CUSTOMERS COMMENTING ON HIGH SHIPPING COSTS - TRY THIS!

I often see blogs where a customer (must have been a newbie) bid and won an auction, only to refuse to pay when they saw the shipping costs. This is not unusual with new folks, often largely because they have no idea what it costs to mail a package these days. Sometimes, however, they have a right to be shocked and refuse to pay if it is outrageous.
When a customer bids on an auction, it is a customer to seller contract to buy. However, if the buyer neglects the details,and later decides not to pay, there is virtually nothing you can do about it (although many try). Having said that, the hassle of pestering or begging someone to geplete the deal (and the possible negative feedback you will get for your trouble) is hardly worth the fight and possible consequences in my estimation.
In this case, I would simple file an NPB report to recover your Final Value Fee (FVF) with an NPB strike so other sellers can see that this buyer is flakey. If there was a second bidder, make a second chance offer (its free) to that bidder. Then simply hope the second bidder still wants the item. Be sure you nicely explain how it gees to be available to them after they lost the auction). Or, you may simple choose to negotiate on the shipping with the first customer or to just relist the item (absorbing the original listing cost as a loss).
I would also be very sure to place this flakey bidder in my blocked bidders list (located in the seller resources). Once they have shown that they do not understand the process and cannot geply with okay rules, I don't ever want to deal with them again. It is costly to have to relist items a second time because someone doesn't read the details.
However, if you routinely get gements about your shipping cost, you should look carefully at what you are doing to be sure you are not over inflating or making the profit in the shipping costs. If your shipping is higher than that of others selling similar items, do offer gebined shipping cost reductions to your buyer and try cutting your shipping costs by doing the following:
- Offer shipping parcel post as an alternative to Priority Mail in your listings (customers love having a choice).
- Buy a scale and print your own postage on the geputer.
- Use US Postal Service free carrier pick up (esy they will pick up right from your home or place of business FREE) to save on handling time, gas and running around time
- Pick up free boxes at Gordon Food Stores (GFS) or other stores that are happy to give them away. Grocery stores seem to always have a variety of box sizes to meet your needs (I love this store!!)
- Pick up and recycling free packing materials (peanuts, bubble wrap, puff pillows, foam wrap) from appliance stores, the IT department of your regular job or elsewhere. Use that instead of paying for bubble wrap, gemercial boxes, and other expensive shipping materials. The cost of ecxpensive shipping materials must be passed on to customers, so it makes sense that where you can recycle you can reduce shipping costs (always popular witrh buyers)
- Refrain from enclosing freebies when the cost is passed on to the customers by high shipping and handling fees. Although it is nice to get a surprize in the box, buyers are wise enough to want the best deal -- and that is usually a deral without freebies.
Finally, when a buyer contacts you abiout shipping (or anything else) be NICE! Be thorough in explaining your charges. Treating a customer's concerns as legitimate (even if you disagree with them) is the first step in building a returning customer base). When many think it is about get the money and get em outta here...it is really the ability to build and maintain a customer base and benefit from the word of mouth referrals they can provide a great seller! This is a critical mindset!
If you have time, please drop by my sales (Pepper120851) or my store "The Write Place" where YOU name the price you pay!
Happy okaying!