MSE News: eBay sellers beware - its fees now eat into postage costs

lovinituk

Rotti wrote: »

Loving your arrogance! All eBay sellers are not businesses but small private sellers who are selling their own collections and bits and pieces, some of which are quirky or retired and not generally available elsewhere. So there is no business to absorb the cost of anything and they either have to charge the buyer extra or take a hit on the extra cost themselves, neither of which is very fair. EBay is for everyone, not just tatty sellers purveying worthless tat from China and refilled ink cartridges!

Thanks! I'm normally a nicer person but there's something about the whingers and whiners that brings out the devil in me

There is no dog given right to be able to list on ebay. Simple fact is that if the private buyers can't afford the rises then tough. If all you're finding on eBay is china tat and refilled ink cartridges you're obviously not using the search function correctly!

Perhaps all these hard done by sellers could all move over to ebid. I hear they have thousands of like minded sellers and charge next to no fees! Apparently it's the place to be for the forthcoming eBay apocalypse!

RFW

lovinituk wrote: »

There is no dog given right to be able to list on ebay.

I hope that wasn't a typo. I like the idea of a dog that tells people where they can sell;)

lovinituk

RFW wrote: »

I hope that wasn't a typo. I like the idea of a dog that tells people where they can sell;)

No typo... I'm an atheist

Tellitlikeitis

Anyone who thinks that this development is advantageous for the customer is naive at best and, more likely, foolish.
The seller will have to raise the price of Fixed Price listings to cover the additional percentage that Ebay will charge. Period. That's on top of a recent rise in Royal Mail prices, and on top of maximum postage charges set by Ebay in many categories (which sometimes do not remotely cover the cost of postage).

campdave

Thanks for bringing a fresh perspective to the debate. I've not heard that opinion before.

Tellitlikeitis

campdave wrote: »

Thanks for bringing a fresh perspective to the debate. I've not heard that opinion before.

Thanks for taking the time to reply- I'm glad you did.

soolin

Tellitlikeitis wrote: »

Anyone who thinks that this development is advantageous for the customer is naive at best and, more likely, foolish.
The seller will have to raise the price of Fixed Price listings to cover the additional percentage that Ebay will charge. Period. That's on top of a recent rise in Royal Mail prices, and on top of maximum postage charges set by Ebay in many categories (which sometimes do not remotely cover the cost of postage).

If you read the thread you will note that many sellers were already using free postage, so the reduction in FVFs in some categories means those sellers are actually better off.

It is naive to think we all use the same business model.

RFW

Tellitlikeitis wrote: »

Anyone who thinks that this development is advantageous for the customer is naive at best and, more likely, foolish.

I don't think anyone has said buyers will overall be better off. Some sellers are better off and may pass that back on to the buyers, I had a few items that were due a price rise and have now been held.

As a shop seller I now get 200 inclusive listings with my shop fee.

Post has gone up, fees have gone up, prices will go up. It's an inevitability of our capitalist society. I suspect even when Ebay launches shortly in Russia they will be affected by the same problems.

lonestarsky

I discovered today that my eBay payments are being 'held' because I've not met eBay's postage and packaging standards because my buyers have rated me low.

I've been told by eBay that to help rectify this, I should start charging for recorded delivery as buyers prefer this (which is debatable - as a buyer I hate recorded delivery, as I'm never home during the day, so have to go collect it). I've always charged second class prices, so I do find it a bit odd they're recommending that I start charging more, as I feel my charges have always been fair, albeit rounded up (e.g. if something was to be posted at £2.60, I would charge £3, which is not uncommon and as a buyer, I'd be happy to pay this to a seller).

Anyway, I'm just curious to see if this has happened to anyone else, I find it a bit odd that its happened just as they've started charging FVF on postage. Perhaps its just coincidence and I'm an old cynic, but I've now cancelled all my remaining auctions and will find other ways to sell stuff. I really don't like the idea of posting items before funds have been released to me, I just don't trust eBay or Paypal enough.

soolin

lonestarsky wrote: »

I discovered today that my eBay payments are being 'held' because I've not met eBay's postage and packaging standards because my buyers have rated me low.

I've been told by eBay that to help rectify this, I should start charging for recorded delivery as buyers prefer this (which is debatable - as a buyer I hate recorded delivery, as I'm never home during the day, so have to go collect it). I've always charged second class prices, so I do find it a bit odd they're recommending that I start charging more, as I feel my charges have always been fair, albeit rounded up (e.g. if something was to be posted at £2.60, I would charge £3, which is not uncommon and as a buyer, I'd be happy to pay this to a seller).

Anyway, I'm just curious to see if this has happened to anyone else, I find it a bit odd that its happened just as they've started charging FVF on postage. Perhaps its just coincidence and I'm an old cynic, but I've now cancelled all my remaining auctions and will find other ways to sell stuff. I really don't like the idea of posting items before funds have been released to me, I just don't trust eBay or Paypal enough.

That doesn't make any sense, does the email specificallyy say it is to do with your P and P. What does your expanded dashboard show? It is more usual to slip below standard and get a hold..but then you should see that on your expanded dashboard already.