Question about postage for bulky books on Ebay?

trrk

I want to sell a heavy textbook that will cost more than £2.75 to send. Am I allowed to select the option for "Large, heavy, or multiple items" and just take it to the Post Office to send (if it sells) or would I have to arrange a Courier to send it (I'm not sure how to do this)? Based on the weight I think it will cost £5-6 to send with Royal Mail. Whatever, the profit will be low on this so I don't want to pay much to list it (I was going to start it at £0.99). Maybe I should just take it to a charity shop?



This is what it says on Ebay but I would like some clarification.

"Large, heavy, or multiple items
In all categories, items which are extremely heavy or bulky and require a specific courier for delivery can be exempted. You can select the “Courier : Heavy and bulky items” option in the drop-down menu below the Domestic postage label."

Thanks!

rebeccauk

Hi There
I'm also selling a heavy book at the moment... I've offered it on collection only to begin with but I've put a note saying that the book is very heavy and if anyone is interested in having it posted I can provide a quote but it won't be cheap. You could do that?? There might be a chance that someone in your area is looking for one and will come and pick it up from you. Otherwise you can post it through the post office as a standard parcel which covers parcels up to 20kg. You could always list it for 99p - that way you won't get charged any ebay costs... if noboidy buys it or shows any interest after the auction ends then just don't bother relisting it and then take to a charity shop - at least then you know you've tried?! I'm sure others will have good advice too...

bluffer

You could always put a note in the description text that the postage will be added onto the paypal invoice. I know a few people are starting to do that with some categories after rule changes.

Also try selling it on Amazon, just remember to put the price high enough to cover postage as their allowance might not be high enough.

cyberbob

add rhe postage difference to your start price.

fuzzybear01

bluffer wrote: »

You could always put a note in the description text that the postage will be added onto the paypal invoice. I know a few people are starting to do that with some categories after rule changes.

Please don't do this, any text stating there will be a del charge will not be valid and you'll be hit with bad feedback when someone buys your item and you refuse to send it without extra payment

soolin

Oh please can we understand the ebay rules. Postage on books other than antique or collectable ones, is currently capped at £2.75. Trying to get round the rules will be counter productive as you will get reported.

Either add the extra postage to your start price as CyberBob says, or list it on Amazon instead..or charity shop it. Be aware though the Amazon fixed postage costs ar elower than Ebay ones.

serbask

some 2nd hand book shops buy back used books or you could try a car boot. I avoid heavy cheap ietms on ebay, as the little profit you make isn't worth the hassel of packaging and trapsing to the post office.

lcazma70

Hi if you go to the booksellers board ebay, there is a long post which is usually near the top on there. I believe the answer is to identify delivery thru a courier which then allows you to charge p & p . but please check as its a while since i was on there. this is a very sore problem for book sellers on ebay.;););)

soolin

This is what it says about using a courier:

Large, heavy, or multiple items
In all categories, items which are extremely heavy or bulky and require a specific courier for delivery can be exempted. You can select the “Courier : Heavy and bulky items” option in the drop-down menu below the Domestic postage label.

So if you do that you must actually use the courier as stated, you can't then switch to RM if it is cheaper. Couriers ar enot everyones cup of tea as firstly you'll need to be in all day to wait for collection, then your buyer has to be in all day to away delivery.

trrk

OK, thanks everyone for the advice! I will just take it to a charity shop as it doesn't seem worth the trouble to list it on Ebay. My experience with selling other (lighter) chemistry textbooks on Ebay is that they often take more than one listing to sell so it is not practical to pay the listing fee multiple times if I start it at a higher price. I am also never home during the day so it sounds like the courier won't work for me. I guess I could wait for a free listing day....

I am trying to understand the Ebay rules but this one didn't seem clear to me. It also doesn't make sense to me why a heavy item would specifically need a courier if it is within the size allowed by Royal Mail or even what the difference between Royal Mail signed for and a courier is (seems to be the same basic service??).

Does anyone know if Mail Boxes Etc is classed as a courier? They have a shop near me so I could take it in in person.