Ebay postal prints

pennyforthem

On seeing the

 Sending a parcel or prepaid return via Royal Mail? It will collect for free until Sunday 30 May (woo hoo!)

eBay print the postal label service

Is it free to use? I can't imagine it is because I have looked and looked for anywhere it explains free or cost.

If you use their print label can you still get the free royal mail pick up or is it only via the royal mail website?

I figured I have two options in resolving one problem if I use ebays print postal label service no buyer can say the wrong address is my fault or stipulating my sales that the buyer MUST put their delivery address on their payment, either way, saves me having to email every single buyer to ask

Spoonie_Turtle

I can't speak for going via eBay specifically, but the free collection is just that - no extra fee for the collection service.  You pay the standard postage as usual; collection is usually an extra 70-odd pence but not at the moment.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

Why would you have to email every buyer? 

soolin

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

Why would you have to email every buyer? 

I missed that bit!

OP what do you mean by your last paragraph? PayPal and eBay both show the buyers address so even switching to managed payments the address will come up, what are you asking for additionally in your listing and by messaging afterwards? 

pennyforthem

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

Why would you have to email every buyer? 

Ebay has repeatedly changed my buyer's addresses usually it's just adding ebay codes for some strange reason but it has been a lot worse than that so I am forced to check every single address is correct some are but a large amount has been changed!

Obviously, if the eBay pre-done service is free and I use that then eBay would be liable for all the packages that do not arrive!!!!

Although saying that I am now remembering the nightmare of when I sold a very nice jigsaw and used ebay postal charge calculator with all the money from the item AND postage I was out of pocket let alone ebay fees etc........another lesson learnt the hard way maybe its better to just put the statement on the listing as no one seems to know if there is even a charge, not surprised I wasted enough of my life trying to work it out!!!!!!

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

The codes are for Royal Mail and eBay to talk to one another, I take them out. 


Buyers are very bad at giving a correct address, you can check on:


https://www.royalmail.com/find-a-postcode


and display the address as Royal Mail prefer. 


Some buyers will give you an incorrect postcode, if it's an obvious error such as pressing H instead of J I just correct it to what Royal Mail show. If the address is in Cornwall and the postcode in Scotland then probably best to check with the buyer.


Many buyers leave out the town name, think Brighton is in London or cram the whole lot on the first line and then duplicate the address again on the lower lines (auto fill on browsers is probably the issue). Plenty put in villages or local areas that Royal Mail don't need, up to you really if you leave them in. 


There has been issues with house numbers missing, tends to be newer members, and this obviously requires a check with the buyer.


You can book a collection here:


https://send.royalmail.com/


It asks for the parcel ID or tracking number, if it's something they won't collect I assume the flow will notify you and refuse the order going through. 


I buy my labels on the above link, the postcode checker in the first link doesn't give the county where as the label generation flow does and I take it out as it's pointless and cluttering up the label but other than that house number and postcode entered and Royal Mail will fill the rest. Whether you wish to add other information the buyer has given is up to you but email addresses, phone numbers, unneeded towns 20 miles away and requests to feed the cat whilst dropping off the parcel all get omitted when I buy the label. 


Clear, concise addresses as per Royal Mail's system will reduce losses and late deliveries. 


For missing parcels eBay's system is simple, if you don't have tracking (or delivery conformation) to show delivery took place and the buyer opens a case eBay will find in the buyer's favour regardless of where you purchase the label from. 

Despite the long post, it's probably best not to over think it  

soolin

pennyforthem said:

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

Why would you have to email every buyer? 

Ebay has repeatedly changed my buyer's addresses usually it's just adding ebay codes for some strange reason but it has been a lot worse than that so I am forced to check every single address is correct some are but a large amount has been changed!

Obviously, if the eBay pre-done service is free and I use that then eBay would be liable for all the packages that do not arrive!!!!

Although saying that I am now remembering the nightmare of when I sold a very nice jigsaw and used ebay postal charge calculator with all the money from the item AND postage I was out of pocket let alone ebay fees etc........another lesson learnt the hard way maybe its better to just put the statement on the listing as no one seems to know if there is even a charge, not surprised I wasted enough of my life trying to work it out!!!!!!

The ebay codes are just that, they are NOT altering addresses just adding a code to allow them to talk to RM as an exercise to do a rough calculation of how much post is lost en route.

I still don’t get why you seem to have so many wrong addresses and blame ebay?

I don’t follow your last paragraph at all , sorry, it’s as thelunatic  says if you can’t prove delivery using online tracking to the address given by PayPal (or if on managed payments by ebay) then if a case is opened buyer is legally entitled to a refund. I’m not sure what this has to do with charges, being out of pocket or statements on the listing? 

jon81uk

pennyforthem said:

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

Why would you have to email every buyer? 

Ebay has repeatedly changed my buyer's addresses usually it's just adding ebay codes for some strange reason but it has been a lot worse than that so I am forced to check every single address is correct some are but a large amount has been changed!

Obviously, if the eBay pre-done service is free and I use that then eBay would be liable for all the packages that do not arrive!!!!

Although saying that I am now remembering the nightmare of when I sold a very nice jigsaw and used ebay postal charge calculator with all the money from the item AND postage I was out of pocket let alone ebay fees etc........another lesson learnt the hard way maybe its better to just put the statement on the listing as no one seems to know if there is even a charge, not surprised I wasted enough of my life trying to work it out!!!!!!

If you are out of pocket then I expect you aren't working out how much it will cost to post something correctly. You need to weigh and measure the item.

