The Energon Pub

Megatroptimus is correct in one respect.

The Asian sellers (save for a few respectable ones) are ridiculous when it comes to costs for shipping.

I spent $135.00 (yeah, yeah, I know, I was impatient, I don't need to hear it) for Voyager Ironhide, Ratchet and Starscream.

It took 18 days by Airmail with tracking and I paid through the nose for shipping.

I was mistaken, but under the impression that it would be sent EMS (which is only 3-7 days) for that price. No. I got rooked and I went ahead and left her positive feedback because she did actually come through and they were all in pristine condition.

The next person, however, did give her a Neg for being so ridiculous with her pricing and the lack of speed in shipping times.

I normally go head to head with Mega on pretty much any issue, but this is one time I have to agree with him. (No, not the reporting thing, although eBay should put more work into keeping an eye on their auctioneers.)

And when you ask for EMS, it's either "No. I too busy for service. Airmail works fine, just take longer to receve" (and yes, that's how she spelled it. No, not making fun of her.) or I get "No, EMS not available where I live." I mentioned it was available through Chinapost and got "Do you want item or not? Others buy, no problem. You troublemaker!" Of course I didn't go ahead and buy from that seller, but it does exist.

Granted, I realize you get what you're willing to pay for, but perhaps we shouldn't be forced by dirty tactics to become willing to pay such prices.

I make the shipping costs as close to the actual price that the USPS gives me, and I stick with it. I have no reason to rip anyone off on that. I've been off by $1.50 once, but the guy said just keep it, and I continued to apologize and we both moved on.

It's not that hard to have reasonable shipping, efficient services, and timely delivery. People just want to make a quick buck anywhere they friggin' can.

I was wondering how close these were going to be to the cartoon most figures they make cartoon accurate have no articulation, some of the batman stuff comes to mind it is toon accurate and has just the head, legs and arm rotation.

These guys are really neat the robotness helps since it allows them to hide the joints better then in organic things.

Also, if you are not interested in an auction do not bid, no one forces you to, that is just ridiculous to "inform" on someone, if e-bay cared they would look themselves.

Some of those people run a business and e-bay is a business if you do not understand Caveat emptor then do not involve your self in business transactions.

The only reason people mark up things is to make money, I sold something the other day and in the old days that would be it, but then a month later I have a few cents on my account it was some fee they newly generated.

I was around when you could get deals on e-bay, it is the best source for some items but it is not the golden thing it used to be, but if you can not stand the heat get out of the kitchen.

Autobot032 wrote:Megatroptimus is correct in one respect.

The Asian sellers (save for a few respectable ones) are ridiculous when it comes to costs for shipping.

I spent $135.00 (yeah, yeah, I know, I was impatient, I don't need to hear it) for Voyager Ironhide, Ratchet and Starscream.

It took 18 days by Airmail with tracking and I paid through the nose for shipping.

I was mistaken, but under the impression that it would be sent EMS (which is only 3-7 days) for that price. No. I got rooked and I went ahead and left her positive feedback because she did actually come through and they were all in pristine condition.

The next person, however, did give her a Neg for being so ridiculous with her pricing and the lack of speed in shipping times.

I normally go head to head with Mega on pretty much any issue, but this is one time I have to agree with him. (No, not the reporting thing, although eBay should put more work into keeping an eye on their auctioneers.)

And when you ask for EMS, it's either "No. I too busy for service. Airmail works fine, just take longer to receve" (and yes, that's how she spelled it. No, not making fun of her.) or I get "No, EMS not available where I live." I mentioned it was available through Chinapost and got "Do you want item or not? Others buy, no problem. You troublemaker!" Of course I didn't go ahead and buy from that seller, but it does exist.

Granted, I realize you get what you're willing to pay for, but perhaps we shouldn't be forced by dirty tactics to become willing to pay such prices.

I make the shipping costs as close to the actual price that the USPS gives me, and I stick with it. I have no reason to rip anyone off on that. I've been off by $1.50 once, but the guy said just keep it, and I continued to apologize and we both moved on.

It's not that hard to have reasonable shipping, efficient services, and timely delivery. People just want to make a quick buck anywhere they friggin' can.

It isn't that I don't understand the point. I do. The only way to avoid those shipping costs is to avoid those sellers though. It's either that or discuss shipping options with them before the close of the auction. A final option (and this shouldn't BE an option) would be to know what you're getting into. This should be the case regardless of where you buy from.

Flux Convoy wrote:

Autobot032 wrote:*removed wall of text*

It isn't that I don't understand the point. I do. The only way to avoid those shipping costs is to avoid those sellers though. It's either that or discuss shipping options with them before the close of the auction. A final option (and this shouldn't BE an option) would be to know what you're getting into. This should be the case regardless of where you buy from.

Oh no, I fully agree. Problem is, you can dilly dally and make deals and jump through hoops, but when it's all said and done, the seller will still try and screw you.

I won two Armada Superbase Optimus Primes from the Philippines (brand new, sealed in package) about a month before they were even supposed to be in stores (they actually came out 3.7 weeks after I finally received mine, but I wasn't concerned back then. I had money to blow and I was STOOPID.) and the one seller said "I can ship it EMS if you like." I said yes, got my PayPal all ready to go, etc...and he comes back and says "with shipping, that'll be $127.89 in USD." I about fell out of my chair and said "Are you sure you got that right? Seriously?" he of course said yes, went through the spiel, the whole enchilada...and I said "No. Forget it. Absolutely not." He said he'd force me to pay, he'd take it up with eBay, etc. eBay sided with me, he wasn't able to Neg me and I didn't have to pay.

I found a second seller, he was legit, had the correct price for EMS shipping (with insurance, tracking, and I'd have to sign for it all for an extra fee.) With that, plus my fees (I had a reloadable credit card, currency conversion, etc.) It came to an the amount of $101.13 and I got it (I kid you not) in four days. From Manila to PA.

Most people wouldn't quibble over $20.00 bucks or so, but when the shipping method is questionable, and he comes up with the shipping cost of that magnitude (I mean his figure was $40.00 USD!) I just couldn't take it lying down.

The only reason I didn't go with the second seller the first time around was because he wanted more for the actual figure. But at least he had it, he was up front and honest (the sticker reflected the actual price he required me to pay. He was that good.) So sometimes it's worth spending more to get what you want, but not to the point some of these Asian sellers demand.

"Blood? Forget it.
Sweat? Nah.
Tears? Gettin' warmer.
First born? Hot, hot, hot.
Arm, leg, and all of the above? BINGO!" <---this is what current deals on eBay make me feel like.

In fact, there's a seller on there right now, and he says he'll lower the price of each individual item, but will not combine shipping because it's too costly to ship to the US without it. Most of his auctions end on the starting bid because he has so many and they're all bootlegs, so the money he makes comes from shipping costs. I figured out that if I wanted to buy five KO sets from him (ones you can find during the holidays, or from better online sellers, and none of them weigh that much) the shipping alone would cost me $113.00 and the toys would come to somewhere between $5-11.00

That's absolutely ridiculous.