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

adouglasmhor

I just remembered, I did have one person who complained about a recycled Jiffy bag being used as it wasn't hygenic! I asked how hygenic did they think a massive conveyor belt then a series of vans, sacks and crates with thousands of other packages every year was really going to be. They gave me a +ve feedback though. I actually keep a note on file about them in case they ever by anything else from me, I will give them a brand new package.

Rotti

adouglasmhor wrote: »

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.

If you read my post properly (and get YOUR facts right) you will see that I addressed that point - free postage does not allow for any mark for bad packaging so should be separated out. I was referring to private sellers who cannot afford or choose not to give free postage being unfairly rated due to buyer ignorance. I think you will find that my facts were right and like a lot of buyers, you didn't read it properly!

Road_Hog

Chrysalis wrote: »

as much as I would like that to happen, no national newspaper is going to just give up its power to manipulate the population. The national press are here to stay.

I think you misconstrued my point. I am in total agreement with you that the lame stream media is here to stay, it is operated by the elites to send us propaganda messages, it will evolve.

However, newspaper are on the way out, too slow and people aren't prepared to pay for the rubbish that they print. It is a sad indictment of this country (and most of the world) that people are unaware that most of the 'news' that they receive is controlled.

Road_Hog

RFW wrote: »

All that being nice to customers is just too much for some people. I believe Basil Fawlty is setting up his own auction site, jump on board while the going's good.

I don't mind being nice to people, I draw the line at licking their bottom, there is a difference you know.

I also wish ebay/paypal would adhere to the same standards that they demand. My first (customer service) encounter was with them back in 2005 with regards to a chargeback. They had me jumping through hoops about the sale and delivery confirmation, they wouldn't tell me what the problem was (if they had have, I'd have been able to get the police involved) and in the end I found out they had no intention of ever sorting it out and had merely put me through their 'process'.

Still, I've had a good larf at their expense. That time back in 2005 when they did the chargeback, I left them with a paypal account £400 in the negative and in 2008 when I ceased selling on my main account, I left ebay owing £1,000 (approx.) fees and about £500 paypal fees.

Now before anyone gets self righteous, I've never reneged on debts with any other company, but ebay/paypal are a law unto themselves and I have no qualm in giving them the two fingers. They are free to operate their business as they want and I'm free to do the same. I did invite them to take me to court if they felt that they had a valid claim, but for some reason they declined on both occasions.

It's funny how they like to hide behind the law, saying that they're just a buying platform bringing buyer and seller together, but feel that they can take money from someone's bank account without their consent, but when challenged with the law, they then run away.

Rotti

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?

RFW wrote: »

There's always one:p

Road hog..... take no notice of his remarks as he is a "big businessman" and far better than the rest of us.;)

You make a very valid point. It is not "free", in most cases it is "inclusive" and should be advertised as such or it is misleading. And if an overseas buyer happens to buy the item with UK postage included in the price they will then be charged the full airmail price on top of the sale price and the seller will be laughing! And the same applies to collection items...... in reality how many sellers are going to knock the price down if they know the buyer is prepared to pay the full whack?

I'm afraid RFW and his business-account-discounted postage is part of the problem - mere mortals can't even begin to compete on a level playing field. I have some books to list and have now sorted them in to two piles - those worth trying to sell given what is already on offer and those going to the charity shop. The second pile is bigger as I can't even begin to compete with the business sellers offering the same books (even hardbacks) for 99p buy it now and £1.60 or less postage! That is what has devalued the second hand book market more than anything else!

adouglasmhor

Rotti wrote: »

If you read my post properly (and get YOUR facts right) you will see that I addressed that point - free postage does not allow for any mark for bad packaging so should be separated out. I was referring to private sellers who cannot afford or choose not to give free postage being unfairly rated due to buyer ignorance. I think you will find that my facts were right and like a lot of buyers, you didn't read it properly!