For example I know a t-shirt is usually under 250g and I can fold it to be large letter size. So it will cost me £1.53 second class. I charge the buyer £1.60 to allow for packaging etc. If the item sells for 99p plus the £1.60 postage thats £2.59 income, less fees of 12.8% and 30p is a total fee of 60p, so I now have £1.99. Pay £1.53 to post it (either to Royal Mail, eBay or the Post Office) and I'm left with 46p.
If you assumed that item will be under 100g instead and therefore the postage will be 96p, then later on you weigh it and its too heavy, then yes you will be out of pocked as the postage is 57p more than you expected, so if you didn't charge the buyer enough then that 46p profit is wiped out.

Its important to consider whether it is worth selling low price items as the fees are relatively high. Its also important to know roughly what something will cost to post and either add the right charge on to the listing or increase the opening price (if free postage).

pennyforthem

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

The codes are for Royal Mail and eBay to talk to one another, I take them out. 


Buyers are very bad at giving a correct address, you can check on:


https://www.royalmail.com/find-a-postcode


and display the address as Royal Mail prefer. 


Some buyers will give you an incorrect postcode, if it's an obvious error such as pressing H instead of J I just correct it to what Royal Mail show. If the address is in Cornwall and the postcode in Scotland then probably best to check with the buyer.


Many buyers leave out the town name, think Brighton is in London or cram the whole lot on the first line and then duplicate the address again on the lower lines (auto fill on browsers is probably the issue). Plenty put in villages or local areas that Royal Mail don't need, up to you really if you leave them in. 


There has been issues with house numbers missing, tends to be newer members, and this obviously requires a check with the buyer.


You can book a collection here:


https://send.royalmail.com/


It asks for the parcel ID or tracking number, if it's something they won't collect I assume the flow will notify you and refuse the order going through. 


I buy my labels on the above link, the postcode checker in the first link doesn't give the county where as the label generation flow does and I take it out as it's pointless and cluttering up the label but other than that house number and postcode entered and Royal Mail will fill the rest. Whether you wish to add other information the buyer has given is up to you but email addresses, phone numbers, unneeded towns 20 miles away and requests to feed the cat whilst dropping off the parcel all get omitted when I buy the label. 


Clear, concise addresses as per Royal Mail's system will reduce losses and late deliveries. 


For missing parcels eBay's system is simple, if you don't have tracking (or delivery conformation) to show delivery took place and the buyer opens a case eBay will find in the buyer's favour regardless of where you purchase the label from. 

Despite the long post, it's probably best not to over think it  

My favourite is when eg someone has a PE address and say they live in Cambridge, arh someone needs a hug

pennyforthem

soolin said:

pennyforthem said:

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

Why would you have to email every buyer? 

Ebay has repeatedly changed my buyer's addresses usually it's just adding ebay codes for some strange reason but it has been a lot worse than that so I am forced to check every single address is correct some are but a large amount has been changed!

Obviously, if the eBay pre-done service is free and I use that then eBay would be liable for all the packages that do not arrive!!!!

Although saying that I am now remembering the nightmare of when I sold a very nice jigsaw and used ebay postal charge calculator with all the money from the item AND postage I was out of pocket let alone ebay fees etc........another lesson learnt the hard way maybe its better to just put the statement on the listing as no one seems to know if there is even a charge, not surprised I wasted enough of my life trying to work it out!!!!!!

The ebay codes are just that, they are NOT altering addresses just adding a code to allow them to talk to RM as an exercise to do a rough calculation of how much post is lost en route.

I still don’t get why you seem to have so many wrong addresses and blame ebay?

I don’t follow your last paragraph at all , sorry, it’s as thelunatic  says if you can’t prove delivery using online tracking to the address given by PayPal (or if on managed payments by ebay) then if a case is opened buyer is legally entitled to a refund. I’m not sure what this has to do with charges, being out of pocket or statements on the listing? 

As I said instances of both adding codes and changing phyisical addresses.

pennyforthem

jon81uk said:

pennyforthem said:

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

Why would you have to email every buyer? 

Ebay has repeatedly changed my buyer's addresses usually it's just adding ebay codes for some strange reason but it has been a lot worse than that so I am forced to check every single address is correct some are but a large amount has been changed!

Obviously, if the eBay pre-done service is free and I use that then eBay would be liable for all the packages that do not arrive!!!!

Although saying that I am now remembering the nightmare of when I sold a very nice jigsaw and used ebay postal charge calculator with all the money from the item AND postage I was out of pocket let alone ebay fees etc........another lesson learnt the hard way maybe its better to just put the statement on the listing as no one seems to know if there is even a charge, not surprised I wasted enough of my life trying to work it out!!!!!!

If you are out of pocket then I expect you aren't working out how much it will cost to post something correctly. You need to weigh and measure the item.

For example I know a t-shirt is usually under 250g and I can fold it to be large letter size. So it will cost me £1.53 second class. I charge the buyer £1.60 to allow for packaging etc. If the item sells for 99p plus the £1.60 postage thats £2.59 income, less fees of 12.8% and 30p is a total fee of 60p, so I now have £1.99. Pay £1.53 to post it (either to Royal Mail, eBay or the Post Office) and I'm left with 46p.
If you assumed that item will be under 100g instead and therefore the postage will be 96p, then later on you weigh it and its too heavy, then yes you will be out of pocked as the postage is 57p more than you expected, so if you didn't charge the buyer enough then that 46p profit is wiped out.

Its important to consider whether it is worth selling low price items as the fees are relatively high. Its also important to know roughly what something will cost to post and either add the right charge on to the listing or increase the opening price (if free postage).

I was out of pocket on that occasion BECAUSE I used the Ebay postal calculator I have never once miss calculated myself!!!!!!!! And on top of your calculations for selling worth I also have to consider health and ability to live so if there is a possible method that will enable me to do this with more ease I will give it a go because this current rate is eye-watering!