Should Second-Hand Buyers pay back YOUR shipping?

I don't add my original shipping fees or customs fees to the asking price for any items I sell. I agree with vonbonbon...if someone wants to overprice their item by charging for every little thing they spent over getting the item they won't sell the item at all.

Offering a discount on the price of your item is entirely at your own discretion and DoA doesn't allow price policing. If the seller is open to offers and haggling, by all means, please go a head and try negotiating a price, but PMing members specifically to tell them they are overcharging is not allowed.

Some dolls or doll items that have been kept for a long time really are in perfect condition and dolls, on the whole, do keep their value. Bargain-hunters beware, there is no obligation for someone to sell a 'used doll' for a lower price considering 'used' means different things to different people and has no bearing on the condition of the doll for sale.

 

It's not my place to say how sellers should price their items, but it's a bit unrealistic to make a buyer basically pay for shipping twice. Plus, whether or not the item was actually used, it's now secondhand merchandise and shouldn't be priced like it's new or more than that. People do it anyway though and some folks will buy it. What's a girl to do?

 

As has been pointed out many times in this thread, "secondhand merchandise" isn't exactly the same thing as the "collectibles secondary market." Would you argue that a First Folio of Shakespeare "shouldn't" be priced higher than a new Shakespeare anthology textbook? While of course BJDs =/= rare books, there's enough traction in the analogy to make it usable. There are rare and sought-after BJDs that command higher-than-original-sale prices on the secondary market, just as there are rare and sought-after books, pieces of furniture, pieces of jewelry, Faberge eggs, vintage Porsches . . . you name it. The principles of thrift-store pricing are largely--I would say "completely," except I distrust blanket generalizations--irrelevant.

 

I think the seller can definately ask for the price+two shipping costs if he/she wants to.
I mean, if you think it is too expensive (as a byer) you don't have to buy it. No one is forcing you.

Many people prefer to buy a doll that is already made with no waiting time, and are willing to pay extra for that. No biggie, in my opinion.

 

Don't buy something if you don't agree with the price, perhaps?

Just because something has had an owner before you, it doesn't mean it should be sold at a knock-down price. Dolls hold their value, which is something a lot of collectors actually appreciate. Rare dolls can be worth far more than their original price because of their rarity on the market.

The doll market has more in common with the antiques/collectibles market than average second-hand items that can be found in charity shops and yard-sales. I wouldn't price a used TV or wardrobe or a coat as if it was new, but I'd definitely ask for at least the baseline of what I paid when selling a doll or doll items.

As long as you keep your dolls in good condition there's no reason why they wouldn't be worth at least what you paid for them new or second-hand.

 

It's always struck me as rather strange when people obviously tack their own shipping costs onto their pricing, and I certainly wouldn't be willing to pay it for a doll that was readily available elsewhere. It's their perogative to do so of course...just as it's my perogative to laugh because I think they're being pretty silly about it (knowing the poor doll will most likely languish in the marketplace because of it.) But then I also think it's silly to try to charge much more for a really bad, very amature faceup you did on your doll as well...which is something you also occasionally see in the marketplace with dolls that just don't sell. I figure perhaps people don't always think rationally when selling something they probably once loved. Either that, or their common sense has sprung a leak.

 

well I do not like when people think they can put a silly price for shipment. I asked once for shipment from a EU land to a EU land(my country) and he asked 100 dollars( from Us to Eu is 35 dollars)!! well that is not normal. So I did not buy the Item/doll. And I look to what the new price of a doll is. When the price is the same I do not know why I should buy a second hand one than a new one for the same price? But when it is a special doll that is something different. When you have a doll that is not availlable anymore than I would pay more then the original price. But this is my opinion.

 

People have the right to list it at whatever price they feel. If they think that they should also get back the shipping cost that's fine. You can't stop them and it's their item. One thing to keep in mind is that paypal (the most popular payment method) charges fees for the transaction so the seller can lose out on about 4% of the cost to the buyer.

Does that mean I am going to buy it? Absolutely not. Using the example. If I can find it at the lower price and it's perfectly new, why do I need to pay more for it. If I can get it $15 with shipping included rather than $15 plus shipping, I'm going to go with what's in MY favor.

Now, if it's something like an LE, then I will consider paying more than the original item only cost. Mark ups are part of the whole collector thing. However, I've noticed that companies are rereleasing LEs so I'm not going to pay much more than what the original cost was. So far, no LE has made me want to pay the second hand cost.

 

I would never charge the original shipping fees. HOWEVER, if I put the doll up for sale within a week of receiving it, I will put it as the exact same price the company sells it. so if if the doll is listed a $520+shipping from korea to canada, I will sell it $520 + shipping from canada to X place.
I mean, not only is it BRAND NEW and not used at all, the buyer would get the advantage of receiving the doll within 2 weeks instead of 2 months! so paying the same price as the company is not bad in that case!
but to me, adding original shipping cost to the price is scam. AND if the item is a basic edition, it's plain stupid. I'd rather wait 2-3 months than pay twice for shipping....

 

Just for nothing down, I'm unsure about other countries but Paypal fees for Brazil are around 8%... So.

