Can a store in the USA charge other stores in the USA for their PayPal fee?
Thanks
Nope, fully against PayPal's terms and service in most countries. It was
changed pre-COVID but many stores, especially in Europe, try to do it. If you
find someone doing it, alert them to the rule and notify the BL staff as I think
it is against their rules as well.
Can a store in the USA charge other stores in the USA for their PayPal fee?
Thanks
Nope, fully against PayPal's terms and service in most countries. It was
changed pre-COVID but many stores, especially in Europe, try to do it. If you
find someone doing it, alert them to the rule and notify the BL staff as I think
it is against their rules as well.
Additionally, I believe the way the PP rule is written, if they specifically
state it is to cover PP fees or just fees, then it is against. If it is just
a fee that does not say that it is not specific, then it is allowable but cringe.
Can a store in the USA charge other stores in the USA for their PayPal fee?
Thanks
Not specifically. You can charge everyone the same rate regardless of payment
method though.
Speaking only for myself, I tend not to order from stores that nickle-and-dime
buyers on fees.
+1
Of course I'll calculate and often it's still worth to buy with fees,
but I had to spend some time to calculate and compare
Which is why in a general meaning I try to avoid shops with fees.
Note conversion fees are quite difficult and may represent the most.
Say you've a 5% PayPal or payment fee (on order total only), but then you've
to pay in a specific currency (HUF?) then it's another 5% but on the whole
(including fees AND shipping).
In the end it's not at all as simple as 5+5, it's maybe 12 or 13% fees
you pay...
I recon this is done so you get more sales through the "auto select"
feature in "buy all"?
Or does the algorithm account for fees?
It doesn’t account for real shipping: it uses an average of “recent” “similar”
orders (it’s somewhere in the help I think); so I doubt it does anything with
fees.
Say you've a 5% PayPal or payment fee (on order total only), but then you've
to pay in a specific currency (HUF?) then it's another 5% but on the whole
(including fees AND shipping).
This another 5% currency conversation fee could be saved by paying with your
card instead of using PayPal's awful exchange rate.
I have a Wise card which is added to my PP account and if I need to pay in any
other currency than EUR, the card issuer's rate will be used and Wise charges
way less than 5% for conversation.
An example: I paid at a Hungarian gas station 16070 HUF which equaled 41,23 EUR
and Wise charged me only 0,37 EUR for exchanging my EUR to HUF which is less
than 1%.
Say you've a 5% PayPal or payment fee (on order total only), but then you've
to pay in a specific currency (HUF?) then it's another 5% but on the whole
(including fees AND shipping).
This another 5% currency conversation fee could be saved by paying with your
card instead of using PayPal's awful exchange rate.
I have a Wise card which is added to my PP account and if I need to pay in any
other currency than EUR, the card issuer's rate will be used and Wise charges
way less than 5% for conversation.
An example: I paid at a Hungarian gas station 16070 HUF which equaled 41,23 EUR
and Wise charged me only 0,37 EUR for exchanging my EUR to HUF which is less
than 1%.
Interesting, thank you!
But those who use this trick must be 0.001% of the buyers
For the remaining, it's a lot of fees on top of fees.
I separate everything because of tax rules as some states tax shipping some do
not so for me I am not nickel-and-diming you I am trying to save some people
sales tax.
In Selling, peregrinator writes:
In Selling, Amazingly writes:
Can a store in the USA charge other stores in the USA for their PayPal fee?
Thanks
Not specifically. You can charge everyone the same rate regardless of payment
method though.
Speaking only for myself, I tend not to order from stores that nickle-and-dime
buyers on fees.
Can a store in the USA charge other stores in the USA for their PayPal fee?
Thanks
I think using that verbiage is against paypal's TOS.
I also think someone else once mentioned that it's against paypal's TOS
to have a cheaper payment option than paypal if multiple options are available
at checkout. So if paypal is offered as a payment option, it can't be a higher
price than like a check or cash order. This was probably more relevant in the
days before onsite payments were required.
One thing I've questioned though is if it's just the verbiage.
So, in theory, a store could charge a 3.49% fee + 0.49 extra and call it an "admin
fee", "service fee", or "general fee", and be safe as long
as they didn't call it a "paypal fee".
Can a store in the USA charge other stores in the USA for their PayPal fee?
Thanks
I think using that verbiage is against paypal's TOS.
I also think someone else once mentioned that it's against paypal's TOS
to have a cheaper payment option than paypal if multiple options are available
at checkout. So if paypal is offered as a payment option, it can't be a higher
price than like a check or cash order. This was probably more relevant in the
days before onsite payments were required.
One thing I've questioned though is if it's just the verbiage.
So, in theory, a store could charge a 3.49% fee + 0.49 extra and call it an "admin
fee", "service fee", or "general fee", and be safe as long
as they didn't call it a "paypal fee".
It says in their terms that 3.5% is added for all electronic payments and it
was added to the order. Just wanted to make sure before I cause problems.
