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Posted By: hotcidr Morphy shipping costs - Tue Aug 05 2014 02:00 PM
So everyone knows I met with Dan, we discussed my past posts and we are good.
Has anyone received their billing for shipping on Iowa auction items. I just did...$51.00 to ship a 12" pump plate. Is this standard because I've never had anything shipped by Morphy or Matthews
thanks
Ray
Posted By: BryceG Re: Morphy shipping costs - Tue Aug 05 2014 02:10 PM
was it an expensive pump plate? ...cause Morphy's insures all items that they ship, so maybe that is why?

Does anyone know if Morphy's charges for handling/packaging?

Could also ask Sierra at 717-335-3435 or sierra.perkins@morphyauctions.com... she has always responded promptly to me
Posted By: Steven C. Re: Morphy shipping costs - Tue Aug 05 2014 02:21 PM
Originally Posted By: hotcidr
I just did...$51.00 to ship a 12" pump plate. Is this standard Ray


Standard or not, sound crazy high, I mean rediculously high, to me to ship such a piece!!!!! Unless it was a 1/4" thick steel PP.
Posted By: TheGriffin Re: Morphy shipping costs - Tue Aug 05 2014 03:43 PM
I bought a Globe and the shipping will be $75.
Posted By: eric grinder Re: Morphy shipping costs - Tue Aug 05 2014 04:52 PM
Truthfully it all depends on the final sale price. I recently sold a smaller sign and had to insure for 4K. Shipping was almost 90.00 because of the insurance mainly.
Posted By: Dick Bennett Re: Morphy shipping costs - Tue Aug 05 2014 05:38 PM
As I have said before, INSURANCE is the responsibility of the Seller.
When you sell a car, You keep ins. on it till the Buyer takes Possession Why should it be any difference on buying a sign/globe/house/property/etc.? When the Buyer Receives it in condition sold, your Responsibility Ends.
Posted By: Dave's Garage Re: Morphy shipping costs - Tue Aug 05 2014 06:12 PM
Auction houses consider ownership to transfer at the time the winning bid is accepted. High bidder assumes all responsibility from that point on. Items are always stored at the owners risk either the seller or the buyer. Auction house's don't assume ownership or responsibility.

At 30%-40% commission (buyer & seller) I guess they don't make enough money to absorb some of the insurance costs. Even though internet bidders pay higher buyers premiums.
Posted By: Steven C. Re: Morphy shipping costs - Tue Aug 05 2014 06:23 PM
Hey, granite top cubicles don't come cheap!!

Pic from Morphy's office

Attached picture zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.jpg
Posted By: Dick Bennett Re: Morphy shipping costs - Tue Aug 05 2014 06:26 PM
So Dave, they Aren't Responsible for a %hity packing job when item is Received Busted to Hell?
Posted By: Dave's Garage Re: Morphy shipping costs - Tue Aug 05 2014 06:58 PM
I'm talking about Auction Houses in general. Morally and legally are two different things. Ever read the fine print on any auction houses bidder or consignment agreement.
Posted By: Dick Bennett Re: Morphy shipping costs - Tue Aug 05 2014 07:10 PM
YEP, Just like a Towing Company, when your towed they are not responsible for your vehicle in Towing or while it's in THEIR STORAGE YARD!
Posted By: Dave Richey Re: Morphy shipping costs - Tue Aug 05 2014 10:43 PM
Just because someone types a disclaimer doesn't make it legally so.

This is where I agree with one of Dick's recurring sayings: You make your money when you buy an item. Good luck on that when you have the excess dollars invested from having bought it in these arenas.

Anyone who has ever used a commercial account knows that the shipping is considerably cheaper. I can't imagine any mass shipper paying retail shipping rates even when passing them down to the buyer. So, that leaves a lot of room for insurance. But, I'm just a cynic.
Posted By: K W FRITH Re: Morphy shipping costs - Tue Aug 05 2014 11:38 PM
I paid $31 shipping for 4 little liscense plate toppers and they got $180 buyers premium from me! If I hadn't wanted them so bad, they wouldn't have gotten anything. I passed on a lot of items because of that premium! Shipping is excessive to me?
Posted By: Esse's Garage Re: Morphy shipping costs - Wed Aug 06 2014 12:25 AM
How do you guys know your charges already? I won a Item and nothing has been charged to my CC yet.
Posted By: BryceG Re: Morphy shipping costs - Wed Aug 06 2014 12:50 AM
has anyone asked for a break-down of the shipping charge? then maybe we could see where the excess being charged
Posted By: 57tbirdkid Re: Morphy shipping costs - Wed Aug 06 2014 01:04 AM
What we need to know is the cost of the pump plate to know if your getting overcharged. Lets take into consideration packing time and material also.
Posted By: Mike M. Re: Morphy shipping costs - Wed Aug 06 2014 02:53 AM
I had a long talk with Dan Matthews also and Just remember guys he's Just an employee of Morphys now.

