postage and packaging

m0rgana

There's always a bit of guesswork involved with P&P unless you take everything down to the post office to have it weighed first (which I have done, although I suspect it p-s them off, tbh).

I usually estimate and sometimes get it slightly wrong, though usually in the buyer's favour as Post office charges seem to be getting higher all the time! I would also stress that it's easy to forget that packaging is a cost to the seller, and envelopes and jiffy bags can easily double the cost that's written on the postage stamp.

In the case of your dress, if I were sending that first class I would expect to be paying £2.35 minimum for a 'large letter'/package - which seems to cover anything bigger than an A4 envelope these days - plus any packaging costs.

It's up to the seller to set their P&P, so within a reasonable limit I think you need to be a bit lenient.

soolin

m0rgana wrote: »

There's always a bit of guesswork involved with P&P unless you take everything down to the post office to have it weighed first (which I have done, although I suspect it p-s them off, tbh).

I usually estimate and sometimes get it slightly wrong, though usually in the buyer's favour as Post office charges seem to be getting higher all the time! I would also stress that it's easy to forget that packaging is a cost to the seller, and envelopes and jiffy bags can easily double the cost that's written on the postage stamp.

In the case of your dress, if I were sending that first class I would expect to be paying £2.35 minimum for a 'large letter'/package - which seems to cover anything bigger than an A4 envelope these days - plus any packaging costs.

It's up to the seller to set their P&P, so within a reasonable limit I think you need to be a bit lenient.

There is absolutely no need to guess postage, it isn't rocket science. A set of basic digital scales (mine cost less than £10) and a size gauge is all you need.

The dearest 2 nd class large letter is £1.90 but that covers up to 750g. A small packet up to 750g would be £2.20.

As for post office charges getting dearer all the time, they go up once a year, if yours go up more than that then there is something seriously wrong. Anyone selling more than a couple of things a year need never worry about prices going up unexpectedly, it tends to be early April every year.

There is also no need to be charging double to cover packaging costs, again a bit of research will show several decent sellers of good but cheap,packaging on eBay.

m0rgana

I must just be very good at it then (or generous) - not had any complaints yet

Contains_Mild_Peril

HeadAboveWater wrote: »

Been stung that way myself - overcharged postage but had forgotten to refund buyer until after they left feedback.

Learn the hard way - check postage costs before listing!

In the case of soft packages which are close to the Large Letter size limit, like the one the OP bought, there is usually no reliable way of knowing in advance (even if you check with your own gauge at home) whether the PO will accept it as a large letter or charge the packet rate. I once posted a small item of clothing which I'd carefully flat-packed to fit through the large letter slot (and charged the customer accordingly) but the PO assistant deliberately scrunched it up to prevent it from going through (I then re-flattened it and posted it as a large letter with no problems at a different PO).

kriss_boy

soolin wrote: »

There is absolutely no need to guess postage, it isn't rocket science. A set of basic digital scales (mine cost less than £10) and a size gauge is all you need.

The dearest 2 nd class large letter is £1.90 but that covers up to 750g. A small packet up to 750g would be £2.20.

Some people dont have the time nor money to waste on being that accurate with their postage... and they certainly dont deserve negativity if, from time to time, their postage is too dear.

Its pretty daft for people to treat their bid and the postage costs as two separate entities. You assess what the item is worth to you, then bid accordingly. Be that £10 with free postage, or £7.05 with £2.95 p&p....

People who cross reference the actual postage costs on the items they recieve, really, need to get a grip!

soolin

kriss_boy wrote: »

Some people dont have the time nor money to waste on being that accurate with their postage... and they certainly dont deserve negativity if, from time to time, their postage is too dear.

Its pretty daft for people to treat their bid and the postage costs as two separate entities. You assess what the item is worth to you, then bid accordingly. Be that £10 with free postage, or £7.05 with £2.95 p&p....

People who cross reference the actual postage costs on the items they recieve, really, need to get a grip!

If people do not have the time or money to take a few seconds to work out how much postage will be, I would suggest that they also don't have time to make a good job of selling on eBay.

it isn't only that they might constantly overcharge and end up losing their account, it might also be that they constantly undercharge and end up losing money on eBay. I would prefer to spend a few seconds weighing an item, rather than lose money.

kriss_boy

soolin wrote: »

If people do not have the time or money to take a few seconds to work out how much postage will be, I would suggest that they also don't have time to make a good job of selling on eBay.

it isn't only that they might constantly overcharge and end up losing their account, it might also be that they constantly undercharge and end up losing money on eBay. I would prefer to spend a few seconds weighing an item, rather than lose money.

So if someone decides to sell a few used DVDs and items of clothing, you are suggesting its unacceptable for the to estimate postage in the absense of a proper set of digital scales and while referring to royal mails website? uh... ok.

You get what you pay for. You cant expect every seller to deliver an A1 service. So long as I get my item within a reasonable time scale it its largely as described on the listing then Im happy.

This reminds of the morons who complain about the long queues in Aldi, Lidl, etc. Do they not realise the only reason the food is so cheap is because there is only 3 members of staff in the entire building.... and these people want more staff... *sigh*

campdave

If they don't want to take 15 seconds accurately estimating the actual cost of postage, then they take the risk that they end up with poor feedback or DSR.

kriss_boy

campdave wrote: »

If they don't want to take 15 seconds accurately estimating the actual cost of postage, then they take the risk that they end up with poor feedback or DSR.

Business sellers, yes.

But people trying to sell a few bits from the house to make the bills a bit easier that month... give me a break.

soolin

kriss_boy wrote: »

Business sellers, yes.

But people trying to sell a few bits from the house to make the bills a bit easier that month... give me a break.

You don't seem to realise though that by not spending a few seconds calculating postage they may almost certainly lose out in the the long run. A small seller might only need two 1 or 2 * before they lose average standing, and at the very least that will costs them the ability to get free listings.

Too many errors and they may face more restrictions.

Or, as mentioned earlier they under calculate and end up,losing money on the sale- exactly how will that help them pay a few bills?

Someone who sells DVDs will know exactly how much they cost to send, £1.10 second classic a jiffy off the top,of my head. CDs are the same.

Postage is not rocket science, the new broad weight bands make it easier for many casual sellers. Do not make the mistake that private sellers are somehow stupid, they are not and as someone who also sells on a private account I resent the suggestion that that makes me somehow less 'able' than a business seller.