Can a store in the USA charge other stores in the USA for their PayPal fee?
Thanks
I think using that verbiage is against paypal's TOS.
I also think someone else once mentioned that it's against paypal's TOS
to have a cheaper payment option than paypal if multiple options are available
at checkout. So if paypal is offered as a payment option, it can't be a higher
price than like a check or cash order. This was probably more relevant in the
days before onsite payments were required.
One thing I've questioned though is if it's just the verbiage.
So, in theory, a store could charge a 3.49% fee + 0.49 extra and call it an "admin
fee", "service fee", or "general fee", and be safe as long
as they didn't call it a "paypal fee".
Yes although like you say I think the principal from Paypal's perspective
is that you cannot charge your paypal customers different to any other payment
method so even if you called it an Admin fee that fee would need to apply to
all customers and not just your Paypal customers else it would be deemed as a
paypal specific admin fee. I guess you could get around this by making your store
only accept paypal as a payment method because then the admin fee applies to
all your customers equally!
Can a store in the USA charge other stores in the USA for their PayPal fee?
Thanks
Sure you can. You just add the fixed fee to your S&H costs for all transactions
and the percentage to your part prices.
So everyone else is wrong?
Well, you cannot add on a fee saying it is to cover PayPal fees. Adding on a
large fixed fee to cover it for an average size order or a percentage fee
at checkout for no specified reason is likely to get the buyer to dump their
cart and least favourite the store. So while a seller can try to pass the fees
on in other ways, more open pricing is more buyer friendly. And slightly higher
prices don't really matter if a buyer comes to your store because of parts
availability, it only really matters if you aim to be the absolute cheapest store.
But then, if a buyer comes to your store because you are cheapest and you suddenly
add on a large fee, again they might back out and least favourite the store so
as not to be caught again.
Can a store in the USA charge other stores in the USA for their PayPal fee?
Thanks
Sure you can. You just add the fixed fee to your S&H costs for all transactions
and the percentage to your part prices.
So everyone else is wrong?
Well, you cannot add on a fee saying it is to cover PayPal fees. Adding on a
large fixed fee to cover it for an average size order or a percentage fee
at checkout for no specified reason is likely to get the buyer to dump their
cart and least favourite the store. So while a seller can try to pass the fees
on in other ways, more open pricing is more buyer friendly. And slightly higher
prices don't really matter if a buyer comes to your store because of parts
availability, it only really matters if you aim to be the absolute cheapest store.
But then, if a buyer comes to your store because you are cheapest and you suddenly
add on a large fee, again they might back out and least favourite the store so
as not to be caught again.
It says right in their terms that all electronic payments including PayPal which
is listed, you pay 3.5%. I know everything you are saying and I agree with you.
Thanks for clarifying
Can a store in the USA charge other stores in the USA for their PayPal fee?
Thanks
Sure you can. You just add the fixed fee to your S&H costs for all transactions
and the percentage to your part prices.
So everyone else is wrong?
Well, you cannot add on a fee saying it is to cover PayPal fees. Adding on a
large fixed fee to cover it for an average size order or a percentage fee
at checkout for no specified reason is likely to get the buyer to dump their
cart and least favourite the store. So while a seller can try to pass the fees
on in other ways, more open pricing is more buyer friendly. And slightly higher
prices don't really matter if a buyer comes to your store because of parts
availability, it only really matters if you aim to be the absolute cheapest store.
But then, if a buyer comes to your store because you are cheapest and you suddenly
add on a large fee, again they might back out and least favourite the store so
as not to be caught again.
It says right in their terms that all electronic payments including PayPal which
is listed, you pay 3.5%. I know everything you are saying and I agree with you.
Thanks for clarifying
You have the choice: accept it and pay, or shop elsewhere.
Can a store in the USA charge other stores in the USA for their PayPal fee?
Thanks
Sure you can. You just add the fixed fee to your S&H costs for all transactions
and the percentage to your part prices.
So everyone else is wrong?
Well, you cannot add on a fee saying it is to cover PayPal fees. Adding on a
large fixed fee to cover it for an average size order or a percentage fee
at checkout for no specified reason is likely to get the buyer to dump their
cart and least favourite the store. So while a seller can try to pass the fees
on in other ways, more open pricing is more buyer friendly. And slightly higher
prices don't really matter if a buyer comes to your store because of parts
availability, it only really matters if you aim to be the absolute cheapest store.
But then, if a buyer comes to your store because you are cheapest and you suddenly
add on a large fee, again they might back out and least favourite the store so
as not to be caught again.
It says right in their terms that all electronic payments including PayPal which
is listed, you pay 3.5%. I know everything you are saying and I agree with you.
Thanks for clarifying
You have the choice: accept it and pay, or shop elsewhere.
... or report the shop/member if it's not authorized by Law, or PayPal -
which means not on BrickLink.
I'm 100% kind with amateurs sellers, but less to big shops who doesn't
give a brick of anything.
You have the choice: accept it and pay, or shop elsewhere.
