Strange prices on eBay cameras

rcphoto · Jan 17, 2024

aw614 said:
Tried to sell a lens lot last week, winning bidder didn't pay after sending an invoice for 5 straight days. Relist the item and he is the first bidder again for it. grr. I should have waited and look up how to block people before I listed it again.

You can cancel his bid and then block him.

ant! · Jan 17, 2024

Alan Edward Klein said:
The US government through the Post Office subsidizes certain postal costs from Japan and China which is why some items you buy from there are so cheap when they are shipped from there through San Francisco to your home. I;m not sure if its still being done or what the arrangements are.

This is actually only half true. According to international contracts for the global postal system, certain countries which classify as poorer countries (so I think Japan would not fall into this, China still does) have the right to charge only a lower shipping fee, also for international shipments. The receiving postal system must forward the package nevertheless.

So, this is not a US, but an international issue, same to shipments to Europe. I don't know the US postal system enough, but I would say everyone else using the post are subsidizing these packages, not the general tax payer (unless the US Post gets large subsidizes from the government).
The international post contracts or the country classifications would need to be updated if China would fall into a different category. Not sure if the contracts are a country list or based on a certain measure, e.g. GNP.

For Japan: From Japan to Canada I pay for packages with the postal system similar prices as Germany to Canada.

Edit: Here an article going into the details: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/costofliving/shipping-canada-china-1.6950967

aw614 · Jan 17, 2024

rcphoto said:
You can cancel his bid and then block him.

Great, got his bid cancelled, thanks for letting me know about this, ebay made it annoying to look for cancelling his bid

Ian Grant · Jan 17, 2024

Dan Fromm said:
I never used couriers (FedEx, UPS) for international shipments. They charged recipients customs brokerage fees, postal services usually don't.

Here in the UK, & EU, on parcels sent USPS we get charge Import Duty on the Item(s) and the postage, VAT is then compounded on top, and then there's a handling charge to collect the fees. Usually adds about 33%, as well as extra time before items are finally received.

If I buy from B&H they charge the Duty, VAT etc. International postal charges to other countries have risen to ridiculous levels, to the extent it's dampened sales.

Ian

Ian Grant · Jan 17, 2024

Alan Edward Klein said:
The US government through the Post Office subsidizes certain postal costs from Japan and China which is why some items you buy from there are so cheap when they are shipped from there through San Francisco to your home. I;m not sure if its still being done or what the arrangements are.

It's the Chinese government subsidising export shipping, not the other way around, I think they bypass the International postal services, in the same way eBay & Amazon do now. I sold a few eBay items to Korea, Japan, and Australia last year, they all went to the same UK address of GSP (Global Shipping Programme) who send bulk consignments to 100 other similar facilities worldwide. Like any large company they get discounted tracked postage in the destination country.

I bought an electronic item via Amazon last years which shipped from California, the tracking showed it sat at an Amazon airport facility for around 10 days, presumably until there were sufficient other items for the bulk consignment.

Ian

ant! · Jan 17, 2024

Ian Grant said:
It's the Chinese government subsidising export shipping, not the other way around, I think they bypass the International postal services, in the same way eBay & Amazon do now. I sold a few eBay items to Korea, Japan, and Australia last year, they all went to the same UK address of GSP (Global Shipping Programme) who send bulk consignments to 100 other similar facilities worldwide. Like any large company they get discounted tracked postage in the destination country.

I bought an electronic item via Amazon last years which shipped from California, the tracking showed it sat at an Amazon airport facility for around 10 days, presumably until there were sufficient other items for the bulk consignment.

Ian

Regarding the postal system, see my comment above (#127), it's related to how China is classified in the Global Postal Union, not a Chinese government subsidize.

Ebay Global Shipping: This is actually more expensive for the buyer in most cases, not cheaper. I guess it is aimed at giving the seller some peace of mind, shipping to a logistic center in his own country instead of internationally. But this just adds cost and time. I avoid buying through this. When someone only offers shipping to certain countries (e.g. US or EU only), I usually ask if they could ship to Canada, and I get usually the normal post rate. If it is offered from the beginning through Global Shipping, it is much more expensive, and the seller does not get a bid from me.

Amazon is a different case, they run indeed an own system, no idea if it is cheaper or more expensive to operate since it is basically buried in the product prices and shipping practically free.

