Chainsaw shipping costs on eBay: Effective way to complain?

Rugged made
Advertise with us
Treestuff
shop deals on amazon
Arborist Forum

Help Support Arborist Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Very true! I have sold them both ways but I tell people up front with the bar the cost will be higher due to size and weight. Being honest and upfront with that info goes a long way. I had a buyer agree to the extra cost after I shipped it. I got a shipping cost and was off by $12.
 
I received my 925 today that I purchaesd on ebay. It was listed with a BIN price and I knew the shipping price was way low. When I hit BIN and payed with paypal the seller messaged me and asked if I wanted the 16 or 20" bar and that the shipping charge was wrong. I messaged him back and said that I wanted the 20" bar and would do whatever I needed to pay the difference in shipping from the original listing. Gave him my phone number so we could figure out how to get him the money. Next thing I know I get a message that the item has shipped. Never heard from the seller again. The saw arrived with just the powerhead and a chain. I would have gladly wired him the money of mailed a check or whatever. Now I have to go out and find a bar tomorrow so I can use the saw for firewood. I feel bad that he lost out on the shipping but man, I tried to make it right so I could have a usable bar until my budget allows for the 28" bar I really want. Guess I will just leave positive feedback and move on.
 
If the gentleman had just called me or messaged me through ebay, I could have likely already had a bar ready to go on the saw and know that the saw was not gonna arrive with a bar as advertised. Heck, I would have rather he sent it with the 16" than no bar at all. Same seller has another 925 listed with the 16" right now. Hoping I can find a decent used bar today. Surely one of the local shops will have something laying around.
 
For example, when I sell a trimmer shaft, and they want more items and want combined shipping, I tell them I can't, because of the dimensions.
Say I ship one to Maine, the dimensions are 63"x6"x2" 2lbs. 15 oz., shipping cost $9.46.
But I add a small part at 5 oz., but I have to find a different box 63"x6"x6" 3lbs. 5 oz. shipping goes up to $16.31 over 50% increase. As a matter of fact, if the weights were the same, the shipping would still be $16.31.....
 
HarleyT said:
The big problem that the bar makes isn't the weight, but longer bars kick up the box dimensions to a size that increases the shipping dramatically......
Click to expand...
Correct! UPS has a weight range for pricing. I got a surprise UPS extra charge once due to my box being 3 inches bigger then what I originally planned.
 
NCfirewood said:
If the gentleman had just called me or messaged me through ebay, I could have likely already had a bar ready to go on the saw and know that the saw was not gonna arrive with a bar as advertised. Heck, I would have rather he sent it with the 16" than no bar at all. Same seller has another 925 listed with the 16" right now. Hoping I can find a decent used bar today. Surely one of the local shops will have something laying around.
Click to expand...
I notice a little deception on the part of the seller so I sure wouldn't give him a positive feedback. In fact, I would message him and tell him if (whichever bar you want) doesn't arrive at your house in a reasonable time you will file a SNAD case against him with PayPal or ebay. If it goes to Paypal they will jerk the money from his account and put it in yours and you won't even have to send the saw back! If a case is filed he has a certain amount of time to reply or you win the case by default but you'd probably win the case anyway.
 
The bar with a saw is a plus for me because I don't have a large stash of spare bars, but it's not deal breaker.

What bothers me is people who literally cram the bar into the box diagonally. If lucky, all it'll do tear through but stay in the box. If unlucky, the ends of the bar will get damaged, or it'll go missing.

I've shipped long bars separate from the saw. It was actually cheaper than using one box big enough for both. IIRC the USPS price goes up quite a bit once you exceed certain dimensions.
 
Chris J. said:
I know and understand that sellers on eBay have to cover the actual shipping cost, plus eBay's cut, plus things like boxes, packing materials, travel time & distance (when applicable), etc.

What I've noticed for quite some time now is the shipping costs on eBay are way too high, even considering the above-listed factors. My understanding is the eBay shipping calculator automatically selects the highest rate (???). I've given several listings a miss because the shipping pushed the total cost too high.

My question is: Is there an effective way to complain, other than through each individual listing?
Click to expand...
think about this.... many have raised the rates crazy, because the money they have to pay ebay,,is based on the final item sale price,,not shipping...that's a way of keeping more of THEIR money....
 
olyman said:
think about this.... many have raised the rates crazy, because the money they have to pay ebay,,is based on the final item sale price,,not shipping...that's a way of keeping more of THEIR money....
Click to expand...