... or report the shop/member if it's not authorized by Law, or PayPal -
which means not on BrickLink.
I'm 100% kind with amateurs sellers, but less to big shops who doesn't
give a brick of anything.
That is really the same as shopping elsewhere, if they want the parts. The helpdesk
is so slow, nothing will get done very quickly if reported.
Thanks for your time, and the others who commented.
I'm going to open the rest of the series 26 cases to see if I get one with
a yellow leg like the one posted this morning
Can a store in the USA charge other stores in the USA for their PayPal fee?
Thanks
Sure you can. You just add the fixed fee to your S&H costs for all transactions
and the percentage to your part prices.
So everyone else is wrong?
Well, you cannot add on a fee saying it is to cover PayPal fees. Adding on a
large fixed fee to cover it for an average size order or a percentage fee
at checkout for no specified reason is likely to get the buyer to dump their
cart and least favourite the store. So while a seller can try to pass the fees
on in other ways, more open pricing is more buyer friendly. And slightly higher
prices don't really matter if a buyer comes to your store because of parts
availability, it only really matters if you aim to be the absolute cheapest store.
But then, if a buyer comes to your store because you are cheapest and you suddenly
add on a large fee, again they might back out and least favourite the store so
as not to be caught again.
It says right in their terms that all electronic payments including PayPal which
is listed, you pay 3.5%. I know everything you are saying and I agree with you.
Thanks for clarifying
You have the choice: accept it and pay, or shop elsewhere.
... or report the shop/member if it's not authorized by Law, or PayPal -
which means not on BrickLink.
I'm 100% kind with amateurs sellers, but less to big shops who doesn't
give a brick of anything.
Hi,
Yesterday I placed an order on a little store where I saw that in store terms:
"Additional Bricklink/PayPal fees will be added at the end of the order (packaging,
ink, paper, zip bag envelope, etc...)"
Because I prefer to know before to pay how much it could be, I asked and had
this reply:
"These are bricklink, paypal, packaging fees, in general it is
between 1 and 2 € for small orders."
And when I placed the order, the seller asked me to pay with Paypal "preferably
between Family and Friends, that would be nice"
So, he add fees to the buyer but try to avoid them himself...
Yesterday I placed an order on a little store where I saw that in store terms:
"Additional Bricklink/PayPal fees will be added at the end of the order (packaging,
ink, paper, zip bag envelope, etc...)"
I'm thinking of a new one:
"Additional charge of $1.50 per order for professional accountant's fees."
Yesterday I placed an order on a little store where I saw that in store terms:
"Additional Bricklink/PayPal fees will be added at the end of the order (packaging,
ink, paper, zip bag envelope, etc...)"
I'm thinking of a new one:
"Additional charge of $1.50 per order for professional accountant's fees."
Yesterday I placed an order on a little store where I saw that in store terms:
"Additional Bricklink/PayPal fees will be added at the end of the order (packaging,
ink, paper, zip bag envelope, etc...)"
I'm thinking of a new one:
"Additional charge of $1.50 per order for professional accountant's fees."
That's cheap, even when averaged over all orders!
I don't know at your place, but a year of accounting in France for a small
company is invoiced about 2000/3000€...
Yesterday I placed an order on a little store where I saw that in store terms:
"Additional Bricklink/PayPal fees will be added at the end of the order (packaging,
ink, paper, zip bag envelope, etc...)"
I'm thinking of a new one:
"Additional charge of $1.50 per order for professional accountant's fees."
That's cheap, even when averaged over all orders!
I don't know at your place, but a year of accounting in France for a small
company is invoiced about 2000/3000€...
The trick is to save all the documents and not think about it until tax season,
then do nothing but taxes for 3 days straight and then forget about it until
the next tax season. Good money saver
Yesterday I placed an order on a little store where I saw that in store terms:
"Additional Bricklink/PayPal fees will be added at the end of the order (packaging,
ink, paper, zip bag envelope, etc...)"
I'm thinking of a new one:
"Additional charge of $1.50 per order for professional accountant's fees."
That's cheap, even when averaged over all orders!
I don't know at your place, but a year of accounting in France for a small
company is invoiced about 2000/3000€...
The trick is to save all the documents and not think about it until tax season,
then do nothing but taxes for 3 days straight and then forget about it until
the next tax season. Good money saver
Yesterday I placed an order on a little store where I saw that in store terms:
"Additional Bricklink/PayPal fees will be added at the end of the order (packaging,
ink, paper, zip bag envelope, etc...)"
I'm thinking of a new one:
"Additional charge of $1.50 per order for professional accountant's fees."
That's cheap, even when averaged over all orders!
I don't know at your place, but a year of accounting in France for a small
company is invoiced about 2000/3000€...
The trick is to save all the documents and not think about it until tax season,
then do nothing but taxes for 3 days straight and then forget about it until
the next tax season. Good money saver
3 days? 15 days, at least
Usually 1-2 days but what is you doing that takes 15 days 🦦…
Yesterday I placed an order on a little store where I saw that in store terms:
"Additional Bricklink/PayPal fees will be added at the end of the order (packaging,
ink, paper, zip bag envelope, etc...)"
