What is the preferred method for estimating shipping? Do I go through the order
process to see what shipping will be and bail if it's too high or do I contact
the seller in advance?
What is the preferred method for estimating shipping? Do I go through the order
process to see what shipping will be and bail if it's too high or do I contact
the seller in advance?
It depends:
— Some sellers have Auto-Invoice or Instant Checkout¹, so the shipping price
(and taxes) are shown in the cart directly.
— Otherwise, some sellers have tables in their terms (or Splash page). And you
can know the weight of your cart if you activate the option (https://www.bricklink.com/v3/user/settings/shopping.page
) and if the seller isn’t blocking it 🙄
— Some sellers also offer Quotes. Unfortunately, unless they advertise it in
their terms, the only way to know is to go to the 4th and last step of checkout
and see if there’s a “Request Quote” button.
Quotes are not binding and don’t reserve items… but they are also easily cancelled
if an item is sold before the seller could answer or the buyer could accept the
quote.
———
1. Instant Checkout is Auto-Invoice + “Onsite” payment. That’s two different
things but, as you are in the US and BL needs to collect Sales Taxes there and
BL can only do that with Onsite payments, that’s the same for you
I think if you go through the order process and bail, you run the risk of getting
negative feedback, and you would be wasting the seller's time. You can contact
the seller in advance, tell them your zip code and what you want to purchase.
With that info, they should be able to give you an exact quote. If they don't
respond, I'd find another seller.
In Shipping, HGSone writes:
What is the preferred method for estimating shipping? Do I go through the order
process to see what shipping will be and bail if it's too high or do I contact
the seller in advance?
What is the preferred method for estimating shipping? Do I go through the order
process to see what shipping will be and bail if it's too high or do I contact
the seller in advance?
What is the preferred method for estimating shipping? Do I go through the order
process to see what shipping will be and bail if it's too high or do I contact
the seller in advance?
Just look for stores with instant checkout and you'll eventually get to a
screen with the total taxes and shipping. no surprises. But if they store
reaches out and says they didn't charge enough for shipping, that's their
problem.
What is the preferred method for estimating shipping? Do I go through the order
process to see what shipping will be and bail if it's too high or do I contact
the seller in advance?
This is an interesting question, because I am placed in this exact position at
least once a week.
I often receive those vague messages myself.
I have geared my instant checkout so if you choose that option you may overpay
a few dollars on some shipping, I may be under on a few others. Overall it evens
out my end. There is an obviously difference between shipping a few minifigs
and something larger like a 10236.
I message ALL of my buyers during transactions. When posed with this question
I direct them to the 4th page of the checkout process for a "Request a Quote".
Bricklink seems to believe finding the request a quote option is simple, without
considering the many new site patrons since the merger and I have said a few
times "Request a quote should be obvious and standalone in the purchase option.
But its not.
Weigh up the administrative times for you to do a shipping quote. I am a little
spoilt as I print my own labels so I am able to get exact prices and delivery
time estimates in seconds. Others not so lucky.
At the end of the day gear your shipping to what you intend selling or specializing
in.
What is the preferred method for estimating shipping? Do I go through the order
process to see what shipping will be and bail if it's too high or do I contact
the seller in advance?
it's worth noting that the quote option I believe is near the end of the
checkout process. I have quotes enabled and still get frequent messages asking
for them, because the person did not click enough buttons to get through various
screens.
with the new shipping hike, I've suddenly been getting alot of quote requests
again. I wonder if buyers are getting sticker shocked sitewide.
USA, Missouri
France, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Canada, Alberta
