Is it legal for ebay to take commission from seller's postage?

sequence

The fees are reasonable, possibly on the low side given the amount of sales ebay brings. I think they're good value for money.

adouglasmhor

Flyonthewall wrote: »

Exactly.

In some ways it's not right that buyers can mark sellers down on postage as they have agreed to the price, like you said. However, some don't send it how they say they will so in them cases other buyers need some warning that they are overcharging on postage. Buyers won't always think to write that in the feedback.

I don't think some buyers realise just how much postage costs, but even so they do agree to the price beforehand. Either way, ebays new rule is unfair.

They aren't allowed to mark me down on postage.

Rotti

adouglasmhor wrote: »

They aren't allowed to mark me down on postage.

Yes they are. One DSR is for postage and packing. I would like to see that separated out as you can't leave a low DSR for someone who offers free postage then packs badly. I ordered a memory card expecting it to come in a blister pack in a jiffy bag. It didn't come at all. The envelope did but the card was unpackaged, no bubble wrap, blister pack or anything, and someone had torn the corner off the ordinary paper envelope and nicked it! The seller didn't even offer to send a replacement, just refunded the money and left me to get one elsewhere.

eBay review your DSRs occasionally and remove any they think are unfair but since April they have been in jeopardy as MANY buyers are not aware of the true cost of postage or the 8cm rule and assume they are being overcharged. Now they WILL be overcharged because of eBay's new fee structure maybe that one should be removed.

Rotti

sequence wrote: »

The fees are reasonable, possibly on the low side given the amount of sales ebay brings. I think they're good value for money.

They are reasonable if you compare them with the local auction rooms that in my case are a total of 21% with commission and VAT on the commission. It would have been fairer on buyers to add 1% to the item fee and leave the postage alone, then start a proper campaign to hit the overchargers. I am not a fan of hidden costs and would rather see the item cost and postage clearly displayed so that I can make my own decision. Seller's feedback is a big consideration in that decision and I am proud of my two accounts which have accrued (in 8 years) 2800 and 555 positives - 100%. I think that officially makes me a good seller!

RFW

Flyonthewall wrote: »

Never heard anyone say ebays fees are good before. They may not be the worst, but they're not good.

I think it depends what you're comparing them with. If you've only ever sold on Ebay then they won't be favourable. If you've ever put stuff in a bricks and mortar auction they are good value.
Back in the 90s I ran my own auction house, we used to spend anything up to £2000 per auction in advertising, that still didn't guarantee a good number of customers. When Ebay came along I could list on there, sell and get good prices for less than a tenth of that, with less overheads.

There isn't anywhere else that offers the amount of 'passing trade' that Ebay does. Amazon works well but in a different way, and without the auction element. Sure you can't sell anything you like but if you have something of decent value then there still isn't a better place to sell it.

Road_Hog

adouglasmhor wrote: »

Really, so you would buy from him with his exaggerated postage before me with my free postage? Well now I will be cheaper than him, win to me.

Yep, everyday of the week. If I had a choice between buying a widget from seller a) at £20 + £5 inflated postage or seller b) at £27 including 'free' delivery, I would go with seller a) every time.

But of course I'm adult (and have common sense) enough to realise that there is no such thing as free delivery, I know somewhere in the price I'm paying for it.

Of course people today are so mentally deluded and brainwashed that they are not able to discern that for themselves. They think ebay is doing them a favour by stamping on sellers that 'overcharge' on postage. They haven't the brains they were born with to work out that ebay just want to 'tax' the postage on to of their Paypal 'tax'. It just wouldn't occur to most people that if a seller can keep his costs/charges down he can sell cheaper.

I do despair with people these days, are people not born with common sense any more?

adouglasmhor

Rotti wrote: »

Yes they are.

No they aren't as I give free postage that one is blanked out (with an explanation as to why linked beside it). So please try to get your facts right when you try to correct people.

Road_Hog

sequence wrote: »

The fees are good. Us sellers who offer free postage are no longer penalized.

How do you manage to offer free posting? Or do you mean that you put the cost of the posting in the selling price? Which means it isn't free, just that it is hidden in the retail price.

What happens if I'd like to collect the item? Would you still charge me the same price or would you give me a discount. Probably the latter, can you see how it isn't free?

RFW

Road_Hog wrote: »

How do you manage to offer free posting? Or do you mean that you put the cost of the posting in the selling price? Which means it isn't free, just that it is hidden in the retail price.

What happens if I'd like to collect the item? Would you still charge me the same price or would you give me a discount. Probably the latter, can you see how it isn't free?

There's always one:p

Flyonthewall

adouglasmhor wrote: »

They aren't allowed to mark me down on postage.

They can't if you're offering free postage. Otherwise they can. Besides, if you package the item badly or do anything else wrong they'll mark you down on other things and give you negative feedback. You're not safe just because you can't be marked down on postage.