I'm thinking of a new one:
"Additional charge of $1.50 per order for professional accountant's fees."
Timothy Smith invented 15 years ago the BrickLink forum famous "Stamp licking
fee"
Loved this picture
And when I placed the order, the seller asked me to pay with Paypal "preferably
between Family and Friends, that would be nice"
This is strictly forbidden by PayPal and BrickLink - and somewhere probably by
EU Laws...
You could report this shop, or at least tell them and see if they change their
Terms?
Can a store in the USA charge other stores in the USA for their PayPal fee?
Thanks
Sure you can. You just add the fixed fee to your S&H costs for all transactions
and the percentage to your part prices.
This is what i do and if a buyer choose to pay via bank transfer, no fee for
me, i reduce the percentage over total.
And this is what nearly no other canadian store offer 😕
Can a store in the USA charge other stores in the USA for their PayPal fee?
Thanks
Sure you can. You just add the fixed fee to your S&H costs for all transactions
and the percentage to your part prices.
This is what i do and if a buyer choose to pay via bank transfer, no fee for
me, i reduce the percentage over total.
And this is what nearly no other canadian store offer 😕
I make things simple and just dont accept bank transfers
Can a store in the USA charge other stores in the USA for their PayPal fee?
Thanks
Sure you can. You just add the fixed fee to your S&H costs for all transactions
and the percentage to your part prices.
This is what i do and if a buyer choose to pay via bank transfer, no fee for
me, i reduce the percentage over total.
And this is what nearly no other canadian store offer 😕
I make things simple and just dont accept bank transfers
Bank transfer, that exists???
I wish I could transfer you my bank!
They're just screaming at us as of right now
I just followed Chickaroo's rule: buy first think later!
Can a store in the USA charge other stores in the USA for their PayPal fee?
Thanks
Sure you can. You just add the fixed fee to your S&H costs for all transactions
and the percentage to your part prices.
This is what i do and if a buyer choose to pay via bank transfer, no fee for
me, i reduce the percentage over total.
And this is what nearly no other canadian store offer 😕
I make things simple and just dont accept bank transfers
Bank transfer, that exists???
well we call it e-transfer, so technically yes
I wish I could transfer you my bank!
They're just screaming at us as of right now
I just followed Chickaroo's rule: buy first think later!
Can a store in the USA charge other stores in the USA for their PayPal fee?
Thanks
Not only against Paypal terms, but it is illegal in California starting in July.
It isn't hard to simply add 3% to your store prices to cover the fee.
But sellers who tack the fee on later get the advantage in the price guide, which
I just consider to be dishonest.
Personally, I least favorite stores that do this, but I will continue to push
Bricklink to change to terms of the site to prohibit junk fees.
I particularly like this one that I came across with today:
In my store, I have no lot limit, or any other hidden fees. I only charge
$1.50 to cover handling and shipping supply costs (in addition to shipping cost)
plus 3.5% of total invoice value to cover my store's overhead cost. We will
not send missing items. We only refund their value.
Can a store in the USA charge other stores in the USA for their PayPal fee?
Thanks
Not only against Paypal terms, but it is illegal in California starting in July.
It isn't hard to simply add 3% to your store prices to cover the fee.
But sellers who tack the fee on later get the advantage in the price guide, which
I just consider to be dishonest.
Personally, I least favorite stores that do this, but I will continue to push
Bricklink to change to terms of the site to prohibit junk fees.
I particularly like this one that I came across with today:
In my store, I have no lot limit, or any other hidden fees. I only charge
$1.50 to cover handling and shipping supply costs (in addition to shipping cost)
plus 3.5% of total invoice value to cover my store's overhead cost. We will
not send missing items. We only refund their value.
I saw a store in the US that said 2.00 was added for things like bubble mailers,
tape, pens, stamps and even gas to get to the post office. The list had a lot
more but the stamps and Pens really had me laughing.
I don't understand how people do not put themselves in the buyers shoes.
If you are going to charge a fee like that you are better off not saying anything
at all.
We separate out shipping and handling costs as some states do not charge sales
tax on these items so we try to help buyers where we can by lowering their sales
tax. https://taxhero.net/blog/sales-tax-on-shipping/
In Selling, Amazingly writes:
In Selling, SezaR writes:
In Selling, BrickDeals writes:
In Selling, Amazingly writes:
Can a store in the USA charge other stores in the USA for their PayPal fee?
Thanks
Not only against Paypal terms, but it is illegal in California starting in July.
It isn't hard to simply add 3% to your store prices to cover the fee.
But sellers who tack the fee on later get the advantage in the price guide, which
I just consider to be dishonest.
Personally, I least favorite stores that do this, but I will continue to push
Bricklink to change to terms of the site to prohibit junk fees.
