Postage & packaging policy changes effective 27 jan

soolin · 9 December 2008 at 8:40AM

From 27th January 2009, we'll be making the following changes to our postage and packaging (P&P) policy on eBay.co.uk:

All sellers listing on eBay.co.uk will have to specify at least one domestic postage service and P&P cost (some categories are excluded).
We'll set maximum costs that can be charged for domestic P&P in the following categories: Books, Comics & Magazines, DVD, TV & Film, Music, Video Games, Mobile and Home Phones.
All DVD listings will have to offer at least one domestic postage service with free P&P.

We're making these changes to encourage competitive postage & packaging offers on eBay More detail on how these changes will affect your listings can be found at: http://pages.ebay.co.uk/help/sell/maximumPP_FAQ.html
Free P&P and Best Match
From 27th January 2009 adopting Free P&P could boost your exposure in Best Match.
Edit Postage & packaging details on live listings
We have now added functionality for sellers to edit postage and packaging details for live listings which have a purchase history. It is currently available in the Sell Your Item form, Turbo Lister and the APIs. We will release this feature in Selling Manager and Selling Manager Pro in the first quarter of 2009.
What do I need to do?
Ensure all your listings have specified at least one domestic postage service and if you're listings include the categories above ensure the postage cost is within the set cap.

When is it happening?
27th January 2009

Brooker_Dave · 9 December 2008 at 9:19AM

soolin wrote: »

Free P&P and Best Match
From 27th January 2009 adopting Free P&P could boost your exposure in Best Match.

As I predicted, the gradual introduction of free postage.

What happens if your item is too big to post?

Amazonification of ebay but without the customer service....

soolin · 9 December 2008 at 10:37AM

This isn't new of course they announced it several months back, they are now just reminding people that it all comes into effect in January. I do think though that there are huge amounts of sellers who have not yet realised the implications of these changes and I anticipate a rush of threads in early February asking why they can't put their own postage on their books.

I use ebay.com where these rules are already in force and the way it works there is just to block any figure higher than the set postage allowed, it won't even let you proceed if you try to put even one cent more.

vet8 · 10 December 2008 at 3:44PM

This is the list of postage prices for books.

Books, Comics and Magazines
Subcategory
Maximum Postage and Packaging Charge
Accessories
£2.00
Annuals
£2.75
Antiquarian & Collectable
£4.50
Audio Books
£2.75
Children's Books
£2.75
Collections & Lots
£7.00
Comics
£2.75
Educational/ Textbooks
£2.75
Fiction Books
£2.75
Magazines
£2.75
Modern Maps & Atlases
£2.75
Non-Fiction Books
£2.75

This is utter nonsense. Anyone with only 2 and a half brain cells can understand that the postage price of a book is not associated with the subject, but with the weight!! :eek:

When I post books on ebay I always weigh them on my postal scales and then I price the postage at the exact rate and add on about 10-15p to cover the cost of the padded envelopes I always use. I can post a little paperback for under a pound, but most hardbacks always cost over £2.75.

I think this is ridiculous, all this means is that sellers will charge more for their items if they lose money on the postage.

Ebay is also insulting the buyers here, to think that they will always go for the cheapest postage. I am sure that, like me other buyers look at the cost of the item and postage combined and work out the total cost.

I am just pleased I do not sell DVDs where you have to charge nothing. :mad:

logie28 · 10 December 2008 at 9:19PM

sellers will start the auction at a higher price, to risky dtarting a DVD at a penny with free p&p, so e-bay will get more off list price and "if" it sells more fom final value!!!

I think a lot of genuine sellers/buyers are getting really fed up with e-bay, i know i am, costs a fortune to sell and its normally cheaper buying new direct from suppliers!! bye-bay

jenniewb · 11 December 2008 at 3:31AM

I think this is well out of order! And I don't even sell books!

I think postage should be allowed to be set by the seller. The ethos of the whole thing reeks of "nanny state" buyers, sellers and anyone else should be allowed to govern themselves, if they (stupidly) decide to list a high £20 delivery fee then they will watch an item not sell. But not allowing sellers to cover their listing fees with the postage fees (which I don't think I am alone in doing) then ebay will lose its profits and many of its sellers.

JoolzS · 11 December 2008 at 5:23AM

I keep starting posts with "I read somewhere" - but I do read a lot online and I store stuff in my brain and then regurgitate it on forums:).

I read somewhere a couple of months ago that ebay does seem to be trying to move more towards the business market and away from the people selling off their unwanted goods. The recent changes in fees, plus this new change in postage rules seems to go a good way to proving what I read. Business sellers can factor in the reduced postage fees because they are selling multiple items and can negotiate courier costs - home sellers simply can't. For me, ebay has become something that is no longer fun because of all the new rules. Just looking at the new postage fees would mean that I wouldn't have listed something a few months ago. I had three "River Cafe" cookbooks. I listed them at £3.00 with £15.00 p&p (they were very heavy). Looking at the new rules I could only charge £7.00 p&p which would have meant them costing me at least £5.00 to post. As it was I sold them to someone who wanted to collect. She paid £3.00 - I got £2.00something in my pocket, ebay got their fees and everyone was happy. Under the new rules I'd just give them to a charity shop!

Julie

CBo · 12 December 2008 at 11:20AM

Ouch, these rules will burn especially having such a reduced amount of postage avaliable for each item. I remember a few occasions even with unlimited postage charging less than it cost to send. I think ebay want to make sure they get all of their taxing system

wheresmydoshat · 12 December 2008 at 3:53PM

if u sell books, dvd's, or games you may as well sell on play.com now.

it's a much quicker listing process, and easier to understand fee structure.

why spend 10 mins listing a book on ebay, when you could list it on play in about 2.

koru · 12 December 2008 at 5:08PM

JoolzS wrote: »

Just looking at the new postage fees would mean that I wouldn't have listed something a few months ago. I had three "River Cafe" cookbooks. I listed them at £3.00 with £15.00 p&p (they were very heavy). Looking at the new rules I could only charge £7.00 p&p which would have meant them costing me at least £5.00 to post.

You could have couriered them with https://www.payperparcel.co.uk for £7.92 (Martin's recommendation). That's still a 92p loss, but not as bad as £5.

I agree that some people will lose out on this new policy, and I am sure that the main purpose is to increase eBay's fees. However, perhaps it will mean that sellers are better motivated to minimise P&P, which will benefit some buyers. If I understand right, the caps apply to anyone selling to the UK, so this will put a stop to the Hong Kong and US sellers who sell things like iPods at what look like low prices until you realise that P&P costs are £10-20 higher than UK suppliers.

peediedj · 30 December 2008 at 4:37PM

free p+p on dvds,sod that i wont be selling anymore dvds on e-bay there cutting there own throats

Postage & packaging policy changes effective 27 jan

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