What should postage costs cover?

wishuponastar

Just wondering what exactly postage costs on ebay should cover as i read somewhere on here that a few people charge in P and P for their time wrappin it and petrol or bus money to the post office along with postage cost and wrapping cost... so works out about an extra 3/4 pounds extra.

Is this allowed? I know it cuts down on fees and the seller would prefer to do this but what is ebays stance on this and buyers?

If a buyer bids on an item with a high postage charge then is the seller obliged to offer a proportion of the value back if seller asks before leaving feedback as i imagine the feedback or the DSRs wont be fantastic.

If you buy more than one item also from someone is the buyer entitled to postage discount? or is it up to the seller?

So many questions....

TIA

Saffronsmum

I charge for packaging and postage cost's, sometimes i might gain an extra 10p out of it.

I think you are allowed to charge for time taken to pack, packaging materials, petrol costs (to get to the post office).

I think it is up to the seller to offer combined postage as some sellers like to send things individually to prevent any damage etc..

If i charge way too much postage (which i rarely do) i would refund the buyer the difference. Sadly i tend to undercharge (i really need to weigh my items before i list), i would never ask a buyer to pay extra if i mess up.

kerrydrobertson

i used to undercharge for items too. but now i take into account the jiffy bags/brown paper/sellotape as well as taking the things along to the post office in the car. dont usually make profit out of postage either.

i usually offer postage discount for other items they buy

soolin

It doesn't really matter what you factor in when you calculate 'extras', if the buyer thinks it is unreasonable then your stars will suffer and you'll stop selling full stop.

It is best to work out the optimum postage you can afford to quote based on what competitors are charging and don't get too cheeky.

*LoopyLaura*

I've set up 50% discount on postage for any subsequent items

flipper_2010

I get people buying a 2nd/3rd/4th item from me and expecting me to post for the postage cost of one of them, even though it would be a lot heavier and then they complain to me about charging unfair postage. When it's there in black and white what the postage cost is.
I think postage should cover petrol as the petrol has to be bought in order for you to be able to post the item. Its not our fault they closed all the post offices after all is it.

TurkishDelight

Well according to one of my latest sellers it should cover all sorts.

Bought something for £185 plus £60 postage. Messages from the seller say that p+p was a bit of a guess and that he'd refund the rest.

I had a look around and a quick guestimate and came up with p+p cost of £12. I figure it'll be a special trip out, boxes etc, so I'll maybe get around £40 back.
Anyway, postage comes to £30 so I was a little off, but I still think I'll get £20... nope. He is saying that with ebay fees the "postage" came to £50. Since it is listed as free collection in person, that seems a bit unfair
Lucky I had budgeted for no discount when bidding, but he'll still not get top stars.

sequence

It's handy living next to a post office

wishuponastar

sequence wrote: »

It's handy living next to a post office

Fancy a new flatmate? lol bet that is v handy indeed for both you and the buyer.

wishuponastar

TurkishDelight wrote: »

Well according to one of my latest sellers it should cover all sorts.

Bought something for £185 plus £60 postage. Messages from the seller say that p+p was a bit of a guess and that he'd refund the rest.

I had a look around and a quick guestimate and came up with p+p cost of £12. I figure it'll be a special trip out, boxes etc, so I'll maybe get around £40 back.
Anyway, postage comes to £30 so I was a little off, but I still think I'll get £20... nope. He is saying that with ebay fees the "postage" came to £50. Since it is listed as free collection in person, that seems a bit unfair
Lucky I had budgeted for no discount when bidding, but he'll still not get top stars.

So if you are getting it delivered you pay the sellers fees but if you collect you just pay for the item and the seller pays their fees, does seem a tad unfair but yea I guess all we can do when a seller states the postage which is overcharged is to budget it into the price of the item.

StaffsSW

Given that Best Match search results gives better visibility to listings with free/inclusive postage, or those with a lower P&P rate than the average, I've now put the majority of my items as free/inclusive postage, with the rest showing a few pence over stamp cost. All other business costs - time, labels, post office runs, packaging etc is now factored into the selling price.

I still offer a combined postage discount, but I do not have to give as much discount if I was including packaging etc. for example - 2 sales at £10+ £1p&p, I may do for £21.50, but if I was selling at £8 + £3p&p, I would have sent for £20.50

As a rule though, look at what other people are putting as a P&P on similar items and pitch at the same rate. This will be the acceptable rate to the buying market, and may well make you more than if you were to sell at stamp + £1 for example.