Official ruling on p+p for a book?

wuckfit

It's frustrating because book vary so much in terms of actual postage costs. I posted a big thick hardback and the Post office wanted £8.26 to post it, for example.
but a thin paperback might only cost £1.75 postage.
I think the free P&P on books will have a negative effect in the long run.

becky004

I bought 2 last night, seller has 3 book titles listed with multiple copies of each. Had 5 copies of the title I bought the other three went for between £6.50 and £9, I won 2 at 99p listing states free P&P 1st class, no extra asked for in listing.
I paid £1.98 for my 2 copies as soon as auction ended, had an email this morning, person is claiming they don't know how 2 copies were listed when she only has one and I am welcome to have it if I send another £4.00 for postage!!

becky004

wuckfit wrote: »

It's frustrating because book vary so much in terms of actual postage costs. I posted a big thick hardback and the Post office wanted £8.26 to post it, for example.
but a thin paperback might only cost £1.75 postage.
I think the free P&P on books will have a negative effect in the long run.

I think it already has a negative effect, I used to list everything at 99p, and only ever charged the actual cost of the stamps for P&P. Everything I listed always sold.
Have listed 60 books over the past couple of months, added the actual postage cost (2nd class) to the 99p, rounded it up to the nearest 5p and made that the starting price. Have sold 6 books on ebay since October!

thistledome

Until I read this thread I had no idea all this was going on.

I bought a collectible first edition last week and although the p&p was listed as free, the auction details said the p&p was £2. I just assumed was a mistake in the listing. I won the book and he sent me an email saying the total was £x plus £2, but the automatic ebay invoice was for £x and I couldn't see how to add the £2 for p&p. I emailed him to tell him but he didn't reply. In the end I just made a separate payment of £2 for postage which brought him to life and he sent an email to acknowledge and confirm he would post book.

I didn't realise he was pulling a fast one until now, but I don't care.

I think it's outrageous that ebay is making people do this; why should sellers offer free p&p if it costs them money? The book I bought is listed on Abe and Amazon for over 4 times the price I paid. Why should I begrudge the seller a measly £2?

Shame on ebay.

becky004

becky004 wrote: »

I bought 2 last night, seller has 3 book titles listed with multiple copies of each. Had 5 copies of the title I bought the other three went for between £6.50 and £9, I won 2 at 99p listing states free P&P 1st class, no extra asked for in listing.
I paid £1.98 for my 2 copies as soon as auction ended, had an email this morning, person is claiming they don't know how 2 copies were listed when she only has one and I am welcome to have it if I send another £4.00 for postage!!

Has emailed me again to say she will refund both items providing we both agree to leave positive feedback!!

xxamypxx

becky004 wrote: »

Has emailed me again to say she will refund both items providing we both agree to leave positive feedback!!

Well that has worked out well for them then! It is against the rules to ask for P & P on books and it is unfair on those who follow the rules and may make a loss or tiny profit - whereas people like this will find their way around it and hope for a buyer who will pay the P & P - people need to stand up to them! :rolleyes:

soolin

becky004 wrote: »

Has emailed me again to say she will refund both items providing we both agree to leave positive feedback!!

Obviously refuse and ignore the request. Just state that if the book is not going to be sent as per the auction terms then you will expect a full refund immediately. Tell them that if you haven't had a refund by noon tomorrow that you will then assume book is on its way and wille xpect it by Thursday or Friday.

Then once you either get your book or a refund consider very carefully what feedback to leave.

TurkishDelight

thistledome wrote: »

I think it's outrageous that ebay is making people do this; why should sellers offer free p&p if it costs them money?

Sorry, but that is laughable. If you sell on Play.com you have to include the postage in the price, if you sell on Amazon you have to post for what they allow you.
Why do people think that ebay owes them anything?

It's a service, that's all- no-one is forced to use it.

DaveAshton

thistledome wrote: »

why should sellers offer free p&p if it costs them money

It's not free, it's included in the price :rolleyes:

I assume you either can't add up, or you're too much of a fan of free listings to want to ever pay to sell anything.

What's the difference between paying 99p and £4 P+P, or £4.99 with free P+P: As a buyer, nothing. As a seller, the only difference is that you'll have to pay ebay to use their service, infrastructure and server space to advertise your goods.

rick@findthatfuchsia

Has anybody noticed that if you list books on eBay.us you are allowed to add postage even though the book is in the UK? Noticed that a number of book dealers are doing this.