VinceInMT · Jan 17, 2024

Ian Grant said:
It's the Chinese government subsidising export shipping, not the other way around, I think they bypass the International postal services, in the same way eBay & Amazon do now.....

I amazed at how all this works. I recently had to replace in inner door handle assembly on my wife's '99 Suburban. It consists of the handle, the spring, the elliptical attachments to the lock, the manual lock button, and the proper colored plastic surround. Made in Cina, of course. I paid about $4 for the part and about $4 shipping from a major online parts supplier. $8 bucks for the part delivered to my house and knowing that all along the line each handler got a piece of the action. I guess it's all about the volume.

My running club puts on a big race on Thanksgiving and we have always included shirts and a glass as part of the bling. We used to get glass pint glasses but due to a shortage we switched to stainless steel cups that we order directly from a supplier in China. With our logo printed on them we pay about $1,15/cup, shipped, and they get delivered to my house, arriving in boxes that look like took a long journey overseas in a shipping container. Quite remarakble.

Dan Fromm · Jan 17, 2024

Ian Grant said:
Here in the UK, & EU, on parcels sent USPS we get charge Import Duty on the Item(s) and the postage, VAT is then compounded on top, and then there's a handling charge to collect the fees. Usually adds about 33%, as well as extra time before items are finally received.

If I buy from B&H they charge the Duty, VAT etc. International postal charges to other countries have risen to ridiculous levels, to the extent it's dampened sales.

Ian

Ian, many years ago I imported a Scimitar Coupe. When it blew a head gasket I ordered the part from QRG in Kettering, had it sent UPS because I wanted it NOW. The Ford gasket set cost < $20. UPS charged me $100 for customs brokerage. Bandits!

USPS has never charged me brokerage fees or duties. I've imported photographic equipment, books, sheet music and car parts (would you believe an overdrive for the Scimitar?). Canada Post has zinged me.

MattKing · Jan 17, 2024

The complexities of international postage and shipping make the history of Rodinal look simple!
There are many different subsidizations and cross-subsidizations coming into play, most in place because shippers only make payment to their local postal or shipping entities, despite the fact that much of the effort and expense related to each shipment comes from the entities at the destination.
Just be glad you don't have to make a payment to each shipping entity, in each country!

Craig · Jan 17, 2024

ant! said:
Ebay Global Shipping: This is actually more expensive for the buyer in most cases, not cheaper.

Depends on what it is. I bought a differential for my car, which is about 100lbs of steel. The shipping through ebay to go from the US to Canada was $27. I though that was very cheap.

Took a rather circular route, as to drive from the seller to me is about 600km. Through the ebay shipping program it went from the seller in Spokane to the ebay centre in Kentucky, then across the border to Toronto and then back west across Canada. A journey of 5,000km. Good thing we are all environmentally conscious and responsible these days.

Donald Qualls · Jan 31, 2024

Craig said:
Good thing we are all environmentally conscious and responsible these days.

If (as seems likely for that shipping cost) it traveled almost all of that distance by train, it probably accounted for less fuel and emissions than it would have done by truck going direct from Spokane to wherever you are in Canada. Might even be true if it was one of several hundred packages in a semi-trailer vs. one of a few dozen in a brown box truck.

250swb · Feb 1, 2024

I recently made the mistake of forgetting to tick 'UK only' when looking for an eBay step-up ring. After a search of what's available and thinking I was going back to a seller selling one for £4.99 and three day free second class postage I went back to a 'wrong' page and blindly clicked on one from China for £2.99 with free postage (they were displaying the same photo). Not only was it sent tracked (and the tracking worked!) but it arrived in four days. Thank you China.

Sirius Glass · Feb 1, 2024

250swb said:
I recently made the mistake of forgetting to tick 'UK only' when looking for an eBay step-up ring. After a search of what's available and thinking I was going back to a seller selling one for £4.99 and three day free second class postage I went back to a 'wrong' page and blindly clicked on one from China for £2.99 with free postage (they were displaying the same photo). Not only was it sent tracked (and the tracking worked!) but it arrived in four days. Thank you China.

When I accidentally select a purchase from China, it rarely comes fast, much less in four days.

Strange prices on eBay cameras

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