:rotfl::rotfl: you didn't word it properly more like.

adouglasmhor

Rotti wrote: »

Road hog..... take no notice of his remarks as he is a "big businessman" and far better than the rest of us.;)

You make a very valid point. It is not "free", in most cases it is "inclusive" and should be advertised as such or it is misleading. And if an overseas buyer happens to buy the item with UK postage included in the price they will then be charged the full airmail price on top of the sale price and the seller will be laughing! And the same applies to collection items...... in reality how many sellers are going to knock the price down if they know the buyer is prepared to pay the full whack?

I'm afraid RFW and his business-account-discounted postage is part of the problem - mere mortals can't even begin to compete on a level playing field. I have some books to list and have now sorted them in to two piles - those worth trying to sell given what is already on offer and those going to the charity shop. The second pile is bigger as I can't even begin to compete with the business sellers offering the same books (even hardbacks) for 99p buy it now and £1.60 or less postage! That is what has devalued the second hand book market more than anything else!

I don't know if it's any help but a few of the clothes and fabric recycling places buy books by the kilo as well, I sold some real rubbish - out of date tech manuals and accounting yearbooks etc. to them. It doesn't take much to make up a kilo.

Road_Hog

Rotti wrote: »

I'm afraid RFW and his business-account-discounted postage is part of the problem - mere mortals can't even begin to compete on a level playing field. I have some books to list and have now sorted them in to two piles - those worth trying to sell given what is already on offer and those going to the charity shop. The second pile is bigger as I can't even begin to compete with the business sellers offering the same books (even hardbacks) for 99p buy it now and £1.60 or less postage! That is what has devalued the second hand book market more than anything else!

My situation was somewhat different, I was selling mainly mobile and some laptops. Nothing I sent, didn't go either recorded delivery or special delivery, so the lowest postage was second class recorded at £2.95 (2008 prices).

I'd make about £1.50 on second class and about £2.50 on first class and nothing on special delivery (high value item - price covered it and delivery cost was minimal in relation to selling cost).

If someone contacted me to say they'd like to collect, then I was happy. Delivery charge was not weighted in extortion to the selling price and the couple of quid loss on postage was far outweighed by, receiving cash, no paypal charges, no packaging charges, no chance of chargebacks.

As long as the seller is prepared to sell an item for cash on collection, I don't see a problem. Obviously if a seller is selling a phone for £5 + £20 delivery and won't allow collection, then that is a different case.

But what people don't understand is, that sellers in general (like yourself) are trying to keep the cost down, to be competitive. ebay are trying to gouge as much profit as they can. I can't understand why buyers are trying to help ebay push up prices, because that is what happens when they increase their charges, or share of it.

RFW

Rotti wrote: »

I'm afraid RFW and his business-account-discounted postage is part of the problem - mere mortals can't even begin to compete on a level playing field. I have some books to list and have now sorted them in to two piles - those worth trying to sell given what is already on offer and those going to the charity shop. The second pile is bigger as I can't even begin to compete with the business sellers offering the same books (even hardbacks) for 99p buy it now and £1.60 or less postage! That is what has devalued the second hand book market more than anything else!

Hasn't the ability for all and sundry to be able to sell second hand books rather than bin them or take them to the charity shop devalued the second hand book market more.

I think most people on here know that 'free post' isn't actually free, discussing the semantics of it is treating posters on here as idiots, but hey ho.

As for not being able to compete with me as a business seller, I can't compete with Asda or Tesco, so I don't. Whining about it would be pointless.

I sell stuff I can make a profit on, if the marketplace and/or the product prevent me from doing that I move on.

RFW

Road_Hog wrote: »

I don't mind being nice to people, I draw the line at licking their bottom, there is a difference you know.

I've had my own problems with Ebay CS and find their communication to be poor. Some of the most successful internet traders in recent years offer customer service way beyond anything Ebay insist on. I don't think there has been any introduction regarding customer service that has been a bad one. I'm not really sure which part constitutes 'bottom licking'. A return policy? Refunding lost items? Not being able to leave negative feedback? Despatching in good time?