Now onto the subject at hand, I was there when the auction ended loading my stuff. After Dan backed up their big trailer to the back of the Holiday Inn, His son along with a number of other employees had to pack up all the internet buys to haul them back home before shipping. So IMO I'm sure part of the shipping costs are for handling, transportation to their shipping location and keeping it all in order while doing so.
All I know is I wouldn't want to be in charge of keeping track of all those items and who they had to go to in the end.
Do I think the costs are high, yes but that's going by what I ship when I sell stuff, so until someone tells me all what goes into their complete handling of items, who knows?
And again just my opinion
Posted By: Jack Sim Re: Morphy shipping costs - Wed Aug 06 2014 03:25 AM
At least Ebay tells you what the shipping charges will be.

Jack Sim
Posted By: carolinaskies Re: Morphy shipping costs - Wed Aug 06 2014 07:39 AM
Whether an auction house packages and sends the items or hires an outside company to do so, I believe the issue is similar to when you take your car to be serviced by the dealership. The cost is based on a derived formula not on reality. You may pay for fixed cost parts, but the formula includes a workbook number of hours for the type of work supposedly required and then multiplied by the hourly charge.

Such a shipping formula should be independent of final value of the item except as it applies to actual insurance cost.


Rarely do I participate in online auctions because the rate for the online participant is higher and then the shipping costs can become burdensome.
Posted By: s932 Re: Morphy shipping costs - Wed Aug 06 2014 07:39 AM
Good points Mike It's a lot of work dealing with packing and shipping and keeping orders right. If you don't like how much morphys shipping is don't ever buy a gun from out of state. I just bought one from an auction in Nevada. I paid $50 for them to ship it to the wrong place and get lost for two weeks and then another 15 for the ffl. So by the time I was done 65 for shipping and recieving cost and that was per gun on shipping no bulk shipping. Each gun had to be in its own box. Now that being said the auction house did say that upfront but they didn't know what shipping would cost you until after the auction. Thank god I didn't pay a lot for the gun
Posted By: hotcidr Re: Morphy shipping costs - Thu Aug 07 2014 02:03 PM
So back to the point, this is a 12" pump plate with a value of $1400. Morphy already collected $280.00 premium from me on top of that so one would think that an additional $51.00 is WAY over the top for a small sign. Something just seems out of kilter what then what choice do we have.
Posted By: BryceG Re: Morphy shipping costs - Thu Aug 07 2014 02:05 PM
Originally Posted By: hotcidr
what choice do we have.


less each day... Morphy's also just bought VCA (Victorian Casino Antiques)
Posted By: mcguffeyd1 Re: Morphy shipping costs - Thu Aug 07 2014 02:24 PM
Originally Posted By: Steve C.
Originally Posted By: hotcidr
I just did...$51.00 to ship a 12" pump plate. Is this standard Ray


Standard or not, sound crazy high, I mean rediculously high, to me to ship such a piece!!!!! Unless it was a 1/4" thick steel PP.


Mine was $36 to mail two thin painted signs. They are the mobilgas keyhole pump plate signs. About triple of what actual cost to ship is. But you have to think that they pay people to package, transport and then insurance. So high on price... I think so. Last auction my bill was triple and shipping was only $50ish and I had a globe. I don't understand the logic
Posted By: Dick Bennett Re: Morphy shipping costs - Thu Aug 07 2014 02:27 PM
Originally Posted By: hotcidr
what choice do we have.

BOYCOTT Online Auctions or keep bending over to get....
Posted By: hotcidr Re: Morphy shipping costs - Thu Aug 07 2014 05:44 PM
I talked to Dan and he got my shipping costs "corrected" to a much better rate
Thanks Dan
Posted By: Keystone Gas Man Re: Morphy shipping costs - Thu Aug 07 2014 06:24 PM
Originally Posted By: s932
Good points Mike It's a lot of work dealing with packing and shipping and keeping orders right. If you don't like how much morphys shipping is don't ever buy a gun from out of state. I just bought one from an auction in Nevada. I paid $50 for them to ship it to the wrong place and get lost for two weeks and then another 15 for the ffl. So by the time I was done 65 for shipping and recieving cost and that was per gun on shipping no bulk shipping. Each gun had to be in its own box. Now that being said the auction house did say that upfront but they didn't know what shipping would cost you until after the auction. Thank god I didn't pay a lot for the gun
15 is cheap for a FFL transfer its 20 to 30 around here.
Posted By: Wes Maxwell Re: Morphy shipping costs - Thu Aug 07 2014 07:07 PM
Option to paying shipping cost, go to the show.
Take one week off of work
12-13 hour drive, one way.
Food for the week
Hotels for the week
Cost of beer. ( Could be a lot)
Carry your auction buys home for free!

