The thrill of winning an auction is just one part of what is often a roller-coaster ride of emotions. If you have your auction winnings shipped to you instead of pickup, you can expect to have some mix of anticipation, apprehension, elation, relief, disappointment, frustration or heartbreak. The outcome depends on many factors including the level and quality of service that the auction house/seller provides, the shipping service selected, the geographic location of the source and destination for the shipment, weather conditions, holiday or logistical disruptions, and the quality of your local last-mile carrier. In my article “A Simple Auction Primer“, I touched on the need to factor in shipping costs when considering top bid amounts. In this article, I take a closer look at the real and hidden costs and common pitfalls associated with having auction winnings shipped.
In an ideal world, an item won online is authentic, in as-described or better condition, shipped promptly, well-packed, handled with care, and delivered safely to your door. In reality, there are often unexpected charges, inaccuracies in listed vs received details, damage in transit, and disputes that have fingers pointing back and forth between seller, carrier, buyer, and selling platform. Taking time to understand the possible auction shipping pitfalls that you may encounter with the shipping process before you buy can help reduce uncertainty, impatience, and – most importantly – stress.
Auction Shipping Pitfalls
1. Disproportionate Shipping Costs
Often bidders will place many bids, but end up winning only one or a few items. There is often a minimum handling charge that may be flat or amount per lot. Shipping for additional lots is often a marginal amount above what the first lot costs, assuming items can be boxed and shipped together. There may also be additional fees for insurance and surcharges. Be sure you have a rough idea of how much shipping may end up costing you. Auctioneer Mike Brandly illustrated this potential pitfall in his blog with the case of a $3 stuffed bear that ended up costing the buyer $42.50 to ship!
2. Shipping Policy Ignorance
Whether purchasing from an auction house, an online marketplace, or direct seller, it is very important to take the time to review the applicable shipping policies before bidding. If something is unclear, ASK before bidding while leaving plenty of time for a response. Making assumptions or failing to read policies beforehand usually end up creating an unpleasant experience for the buyer and seller alike. Some online auction houses provide some in-house shipping service, and many more will refer you to third party shippers in the area. However beware! Some auctions are strictly pickup with no shipping option at all.
It is important to note that exception policies often apply to individual auctions or even specific lots within an auction, so don’t just rely on the site-wide auctioneer policy posted.
3. Poor or Inadequate Packaging
Even when a seller is willing to provide a shipping service, it is important not to assume that they are good at packaging your newly acquired treasure. Nothing bursts the joy-bubble of winning more than receiving an item in pieces or with damage.
While most auction houses and sellers handle packaging with care, most are not packing experts and are more focused on turn-around. After receiving a couple shipments of large numbers of antique glass marbles dropped in a box and shipped loose, I learned to call and request that loose marbles be wrapped into a tight “brick” with bubblewrap and taped well so there is no movement inside while in transit.
4. Shipping Time Delays
Most auction houses that do in-house shipping process large numbers of lots, and can take several days to several weeks to actually ship your items. On top of that, shipping carriers often encounter seasonal or logistical challenges that result in delivery delays. I know – waiting for that rare collectible that you beat out all competition to win is hard. While looking into Shipping Policies (see #2) you should ask about turnaround time of won lots. Knowing what to except helps ease the pain of waiting. If an item is being shipped internationally, there are additional time delays that occur with clearing customs and carrier hand-offs. For sellers, you may want to read this article from Pitney Bowes – 6 Things That Will Delay Your Package Guaranteed
5. Delivery Disputes
In those rare cases where something has gone terribly wrong and you have not received the item, be prepared to do a little leg-work in making phone calls and sending emails to the seller, shipping carrier used, and sometimes a third-party insurer. Tracking numbers are your friend, so be sure whoever is shipping provides those details to you and that you make frequent use of them. Just make sure that a family member didn’t (unknowingly to you) bring that package in off your porch and leave it in some corner before panicking and making accusations.
Conclusion
The excitement of winning an auction can quickly sour when encountering the realities of shipping snafus. Unwanted shipping headaches such as excessive costs, long delays, and damaged goods can be mitigated with buyer research, effective communication, and a good deal of patience and courtesy after the win. Buyers and sellers both want a positive outcome, and both play a crucial role in maximizing the chance of a smooth transaction.