Postage fees on ebay

Crowqueen

Anyone buying boxes from the Post Office should be marked down on DSRs for being reckless with money, they're about the most expensive items to buy anywhere. In the US the US postal service give free boxes on request, it actually makes their job easier if items are well packed and manageable, so cost effective, not sure Royal Mail would ever be that proactive.

Agreed. Packaging is in abundant supply on eBay itself for much, much less than PO or WHSmith prices.

shaun_from_Africa

Actually a standard sized round or square bottle of varnish would have to be sent as a parcel rather than a large letter, but even then 100g is only £1.58 1st class

A bottle of nail varnish shouldn't be sent by any Royal mail method of posting.
99% of nail varnishes are flammable, and are therefore prohibited from going in the post and should only go with a suitable dangerous goods carrier.

I know this isn't realistic for small value items, but that doesn't detract from the fact that if RM knew what was being sent they would refuse to accept it.

techspec

RFW wrote: »

Anyway back on topic, some overcharge on postage, my sense of fairness generally makes me avoid these sellers. It is usually the case that the fee avoiding sellers charge the same amount as the more honest seller, so I'd rather go for the one who is earning less and in more need of the sale. (eg postage cost for an item is £1.80, seller A sells for £8 with £2 p&p, seller B sells for £2 with £8 p&p, I'd rather buy from seller A who is paying more fees).

Same here.

I was in the Ebay plus trials, which have just ended unfortunately. You got 2 points for every £1 spent. I also use cashback sites when using ebay.

For that reason - i always choose the ones with higher price and lower/free postage - as you get more cashback and used to get more ebay points.

custardy

RFW wrote: »

Anyone buying boxes from the Post Office should be marked down on DSRs for being reckless with money, they're about the most expensive items to buy anywhere. In the US the US postal service give free boxes on request, it actually makes their job easier if items are well packed and manageable, so cost effective, not sure Royal Mail would ever be that proactive.

Anyway back on topic, some overcharge on postage, my sense of fairness generally makes me avoid these sellers. It is usually the case that the fee avoiding sellers charge the same amount as the more honest seller, so I'd rather go for the one who is earning less and in more need of the sale. (eg postage cost for an item is £1.80, seller A sells for £8 with £2 p&p, seller B sells for £2 with £8 p&p, I'd rather buy from seller A who is paying more fees).

rather ironically RM would most likely be blocked from supplying free packaging at POs
competition laws
comparing RM to the USPS is flawed anyway,no competition for them and yet its cuts cuts cuts in the USPS too

NickyBat

Thanks for all your replies, glad i'm not the only one who thinks it's bad.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

Agreed. Packaging is in abundant supply on eBay itself for much, much less than PO or WHSmith prices.

Sorry but I disagree, if you sell an item and just need the one box buying it on eBay will be just as expensive. We don't all have the luxury of needing 20 of the same sized boxes or 4000 jiffy bags. Some smaller, private sellers will just buy as they need at their local shops and for people in small villages for example the local PO may be their only viable option.

Oliver14

techspec wrote: »

Its a way to avoid fees - which can be good for the buyer if the price ends up cheaper overall, and they pass on the savings.

But with DSR's - it will soon be a thing of the past - as sellers who overcharge on postage are punished.

I don't care how they price it though - as long as the price + p£p = the cheapest.

If it bothers you though - don't buy it. Simples.

You're being a bit simplistic fee avoidance actually costs both sellers and buyers in the long run. Its simple economics. Despite what some sellers seem to think ebay arent a charity. They wish to make a certain level of profits. If people avoid fees ebay get less profits. Ebay make less profits so they put the fees up which costs sellers and the sellers put the prices up for buyers.

So fee avoidance is everyones problem so I encourage people not to buy from buyers with blatant fee avoidance.

Oliver14

ludovico wrote: »

Agreed. Packaging is in abundant supply on eBay itself for much, much less than PO or WHSmith prices.

Sorry but I disagree, if you sell an item and just need the one box buying it on eBay will be just as expensive. We don't all have the luxury of needing 20 of the same sized boxes or 4000 jiffy bags. Some smaller, private sellers will just buy as they need at their local shops and for people in small villages for example the local PO may be their only viable option.

The thing is its easy enough for the majority of people to get the odd box from their local shops for free. In reality most people have odd cardboard boxes lying around. If not they will be able to find one.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

Has this poor service from a seller who charges high postage ever happened? I've never experienced it.

I think many will see eBay as a faceless company and that depriving them of a few pence in fees isn't immoral where as they would treat an ordinary person with more respect.

However, there are plenty sellers working very hard to provide a good service, this may be because they care about their feedback more than how you feel about the transaction but the end result is a positive experience for you, the customer.

It is my opinion that hard working, honest sellers should be rewarded and the best reward you can give anyone is to choose to give your money to them instead of a 'dishonest' seller. This doesn't just go for P&P charges but all aspects of the transaction.

When reading the eBay boards there are lots of complaints from buyers about their experiences with sellers, in many cases if they had made a smarter choice their experience would have been more positive. There should be far more to making a choice on eBay than the overall price and those who shop solely on price deserve the service they receive.

ERICS_MUM

Obviously we have the choice not to buy but it's annoying if you've trawled EBay for ages, found the exact item you want only to have the p&p hit you between the eyes and you think " HOW much :mad:".

When I sold EBay I would time my trips to the PO to coincide with doing a quick shop, dropping off a prescription, filling up the car etc etc - how many people just pop out to post parcels without doing a few errands while out ? Not very MSE.

When I sold, I used all sorts of things as wrapping, much of it re-cycled but clean and suitable and always kept the postage at cost. I told sellers this in the listing in case they later complained about the "second hand" wrapping !

Once or twice if I've really wanted an item I have actually contacted the seller to ask them to reduce p&p - it worked once :T