I understand the point of the post but for those of us that actually made the trip to Iowa, we spent a lot more going than most did on shipping cost I would think? It all comes down to how bad do you want the item. I for one wouldn't fuss to much about paying shipping insurance on your item. I know I want my buys covered.
Posted By: dundign Re: Morphy shipping costs - Thu Aug 07 2014 08:02 PM
Well Said Wes... Tom
Posted By: Alex Re: Morphy shipping costs - Thu Aug 07 2014 10:07 PM
I agree with Wes and have rationalized buying something at an on line auction for that reason. Having said that, I think some of the shipping costs are over the line. Same thing with the "internet premium." But, I get ticked when airlines charge more for a premium seat....Whatever that is.
Posted By: Cold Pizza Re: Morphy shipping costs - Thu Aug 07 2014 10:50 PM
Originally Posted By: Wes Maxwell
Option to paying shipping cost, go to the show.
Take one week off of work
12-13 hour drive, one way.
Food for the week
Hotels for the week
Cost of beer. ( Could be a lot)
Carry your auction buys home for free!

I understand the point of the post but for those of us that actually made the trip to Iowa, we spent a lot more going than most did on shipping cost I would think? It all comes down to how bad do you want the item. I for one wouldn't fuss to much about paying shipping insurance on your item. I know I want my buys covered.


With all due respect Wes,I don't think that's a fair comparison for an auction houses shipping cost.
That's like a cab company saying pay us $300 for what is normally a $30 fare,or else go buy a $30,000 brand new car..take it or leave it.

The argument against extraordinarily high shipping fees should be compared to what other Std. shippers are charging today.
Posted By: Wes Maxwell Re: Morphy shipping costs - Thu Aug 07 2014 11:13 PM
I agree, was just pointing out some people had a lot more money invested in going to the show/ getting there stuff home than others.
Posted By: huskybob Re: Morphy shipping costs - Thu Aug 07 2014 11:41 PM
Originally Posted By: hotcidr
I talked to Dan and he got my shipping costs "corrected" to a much better rate
Thanks Dan


In the original post you weren't shy about telling us how much the exhorbitant shipping fee was, so why not share with us the amount it was "corrected" to.
There might be some OG members who would like to get their rates reduced also.
Posted By: Dick Bennett Re: Morphy shipping costs - Fri Aug 08 2014 12:02 AM
Ray was at the IG & Drove home in a NEW CORVETTE!
[$51 is Less Expensive than staying another night in Des Moines]
Posted By: bppierce Re: Morphy shipping costs - Fri Aug 08 2014 12:50 AM
I think the best way to keep shipping costs reasonable is to do exactly what Ray did: bring it to everybody's attention.
For some reason the auction houses are taking advantage of the internet buyers by making additional revenue off "shipping", even though I would bet the sales total would drop about 25%-30% without the internet bids.
BTW, I tried calling prior to the auction to get a shipping quote and was not able to get one. I didn't bid.
Posted By: BryceG Re: Morphy shipping costs - Fri Aug 08 2014 01:00 AM
more importantly... bring it to the auction co's attention. call and talk to them! most companies will try and make it right.
Posted By: Ohio Oil Re: Morphy shipping costs - Fri Aug 08 2014 11:41 AM
Complaining about spending $50 to get a $1700 sign home safely?

Ummm....ok.
Posted By: Hemibird Re: Morphy shipping costs - Fri Aug 08 2014 12:27 PM
I spoke to Dan the day before the auction. Unless I misunderstood what Dan told me, he said they weren't really set up to do shipping anymore. As a substitute, he offered to bring it to an upcoming show free of charge.

