ebay fidings

Ricardo Reis · 1 July 2009, 12:08 PM

someone had started a thread like this but I can't find it.

anyway if anyone interested:

"The Zeppelin In Combat" Hardcover.420 pages.Hardcover - eBay (item 300326565630 end time Jul-06-09 16:42:27 PDT)

Varese2002 · 1 July 2009, 02:20 PM

Unfortunately buying from the USA is for me (Europe - Netherlands) completely out-of-order. For example this book is started at $ 12.50 (no bids yet), but the shipping costs are given as # 33.00

(no other possibilities).

In the last years shipping costs from the USA have risen so high, that I have stopped bidding on anything that is on Ebay USA. It is financial harakiri.

Cheers

Kees

Ricardo Reis · 1 July 2009, 04:02 PM

I believe better prices can be achieved. I'll just have to find how...

Maybe we could do a bulk and get it by sea, in a container? Lisbon has a nice port and we do know how to cook and make wine

Varese2002 · 1 July 2009, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ricardo Reis

I believe better prices can be achieved. I'll just have to find how...

Maybe we could do a bulk and get it by sea, in a container? Lisbon has a nice port and we do know how to cook and make wine

You are absolutely right about the Portugese cooking, I think one of the winners is the Cozido à Portuguesa (a Portugese stew).

But about US prices. Mostly their is no discussion about the price of shipping. In the last 5 years a new way of earning money has come, where the price of the goods (books) is extremely low, sometimes $1 books, but the seller earns something because he gives shipping and handling costs. If you do not realize the inflated cost of these, and go for the low price of the book you will be uneasily surprised about the total costs.

Buying books in the USA is still possible for instance when consulting bookfinder. There you can at least see the total cost of a book (price + S&H).

Cheers

Kees

Fokker Ace · 2 July 2009, 07:06 AM

The price of shipping has also gone through the roof. I know from experience.

Many of the services (the "slow boat" option) are no longer available and even to send a small item shippers are faced with large costs.

There's also paperwork to figure into the "handling" charges.

dpolglaze · 2 July 2009, 09:04 PM

Kees,

Sorry to keep up the thread hijack, but ...

the US Postal Service eliminated all overseas surface options over a year ago. Now, the cheapest shipping options are First Class International Airmail, and the Priority Mail flat rate boxes and envelope.

International Priority goes almost everywhere. The envelope will fit a thin book up to 8.5x11 inches (for example, two Over the Front journals) for a flat rate of $12.95 for up to four pounds. Anything that will fit in the envelope up to four pounds will go for that rate.

There are three flat rate Priority International box rates - 8 5/8 x 5 3/8 inches for $12.95 with 4 pound maximum, two different mediums (8.5x11x5.5 inches, 11 7/8 x 13 5/8 x 3 3/8) for $41.95 with 20 pound max, and a large box for $53.95.

We used to be able to send via surface mail at cheap rates, but that's all gone now.

Specifically to The Netherlands, a one pound international first class package costs $10.76, while a two pound first class international package costs $17.64.

Perhaps you can get better shipping with the knowledge of what is available, but it might be worth a shot.

Dan

Ricardo Reis · 3 July 2009, 12:42 AM

dpolglaze, very useful explanation

joegertler · 3 July 2009, 08:45 AM

International Postal savings. Having shipped a good number of mailings of 8 x 10 photos and brochures and pamphlets and light booklets/songsheets etc. overseas, I found that the International Priority Mail envelopes and rates that were the "norm" on Ebay, seemed to make many purchases, bids, etc unfeasible. Asking a few of the bidders how they Usually preferred to have their photos and light items shipped, I learned that simply using a regular manilla envelope and mailing it First Class International, could result in very significant savings. Even for larger print materials, because it is easy and cheap to buy manilla mailing envelopes for either 9 x 12 or the Larger 13 x 10 size. EVEN with a sturdy carboard stiffener (or TWO) to protect the photos, some of the First Class mailing to Europe were only $4.10 or up through $7 for multiple photos. printings in one envelope. A LOT better than the $12.95-$20 Priority Mail rate-AND they actually take just about the same time to be delivered by air. I have a lot of repeat buyers of photos who are very happy with the shipping savings. Hope this helps...
OH! Almost forgot that it is also very good with savings on domestic U.S. mailings of photos, too. Instead of the $4.95 Priority Mail envelope charge for one 8 X 10 photo, you can mail the same photo(s) First Class in the manilla envelope for for 1.10 to1.60 or so...It will get there in same time. If you worry about not having protective stiffeners to prevent bending, Just cut up one of the many Priority Mail.Express Mail boxes that are available fro free in the Post Office. If you don't want to make an extra trip to get them. Go to USPS website, order any amount up to a package of 25, and they will deliver to your door, for free. I ship my rarevintage 8 x 10s in a clear protective sleeve ordered from any comic book/ magazine collectors supply house, and sandwich between two light cardboard stiffeners in the manilla envelope. The buyers voice their appreciation and I don't have to worry about damage (or a Priority Mail cost that diminishes the enjoyment of collecting/acquiring such items..)

FliegerJG1 · 3 July 2009, 08:52 AM

Regarding ebay sellers who seem to overcharge for shipping, there might be a workaround. Somewhere I read that there are buying services for international ebayers who want to purchase an item sold in the USA where the seller does not ship overseas. Likewise, if overseas shipping seemed too expensive from a seller, maybe a friend in the USA could purchase the item and then ship it at a less inflated cost. Well....just a few thoughts....

FliegerJG1

Varese2002 · 3 July 2009, 01:51 PM

I looked again at the Ebay item - The Zeppelin in combat by Douglas Robinson - and it is still there, no bids at the moment. Just to see what happened, I changed the shipping destination to the USA and lo the shipping got down to $ 3.16 (remember for Europe - Netherlands it was $ 33.00). I also tried Bulgaria ( $ 31.00), Canada ($ 22.50).

So the idea of FliegerJG1 to send the book to a friend in the USA who will ship it via the cheapest way to Europe is an interesting option

Cheers

Kees