"Free Postage" - What's your thoughts please??

BOBBIs_MUMMY

Ok, Ebay seem to like business sellers to offer free postage now plus the fact they charge you 10% for the postage part as well now.

Just wondering what peoples thoughts are, are you more enticed with something that has free postage (though obviously the seller has accounted for the postage price within the selling price) or are you more enticed with a lower selling price plus postage?

Got a few items hanging around and just wondering whether to put them back to the old fashioned way of selling price plus postage

Any thoughts welcomed please!

bylromarha

I've had 2 identical listings running for about 3 years (sssh, don't tell ebay)

1 listing is £19.99 + £1.45 p+p
The other is £21.44 + free p+p

The £19.99 listing consistantly has outsold the free p+p listing by around 2 to 1.

I'm loathe to change listing 1 in order to get the premium status on the listing. People want to see the lower selling price.

nonnatus

But SURELY buyers can't all be so stoopid??

It is NOT POSSIBLE for me to post something (even a small, thin beermat) to someone else in a different county, FOR FREE.
Therefore, I'm going to have to charge the buyer postage. I'm not a charity, and can't afford to pay it out of the goodness of my heart.
I will either add the postage into the selling price of the product, or I'll offer to add it on at the end (see the two examples of the poster above...!), but I can't just make it disappear!!

CupOfChai

I'm sure some people only look at the price and pay no attention to how much the postage is. Personally it just annoys me because I then have to add up myself how much it will come to in total so I can compare with other listings.

virtuallyfree

The total price is the key.
Item plus postage.
And If i can get it for less elsewhere then I will.

BOBBIs_MUMMY

bylromarha wrote: »

I've had 2 identical listings running for about 3 years (sssh, don't tell ebay)

1 listing is £19.99 + £1.45 p+p
The other is £21.44 + free p+p

The £19.99 listing consistantly has outsold the free p+p listing by around 2 to 1.

I'm loathe to change listing 1 in order to get the premium status on the listing. People want to see the lower selling price.

Interesting to know thanks, going to try changing couple later back to purchase price + p&p

CouponWoman

I think you get more multiple sales if you charge for postage

ie
1 t shirt £1 plus £2.50 p&p = £3.50 and if you buy a 2nd t shirt postage is free so total for 2 t shirts would be £2 plus p&p £2.50 totals £4.50

or

1 t shirt £3.50 with free p&p, so for 2 t shirts its £7.00

I used t shirts as an example, its not something I sell.

CWxx

BOBBIs_MUMMY

CouponWoman wrote: »

I think you get more multiple sales if you charge for postage

ie
1 t shirt £1 plus £2.50 p&p = £3.50 and if you buy a 2nd t shirt postage is free so total for 2 t shirts would be £2 plus p&p £2.50 totals £4.50

or

1 t shirt £3.50 with free p&p, so for 2 t shirts its £7.00

I used t shirts as an example, its not something I sell.

CWxx

We always combine postage and freely advertise it. Going to try putting couple of our listings back to cost plus p and p

graspandsave

I look at the overall price of getting whatever it is, to get it to my door.

But have noticed more that some sellers - private/ business alike are charging ridiculous amounts for posting - yes I know Royal mail are partly to blame., But something that can be posted for a regular stamp in regular envelope and charge £3.80 for P&P.
Its outrageous

guess what no sale .........move on.

BOBBIs_MUMMY

graspandsave wrote: »

I look at the overall price of getting whatever it is, to get it to my door.

But have noticed more that some sellers - private/ business alike are charging ridiculous amounts for posting - yes I know Royal mail are partly to blame., But something that can be posted for a regular stamp in regular envelope and charge £3.80 for P&P.
Its outrageous

guess what no sale .........move on.

Crazy!!! we add approx 50p to each parcel for paper and tape, bubble wrap etc which I think is reasonable considering how much it all costs!!

graspandsave

BOBBIs_MUMMY wrote: »

Crazy!!! we add approx 50p to each parcel for paper and tape, bubble wrap etc which I think is reasonable considering how much it all costs!!

Not crazy at all, I know how much bubble wrap etc costs, I'm talking about the cost of an envelope

I buy and sell on ebay, and when I know I'm being ripped off, there are those on ebay- you don't have to look far, who think they can add -on - Its simple, I don't buy simply move on

As a seller - Yes add your costs for Post AND packaging, keep it real and not OTT and you get buyers.


When I do buy, then I consider the same -when I receive my goods. Well packaged etc, realistic P&P - gets 5 stars

Blatant rip-offs - Well Im not in the position to rate those as I wont buy from them.