Is Morphy's using a 3rd party vendor for shipping. My experience is 3rd party vendor's kill you on materials, handling, and shipping costs.
Posted By: BryceG Re: Morphy shipping costs - Fri Aug 08 2014 12:31 PM
there are 4 shipping associates listed in Morphy's staff... so i have a hard time believing they are not handling any shipping, especially considering the amount of sales they conduct.

http://www.morphyauctions.com/about/staff
Posted By: Hemibird Re: Morphy shipping costs - Fri Aug 08 2014 01:31 PM
I'm just telling you what he told me. Obviously they are doing it or everyone who posted here wouldn't be talking about shipping cost. If Morphy's has 4 shipping associates, they are probably outsourcing at least the majority of shipping which is probably where the added cost is coming in from.
Posted By: Dave Richey Re: Morphy shipping costs - Fri Aug 08 2014 11:03 PM
Shipping correctly and safely is very important to us as collectors. We don't like to pay high prices for items and then wait in a kind of Russian Roulette game of shipping to hope they arrive in the same condition as when we bout them. Therefore, IF the message is that an auction company is not set up for shipping, then they should drop phone and internet bids. It is seldom good to have the final result of your business transaction, thus reputation, rest on the performance of a third party. Just an opinion, as I doubt I'll ever make a phone or internet bid based upon this and other issues that have been quite well discussed before.
Posted By: Esse's Garage Re: Morphy shipping costs - Fri Aug 08 2014 11:49 PM
Originally Posted By: Esse's Garage
How do you guys know your charges already? I won a Item and nothing has been charged to my CC yet.


Anyone have a answer for my question?
Posted By: mcguffeyd1 Re: Morphy shipping costs - Sat Aug 09 2014 01:47 AM
Originally Posted By: Esse's Garage
Originally Posted By: Esse's Garage
How do you guys know your charges already? I won a Item and nothing has been charged to my CC yet.


Anyone have a answer for my question?


I got my invoice Monday after auction. Said my CC was approved and showed the charges. Surprised you haven't got yours. Last auction they took my money quick but mailed almost a Month after the auction. Just food for thought.
Dan
Posted By: TheGriffin Re: Morphy shipping costs - Tue Aug 19 2014 05:24 PM
Next question: Has anyone's stuff shipped out yet? Was curious how long they usually take. Getting close to the end of their 7-14 business days ship time.
Posted By: FosterChild Re: Morphy shipping costs - Tue Aug 19 2014 06:22 PM
I got my notice that the package is shipping today, My 4 items including 3 small signs (less than 24"x18"), one cardboard counter display was only $39. Granted my total auction expense was less than $700. Its a "high end" auction, so expect "high end" charges and fees... That's the price of doing business, unfortunately.
Posted By: Dick Bennett Re: Morphy shipping costs - Tue Aug 19 2014 06:58 PM
Ask yourself what you would charge for items NOT PICKED-UP at time of auction;
[*items must be protection packaged,
*transported to secure storage [usually out of state], *UN-packaged [as several items might be packaged together], *correct packing materials gathered,
*address rechecked before shipping [not all shippers will accept all items]?
NOW ADD IN; Employees payroll, rent/cost of secured area/building, Insurances, city/state lic., business expenses [motels/advertising/auction site rentals/security/etc.].

Considering all that, $50 charge for shipping a small item is Justified, IMO.
Posted By: BryceG Re: Morphy shipping costs - Tue Aug 19 2014 07:08 PM
justified - yes. but will you get that customer to return and bid again? that is way more important i would think.

I know I placed A LOT more bids when it was Matthews auctions because of the more reasonable shipping (and premium).
Posted By: Mike M. Re: Morphy shipping costs - Tue Aug 19 2014 07:09 PM
Funny thing DB, that's pretty much what I said back on page 2 of this thread.
All someone had to do was watch them packing all that stuff up just to load in their trailer to travel to their shipping location and see all the man/woman power to do so and time involved!

Another way to save is check who is sticking around for the auction, and have them pick up your item. I have had it done before and paid it forward for another at the IG auction this year. As big of a community as we have here for transporting and picking up items throughout the year I think it could be done.
Maybe we need a forum for auction pick up..lol
I got contacted by 2 different members to bid on a few items for them. I won one of them and brought it back home for them to pick up. Done deal!
Posted By: FosterChild Re: Morphy shipping costs - Mon Aug 25 2014 11:52 AM
NOT to revive this but I was just going to say that I got my items from the auction on Saturday. TOP NOTCH packaging job, couldn't have asked for a better one, worth every penny!
Posted By: TheGriffin Re: Morphy shipping costs - Mon Aug 25 2014 12:12 PM
I agree, great packing job. Got mine last week. Only minor complaint was I didn't get an email that it had shipped or a tracking number. It just unexpectedly showed up. Of course I live in the woods so not a problem, but others might with that scenario.
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