How stupid am I?

MOLLYBRUSH

I have mainly bought items from Ebay and decided it was time to sell the considerable pile that was accumulating in a wardrobe waiting for me to get round to it.

I have just sold some items, but when I have looked at the costs involved I am really shocked to find that after the Ebay cut and then Paypal I would have been better putting the clothes in a bin-bag and putting them in one of those bins at Morrisons.

This is really just for info for novices like me who may look on here for advice and this may already have been discussed but I never saw it when I looked but that was a while ago.

I sold a coat for 99p, after insertion and final value fees to Ebay of 19p I then found out that paypal took off a massive 44p as it is based on postage too. The coat was bulky and I had to pay 50p for a bag to put it in and therefore made a loss on the sale as the postage was what I had quoted.

When I think of the time spent photographing, packing and taking to the Post Office I feel really angry that I wasted my time because they took most of my money. Greedy bleeders!! :mad:

Krystaltips

This is why I always start an auction at £1.99... I can't afford to pay people to buy my stuff! And yes, paypal take a chunk of postage costs aswell as final value...

I'd give it up now to be honest, I'm sick of all the faffing and then buyers complaining for the sake of it... I'd rather send my stuff to the heart foundation!

MOLLYBRUSH

Yes I had already realised that the 99p listing is useless. Sold a Roxy designer top of my daughters and it's cost me to sell it or as you say, it's paying people to buy your stuff. I'm normally quite savvy so I feel a right numpty now I have realised! Thanks for your quick supportive reply tho - made me feel better about having a rant!!

StaffsSW

This is exactly what eBay want though... I see dozens of newbies listing items at 99p, and using things like bold and highlighted upgrades, 12p per extra picture etc.

But in fairness, it is now good that you have realised the problem, and posted about it - it may make some people recognise that it does cost the seller to list, and there is more to postage than just a stamp.

vet8

The worst thing about PayPal is not only their charges, but they seem too offer huge protection to the buyer and not the seller. Do you realise that they can reverse the payment up to 140 days after you have received it? So you send the item, PayPal then realise that the buyer has used a fake card or their bank account cannot pay for the item and they take the money back from you. You have neither the item nor the money. Great deal!

soolin

vet8 wrote: »

The worst thing about PayPal is not only their charges, but they seem too offer huge protection to the buyer and not the seller. Do you realise that they can reverse the payment up to 140 days after you have received it? So you send the item, PayPal then realise that the buyer has used a fake card or their bank account cannot pay for the item and they take the money back from you. You have neither the item nor the money. Great deal!

Read the new rules for claims for fraudulent use of a card before you panic. You can now possibly win a claim merely by proving postage..Marty J has put a helpful checklist on the useful tips thread.

Obviously this requires sellers to retain all their COPs for 6 months, but I assume most do anyway?

Always best to fully understand the rules before you go into direct panic mode. Once you know what they say, and not what you think they say you can work out how best to protect yourself and set your own level of comfort zone.