I'll say this. Recently I've seen way too many listings where the shipping appears to be around 40-50% higher than it should be (I won't link any eBay examples just in case this applies to an active AS member selling on eBay).

Example--The shipping for a small top handle saw that doesn't weigh much, such as a Poulan XXV, powerhead only, shipping from let's say from Arkansas to Texas should not cost nearly $50.00.

I can understand inexperienced occasional sellers griping about long drives to the shipping office, but experienced active sellers should have a system for handling that.

--------------------------------

As I previously posted, it sounds as though the only thing to do ask the seller about a cheaper shipping method. A deal will be made, or it won't.
 
I sell used saws when I have some ready for sale but can't justify driving 45 miles one way to get to the Fedex drop off place. I looked on their website and didn't see any that were any closer than this. I think the UPS office is about 15 miles away. I thought I saw a decal of UPS on a building closer to home and will check it out when I can.
 
NCfirewood said:
I received my 925 today that I purchaesd on ebay. It was listed with a BIN price and I knew the shipping price was way low. When I hit BIN and payed with paypal the seller messaged me and asked if I wanted the 16 or 20" bar and that the shipping charge was wrong. I messaged him back and said that I wanted the 20" bar and would do whatever I needed to pay the difference in shipping from the original listing. Gave him my phone number so we could figure out how to get him the money. Next thing I know I get a message that the item has shipped. Never heard from the seller again. The saw arrived with just the powerhead and a chain. I would have gladly wired him the money of mailed a check or whatever. Now I have to go out and find a bar tomorrow so I can use the saw for firewood. I feel bad that he lost out on the shipping but man, I tried to make it right so I could have a usable bar until my budget allows for the 28" bar I really want. Guess I will just leave positive feedback and move on.
Click to expand...


I think that guy sent you a 20" bar. Might wait and see what happens. Always give the benefit of the doubt. Patience pays off sometimes.

Just too bad he didn't reply but maybe he has an excuse.
 
sawbones said:
I think that guy sent you a 20" bar. Might wait and see what happens. Always give the benefit of the doubt. Patience pays off sometimes.

Just too bad he didn't reply but maybe he has an excuse.
Click to expand...
He may very well have. And I am not bashing him in any way. The saw is in very good shape and I am very pleased. I bought a D176 mount that fits Echo and a lot of other brands. A little filing and bingo. Perfect fit, oiler and all. And the chain he sent fits perfect also so now, even if he didn't send it, I have a spare chain. I feel bad about the shipping not calculating correctly for him and wanted to makebit right. Heck if I had the money I would buy the next one he listed too lol. Guess I just love 925s more than I should. He is going to get 100 percent positive feedback anyway.
 
Lots of sellers attempt to raise profits with crazy shipping fee, not really an uncommon thing at all, you need to be a smart shopper.
 
Chris J. said:
I'll say this. Recently I've seen way too many listings where the shipping appears to be around 40-50% higher than it should be (I won't link any eBay examples just in case this applies to an active AS member selling on eBay).

Example--The shipping for a small top handle saw that doesn't weigh much, such as a Poulan XXV, powerhead only, shipping from let's say from Arkansas to Texas should not cost nearly $50.00.

I can understand inexperienced occasional sellers griping about long drives to the shipping office, but experienced active sellers should have a system for handling that.

--------------------------------

As I previously posted, it sounds as though the only thing to do ask the seller about a cheaper shipping method. A deal will be made, or it won't.
Click to expand...
chris,, your missing what im saying...the saw will sell for under what its worth,,but the shipping cost makes up for it,, and ebay gets NO money off of the shipping........
 

Similar threads

056kid
Screwed by ebay
7 8 9
Replies
168
Views
15K
a. palmer jr.
a. palmer jr.
C
Ideal Sized Chipper
Replies
12
Views
3K
ZinTrees
ZinTrees
M
Want to Buy 555 -> 562xp parts - transfer covers (or used 562xp cylinder ) chain brake bushing?
Replies
0
Views
855
meglodon
M
U
Ready for a climb-it change? Come to New Orleans.
Replies
5
Views
2K
bucketofguts
bucketofguts
A
I finally rebuilt it! And a show of appreciation
2
Replies
22
Views
5K
Cedar Row
Cedar Row

Latest posts

Back
Top