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What should postage costs cover?

13

Comments

  • StaffsSW
    StaffsSW Posts: 5,788 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Percy1983 wrote: »
    I am being punished due to many other people who abused the system.

    Sad, but true - and it's the same reason that free postage has been mandated on many categories - too many people took the rip. Ok, so free postage also increases the fees that ebay earn, and reduces the combined discounts that buyers can earn, but excessive postage is an undeniable problem - just look at all the "i've been ripped off on postage" threads we see on here alone.

    So with that in mind, it's better/more profitable to play with eBay, than try to play against them.
    <--- Nothing to see here - move along --->
  • flipper_2010
    flipper_2010 Posts: 587 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    soolin wrote: »
    Is it your buyers fault then?

    If you charge more than your competitors then you just won't sell as you can't compete either on total price or in visibility on Best Match.

    Apart from some categories like DVDs and books where postage is either not allowed or is capped sellers can technically put what they want. A good business man though will know that any business must stay competitive to survive.

    It was a few hard back books (and to France) so it was going to cost me 12.50 to post and he was complaining saying he only wanted to pay £5. I'm happy to give discount for multiple purchases but not so i make a loss.
  • wishuponastar
    wishuponastar Posts: 779 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts
    stevew8975 wrote: »
    £20 to post a games console? Are you planning on driving it there yourself?!

    £10 tops will cover the package including a decent insurance cover and fully tracked if you use one of the parcel delivery resellers such as parcel2go.

    If you are losing visibility due to postage costs, the smart answer is to revise the amount you are charging. Start the console £10 higher, and reduce the postage by £10. Now you'll be cheaper than many so see the benefit of more bids.

    What do you mean by losing visibility on Ebay? Sorry just am not up to date with the Ebay lingo.

    TIA
  • wishuponastar
    wishuponastar Posts: 779 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts
    How is it that you print your own postage from paypal? What do you need and how does it work? Do you still need to take it to the post office for a cert of posting? And can they tell you have paid for it from the label or something?
  • katy-lou
    katy-lou Posts: 487 Forumite
    just a thought... but if you put free for collection as the first option and then the 1st class or whatever would that make you appear further up the list or not?
  • StaffsSW
    StaffsSW Posts: 5,788 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    What do you mean by losing visibility on Ebay? Sorry just am not up to date with the Ebay lingo.

    TIA

    When you search on eBay now, the items that appear at the end of the searches - maybe at the bottom of the page, (or even at the bottom of page 97!) are from sellers with low star ratings for example or P&P rates much higher than the category average.

    This is part of the "Best Match" search that came in to force a few months ago.

    Best Match is supposed to show the most popular or relevant items, but it's worth bearing in mind that ebay are a money making business, so they will also promote the listings that potentially make them more money.
    <--- Nothing to see here - move along --->
  • Brooker_Dave
    Brooker_Dave Posts: 5,196 Forumite
    Just wondering what exactly postage costs on ebay should cover

    Real world P&P.

    If you ask ebay they'll tell you anyone who charges more than the stamps cost is a theif.

    Ebay does not make any profit from P&P (other than paypal fees).
    "Love you Dave Brooker! x"

    "i sent a letter headded sales of god act 1979"
  • Brooker_Dave
    Brooker_Dave Posts: 5,196 Forumite
    How is it that you print your own postage from paypal? What do you need and how does it work? Do you still need to take it to the post office for a cert of posting? And can they tell you have paid for it from the label or something?

    You have to queue up just like real postage.

    Only you have to pay to print out the stamps on your labels.
    "Love you Dave Brooker! x"

    "i sent a letter headded sales of god act 1979"
  • StaffsSW
    StaffsSW Posts: 5,788 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    If you ask ebay they'll tell you anyone who charges more than the stamps cost is a theif.

    Ebay does not make any profit from P&P (other than paypal fees).

    Close - their official line is that "buyers want Free P&P"... ;)
    <--- Nothing to see here - move along --->
  • soolin
    soolin Posts: 74,422 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    It was a few hard back books (and to France) so it was going to cost me 12.50 to post and he was complaining saying he only wanted to pay £5. I'm happy to give discount for multiple purchases but not so i make a loss.

    If actual postage is £12.50 then that is the actual cost, I thought we were talking about postage in excess of actual costs for instance stamps cost £1 seller charges £12.50 sort of thing :confused:

    In the case where buyer is trying to dictate an amount I would stand firm, explain that postage costs are xxx and that is what you are charging. If he refuses to pay then go through the full NPB.

    Although the postage costs of books are capped this cap does not apply to overseas sales.
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