I particularly like this one that I came across with today:
In my store, I have no lot limit, or any other hidden fees. I only charge
$1.50 to cover handling and shipping supply costs (in addition to shipping cost)
plus 3.5% of total invoice value to cover my store's overhead cost. We will
not send missing items. We only refund their value.
I saw a store in the US that said 2.00 was added for things like bubble mailers,
tape, pens, stamps and even gas to get to the post office. The list had a lot
more but the stamps and Pens really had me laughing.
I don't understand how people do not put themselves in the buyers shoes.
If you are going to charge a fee like that you are better off not saying anything
at all.
Can a store in the USA charge other stores in the USA for their PayPal fee?
Thanks
I just want to add to where they charge for using stuff for shipping as in boxes/tape
labels and such, now if anyone has been to USPS website you can have them deliver
shipping supplies for $0 and i have asked myself if they(USPS) deliver shipping
supplies for free and sellers on bricklink are charging an added fee for them
most times i have seen a added fee of $2 - $5 for supplies. I myself have went
to other stores that didn't Nickle and Dime a person and most stores are
getting out of hand with added fee's
Can a store in the USA charge other stores in the USA for their PayPal fee?
Thanks
I just want to add to where they charge for using stuff for shipping as in boxes/tape
labels and such, now if anyone has been to USPS website you can have them deliver
shipping supplies for $0 and i have asked myself if they(USPS) deliver shipping
supplies for free and sellers on bricklink are charging an added fee for them
most times i have seen a added fee of $2 - $5 for supplies. I myself have went
to other stores that didn't Nickle and Dime a person and most stores are
getting out of hand with added fee's
You can get Priority Mail boxes for free but most orders will go through Ground
Advantage. And even with Priority Mail the rate is generally lower if you use
your own box. So ultimately the boxes aren't free. That said I don't
think sellers should charge for supplies (boxes, envelopes, tape, gas, ramen,
Mt. Dew).
Can a store in the USA charge other stores in the USA for their PayPal fee?
Thanks
I just want to add to where they charge for using stuff for shipping as in boxes/tape
labels and such, now if anyone has been to USPS website you can have them deliver
shipping supplies for $0 and i have asked myself if they(USPS) deliver shipping
supplies for free and sellers on bricklink are charging an added fee for them
most times i have seen a added fee of $2 - $5 for supplies. I myself have went
to other stores that didn't Nickle and Dime a person and most stores are
getting out of hand with added fee's
You can get Priority Mail boxes for free but most orders will go through Ground
Advantage. And even with Priority Mail the rate is generally lower if you use
your own box. So ultimately the boxes aren't free. That said I don't
think sellers should charge for supplies (boxes, envelopes, tape, gas, ramen,
Mt. Dew).
This might be true for the US but here in Canada (and probably most other countries)
we need to pay for our shipping supplies so yes I will add a flat rate of $1
per order for shipping & handling, which in my opinion is very reasonable.
Can a store in the USA charge other stores in the USA for their PayPal fee?
Thanks
I just want to add to where they charge for using stuff for shipping as in boxes/tape
labels and such, now if anyone has been to USPS website you can have them deliver
shipping supplies for $0 and i have asked myself if they(USPS) deliver shipping
supplies for free and sellers on bricklink are charging an added fee for them
most times i have seen a added fee of $2 - $5 for supplies. I myself have went
to other stores that didn't Nickle and Dime a person and most stores are
getting out of hand with added fee's
You can get Priority Mail boxes for free but most orders will go through Ground
Advantage. And even with Priority Mail the rate is generally lower if you use
your own box. So ultimately the boxes aren't free. That said I don't
think sellers should charge for supplies (boxes, envelopes, tape, gas, ramen,
Mt. Dew).
This might be true for the US but here in Canada (and probably most other countries)
we need to pay for our shipping supplies so yes I will add a flat rate of $1
per order for shipping & handling, which in my opinion is very reasonable.
Tho shipping supplies are still rather cheap so $1 can be a bit overkill. For
example a bubble envelope is about 11 cents, bags are about 5 cents per order
and shipping labels are about 3 cents so working that cost into your base shipping
cost can make things simpler
Can a store in the USA charge other stores in the USA for their PayPal fee?
Thanks
I just want to add to where they charge for using stuff for shipping as in boxes/tape
labels and such, now if anyone has been to USPS website you can have them deliver
shipping supplies for $0 and i have asked myself if they(USPS) deliver shipping
supplies for free and sellers on bricklink are charging an added fee for them
most times i have seen a added fee of $2 - $5 for supplies. I myself have went
to other stores that didn't Nickle and Dime a person and most stores are
getting out of hand with added fee's
You can get Priority Mail boxes for free but most orders will go through Ground
Advantage. And even with Priority Mail the rate is generally lower if you use
your own box. So ultimately the boxes aren't free. That said I don't
think sellers should charge for supplies (boxes, envelopes, tape, gas, ramen,
Mt. Dew).
This might be true for the US but here in Canada (and probably most other countries)
we need to pay for our shipping supplies so yes I will add a flat rate of $1
per order for shipping & handling, which in my opinion is very reasonable.
