Postage & feedback query

Mara69

Hi

Wanted some advice on a postage and feedback query. I bought 2 DVD from the same seller. I didn't notice it was the same seller until after I had paid. Postage has cost me £4.50 and the seller did not offer to combine or lower the postage. That said, I didn't ask.

Assuming the DVDs aren't hand delivered on a soft cushion, I know I am going to have paid over the odds. So, what feedback would you give/have you given in this instance?

soolin

Mara69 wrote: »

Hi

Wanted some advice on a postage and feedback query. I bought 2 DVD from the same seller. I didn't notice it was the same seller until after I had paid. Postage has cost me £4.50 and the seller did not offer to combine or lower the postage. That said, I didn't ask.

Assuming the DVDs aren't hand delivered on a soft cushion, I know I am going to have paid over the odds. So, what feedback would you give/have you given in this instance?

Wait and see how they arrive, if they are sent as singles- which is likely as 2 large letters are almost certainly cheaper than one packet- then you got what you paid for.

However, £2 for a single DVD is a bit pricey- 1st class would be 90p, 2nd class 69p.

A 1st class packet would be £2.70 and a 2nd class packet would be £2.20

busybody_2

Mara69,

You had a choice - You agreed to the price when you placed your bid on the items. Why should you leave negative feedback?

As both a buyer and a seller (private) I expect to leave and receive feedback based on service - delivery time, communication (if any), appropriate packaging and condition of the item and if there is a problem I expect it sorted.

I do not bicker about postage charges as that is something I can make a choice on.

If you are not happy to pay the full price including delivery don't buy the item! If you want free delivery go to Amazon.

soolin

busybody wrote: »

Mara69,

You had a choice - You agreed to the price when you placed your bid on the items. Why should you expect a refund or leave negative feedback?

As both a buyer and a seller (private) I expect to leave and receive feedback based on service - delivery time, communication (if any), appropriate packaging and condition of the item and if there is a problem I expect it sorted.

I do not bicker about postage charges as that is something I can make a choice on.

If you are not happy to pay the full price including delivery don't buy the item! If you want free delivery go to Amazon.

Whilst I would disagree about contemplating poor feedback before items arrive I dont agree that sellers can charge whatever they want and expect buyers to leave them 5* across the board.

Stars are there for a reason, if a buyer feels they were highly overcharged (and I'm not talking about a little bit extra for postage) then they are free to reflect that in the stars.

However until these items arrive and postage can be assessed it is too early to be doing anything.

busybody_2

soolin wrote: »

Whilst I would disagree about contemplating poor feedback before items arrive I dont agree that sellers can charge whatever they want and expect buyers to leave them 5* across the board.

Stars are there for a reason, if a buyer feels they were highly overcharged (and I'm not talking about a little bit extra for postage) then they are free to reflect that in the stars.

However until these items arrive and postage can be assessed it is too early to be doing anything.

My point is the OP should not have bought the items if they thought the postage was excessive and should not leave feedback related to it (except the star rating).

You did not ask for a combined postage discount and it was not offered. Why should you expect it? You don't expect a discount in a high street store for putting two items in 1 carrier bag do you?

soolin

busybody wrote: »

My point is the OP should not have bought the items if they thought the postage was excessive and should not leave feedback related to it (except the star rating).

You did not ask for a combined postage discount and it was not offered. Why should you expect it? You don't expect a discount in a high street store for putting two items in 1 carrier bag do you?

I still disagree, buyers can buy what they like and leave appropriate stars. Ok on a DVD it is easy to know the costs, but on other things unless the seller notes packed weight accurately how does a buyer know what is reasonable? I think it is a very poor seller who uses an excuse like 'don't bid if you don't like my postage costs'

As for high street giving discount for using one carrier bag rather than 2 then yes I would expect a refund if I was being charged for the carrier bag- wouldn't everyone?

M and s charge me 5p a carrier, if I bought two items and was given them in one bag I wouldnt expect to pay for 2 bags.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

eBay have increased the postal caps in media to £2.25 (I think), for DVDs this is too much for a normal case and not enough for a box set over 1 inch thick.....

Those charging around £2.25 for a single, normal DVD will find they get low stars.

soolin wrote: »

However, £2 for a single DVD is a bit pricey- 1st class would be 90p, 2nd class 69p.

Depends on the weight, it's about 50/50 between less than 100g and over 100gs but either way £2.25 is pricey unless it goes over 250g.

busybody_2

soolin wrote: »

I still disagree, buyers can buy what they like and leave appropriate stars.

I completey agree with that!

I do not agree the buyer should leave overall negative feedback based on the postage cost.

As a seller I set my starting price low and inflate the postage with some margin as it attracts bidders. I do that knowing I will get a lower auction price but a better total price from the higher level interest/visits.

That is based on lower value items that generally sell for less than £10 e.g. DVD's clothes etc.

It works for me and I would not consider myself to be a poor seller - in fact my P&P rating is still 4.7.

Inevitablly I never actually get the true value of what I am selling as Ebay take at least 20% of what I make.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

busybody wrote: »

It works for me and I would not consider myself to be a poor seller - in fact my P&P rating is still 4.7.

It's the 1/2 star ratings on your dashboard that you need to keep an eye on, if you sell less than 400 items every 3 months, 4 lows in a 12 month period will see your selling privileges taken away.

soolin

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head wrote: »

eBay have increased the postal caps in media to £2.25 (I think), for DVDs this is too much for a normal case and not enough for a box set over 1 inch thick.....

Those charging around £2.25 for a single, normal DVD will find they get low stars.



Depends on the weight, it's about 50/50 between less than 100g and over 100gs but either way £2.25 is pricey unless it goes over 250g.

Aplogies- yes I am working with a single DVD I happen to have sitting here on my desk which weighs 95 grammes packed and I agree it is more realstic for DVDs to go just over the 100gramme. So 2nd class £1.10 and 1st class £1.20.

Soolin now wondering why 'Aliens and Cowboys' weighs less than other DVds - not a brilliant film BTW and passing it on to my son at uni.

soolin

busybody wrote: »

I

It works for me and I would not consider myself to be a poor seller - in fact my P&P rating is still 4.7.

.

That's actually not brilliant and whilst I would still buy from a seller with 4.7 without hesitation your best match ranking will be poor which will keep your prices down.

I always suggest people aim at 4.8 as a minimum star, and if it falls to 4.7 try pulling it back higher again by going free postage for a while.

As the_lunatic says, with 4.7 you also need to be looking at your expanded dashboard as it is likely you have low stars there which are potentially a problem.