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

sukraine

It was an American on this forum who said they didn't because they were scared it would damage international trade ironically, so the fvf is calculated on domestic postage but not foreign. I could live with that quite happily. It's only overseas that it's giving me grief as 50% of my business is international. It's probably a good push in the right direction though. There is always a silver lining and Ebay's loss will no doubt be my gain.

RFW

sukraine wrote: »

It was an American on this forum who said they didn't because they were scared it would damage international trade ironically, so the fvf is calculated on domestic postage but not foreign.

As I said the fees calculator on .com calculates fees on postage http://www.fees.ebay.com/feeweb/feecalculator

sukraine

So it's just as bad then. That's fine for buy it now though. It's auction listings where none of this works very well.

steveE2

ebay.com do charge fvf on international postage BUT it is charged at the lowest domestic rate,so if you offer free domestic post there is no international charge.

viewpoint

Not satisfied with charging extra % on postage costs - which hits those of us who only charge the actual cost - now Paypal is withholding payments for up to 21 days. It says that it's to do with account status, but this is rubbish as my account has fulfilled all their supposed criteria for ages. What it does is give them the interest on our money until they deign to give it to us!
If this happens to you don't accept it - complain and complain until they change the status back so that you get your money when it's paid into your account - after all it's your money and they've already had their fee for handling it!!! Rip off big time!!

lovinituk

campdave wrote: »

It's like Groundhog Day in here.

People post without reading the rest of thread so we keep hearing the same things over and over. It's probably the same people who don't read the eBay notifications of fee changes and then throw a wobbly when they 'suddenly' get charged more!

campdave

sukraine wrote: »

I sell what I call "my leftovers" on auction and usually get good money for them but they are odd, often large items. I've never had a problem selling them, quite the opposite in fact. I have been selling retro antique and vintage glass and china on ebay for three years and until now have had no problems and made good money on the volume of items I sell but when I can't predict my costs because Ebay move the goalposts and I can't predict who my customers are going to be then I have a problem. I sell stuff that collectors want and often it's worth nothing in this country but someone abroad just wants it and will pay for it and whatever the postage is, for me it's been a good earner but it's at an end thanks to these changes as the starting prices will have to be too high and will put buyers off. I just wonder how many other people have been caught the same. It seems that all of you are doing great because you sell small multiples but that's not everyone on Ebay and I know a lot of people who have been hit by this because they sell large individual items. I have already found one better option anyway and my own website will go live in a couple of months, so no more Ebay misery for me. Oh and by the way, I do read the posts and emails, I was actually told by and ebay member of staff that they wouldn't be charging the fees on overseas postage, which they don't in the USA apparently. They just changed their minds or the guy didn't know what he was talking about. I do run a business on there too, you know, obviously I'm not the all time expert that RFW is but I was doing ok up until now. I think I've had enough of Ebay for a while and will pursue other options. It's never good to have all your eggs in one basket anyway.

I had a line of light but bulky items that became impossible to shift last year when Royal mail removed the weight limits below 750g for items below large letter.

If you rely on external agencies such as Royal Mail and ebay for your sales, what you can sell will always be affected by changed to their terms and conditions, and when they change, you have to adapt and move on.

RFW

viewpoint wrote: »

Not satisfied with charging extra % on postage costs - which hits those of us who only charge the actual cost - now Paypal is withholding payments for up to 21 days. It says that it's to do with account status, but this is rubbish as my account has fulfilled all their supposed criteria for ages. What it does is give them the interest on our money until they deign to give it to us!
If this happens to you don't accept it - complain and complain until they change the status back so that you get your money when it's paid into your account - after all it's your money and they've already had their fee for handling it!!! Rip off big time!!

They aren't doing it to everyone as your post suggests and if you do find they are earning interest on your held funds report them as it is against the FSA rules they follow.

sukraine

campdave wrote: »

I had a line of light but bulky items that became impossible to shift last year when Royal mail removed the weight limits below 750g for items below large letter.

If you rely on external agencies such as Royal Mail and ebay for your sales, what you can sell will always be affected by changed to their terms and conditions, and when they change, you have to adapt and move on.

I don't sell lines, I sell antique and vintage china, most of which is bulky and heavy. neither do I rely on Royal Mail, I've had to change despatch services three times this year due to price hikes. Frankly, I'm sick of adapting every few months to a new set of rules, new set of prices etc. I didn't start running my own business so I could be bossed around and bankrupted by an autocratic company who's sole raison d'etre seems to be to screw it's customers into the ground. Enjoy it if you must, keep twisting and ducking and diving with the rules changes, but don't keep suggesting that others on here are being unreasonable for complaining about being messed about at every turn. I read everything that Ebay send out and I've read everything on this thread but it's not been much help really, as like Ebay some of you are missing the point and operating on the basis that "I'm all right Jack" but they will find a way to mess it up for you as well.

sukraine

steveE2 wrote: »

ebay.com do charge fvf on international postage BUT it is charged at the lowest domestic rate,so if you offer free domestic post there is no international charge.

I wonder why they are doing it differently in the UK then as it doesn't work.