• Posted 12/19/2024.
    =====================

    I am still waiting on my developer to finish up on the Classifieds Control Panel so I can use it to encourage members into becoming paying members. Google Adsense has become a real burden on the viewing of this site, but honestly it is the ONLY source of income now that keeps it afloat. I tried offering disabling the ads being viewed by paying members, but apparently that is not enough incentive. Quite frankly, Google Adsense has dropped down to where it barely brings in enough daily to match even a single paid member per day. But it still gets the bills paid. But at what cost?

    So even without the classifieds control panel being complete, I believe I am going to have to disable those Google ads completely and likely disable some options here that have been free since going to the new platform. Like classified ad bumping, member name changes, and anything else I can use to encourage this site to be supported by the members instead of the Google Adsense ads.

    But there is risk involved. I will not pay out of pocket for very long during this last ditch experimental effort. If I find that the membership does not want to support this site with memberships, then I cannot support your being able to post your classified ads here for free. No, I am not intending to start charging for your posting ads here. I will just shut the site down and that will be it. I will be done with FaunaClassifieds. I certainly don't need this, and can live the rest of my life just fine without it. If I see that no one else really wants it to survive neither, then so be it. It goes away and you all can just go elsewhere to advertise your animals and merchandise.

    Not sure when this will take place, and I don't intend to give any further warning concerning the disabling of the Google Adsense. Just as there probably won't be any warning if I decide to close down this site. You will just come here and there will be some sort of message that the site is gone, and you have a nice day.

    I have been trying to make a go of this site for a very long time. And quite frankly, I am just tired of trying. I had hoped that enough people would be willing to help me help you all have a free outlet to offer your stuff for sale. But every year I see less and less people coming to this site, much less supporting it financially. That is fine. I tried. I retired the SerpenCo business about 14 years ago, so retiring out of this business completely is not that big if a step for me, nor will it be especially painful to do. When I was in Thailand, I did not check in here for three weeks. I didn't miss it even a little bit. So if you all want it to remain, it will be in your hands. I really don't care either way.

    =====================
    Some people have indicated that finding the method to contribute is rather difficult. And I have to admit, that it is not all that obvious. So to help, here is a thread to help as a quide. How to become a contributing member of FaunaClassifieds.

    And for the record, I will be shutting down the Google Adsense ads on January 1, 2025.
  • Responding to email notices you receive.
    **************************************************
    In short, DON'T! Email notices are to ONLY alert you of a reply to your private message or your ad on this site. Replying to the email just wastes your time as it goes NOWHERE, and probably pisses off the person you thought you replied to when they think you just ignored them. So instead of complaining to me about your messages not being replied to from this site via email, please READ that email notice that plainly states what you need to do in order to reply to who you are trying to converse with.

Shipping charges

K

Kazoo

New member
Joined
Dec 30, 2004
Messages
133
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Age
41
Location
USA
Hello all,
Can I ask you what you think about not charging actual shipping? For instance, an auction I recently saw stated the person would not change the shipping price even if it was considerably less because there was no reserve on the auction. Do you think it is ethical to make a substantial profit on shipping?
Thanks for any thoughts!
 
Kazoo said:
Do you think it is ethical to make a substantial profit on shipping?
Click to expand...
Ethical? Perhaps not. I might choose not to bid in such an auction depending on what the shipping charge was. But as long as this is spelled out in advance and the buyer is aware of it then it is legitimate. One can simply factor it into one's maximum bid.

As the buyer, I am the one with the money and therefore the power. I can choose not to buy from certain sellers because of their terms.
 
I wouldn't consider it unethical really. The seller is being up front about the shipping charges and the buyer has that knowledge prior to bidding. If he's not ok with it he doesn't have to bid.
I've seen many auctions on ebay for say a $25 item priced at $1 plus $25 shipping when it would cost $4.30 for priority mail shipping.
I personally don't bid on such auctions on principle because it annoys me greatly, but the seller is being upfront about it so I can't exactly consider it unethical. It's just a pet peeve of mine and something I wouldn't consider doing on my own auctions. If nothing else it just looks bad on the seller.
 
I have put up auctions that say shipping in included in any bid once the reserve is met.

I have also put up auctions where the buy it now includes shippings charges.

Out of curiosity what was the shipping price that he wouldn't lower? Lately I have been charged anywhere from $42 - $76 for overnight shipping depending upon what was sent.
I base my buy it now and reserve prices on a flat rate of $45. Is that wrong?
 
Kate,

Were the actual shipping charges spelled out in the auction? The only thing that sounds odd is the reason for doing it. What does he mean by saying "because there was no reserve on the auction"?

Regards
 
I am wondering the same thing as Dan.

Is he inflating the shipping charge because the bid was low or does he have a flat rate and will not lower it?
 
He gave the reason as not lowering the shipping (for someone who was really close that would have cost substantially less) as there being no reserve on the auction. So essentially, to me, that just means he is trying to make an extra buck. If that's the case, then set a reserve, in my opinion, so you CAN charge actual shipping.
I just don't like to pay for extra shipping charges. I know I'd have to pay it anyway if the guy had a reserve and I really wanted his product, but I don't like it under the pretense of "oh well, if it doesn't bring what I want it to, I'll just recoup on shipping charges."
But that's just me :hehe:
 
It could just be that this person charges a "flat rate" for shipping (like Steve, and many others). Customers tend to think flat rate is great...as long as it saves them money. Sometimes it doesn't work out that way, and the seller actually makes out. Besides, there are other associated costs (packaging, fees, etc). IF that is the case, I would have no problem with it - but the reason stated would irritate me, too
 
One of the first snakes I ever bought online was from an auction, and the man charged approximately the same flat fee as the going rate, $45. Having not bought much online before, I didn't even think to ask beforehand what company he was using, just assumed (duh) that it was UPS or FedEx.

Boy was I TICKED when it not only arrived USPS :hot: .....and the actual shipping cost was evident on the label....$17.00.

Now THAT ain't right.
 
I have to agree that the problem is not so much that shipping is a flat rate, but that there really was no reason to specify the reasoning behind it. Perhaps he had someone pissed off last time because they didn't live that far and they wanted a refund? Who knows. I guess I wouldn't consider it too big of a deal since he did specify shipping charges in the auction, and not try to hit you with $75 for a USPS shipment after you won the auction.

I charge $45 for every UPS Next Day Air I send out, anywhere in the country. I don't refund shipment if you live one state away, and I typically lose money if I ship to either coast, so It comes out even. I guess my rule is that I shouldn't make money on shipping, but I shouldn't really lose money either.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top