@Sean's Train Depot posted:Everything is by dimensional weight now, not actual weight.
I will say some sellers shipping has been so high it has nixed the deal. I like sellers who share the shipping costs with me when I buy something.
I’ve been selling off a portion of my collection over the last year or so and the dimensional weight thing is the real issue.
For example, MTH buildings and accessories in their original boxes. They require large dimensional shipping boxes (usually cubical in shape)…but are typically very light. The shipping fees are outrageous. A building that I sell for $25-$50 will very often have an actual shipping cost that is equal to—or sometimes much more—than the actual selling price of the item! And it doesn’t matter which carrier…I’ve tried them all and they’re all crazy high!
Buyers sometimes don’t believe me when I quote them a total with shipping, so I give them the dimensions and weight of the shipment and encourage them to check for themselves.
And as far as sharing the shipping cost with the buyer on these bulky, but lightweight items…I just can’t justify selling an already discounted $50 building and split the $40 shipping fee. I would net about $30 and just can’t afford to do that.
Meanwhile I can ship a 9-10 lb. $500 locomotive insured in a 24” x 8” x 8” box for a fraction of the cost of the lightweight (but dimensionally large) cubical box containing a $25-$50 building. Doesn’t make sense to me!
I still have quite a few buildings and operating accessories to sell, but I’m seriously thinking of renting a table or two at one of our local TCA shows so I don’t have to deal with the ridiculous shipping fees.
