Free postage query?

yeslek

Saw an interesting listing the other day - a DVD was listed as free postage, 'for collection' otherwise the seller stated postage would be £2 or something.

This got me thinking, as I list dvd's fairly often (all starting well above 99p now to cover any postage of course) and it only states that the FIRST p&p charge must be free....could this free to collect option be a legal loophole and a way to get around ebay's free postage? (not that I've tried it myself as I don't want the headache's and would rather try and obey ebay's *ahem* rules)

just wondered what other people's thought's may be on this

(p.s. I didnt bid just incase the seller tried to enforce the posting fee)

SpammyTheSpammer

Tangutica2000 (one of the Rotweilers on the eBay Forum) states this: -

It is not allowed to list with FREE for collection in person as the first option and then charge postage for posting methods. Your first Domestic POSTAL SERVICE has to be FREE.

One of the beta pack dogs, gazelle-run-down-by-bus, gazelle-run-down-by-bus., also added this:-

(is is) a violation of the rules that the first domestic postal service must be free.

So it looks like this is probably not acceptable. However, like you and another other poster on the eBay forum, I have spotted that there are literly oodles of other such cases. Just for fun, I tries reporting a couple but nothing happened so perhaps GreedBay are turning a blind eye to this?

soolin

I think you will just run into vigilante buyers who will buy via paypal and then slam in a not received claim , Ok all they will get is there money back but it is a lot of hassle for a seller and a possible neg.

SpammyTheSpammer

Someone spotted a similar case here: -

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1824089

The item in question (number 120448377308 http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/call-of-duty-w...lenotsupported) has been reported several times, we will see what GreedBay think of it....

soolin

I still say it is Darwin's theory transferred to a business model. These sellers are effectively banning themselves from ebay, so let them do it and the rest of us can sneak in steal their customers and make money!

cyberbob

soolin wrote: »

I still say it is Darwin's theory transferred to a business model. These sellers are effectively banning themselves from ebay, so let them do it and the rest of us can sneak in steal their customers and make money!

Well said. A very good point

mE-mE-mE_2

SpammyTheSpammer wrote: »

The item in question (number 120448377308 http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/call-of-duty-w...lenotsupported) has been reported several times, we will see what GreedBay think of it....

This one has been removed from ebay now!!

yeslek

SpammyTheSpammer wrote: »

It is not allowed to list with FREE for collection in person as the first option and then charge postage for posting methods. Your first Domestic POSTAL SERVICE has to be FREE.

see thats what I thought, but seen as ebay GIVE you the option in the drop down list to offer 'collect in person' as the first postal service, they are kind of helping us by pass the 'free postage' thing
I guess it's only the negative feedbacks that the seller will inevitably get that reduces more people doing it.

I wonder how it would stand up if someone did attempt to legally challenge it :rolleyes:

StaffsSW

yeslek wrote: »

I wonder how it would stand up if someone did attempt to legally challenge it :rolleyes:

I think it would take a "special" kind of person to do that. A career compensation claimant type of person.

It's easier just to increase the prices, and get on with it.