walrusleather
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2005
Posts: 193
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Post by walrusleather on Aug 13, 2005 10:30:08 GMT -5
there are lots of companies that ship in your name to your customer. a lot of the (dynamite crates and old find stories) shippers are just using a service that makes them available like acme or fuller brush etc. basically the modern version of door to door. they are on a huge profit margin and rarely show pictures of what they sell because they never touch it, frequently stealing pics from websites or occasionally taking pics of personal stock with a hidden disclaimer about may not reflect actual product. in most cases if you worm thru the story and embellishment of the listing you will see either 1/4 or 1/2 lb lots usually shown in carats as a big number impresses people (ps mine run is never sold in carat, only cutting grades and cut stones) always some old find story (gives the psychological impression of making it rich or big find) always some unsearched comment ( all mine run is searched ) you wouldnt give away gold for dirt price would you? although I will tell you you can find great stuff in one of mabye 20 of these lots, it is rare. GOOD rule of thumb, no pic of the lot , no bid. also ask questions , most dropship resellers dont even bother Because there are too many people in e-bay buyer frenzy to bother with real effort. As a business myself I refuse to drop ship items that are unique. if its a cd or book, fine they wil all be the same. but a lot of stones. If i would not be happy with it I wont sell it . sellers suspect of doing the drop ship are emeraldcreek atgoodman adl1243 anseladam1 edover1938 there are many more here are some of the direct shipping companies that offer the low quality crap they sell www.alphaimports.com/drop-shipment/drop-shipment.htm (they have some really good stuff) www.123dropship.com/index.htm (have seen some ok stuff from a few of the companies they rep, not much) If you want respectable people and good products, buy from people who have been in brick and mortar business for some time. shows or trade meets and buy in person. if you cant make it there is such a wealth of info here on this board that you can make an informed decision. |
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ArkieRockhound
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since February 2005
Posts: 870
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Post by ArkieRockhound on Aug 13, 2005 10:38:38 GMT -5
You are so right, Walrus. I always read every ad from top to bottom and stay away from them. The ones you really need to watch are the big sellers with feedback in the 1000's and with feedback percentage rate below 99%. You know they have a lot of negatives.
Trish
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walrusleather
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2005
Posts: 193
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Post by walrusleather on Aug 13, 2005 10:44:14 GMT -5
I just hate to see people ripped off,, low quality and ridiculous handling fees(its not the postage) they do that so they dont pay e-bay its due for the sale
I feel bad even charging the cost of packaging materials on some auctions, but for business i realize you need to (post office pays for priority shipping materials)
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phoenix1647
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2013
Posts: 186
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Post by phoenix1647 on Aug 13, 2005 11:41:02 GMT -5
I agree with you both. Most ebayers are honest people who will not rip you off..but there are the few who charge outragous handling fees.....
one good honest ebay seller is missgoodbear who runs teddy bear junction. This seller will not over charge for postage...buyer pays actuall postage without any hidden handling fees. Missgoodbear does not charge the buyer for going to the post office to drop off their item either. If on the rare occassion that a mistake is made..a good seller will make it right no matter what it takes...
just my opinion..
Pho
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Post by xenaswolf on Aug 13, 2005 12:19:26 GMT -5
I feel like such an idiot now  Well it was a relativly cheap lesson to learn, $17 but now I know. Thanks for the info |
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MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
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Post by MichiganRocks on Aug 13, 2005 12:28:06 GMT -5
eBay has gotten so bad I rarely use it anymore. I was looking for something a while back and found it for $.99. Couldn't believe anyone would list it for that price. Then I looked and he wanted $49 for shipping and handling! Whole thing wasn't worth $49.
I've also seen sellers with ratings as low as 92% still selling. Thought that wasn't supposed to be allowed.
Came across one item where eBay said he wasn't a member. How in the world can he list an item then!
Ron
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walrusleather
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2005
Posts: 193
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Post by walrusleather on Aug 13, 2005 12:34:29 GMT -5
sorry i hadnt thought about posting this info before, still newer to the board, but the weath of knowledge i have needs shared as time and energy allows.
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Post by Alice on Aug 14, 2005 6:43:52 GMT -5
speaking of over shipping...
I usually over charge by $1 - $2 and I charge postage in US funds (if it costs $5 CDN, I will charge $5 US)... I usually don't have a good sized box to ship anything in, so I head over to the dollar store and buy a box... and I DO add it to shipping costs. If I have to spend more then $1 on the box, I add it to the shipping charge.
I'd be loosing money if I didn't over charge...
Lets say I start my bid at $.99, and someone wins it at $.99... I still have to go out and spend money on packaging materials... $1.15 for the box, and $0.50 for wrapping and tape. I also have to pay for e-bay fees... In the end, I come out even (and just GAVE the item away)... by charging in US dollars and overcharging by $1 or $2, it covers e-bay fee's and packaging materials.
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phoenix1647
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2013
Posts: 186
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Post by phoenix1647 on Aug 14, 2005 8:30:04 GMT -5
I have no problem with people coverng their costs..that is just part of doing business...what I get upset about it those who charge $9.00 for shipping and handling when it only cost them $1.65 or less....
Some of the ebay sellers are adding extra money to their so called handling charges to cover the profit on the item they are selling. I would never charge for going to the post office since I have togo there anyway to get my mail...I get boxes at the store by asking for used boxex....most stores will give them to you or Iuse the free box from the post office.
