Official ruling on p+p for a book?

TurkishDelight

I'd love to see a mandatory ebay banner added to all free post category listings that tells the buyer that the item should be free P+P. At the end of the day, it confuses buyers, and no-one needs that.

cyberbob

gravitytolls wrote: »

IAs half the books I list don't sell, I feel pretty aggrieved that I now have to list at a higher price to cover the postage fees if it's not going to sell, as I still pay listing fees ~ therefore it costs me cash NOT to sell.

So your either selling them at too high a price or if you can't cover your costs there not worth selling,

Why should ebay subsidise you by giving you free advertising for your items

soolin

mishkanorman wrote: »

as asked above, whats the standing on the whole courier/ freight front ? Im looking at a book that is 99p and shipping option is courier, the listing states P+P of £2.75 to be added on final cost. I'd like the book but want to make sure i dont have to pay the shipping cost.

is it best to ask what service they will be using first ?

You can charge freight as long as you actually use it, so if you have a mega heavy book it is worth saying something like 'this book weighs 3 kg and will be sent via DHL next day delivery' to make sure people don't see you are abusing the system.

A seller that charges for freight and then uses Royal mail will just end up with negs and low stars for postage.

SADIE

Originally posted by DaveAshton
If you never sell, I don't see why it bothers you. You pay the same price whether you're paying a costed P+P amount or a "free" one, and as you've said you use Abebooks and Amazon already, you're certainly savvy enough to shop around for the cheapest place. Slightly off-topic, but have you tried http://ukbookworld.com ? They do a wide selection of antiquarian books and the like.

http://ukbookworld.com also have W.S.Norman Teach Yourself Etiquette and Good Manners 1958
Offered for sale by Bookbarn International Order / enquire about this book
If anyone has any use for this.

Originally posted by thistledome
Until I read this thread I had no idea all this was going on.
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.

I agree with your sentiments thistledome but I think by reading the posts Ebay have been unfair to the business seller and private sellers are taking their business.

Credit to you for your fairness, I don't agree with the me me society either.

I'm afraid with Ebay if you don't like it you would have to let your feet do the talking.

Lotus-eater

cyberbob wrote: »

So your either selling them at too high a price or if you can't cover your costs there not worth selling,

Why should ebay subsidise you by giving you free advertising for your items

Ebay has become a mecca for identical small business sellers, far far from it's starting point.
Everything used to be worth selling on ebay and that's why it got so big, you never knew what you were going to find and for what price.

Ebay should give free advertising, because that is what auctions do. They then take a cut of the final price achieved.

I don't often buy books off ebay, but I had a good look at it yesterday, looking for certain books, realms of identical sellers, selling identical books, for identical prices. Very, very boring.

And I know, I can vote with my feet and I will if I want to, but that's not the point.

soolin

Lotus-eater wrote: »

Ebay has become a mecca for identical small business sellers, far far from it's starting point.
Everything used to be worth selling on ebay and that's why it got so big, you never knew what you were going to find and for what price.

Ebay should give free advertising, because that is what auctions do. They then take a cut of the final price achieved.

I don't often buy books off ebay, but I had a good look at it yesterday, looking for certain books, realms of identical sellers, selling identical books, for identical prices. Very, very boring.

And I know, I can vote with my feet and I will if I want to, but that's not the point.

Actually many B and M auction houses will only accept stuff for sale that they think will sell, if they think it isn't worth the time then they just won't take it.

When it does sell they can easily charge up to 25% of the hammer price.

So, if you are suggesting this as a business model for ebay you are virtually saying that only trusted powersellers, or big businesses will be able to sell. Plus you want them to take more of the Final price in fees as well.

I can't see that being very popular.

Lotus-eater

soolin wrote: »

Actually many B and M auction houses will only accept stuff for sale that they think will sell, if they think it isn't worth the time then they just won't take it.

When it does sell they can easily charge up to 25% of the hammer price.

So, if you are suggesting this as a business model for ebay you are virtually saying that only trusted powersellers, or big businesses will be able to sell. Plus you want them to take more of the Final price in fees as well.

I can't see that being very popular.

Well you suggested that, not me

I agree about B&M action houses and I did think that as I said it, but ebay got big on selling the sort of rubbish others wouldn't touch.

I started selling about 11 years ago and yes it was a bit rock and roll, a bit cowboy exploring into the unknown, but it was fun, it wasn't so business based, you paid your 5p or whatever it was and stuck everything up to see if it would sell, most of the time it did.

Maybe I'm too old and looking at everything from the olden days with rose tinted glasses, but it did seem better then, even if you had to HTML your sale pages.

I want something to take over from ebay tbh

becky004

soolin wrote: »

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.

Had a refund and left appropriate feedback "Paid immediately, refused to send book unless I paid an extra £4 for the free P&P"

becky004

xxamypxx wrote: »

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:

I did state in my reply that I sell books on Ebay, and that free P&P is mandatory for books now, and that I price everything accordingly.
Has not worked out really well for them as they had 100% feedback with less than 10 sales and only 24 total transactions, that is now down to 95% with 2 negs.

pulliptears

Ok seller has refunded my 99p on a DVD and sent an invoice for £3.50. I have politely emailed back and pointed out it was Free P&P as per ebay policy and have heard nothing else yet.

Do I pay the 99p again or sit and wait?