Postage Gouging...again!

superfran_uk

SharkyGeorge wrote: »

But that is the whole problem - the star ratings system eBay have implemented should not be applied to postage! You can choose whether or not to accept a postage charge - you can't choose whether a buyer communicates well, sends promptly etc - and so that should not be something buyers are allowed to mark down on after they've already made a choice.

It really bugs me when buyers complain about postage for this reason. There is no such thing as being 'ripped off' on postage if you agreed to the charge, regardless what it actually cost the seller to send. As has been mentioned numerous times, it takes time and money to package an item and then take it to the post office and send it.

I am happy to sell items at 99p because I am decluttering and it is more incentivising to get rid of stuff via eBay than give it away. But when buyers then expect me to cover the cost for postage it makes my blood boil - why would I effectively *pay* someone to take something away?

When I buy stuff on eBay I mentally include the postage charge into what they're actually charging and if I'm happy that the item is worth the total to me then I pay and don't complain. It doesn't mean I don't sometimes wish it was cheaper but I make a choice as to whether I am willing to pay that amount for that item. And I never bother to check how much it cost to send. Pathetic.

Agree 100%. Although I have never come across buyers on ebay like it myself, and I have always in the past charged P AND P (I don't think £2.25 postage plus 99p for an item is that harsh even if the stamp cost is £1, when it also costs to pack up, drive there park etc) without complaint, this forum seems to attract a lot of people who think that the sellers should bear the cost and it is ridiculous.

Offering free postage is all well and good for people listing large numbers, buying packaging in bulk (I certainly don't need to or have the space to store multiple jiffy bags) and making one trip to the PO for hundreds of items, but for small numbers of private listings it isn't feasible, unless you want to pay additional ebay fees to list something, which once again eats into your profit and makes it less appealing.

I wouldn't bother frankly. And to those buyers who have considered my items worth bidding on, they would then be without. I would rather give my stuff to a charity shop than make pennies on them, or worse, lose money!

techspec

Cornucopia wrote: »

Our Post Offices NEVER under-charge.

In this case, she was trying to tell me that the package had to pass through the large letter slot fully on its widest side (therefore making the widest side 250mm maximum, rather than the published 353mm maximum).

TBH, I'm beginning to wonder about whether the slot is narrower than 25mm, to o.

You missed the point - what you think is a packet - some post offices fit through the slot - but others say if it even touches the sides it cannot go large letter. Not everone as a slot at home - like i have either. Ive seen some PO's force it through - that is not what they are supposed to do.

My post office is VERY generous and will send many packets as large letter. Some are even too wide and too long. They do it because they are commission based and want to keep their very large customer base happy.

But some times i worry that some nasty vindictive Ebayer might trash may stars for it. So far though - they havent - because most Ebayers are nice.

Dunroamin

SharkyGeorge wrote: »

It really bugs me when buyers complain about postage for this reason. There is no such thing as being 'ripped off' on postage if you agreed to the charge, regardless what it actually cost the seller to send. As has been mentioned numerous times, it takes time and money to package an item and then take it to the post office and send it.
.

Many people who buy on Ebay have little idea of postage charges unless they are also sellers and so they "agree" to the postage charge because they think that's what it actually costs. When the package arrives and they see that the postage is less than half of what they've actually paid (sometimes by a large margin) then it's understandable that they feel cheated, particularly when the packing is obviously free and/or inadequate.

techspec

Dunroamin wrote: »

Many people who buy on Ebay have little idea of postage charges unless they are also sellers and so they "agree" to the postage charge because they think that's what it actually costs. When the package arrives and they see that the postage is less than half of what they've actually paid (sometimes by a large margin) then it's understandable that they feel cheated, particularly when the packing is obviously free and/or inadequate.

Many sellers are just joe blogs selling their own clutter - with no experience and trying their best to estimate the price.

Sometimes they lose - sometimes they win - they don't deserve punishing for being upfront about their charges.

Thats the probelm with Ebay - some newer buyers think they are dealing with ruthless sellers driving flash cars with a large business.

In reality - the person you have just negged or low stared could be a vulberable disabled little old lady selling all her belongings to pay her mortgae, food or heating bills. Think on.

nickcc

Seller weighs item and eBay advices postage, stick to that and the seller can't go wrong. Who pays seller for packing, parking and posting, it's all included in the postage cost. Some sellers will always try and rip off buyers so just leave neg feedback and avoid in future.

Gleeful

techspec wrote: »

In reality - the person you have just negged or low stared could be a vulberable disabled little old lady selling all her belongings to pay her mortgae, food or heating bills. Think on.

In reality, they are not.

Plus, why is everyone jumping on me as if it was a 99p item? It wasn't!

superfran_uk

techspec wrote: »

Many sellers are just joe blogs selling their own clutter - with no experience and trying their best to estimate the price.

Sometimes they lose - sometimes they win - they don't deserve pinishing for being upfront about their charges.

Thats the probelm with Ebay - some newer buyers think they are dealing with ruthless sellers driving flash cars with a large business.

In reality - the person you have just negged or low stared could be a vulberable disabled little old lady selling all her belongings to pay her mortgae, food or heating bills. Think on.

There is always someone on the other end of the computer. Unless they are a business seller or selling a lot of 'new' items they have clearly bought bulk for profit this is probably closer to the reality. Anyone looking at the items I have sold over the years, clothing, board games, dvds, a few sets of drums, could probably work out that everything is something that I have owned, used, and now am selling on either because it is of no use to me anymore or I need the money at the time. Although I have never received a complaint, touch wood, about postage, it annoys me that people think they can actually make demands once an item has been bought and posted, and it makes me far more wary of using ebay. I have found preloved, facebook, friday ad and gumtree as good places to sell.

superfran_uk

Gleeful wrote: »

In reality, they are not.

Plus, why is everyone jumping on me as if it was a 99p item? It wasn't!

Because if the postage was just a small percentage of the overall cost, why does it matter?

Gleeful

superfran_uk wrote: »

Because if the postage was just a small percentage of the overall cost, why does it matter?

It matters because the packaging was insufficient, and they charged over the odds for it. Their message is an attempt to justify charging £2.30 for a paper envelope.

macfly

Why are you posting at all? If you are annoyed, do what ever satisfies you.