Some ebay sellers will not use the flat rate box from the post office for $7.70 but use a different shipper like UPS or Fedex for a much higher price.....oh well..this is a no win situation for us all...
Pho
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walrusleather
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2005
Posts: 193
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Post by walrusleather on Aug 14, 2005 15:25:06 GMT -5
with the right account from fedex or ups you get rebates from usage so they can pass the extra on to you.
It just gets me when ive bought something, paid the addtl 1 to 2 bucks for packaging and then i see the 5 to 10 $ diff between postage and quoted postage.
if its that big a diff, i still give paypal partial refunds.
well enough floggin the dead horse.
back to my original point, just watch out for some sellers, lessons learned. just like the old sluce mining roadside setups that have no chance of natural stones just the seeded stuff in them, ya live ya learn, then you get mud in places ya didnt know ya had but find stuf for real.
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stefan
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Aug 15, 2005 9:33:47 GMT -5
Live and learn with the Ebay thing- I stopped ebaying because it is like a crap shoot- Some of the stuff is primo- some is crap- and being an auction site it is buyer beware (especially cause it is the seller that greases Ebay wheels) as in any auction- there are no promises- most of the sellers try to be honest- but the lure of big money taints some of them- I guess i'm a bit different- I brose Ebay for ideas but I won't purchase. I tried to close my ebay account- but they just put me on an inactive list (I don't have any banking info with them and I refuse to set up a paypal account!) so I'm an inactive Ebay user- oh well things could be worse- I could have some kind of addiction!
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Tonya
spending too much on rocks
Member since May 2005
Posts: 304
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Post by Tonya on Aug 15, 2005 21:05:17 GMT -5
Oh, I love Ebay, am always buying off there. You just have to be careful cause some sellers will rip you off on the shipping.
If they dont list a price for the shipping, I will always email them and ask shipping price before bidding.
I usually buy rocks from the sellers that will combine shipping using the flat rate box.
I've gotten some great African rocks from one seller but she wont be back on selling until fall. Hopefully she'll have some cool stuff then.
And I always always look at the sellers feedback, that usually will tell you what kind of seller they are.
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Aug 16, 2005 12:09:39 GMT -5
See some people love Ebay- some hate it- Tonya- I'm glad you have had good expierences on Ebay!
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Tonya
spending too much on rocks
Member since May 2005
Posts: 304
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Post by Tonya on Aug 16, 2005 12:17:42 GMT -5
I am thinking I got a good deal on that saw I just bought. Cant wait til it gets here.
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Aug 16, 2005 12:41:20 GMT -5
Yup you did- I think the thing I have problems with is the amount of time I waste watching an item get out of bidding distance- I'm looking for a deal and I'm not patient enough to keep waiting- I lose one auction and poof I'm surfing for the item NEW- Ahh well- Can't wait to see the saw (  ?) |
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ArkieRockhound
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since February 2005
Posts: 870
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Post by ArkieRockhound on Aug 17, 2005 16:49:02 GMT -5
Don't be down on Ebay. It's just like everything else. You have to do your homework. Take time to read a lot of their feedback if you interested in buying. Where I live, I couldn't buy anything if it were not for Ebay and the Internet. I have been selling on Ebay for around 4 years. I have never had a real problem. I did buy some rock from Beartrade that took about a month to get here and really wasn't that great, but everything else I have bought has been great. I love Ebay! You just have to be careful, like in anything else you do.
I also think PayPal is the greatest. Don't know how I ever got along without it.
Trish
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Tonya
spending too much on rocks
Member since May 2005
Posts: 304
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Post by Tonya on Aug 17, 2005 17:07:33 GMT -5
I love Ebay too, I think I am a Ebayaholic....LOL, am always looking in there for bargains.
Only got ripped off once and had to do an insurance claim and only got part of my money back but I got the seller suspended from ebay. But live and learn, I am a lot more picky about who I buy from now and I always read their feedback before bidding.
I bought all my tumblers off ebay and have gotten a lot of great rocks off there.
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walrusleather
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2005
Posts: 193
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Post by walrusleather on Aug 17, 2005 19:21:45 GMT -5
I wasnt bashing e-bay at all,, just stating that some of the dealers have no love for rocks whatrsoever and just make a quick buck offa those of us who lost our marbles for stones a long time ago.
be careful and watch out for the over hyped bs auctions
i hate the lies and stories that the dropshippers come up with to sell low grade crap as something
my opinion , I could be wrong.
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ArkieRockhound
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since February 2005
Posts: 870
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Post by ArkieRockhound on Aug 17, 2005 19:54:02 GMT -5
You're definitely right about that. That's why you have to be careful and read the whole ad, the feedback and the shipping charges. And it's wise not to buy old finds on mine run gems. You really need to see pictures of the actual product you are buying, and most of those just show crates of bags and claim they are full of gems. If there were any 100+ carat rubys or emeralds in there, they were pulled long ago.
Trish
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Aug 18, 2005 13:32:01 GMT -5
Ahh I was not bashing Ebay (ok I was) it is not the sellers- its the BIG money thing they got going on-
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Well it was a relativly cheap lesson to learn, $17 but now I know. Thanks for the info
?)
