Brought Phone off Ebay

SharkyGeorge

soolin wrote: »

The only person risking anything but being silly with the postage charge is the seller. The days when sellers could charge what they wanted for postage with the excuse 'buyers shouldn't bid if they don't like it' have long gone. Buyers hold all the power and with enough low stars for p and p will get a seller restricted and then suspended.

I also think many of us sellers here would disagree that we give a poorer service than a shop. I pride myself on my customer service and my buyers have the exact same rights as they would buying from anywhere else, in fact on ebay they probably have more rights. Never forget that and don't assume ebay = poor quality service

With regards to postage, I disagree. I charge enough postage to cover the cost of sending recorded plus packaging and, especially given that many of my items are low value, people don't like this and complain. But if an item sells for 99p and I don't charge enough to fully cover p&p I'm out of pocket and effectively paying someone to take the item. This is why I don't think it's fair for buyers to complain about p&p prices if they've put a bid on an item. As stated above, either don't buy the item from that seller or contact the seller and see if they'll negotiate.

With regards to the offering poorer service than a shop, I didn't mean it like that. I also pride myself on offering a good service and I send things out asap, wrapped and packaged nicely etc. However, I do not accept returns because I am not a shop and I would be out of pocket if I did so I don't think it's fair for buyers to expect this.

I speak as both a buyer and a seller: I recently bought a jacket for fancy dress on eBay and when it came I didn't like it but I accepted that by buying it on eBay as opposed to say H&M I was taking a risk e.g. that I couldn't return it, it might not look exactly as I was expecting from the pic (which it didn't) etc. Conversely, I had a buyer buy a coat from me - I clearly stated the size - and she then messaged me incessantly saying it didn't fit her and she wanted to return it, despite the fact it clearly states I don't accept returns and my description was accurate. In this case I had also paid a lot more for postage than I'd charged (because eBay only let me charge about £4 and as it was a heavy coat it cost about £6 or £7 to send) so I was even less inclined to accept a return.

I really wasn't implying that all eBay sellers offer a poorer service than a shop I just think a lot of buyers on eBay expect the same service as a shop and, especially with independent sellers, I don't think this is fair.

pinkshoes

07951308631 wrote: »

I know there are some out there who "gain" from the postage when in business as that is not income and they don't have to declare it as earnings... Might I just point out, there are packing costs incurred and, for some, a trip to the post office to send it off could involve fuel costs, or bus/train fares. These are legitimate expenses which can be born by the postage and packing rate.

That's very true, but again, it comes down to a natural reaction to what you're being charged vs what someone has paid.

People won't know how far you have to travel to a post office etc... THEY DON'T CARE!

Hence it's best to add your "hassle" cost to your start price, and just charge the postage cost plus say 50p for packaging.

Or free postage!

soolin

SharkyGeorge wrote: »

With regards to postage, I disagree. I charge enough postage to cover the cost of sending recorded plus packaging and, especially given that many of my items are low value, people don't like this and complain. But if an item sells for 99p and I don't charge enough to fully cover p&p I'm out of pocket and effectively paying someone to take the item. This is why I don't think it's fair for buyers to complain about p&p prices if they've put a bid on an item. As stated above, either don't buy the item from that seller or contact the seller and see if they'll negotiate.

With regards to the offering poorer service than a shop, I didn't mean it like that. I also pride myself on offering a good service and I send things out asap, wrapped and packaged nicely etc. However, I do not accept returns because I am not a shop and I would be out of pocket if I did so I don't think it's fair for buyers to expect this.

I speak as both a buyer and a seller: I recently bought a jacket for fancy dress on eBay and when it came I didn't like it but I accepted that by buying it on eBay as opposed to say H&M I was taking a risk e.g. that I couldn't return it, it might not look exactly as I was expecting from the pic (which it didn't) etc. Conversely, I had a buyer buy a coat from me - I clearly stated the size - and she then messaged me incessantly saying it didn't fit her and she wanted to return it, despite the fact it clearly states I don't accept returns and my description was accurate. In this case I had also paid a lot more for postage than I'd charged (because eBay only let me charge about £4 and as it was a heavy coat it cost about £6 or £7 to send) so I was even less inclined to accept a return.

I really wasn't implying that all eBay sellers offer a poorer service than a shop I just think a lot of buyers on eBay expect the same service as a shop and, especially with independent sellers, I don't think this is fair.

If you bought your fancy dress from a business seller then you do have a full right to a return. Assuming you are just selling your own second hand unwanted things though then you can refuse the refund on the coat, but many private sellers would refund on a safe return anyway.

As for charging extra of postage, it is up to you and even if you got 50 replies on here saying 'go for it' we are unlikely to be your buyers and it is them that leave you stars. Too many low stars and your account is at risk.

Also recorded is likely to hit your stars as well as it just tells buyers you think they are scammers. I would keep a very good watch on your expanded seller dashboard.

LutonGirl

lindseykim13 wrote: »

They might have been naughty sending it untracked but I wouldn't go around telling people to commit fraud though.
.

I didn't mean for the OP to pretend they didn't receive it in order to defraud the seller, I simply meant call the seller's bluff on the method of posting.

plumface

soolin wrote: »

Not on ebay you can't, what you persuade your accountant to allow is between you , him and HMRC but even with tax you can't fiddle things. My postage expenses and costs as well as income all feature in my accounts, where i charge it on ebay makes no difference.

Any seller that truly believes they can add costs of getting to the post office etc to their p and p charge is going to get a shock.

So where do you put your p&p charges,or are you a charity?
So why the big thing about not charging 'too much' for p&p,the cost has to go somewhere?
If the buyer is going to bear the cost,which they will,why does it matter where the cost is put?
It seems as long as the buyer does not think they have paid for postage,they think that they are on a winner even if the buy price is higher!
It also seems an awful lot of sellers agree to this ridiculous notion :eek:

theonlywayisup

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4398901

Are the two threads about the same phone?