it within one day of the auction closing, offer 14 days return policy and respond to emails quickly. Frame and Wheel believes that buyers should pay for better than average descriptions, faster than average shipping and professional service.

I especially like that part of their fee is for "making the effort to obtain the item"

[Keith A]

BTW, they won't let you pick it up either...cause it's already boxed. That sure makes a lot of sense

[54ny77]

i smell trademark and copyright violation....

[tmf]

I've seen that disclaimer before in their auctions. I laugh to myself and pass - unless it's just too good of a deal (which hasn't happened yet...).

I just noticed how close 'PAAS' is to "pass". Very good subliminal marketing!

[binxnyrwarrsoul]

Per ebay's guidelines, that is not allowed, just like charging higher shipping to "cover" ebay and paypal fees is not allowed. A message to ebay will have them "gently" notify the seller.

[Keith A]

Originally Posted by binxnyrwarrsoul

Per ebay's guidelines, that is not allowed, just like charging higher shipping to "cover" ebay and paypal fees is not allowed. A message to ebay will have them "gently" notify the seller.

Thanks for the info...it certainly didn't seem kosher to me.

[pakora]

Originally Posted by binxnyrwarrsoul

Per ebay's guidelines, that is not allowed, just like charging higher shipping to "cover" ebay and paypal fees is not allowed. A message to ebay will have them "gently" notify the seller.

Rats, is that true? You used to be able to add a handling charge.

heh I'd look it up but I find ebay's help pages extremely difficult to use.

[TPetsch]

Plus $162.00 for shipping. ...People don't seem to mind much, already up to $510.00, 11 bids.

[binxnyrwarrsoul]

Originally Posted by pakora

Rats, is that true? You used to be able to add a handling charge.

heh I'd look it up but I find ebay's help pages extremely difficult to use.

You can add a handling charge, I believe, but not $100. They allow you to charge "actual" shipping and a nominal handling charge. Their fees are pretty ridiculous, big reason I don't put anything on there anymore.

[dyerwolf]

I too, almost picked up one if their frames. Until this "fee" stopped me cold. No pick up though they're less than 90 miles away. A deal was no longer looking so good. Bummer, as they could of sold one more frame.
Interesting to hear that somebody informing (flea)bay, might stop their practice. I'll leave that task to another person.

[pakora]

It does seem foolish to not just include that "handling charge" in the minimum bid and avoid the description of why this charge.

Every business has business rules, but individual consumers don't need to know or care about those rules unless it's like, ethical or something. And atmo what you charge and why isn't an ethical question.

[Keith A]

Originally Posted by pakora

It does seem foolish to not just include that "handling charge" in the minimum bid and avoid the description of why this charge.

Every business has business rules, but individual consumers don't need to know or care about those rules unless it's like, ethical or something. And atmo what you charge and why isn't an ethical question.

The only problem (for them) is that they still want to cover their costs for putting up the auction on top of whatever it sells for. But your correct, if they just started with whatever the item cost them plus their PAAS as a minimum bid, then everything above this would be profit.

[phcollard]

Originally Posted by binxnyrwarrsoul

Per ebay's guidelines, that is not allowed, just like charging higher shipping to "cover" ebay and paypal fees is not allowed. A message to ebay will have them "gently" notify the seller.

That is correct. I often see auction (all euros... lol) where the seller says : payment by iban wire transfer. If Paypal I'll add 4% on top of the final price. I hope for them eBay never sees this.

[binxnyrwarrsoul]

Back up. Hmmm. Interesting.

[retrogrouchy]

Link, please....

Sounds like some of the greatest BS ever perpetrated on buyers via eBay (and that's saying a lot!).