Plus they own Paypal so they charge you twice

[botias]

I thought I had broken even on the auction by badly mis-underestimating the shipping charges. I was doing really well being happy for whomever had just gotten an awesome deal. That's me: so Zen. Then I looked up the my final value fees on ebay, and I couldn't hear that one hand clapping no more. I didn't realize that ebay has started charging a percentage on the shipping amount as well as the final value or I would have thought twice about listing something that weighs 50 pounds. Choosing a second category was presented as costing a small fee, somehow I missed that it would double the cost of all the other 'enhancements' that seemed so reasonable.


Final Tally:

Payment Received	$89.55
Shipping	-80.00
Ebay Fees	-10.50
Paypal Fees	-2.90
Net Total	-$3.85

*pouts* I could have Craigslisted the whole shebang for $25 and been way ahead, or better yet consigned it all. :P Enough whining. But, ebay IS evil.

In other news, the braces are not free! At $1500 they are far from it, but still half what a private orthodontist would charge. Also, the solar guy called and he didn't think they could spot me a system that will meet all my demand. Also, no one has taken me up on my 'tubers for web development' offer, alas. HOWEVER, one guy said that he would send me a few tubers for free because I had inspired him do the work himself.

And the sun is shining as winter begins, a record number of dry, sunny days for December. We've spent the last two afternoons at the bay beach. Today the tide was lower than we'd yet seen it, exposing habitat usually under 6 feet of water. We saw sea anemones in hot pink and turquoise, orange sea stars, black rock crabs and grey hermit crabs. The kids were entranced. "MOM, you have to SEE THIS. It's a crab and it's ALIVE." All this in tones of shock and awe that most people would reserve for an alien visitation. 8YO had a wild kingdom moment. As he returned a hermit crab to the water, a rock crab scuttled out of the depths and skewered it for its supper.

8YO is driving me a little mad. He's so excited about Christmas loot that he can hardly stand it. 6YO is too young to be so focused on something in the future, 11YO is too old to get that excited about a few presents. But that's about all of my Christmas suffering. I only buy presents for the oldest generation and the youngest so my shopping is pretty light. I understandably get few presents as well, but that's fine. I think about decorating, but never actually get around to it. I did donate to Toys For Tots. I wish you all a bit of holiday relaxation.

Comments

[silverusagi]

Wait, ebay is now charging you fees on shipping? I noticed they had cut back to free insertion fees...

[botias.livejournal.com]

In fairness, many people were dodging the final value fee by charging a shipping amount that encompassed the value of the item. So ebay now charges a percentage fee based on the shipping amount as well. :P Or they could have been happy with only a bazillion billion dollars in profit.

[brunettepet.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the heads up about shipping. What a double gouge. What did you sell that weighs 50 pounds?

I love tide pools!

Yesterday it was 70 here and this morning it was 34. Aaah, Texas.

The mister's dad passed away last week, so we didn't get any holiday decorating or baking or card mailing done. We're calling it a wash. It will be nice to have the mister home for two consecutive days, though. I think we'll bundle up and watch mindless action movies. I should make sure we have plenty of popcorn.

[botias.livejournal.com]

A designer label business wardrobe. My mom dropped it at my house to dispose of as I liked. I didn't ask the reason of course. Perhaps she gained weight?

Me too!

I'm sorry to hear that. Bundling up and watching mindless action movies sounds like my kind of retreat. What titles do you favor?

[brunettepet.livejournal.com]

I've got "Inception," "Iron Man 2," "Zombieland" and the last three episodes of "The Walking Dead." I hope we're set for a loud, gory Christmas.

I'm sorry to hear "Tintin" was such a bore. I loved the books as a kid. Well, I still own them all so I guess I still love them!

[botias.livejournal.com]

Excellent action options. The Zombies win hands down. The new 'The Thing' wasn't too shabby.

I haven't read the books so perhaps you would get some sort of nostalgic enjoyment that I couldn't.

[zanthinegirl.livejournal.com]

Gah! That's crazy. Craigslist is looking better all the time.

It was gorgeous here too yesterday. My mom was visiting and we took a ferry out to the islands. Perfect day!

[botias.livejournal.com]

Yes, Craigslist is my friend. On a good day ebay takes 20% after all is said and done.

Yay! :) I am so enjoying this rare sun. What is that golden disk in the sky?

[cleoius.livejournal.com]

Ebays been doing that for a while, though I had no idea they own Paypal. D: As for the final value now includes shipping, I rather think they are doing that cause people were overcharging to make up the differance possibly on their paypal and ebay fees.

I mean I collect action figures, but I don't often get them from ebay cause the sellers there tend to be out of control. It's not just shipping they charge, but a hefty handling charge. I don't know if ebay changed it, but the last time I tried to write "Buyer pays shipping and handling fees" they told me I am not allowed to use the word handling. D:

Man, 11 year old sounds jaded. Few presents or not....it's presents! A reason to be excited! XD

[botias.livejournal.com]

I'm sure the fees ebay charges get passed on to the customers. Too bad I didn't!