About the topic, it all depends of the judgement of the seller, though, I agree, people not always consider that including the extra fees imposed on them (PP fees, Customs and shipping fees) does not make much sense.

 

I once tried to sell a doll like this - well, noone bought it from me
Anyway, I think it's a seller's choice. You cannot even be sure if the seller really uses this formula company price+company shipping cost+seller's shipping cost. Maybe the seller just simply made a price higher to get some money from reselling or maybe he really feels his doll is worth more?

 

I don't think it's bad if people factor in how much they paid for shipping in some instances. For example, if the original owner pays $500 with $70 for shipping, and then lists the doll for sale shortly after receiving it and will only ship domestically, it wouldn't be unreasonable to ask $550 (including shipping). This is more than the cost of the doll + shipping to buyer (which would be around $520 in the US), but it would still save the buyer $20 relative to how much they'd pay if they purchased from the company, and the seller would still lose roughly $40 + Paypal fees. Plus, it would be worth it to some people to get the doll quickly and they'd get to see exactly what they're getting rather than trusting company pictures.

 

Most of the dolls I buy are limiteds or rare dolls so if I do decide to resell I will look at what other people have sold the doll for recently. If i am selling a basic readily purchased doll then i will list it at what the company is asking for (assuming its in good/perfect condition) but i have wiggle room in my prices. Sometimes on the marketplace i see people charging large amount for basic dolls but... I dont have to buy them lol I dont really mind paying regular price if a doll is in perfect condition, ive come to learn that second hand does not mean discount and good deals can be tricky to find.

 

Hmm, I always thought it was wrong to charge excess for a sellers shipping costs.

I do retain the fact that the buyer can charge whatever they want as long as its within reasonable limits (so its not extortion). For the product itself, they can charge whatever. But if they're charging to make up for their shipping, I think that's wrong.

 

Asking a price and collecting it are not the same thing. If someone is asking too much, over time, reality will take care of letting them know. They will probably do a LOT of bumping up. lol But, the final details of a transaction are between the buyer and seller. If someone pays what they ask, then I guess it means that was what it was worth to them.

I'm glad there are no "authorities" getting involved with what prices are allowed. I would not like extra people saying what we are not allowed to do with our money.

It is good that there are guidelines for honesty about condition and details. It is important to know what it is you will get for your money. I almost feel safer buying second hand when I read about defects in dolls that have arrived straight from the company. But that is another topic.

 

Sure, why not?
it's their choice........ as long as they state it upfront.


"hidden" fees are just sneaky.

 

I do think sellers should think twice about factoring in their shipping costs, but I just vote with my wallet and refuse to pay their inflated price. I've even ended up checking dealers and getting new for less.

What really gets my goat is used dolls with damage and tears, yet priced higher than brand new pristine fullset. It may be sold out but I have the patience to wait until a mint set turns up or just buy the basic doll and wait for the outfit. I'd be willing to pay that little bit extra then as maybe half the difference between full package new and full package plus sellers fees plus my shipping, but only for mint.

 

Unfortunately sellers are allowed to price their items at their own discretion. If you believe the item is overpriced, then don't buy it- plain and simple. The only way to really stop people from selling items at exorbitant prices is not to buy them, and then they'll take the hint that they're not going to get as much money as they have asked for whatever item it is they're selling. Now do I agree with the practice in question? Absolutely not. I think it's very rude and disrespectful to basically make someone else pay for a service you received. Making your buyer pay for your original shipping plus their shipping would be no different than going to a restaurant and being made to pay for not only your meal, but the meal that the waiter who served you ate earlier as well IMO.

 

The seller can factor in her mortgage payment for all I care. As long as the amount is what I'm willing to pay, it doesn't matter to me what factors went into pricing the item. Given that the DoA Marketplace doesn't have rules about pricing and that the seller is legally free to set any price she wishes, I don't see how factoring in the original shipping is a question of ethics or morality. We are not talking about medicine or food here - the goods that we trade in this hobby are not necessities and, therefore, can be traded for any price deemed appropriate by the seller.

Of course, if someone wants to actually sell their item, then the price has to be within the limits that the market will bear. For the most part, if we are talking about a non-LE doll that is still readily available from the manufacturer, the market will not bear the 'original cost + original shipping + shipping to buyer' price. Why would I buy a second-hand doll at that price when I can have the company make a brand new one just for me for the same exact total cost? But, then again, I don't mind waiting. I don't need to have dolls right away, so I'm perfectly fine with waiting up to 6 months, if need be. On the other hand, if a person doesn't want to wait and wants the convenience of doing business within one's own country, then the aforementioned pricing set-up may be well worth it for that particular individual. Ultimately, while the seller sets the price, it's the buyer who determines the outcome - at the end of the day, if the price is too high, the item won't sell.

*Edited to add that I'm, of course, against scalping. But, that's not what the OP is discussing, so beyond saying that I'm against that practice and that my post doesn't apply to instances of scalping, I won't go into it further.

 

I don't think it's fair for them to charge their shipping, but as long as they say it up front, at least you know what you're getting into.