Tho shipping supplies are still rather cheap so $1 can be a bit overkill. For
example a bubble envelope is about 11 cents, bags are about 5 cents per order
and shipping labels are about 3 cents so working that cost into your base shipping
cost can make things simpler
for bubble mailers it might be a bit high but when you're using boxes the
cost can really add up and dont forget bubble wrap for sets etc
for bubble mailers it might be a bit high but when you're using boxes the
cost can really add up and dont forget bubble wrap for sets etc
Just work it into your prices
That might be easy for a larger store, where they can quite precisely determine
the average order size and average the cost of packaging for a typical order
over all orders. For a smaller stores, it is harder to work the cost of packaging
into the prices of parts. One torso requires one bubble mailer. 50 torsos also
require one bubble mailer. How do you work that into the prices especially if
you cannot reliably determine what an average order will be? Do you add the price
of packaging onto every item? Or add 1/50th the price of packaging onto every
item? The former makes the store too expensive. Whereas the latter loses the
seller money if they misjudge and get smaller orders than expected.
For me, packaging costs are more like postal costs rather than parts costs. They
are essentially a fixed cost per order (or more realistically per type/weight
of order). It always strikes me as odd when people say to work a one off cost
like packaging into the parts prices, whereas it is rarely said to work the cost
of postage into the prices too. That is why I charge a postage and packaging
cost (based on weight of order), rather than just the exact cost of stamps.
Charging for packaging by averaging the cost onto the parts can also make larger
orders less likely. Imagine seller A has all their parts at 20p and charges £1
for packaging and £2 for postage (and so adds one headline cost of £3 for postage
and packing), whereas seller B assumes orders will have 20 parts on average and
also wants 20p for his parts but averages the packaging costs, so charges 25p
for each part, has no packaging cost and £2 for postage. If an order is 20 parts,
it doesn't matter which seller you go with. If it is a small order, I'll
go with seller B, and I'll save money compared to seller A mainly as B has
undervalued his packaging for the small order. But if I was buying 21+ parts,
it would be cheaper to go with seller A. So seller A would get the bigger orders
while seller B only gets the smaller orders. If all buyers did that, the average
order size for seller B would drop as buyers don't buy over what the seller
thinks is his average, meaning he has to add on even more to his base prices
for the packaging cost. And that skews it even more into the favour of seller
A.
I think he meant work it into your shipping prices not item prices. For example
if basic shipping supplies cost you 25 cents per order then raise your shipping
costs by 25 cents not that you should somehow distribute that 25 cents across
the average order value of items
I think he meant work it into your shipping prices not item prices. For example
if basic shipping supplies cost you 25 cents per order then raise your shipping
costs by 25 cents not that you should somehow distribute that 25 cents across
the average order value of items
Yes, generally. I just have flat shipping right now but in days of yore I came
up with shipping bands based on the commercial rate plus $0.60.
But "6% FOR PAYPAL AND BRICKLINK FEES!!!1!" can just be added to your
prices.
I think he meant work it into your shipping prices not item prices. For example
if basic shipping supplies cost you 25 cents per order then raise your shipping
costs by 25 cents not that you should somehow distribute that 25 cents across
the average order value of items
Yes, generally. I just have flat shipping right now but in days of yore I came
up with shipping bands based on the commercial rate plus $0.60.
But "6% FOR PAYPAL AND BRICKLINK FEES!!!1!" can just be added to your
prices.
I think he meant work it into your shipping prices not item prices. For example
if basic shipping supplies cost you 25 cents per order then raise your shipping
costs by 25 cents not that you should somehow distribute that 25 cents across
the average order value of items
Yes, generally. I just have flat shipping right now but in days of yore I came
up with shipping bands based on the commercial rate plus $0.60.
But "6% FOR PAYPAL AND BRICKLINK FEES!!!1!" can just be added to your
prices.
100%
Yes, and even the packaging.
Count a year of average packaging, ex: $500
Then count your average sale per year, and increase your prices so that amount
would be roughly paid by the orders.
Nobody adds a % for rental, Internet or Toner cost.
It can be the same for packaging materials.
I think he meant work it into your shipping prices not item prices. For example
if basic shipping supplies cost you 25 cents per order then raise your shipping
costs by 25 cents not that you should somehow distribute that 25 cents across
the average order value of items
Yes, generally. I just have flat shipping right now but in days of yore I came
up with shipping bands based on the commercial rate plus $0.60.
But "6% FOR PAYPAL AND BRICKLINK FEES!!!1!" can just be added to your
prices.
100%
Yes, and even the packaging.
Count a year of average packaging, ex: $500
Then count your average sale per year, and increase your prices so that amount
would be roughly paid by the orders.
Seems to complicated unless you get the same amount of orders every year and
spend the exact same on packing every year, otherwise for packaging you add the
exact price as part of your shipping cost and then normal fees such as site fees
and payment fees as part of the item price
Nobody adds a % for rental, Internet or Toner cost.
