Shipping to Maine was $47.72 for the 41-pound box containing the sewing machine and goodies (no fancy "express" or "priority", just plain-jane USPS shipping). I charged the buyer a flat $13 handling fee to cover the box (I purchase heavy duty double wall boxes, especially appropriate for this cast iron beauty), packing peanuts, bubble wrap, plus the package of needles and thread I provide the buyer. Those actual costs are $12.20 but I figure I can legitimately charge 80 cents for my labor packing the machine up and driving it to the post office. I suppose I actually lose money on my 80 cents too, with gas prices the way they are, but I digress.
The final shipping/handling fee was $60.72 ($47.72 shipping fee + $13.00 handling fee). The eBay/PayPal fees were $12.64, based on the $95.67 total price ($60.72 + $34.95). So, what did I make on this sewing machine?
* $95.67 came into my PayPal account from the buyer.
* $47.72 went out to pay USPS shipping from the West coast to the East coast.
* $9.57 went out for eBay fees (10% of $95.67).
The final shipping/handling fee was $60.72 ($47.72 shipping fee + $13.00 handling fee). The eBay/PayPal fees were $12.64, based on the $95.67 total price ($60.72 + $34.95). So, what did I make on this sewing machine?
* $95.67 came into my PayPal account from the buyer.
* $47.72 went out to pay USPS shipping from the West coast to the East coast.
* $9.57 went out for eBay fees (10% of $95.67).
* $3.07 went out for PayPal fee (3.2% of $95.67).
* $12.20 went out for the box/packing peanuts/needles/thread.
* $14.11 I paid for the machine at Goodwill ($12.99 plus tax).
I netted exactly $9.00 in my pocket for a nearly-$100 eBay transaction, not counting the hours I spent cleaning and oiling the sewing machine, and the labor and gas money expended to procure and ship the thing. I should have left well enough alone and not delved into this. I never did figure this sewing machine hobby to be a money-maker but it would be nice to break even.
eBay and PayPal both charge a final value fee on the final sale price of an item. They also charge a fee on the shipping charge collected from the buyer. I can understand the logic behind these online auction places charging fees for the shipping costs. Prior to eBay/PayPal's change in their fee-charging structure, some folks using the auction service were gaming the system by selling items for a small amount and charging exorbitant shipping fees.
* $12.20 went out for the box/packing peanuts/needles/thread.
* $14.11 I paid for the machine at Goodwill ($12.99 plus tax).
I netted exactly $9.00 in my pocket for a nearly-$100 eBay transaction, not counting the hours I spent cleaning and oiling the sewing machine, and the labor and gas money expended to procure and ship the thing. I should have left well enough alone and not delved into this. I never did figure this sewing machine hobby to be a money-maker but it would be nice to break even.
eBay and PayPal both charge a final value fee on the final sale price of an item. They also charge a fee on the shipping charge collected from the buyer. I can understand the logic behind these online auction places charging fees for the shipping costs. Prior to eBay/PayPal's change in their fee-charging structure, some folks using the auction service were gaming the system by selling items for a small amount and charging exorbitant shipping fees.
Let me give an example. Someone has a cell phone case worth $25 on the open market. They might list and sell that case for $1 but charge $29 for shipping (actual shipping might be $5). A buyer pays the $30, which is the going rate for the item shipped to the buyer's door. The seller would be charged a percentage of the $1 selling price, which might be 13 cents that eBay/PayPal makes on the transaction (they should have made $3.25 (13% of the $25 value of the item)). The seller would then pocket the $24 made on shipping ($29 - $5) and not be charged a fee on that $24. Thus the change by the auction company to plug this loophole.
Those people trying to game the system has only led to eBay/PayPal revising their fee structure so they don't lose money from those trying to circumvent the system. Now all sellers of the auction service get charged a fee for money that is basically channeled from the buyer to the shipping service. Something seems wrong here but I don't know what the solution is.
Ok, I'm done ranting... Even if eBay/PayPal didn't charge a fee for shipping costs, I wouldn't have made much more money in my auction, maybe another 8 bucks. Like I said, this hobby isn't a money maker.
Now for those that don't know what ciphering is, it's something Jethro Bodine of Beverly Hillbillies did very well. Here's a little blurb I found on the net of Jethro showing his prowess:
Uncle Jed: (to Jethro) "Boy, show Mr. Drysdale how smart you are. Do some ciphering for us."
Jethro: (enthusiastically) "Sure Uncle Jed! Do you want me to do some Times or Gusintas?"
Jed: "Oh, I dunno. Lets do some Gusintas."
Jethro: (enthuisatically) "Two gusinta six... three times. Three gusinta nine... three times. Four gusinta eight... two times!"
Jed: "Wheeeeee Doggieeee!!!"
Those people trying to game the system has only led to eBay/PayPal revising their fee structure so they don't lose money from those trying to circumvent the system. Now all sellers of the auction service get charged a fee for money that is basically channeled from the buyer to the shipping service. Something seems wrong here but I don't know what the solution is.
Ok, I'm done ranting... Even if eBay/PayPal didn't charge a fee for shipping costs, I wouldn't have made much more money in my auction, maybe another 8 bucks. Like I said, this hobby isn't a money maker.
Now for those that don't know what ciphering is, it's something Jethro Bodine of Beverly Hillbillies did very well. Here's a little blurb I found on the net of Jethro showing his prowess:
Uncle Jed: (to Jethro) "Boy, show Mr. Drysdale how smart you are. Do some ciphering for us."
Jethro: (enthusiastically) "Sure Uncle Jed! Do you want me to do some Times or Gusintas?"
Jed: "Oh, I dunno. Lets do some Gusintas."
Jethro: (enthuisatically) "Two gusinta six... three times. Three gusinta nine... three times. Four gusinta eight... two times!"
Jed: "Wheeeeee Doggieeee!!!"
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