Free listing day (any start price) Thurs 25th

chja

soolin wrote: »

I wouldn't hold your breath actually, I would even speculate this could be a yearly thing in future. For the past two or three years we were having an offer day (never a free one) every month to 6 weeks, this has been the first of any description, excluding cars, for many months.

I wonder if it might be a pre-cursor to scrapping listing fees altogether for private sellers.

The free 99p listing is great, but with more categories insisting on free postage, it is becoming less useful and I would imagine they will see a drop in listings (and hence FVF's) as a result.

toshkininny

I listed something yesterday, revised it today, and got charged the insertion fee.

soolin

toshkininny wrote: »

I listed something yesterday, revised it today, and got charged the insertion fee.

Yes, they closed the loophole a few years back where you could put up hundreds of auctions one day and actually fill them all out afterwards to get the free listings. Unfortunately it means that where you need to make a genuine revision you get caught as well.

misterthrifty

That's worrying, I posted dozens of listings yesterday and then checked them to find that TurboLister had typically put them on without any images. I was going to go through them and add the images (which will take ages to do) but does that mean I will be charged for the listing?

whitevanwoman

kingkano wrote: »

Altho free to list at 99p, too many categories now have mandatory 'free postage' rules I've completely gone off the concept of ebay now. 10% final value fee, you have to accept paypal so thats another 5% they cream off. the free postage thing (which I expect will soon be all ebay items).

Sure you get something for whatever you have lying around I guess. But its almost to the point of not worth the effort now!

I'm quite a new ebay private seller trying to clear some junk out of the house and have had a problem (I use turbolister) listing a brand new Nokia Phone car charger - I've listed it at 99p and have put 99p P&P but it is not allowing me to do this and says I have overcharged for the postage. The postage is going to be 0.61p first class and with the cost of the jiffy envelope I thought 99p was reasonable. Is this because of these 'mandatory free postage' rules?

I have realised that ebay is very good at not making it easy for sellers to figure out the hidden charges and I have been stung particularly on my first few listings. I presume that if you have to offer free P&P for some categories then the start price of the item has to be higher to take the P&P into account, which then means that the item doesn't qualify for the free 99p listing which means ebay makes more out of the transaction.

Is there a list anywhere of what these "must offer free P&P" categories are?

Any suggestions how to get round the Nokia charger listing problem? I guess I could post 2nd class but I have 100% feedback score and I do try to offer a really speedy service to my buyers by using 1st class and posting within 24 hrs of payment. When I buy stuff off ebay, I always go for sellers who have reasonable postage, offer quick turnround and have highest poss feedback score, even if it means paying a few extra pence for an item.

I've had reasonable success selling my bits and bobs on ebay though and have discovered that I have a good eye for charity shop / car boot bargains which then sell well on ebay. Because of alot of probs at work I am desperate to quit my job and so am giving serious thought to starting a full time ebay trading business - I'd be REALLY grateful for suggestions, comments, advice from anyone expecially if there are any pitfalls to avoid.

Also is there a MSE thread for advice about ebay selling etc?

soolin

OK where to start!

Firstly for details of tax implications of trading go here:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1565599

Tips for new sellers go here:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1623183&highlight=tips+new+sellers

This announcement is quite interesting:

http://www2.ebay.com/aw/uk/200905.shtml#communication4

I'll try and find the list of categories that you need to offer inclusive p and p and post it later.

soolin

misterthrifty wrote: »

That's worrying, I posted dozens of listings yesterday and then checked them to find that TurboLister had typically put them on without any images. I was going to go through them and add the images (which will take ages to do) but does that mean I will be charged for the listing?

You can see if fees are going to be incurred before you click to change and should be able to scroll back and cancel the revision if so.

I'm just off to check my own photos, just in case!

kingkano

For those interested about the free p&p stuff -

From 15th June sellers listing in selected categories in Video Games, Mobile & Home Phones, Consumer Electronics, Computing, Photography, and Clothes, Shoes & Accessories will be required to offer free P&P as their first domestic postage option.

The rest can be found @ http://pages.ebay.co.uk/sell/april2009/pandp.html

toshkininny

kingkano wrote: »

For those interested about the free p&p stuff -



The rest can be found @ http://pages.ebay.co.uk/sell/april2009/pandp.html

how can you still put a postage cost on the clothes then if you should be offering it for free?

whitevanwoman

Many thanks to Soolin and kingkano - I'm checking those links now...

Btw, I've read through the whole MSE thread called "things you never thought you could sell on ebay" and it was invaluable. I've made a list of all the things people have sold so if anyone wants a copy of my list, send me a PM. The mind boggles!