It can be the same for packaging materials.
Seems to complicated unless you get the same amount of orders every year and
spend the exact same on packing every year, otherwise for packaging you add the
exact price as part of your shipping cost
That means you manually invoice OR you've to calculate an average on X $0.10
envelope and Y $3 carton per year and decide to add say $1?
In short, it's also based on regular years orders / packaging amounts?
Seems to complicated unless you get the same amount of orders every year and
spend the exact same on packing every year, otherwise for packaging you add the
exact price as part of your shipping cost
That means you manually invoice OR you've to calculate an average on X $0.10
envelope and Y $3 carton per year and decide to add say $1?
In short, it's also based on regular years orders / packaging amounts?
I set up the shipping methods to account for about a 50 cent "margin"
which covers basic packing costs and such. not quite sure what a "carton"
is in shipping terms tho as when you say that all I think of is a carton of eggs
from a store or something. i dont keep an exact amount just a rough estimate.
for example if it costs $8.59 to ship a package I set my shipping cost as the
nearest 50 cent interval which would be $8.99 and then that portion covers the
packaging cost and doesn't need to be updated every year
Seems to complicated unless you get the same amount of orders every year and
spend the exact same on packing every year, otherwise for packaging you add the
exact price as part of your shipping cost
That means you manually invoice OR you've to calculate an average on X $0.10
envelope and Y $3 carton per year and decide to add say $1?
In short, it's also based on regular years orders / packaging amounts?
I set up the shipping methods to account for about a 50 cent "margin"
which covers basic packing costs and such. not quite sure what a "carton"
is in shipping terms tho as when you say that all I think of is a carton of eggs
from a store or something. i dont keep an exact amount just a rough estimate.
Yep, that's it, you make a rough average.
Carton meant carton postal boxes or say bigger ones, which can cotain sets for
ex.
They can be quite expensive.
That means you could also decide you pay approx $500 of packaging per year, and
include this in the prices to pay that amount.
I don't mean it's better, I mean it's probably as easy.
for example if it costs $8.59 to ship a package I set my shipping cost as the
nearest 50 cent interval which would be $8.99 and then that portion covers the
packaging cost and doesn't need to be updated every year
You're lucky! Within the last recent years (since crazy-covid), boxes and
such maybe doubled their price. I've to account this for 2024, but see, it's
May and I still have the 2023 rates
Seems to complicated unless you get the same amount of orders every year and
spend the exact same on packing every year, otherwise for packaging you add the
exact price as part of your shipping cost
That means you manually invoice OR you've to calculate an average on X $0.10
envelope and Y $3 carton per year and decide to add say $1?
In short, it's also based on regular years orders / packaging amounts?
I set up the shipping methods to account for about a 50 cent "margin"
which covers basic packing costs and such. not quite sure what a "carton"
is in shipping terms tho as when you say that all I think of is a carton of eggs
from a store or something. i dont keep an exact amount just a rough estimate.
Yep, that's it, you make a rough average.
Carton meant carton postal boxes or say bigger ones, which can cotain sets for
ex.
They can be quite expensive.
ah big boxes, I dont really use many of those and the few I do use I get free
as I reship the large items in the boxes they were in when I bought them (as
I do almost all my shopping online)
That means you could also decide you pay approx $500 of packaging per year, and
include this in the prices to pay that amount.
I don't mean it's better, I mean it's probably as easy.
i guess its a preference then as that seems super complicated to me
for example if it costs $8.59 to ship a package I set my shipping cost as the
nearest 50 cent interval which would be $8.99 and then that portion covers the
packaging cost and doesn't need to be updated every year
You're lucky! Within the last recent years (since crazy-covid), boxes and
such maybe doubled their price. I've to account this for 2024, but see, it's
May and I still have the 2023 rates
wild! Ive seen some shipping rates go up by at most 50 cents but some drop by
$1 and for supplies its gone up only a little (10% or so) in the past 3-4 years.
I didn't really sell much before the covid rush so I dont have any knowledge
of prices then
I think he meant work it into your shipping prices not item prices. For example
if basic shipping supplies cost you 25 cents per order then raise your shipping
costs by 25 cents not that you should somehow distribute that 25 cents across
the average order value of items
AH, my mistake. Yes, so much easier to have a single simple shipping and handling
/ postage and packaging charge
In terms of boxes and bubble wrap, think reuse! There are loads of places in
the community that would be happy to give these items to you - pharmacies, libraries;
dollar stores and liquor stores; grocery stores have bigger boxes. Check local
free stuff listings like Kijiji or Facebook marketplace.
Ask your family and friends to save items for you from their purchases.
You can find a lot for free if you try. There’s no reason for shipping and handling
charges.
In Selling, RebelliousBrick writes:
In Selling, Nubs_Select writes:
In Selling, RebelliousBrick writes:
This might be true for the US but here in Canada (and probably most other countries)
we need to pay for our shipping supplies so yes I will add a flat rate of $1
per order for shipping & handling, which in my opinion is very reasonable.
