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Sales: truth in weight?

I see many listings for the same item and weight can go from an actual weight to insane numbers up to triple its actual spec. Do you feel some abuse this estimate in an effort to profit and if so do you call out sellers on this?
I made a purchase once and the shipping quote the seller gave me from their own weight estimate was almost three times its actual value so I asked for the item to be re-calculated. The seller was gracious and all was fine but do many buyers accept what the seller tells them, and if you do when item comes have you ever noticed the item is way off from what you were told?
Should part of a sellers integrity include an honest estimate of weight (knowing that actual double boxing and protective packing can add a bit to the total)? I am mainly talking about items such as Music disc's, CD players, amps and items that typically dont have super high weight and should be fairly easy to estimate accurately.
chadnliz
leedistad
104 posts
 
I had a selling transaction just the past week where Canada Post's online estimator gave me an oddly high number. The buyer brought it up, and I agreed to go to the post office, and informed him of the actual cost, which was a third of what Canada Post's website quoted on the same mass and dimensions.

Clear, honest, two-way communication goes a long way towards avoiding hard feelings when anomalies come up.

A separate postal quote for something else was about approximate, so go figure.
tarsando
578 posts
 
That old shipping AND HANDLING bit is what the record clubs used (and still use) to make a profit. Same with Amazon shipping charges, although they are more realistic. The best ads for me are the ones that include shipping. Then at least you know up front what total cost will be.
sid42
302 posts
 
I agree about many of these shipping estimates being inflated, but consider this: I notice a lot of sellers dont't seem to have a manual (which usually gives the dimensions and weight) and they don't keep their boxes and many do not have the remotes that come with the item. I personally don't buy from anyone who can't manage to keep the remote & manual.
Also, a manufacturer's website can usually give the specs for the unit, so it can't be too hard to guesstimate what the weight might be. If the shipping price is estimated too high, I'd pass on those goods!
jihley
74 posts
 
when quoting shipping, the package dimensions are almost as important as the weight. I find that the shipping calculators listed in ads don't take this into consideration and shipping charges are often more that what was agreed to at time of sale. Sometimes the actual weight of an item isn't known until it is packaged up and again this is sometimes done after payment is made to seller. If people tend to mislead as to weight for profit sake, then they will mislead about the items itself. I will always check at shipping site if things do look right.
fatparrot
1,314 posts
 
I will include packing expense [either double boxing, or a special kind of expandable foam] in my shipping charges, although usually it costs me slightly MORE than what I actually charge. And don't forget that there is usually an extra charge for "oversize" boxes [watch out when UPS and the USPS pulls out their cloth tape measures]! This can substantially add to the shipping charge.

I try to photo first, THEN pack and get a weight and dimensions, so that I can give a reasonably accurate quote for shipping...very easy using the UPS website.
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