When I am buying, I guess I have never been concerned with what the seller lists as the weight. What matters to me is 1) what the actual cost of shipping will be, and 2) will it be packaged to arrive safely? I *always* consider the total cost of the deal, and negotiate that way. Regardless of what they list as the weight, I always appreciate it when they are open about what shipping cost they intend to charge.
When I'm selling, I always list the weight and shipping costs using the calculator. I normally will weigh the item and add what I expect the packaging material to weigh. For heavy items like an amp, this is usually 5-8 lbs of packaging. I shipped a subwoofer once and the packaging alone weighed over 15 lbs. OTOH, I've NEVER had anything I ship damaged in transit. If a buyer doesn't like the cost of shipping I'm quoting and want to negotiate it - I'm open to that - provided the price of the unit is at a level the total deal meets my bogie.
A few other things - I would much rather pay a seller a slightly inflated shipping rate - including a "handling uplift" if I feel they will properly package and deliver the unit intact. Indeed I'd rather pay the extra $ for heavy packaging and care taken by the seller than to deal with someone who is going to have it "professionally packed" at the UPS store - for which it will cost $80 for $5 of packaging material and poor packing. I usually add in $3-$5 extra packaging costs into the quoted shipping charges (based on the A'gon shipping estimator). Sometimes I have a box and packing material available, but usually end up buying material (a box, or styrofoam sheet). Further, as others have said, It usually takes a good deal of time to package and ship. Anyone who thinks this $3-$5 "profit" is unfair, is under no obligation to extend an offer for to me.
When I'm selling, I always list the weight and shipping costs using the calculator. I normally will weigh the item and add what I expect the packaging material to weigh. For heavy items like an amp, this is usually 5-8 lbs of packaging. I shipped a subwoofer once and the packaging alone weighed over 15 lbs. OTOH, I've NEVER had anything I ship damaged in transit. If a buyer doesn't like the cost of shipping I'm quoting and want to negotiate it - I'm open to that - provided the price of the unit is at a level the total deal meets my bogie.
A few other things - I would much rather pay a seller a slightly inflated shipping rate - including a "handling uplift" if I feel they will properly package and deliver the unit intact. Indeed I'd rather pay the extra $ for heavy packaging and care taken by the seller than to deal with someone who is going to have it "professionally packed" at the UPS store - for which it will cost $80 for $5 of packaging material and poor packing. I usually add in $3-$5 extra packaging costs into the quoted shipping charges (based on the A'gon shipping estimator). Sometimes I have a box and packing material available, but usually end up buying material (a box, or styrofoam sheet). Further, as others have said, It usually takes a good deal of time to package and ship. Anyone who thinks this $3-$5 "profit" is unfair, is under no obligation to extend an offer for to me.