Tho shipping supplies are still rather cheap so $1 can be a bit overkill. For
example a bubble envelope is about 11 cents, bags are about 5 cents per order
and shipping labels are about 3 cents so working that cost into your base shipping
cost can make things simpler
for bubble mailers it might be a bit high but when you're using boxes the
cost can really add up and dont forget bubble wrap for sets etc
Can a store in the USA charge other stores in the USA for their PayPal fee?
Thanks
I just want to add to where they charge for using stuff for shipping as in boxes/tape
labels and such, now if anyone has been to USPS website you can have them deliver
shipping supplies for $0 and i have asked myself if they(USPS) deliver shipping
supplies for free and sellers on bricklink are charging an added fee for them
most times i have seen a added fee of $2 - $5 for supplies. I myself have went
to other stores that didn't Nickle and Dime a person and most stores are
getting out of hand with added fee's
You can get Priority Mail boxes for free but most orders will go through Ground
Advantage. And even with Priority Mail the rate is generally lower if you use
your own box. So ultimately the boxes aren't free. That said I don't
think sellers should charge for supplies (boxes, envelopes, tape, gas, ramen,
Mt. Dew).
This might be true for the US but here in Canada (and probably most other countries)
we need to pay for our shipping supplies so yes I will add a flat rate of $1
per order for shipping & handling, which in my opinion is very reasonable.
Tho shipping supplies are still rather cheap so $1 can be a bit overkill. For
example a bubble envelope is about 11 cents, bags are about 5 cents per order
and shipping labels are about 3 cents so working that cost into your base shipping
cost can make things simpler
for bubble mailers it might be a bit high but when you're using boxes the
cost can really add up and dont forget bubble wrap for sets etc
Pro tip boxes arnt needed unless it’s a fragile item (set, fimsy part, etc) but
in general my boxes are free as I place to many online lego orders 😭😭, even
bubble wrap is cheap being only ~$35ish CAD for 750 feet
That said I don't think sellers should charge for supplies (boxes, envelopes, tape, gas, ramen, Mt. Dew).
Oh, you caught me -- reading this as I enjoy a rare Mtn Dew LiveWire orange
beverage. I never drink the green junk, blech.
I couldn't afford my RedBull if I didn't bill my customers for "supplies"
hahaha. Thankfully, Venom Energy Original is a less expensive knock-off of
RedBull (priced about two-thirds less than RedBull).
I never learned to like coffee or tea (tastes like dirty dish water to me),
so I consume a variety of caffeine-infused products to get me thru the days (and
nights). My most commonly consumed beverages are V8 Energy drinks. They offer
good variety and good taste and they claim to contain real juice and real tea,
so I can easily pretend they are (more) healthy than other options.
Only water in a closed bottle is allowed near the LEGO, and I ALWAYS have a bottle
of ice water when I am working BL tasks.
Now, to get back on topic a bit -- My BL terms state I may charge up to $1.50
for "supplies" but in real practice, I only charge about $1.10 per order
and I pass on the savings of discount postage to my buyers, too (even tho my
terms state otherwise).
Can a store in the USA charge other stores in the USA for their PayPal fee?
Thanks
This will be illegal in California starting in July, because it will be classified
as a junk fee.
Hopefully, Bricklink will update their terms by that point, since sellers can't
pick and choose what states they ship to, meaning at any time, they could be
breaking the law.
Penalties are $1000 per violation, attorney fees, and restitution.
Can a store in the USA charge other stores in the USA for their PayPal fee?
Thanks
This will be illegal in California starting in July, because it will be classified
as a junk fee.
Hopefully, Bricklink will update their terms by that point, since sellers can't
pick and choose what states they ship to, meaning at any time, they could be
breaking the law.
Penalties are $1000 per violation, attorney fees, and restitution.
European sellers who sell to America are gunna have a wild time 😅😅
Can a store in the USA charge other stores in the USA for their PayPal fee?
Thanks
This will be illegal in California starting in July, because it will be classified
as a junk fee.
Hopefully, Bricklink will update their terms by that point, since sellers can't
pick and choose what states they ship to, meaning at any time, they could be
breaking the law.
Penalties are $1000 per violation, attorney fees, and restitution.
But how would you prove that unless they're blatant enough to say that they're
charging fees to cover paypal?
Can a store in the USA charge other stores in the USA for their PayPal fee?
Thanks
This will be illegal in California starting in July, because it will be classified
as a junk fee.
Hopefully, Bricklink will update their terms by that point, since sellers can't
pick and choose what states they ship to, meaning at any time, they could be
breaking the law.
Penalties are $1000 per violation, attorney fees, and restitution.
But how would you prove that unless they're blatant enough to say that they're
charging fees to cover paypal?
It won't matter what it is for, will it? I thought the idea was all mandatory
extra service type fees had to be included in the prices.
USA, Florida
France, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Luxembourg
Austria, Wien
United Kingdom, England
Canada, Ontario
