Ebay posting - novice question, but can't find the answer

Make-it-3

OK, so have been selling on ebay for a good while and always send my items second class recorded, which keeps postage costs down and its trackable.

But the PO increases have meant that its getting silly to sell low cost items especially when they only go at starting price and there is no margin in case postage comes out more (got severely stung for this today).

Anyway, a lot of items I receive as a buyer are just sent ordinary post and I wonder how people cover themselves if a buyer just claims they didn't receive something. Should I risk ordinary post or just stop selling the small stuff?

melliott1963

For anything less than £46, recorded is a waste of money because having a proof of posting allows you to claim in the event of a loss for the same amount. Also, you don't always get a signature so it's not "tracked" in the true sense of the word - It just goes with the standard post and you may be lucky to get a signature when it is delevered.

However, if it's over £46, you'd be best using Special Delivery which is fully tracked.

Jen_Jen1985

as long as you get a proof of postage receipt then if someone claims non delivery you can make a claim from royal mail to get your money back.
Also, the fact you use recorded may be putting some buyers off as its an extra 95p thats not needed.


edit: melliott1963 beat me to it

Make-it-3

Has the recorded element gone up to 95p - thought it was 65p - I really should keep up!

So let's say, a buyer tells a porky that they haven't received an item, the blame just gets shifted to the Post Office then. No wonder they have put their prices up.

booter

I agree with melliott1963 and Jen_Jen1985 - when I first started selling, I used to send RD in the mistaken belief that I'd be "covered" in the event of loss. But up to £46 you're "covered" anyway, with proof of posting, as you can make a claim from Royal Mail. If I sell something which reaches a selling price substantially over £46 (only happened once in 3 years:)) then I'm happy to stand the loss I'd quoted on postage, and pay the extra myself to have it sent by trackable means (reg.post/special delivery/courier). The key is to try and give postage prices as accurately as possible. This is where my trusty digital kitchen scales and http://www.seajays.org.uk/postage/index.cfm come in. (I find seajays more user friendly than Royal Mail's website). Oo, and knowing the difference between large letter and small packet - it's all about the sizing (ain't it always ) HTH!

worbikeman

I send a lot of items by ordinary 1st class mail or standard parcels and overseas. I can honestly say that out of several thousand total postings I have very rarely encountered any problems regarding non-delivery. If it's the correct size/weight/postage/customs form/etc. it gets there. That's my experience.

Make-it-3

So what's the process to claim from the PO - is a royal (mail) PIA?

Crowqueen

If you think your buyers are dishonest by default then you shouldn't be selling on eBay at all - you can't make that leap of faith when dealing with people who are paying you.

Recorded annoys me as a buyer. It's 95p for something that doesn't in my experience track at all (stuff just gets delivered to me without a signature being obtained) and even if it was, if I buy something online I find it easier to have it delivered - if I want to go and collect something from the PO, I might as well cut out the middle-man and buy from a normal shop.

The process takes a few weeks; in the mean time you would refund the buyer but you can also self-insure if you sell in any particular volume by adding a few unnoticeable pence onto items which forms a slush fund covering any loss without having to claim.

Losses shouldn't be so large they overwhelm you. If they are, it may not be worth your while to sell by post at all.

booter

Make-it-3 wrote: »

So what's the process to claim from the PO - is a royal (mail) PIA?

It's a bit long winded - form to fill in, to be sent off with original proof of posting and copy of e-bay invoice/listing - and then of course waiting to hear a response. But I'm with worbikeman on this - I've only ever had 2 go missing in 3 years (over 300 sales). On both occasions, Royal Mail compensated with no problems (and I had no reason to doubt the buyer's claims that the item had in fact not arrived!)

soolin

The sticky thread covers a bit of the basics as well

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3146680