eBay Selling & Posting Costs

Leodogger

Can anyone tell me if it is more expensive to use eBay's postage service?  I am selling a lot of stuff and they always ask me to download postage to track my items, which means they provide the label.  I can't believe it is the same price or cheaper to do this than to take to the post office.   Does anyone know ? I am using the Royal Mail 48 hr tracking system which they tell me is free to collect from your home, is this also really free or do they pre-load the postage to cover the cost? 

whsturm

I always use Royal Mail for my deliveries and used to go to the RM website to enter postal details, pay and print the labels. More recently I simply use eBay directly and make sure that I select Royal Mail for the delivery company. As far as I can tell it is the same price but you do have to make sure that you enter the parcel weight correctly as otherwise it defaults to 0 and the post office doesn't accept the parcel even if you've paid the right postage! The benefit of using eBay is that it automatically enters the correct postal address and you get tracking updates for email. So no disadvantages that I'm aware of for purchasing postage via eBay.

In terms of collecting parcels that is normally a little more expensive (even on the RM website) I guess because of the pick-up costs.

Leodogger

whsturm said:

I always use Royal Mail for my deliveries and used to go to the RM website to enter postal details, pay and print the labels. More recently I simply use eBay directly and make sure that I select Royal Mail for the delivery company. As far as I can tell it is the same price but you do have to make sure that you enter the parcel weight correctly as otherwise it defaults to 0 and the post office doesn't accept the parcel even if you've paid the right postage! The benefit of using eBay is that it automatically enters the correct postal address and you get tracking updates for email. So no disadvantages that I'm aware of for purchasing postage via eBay.

In terms of collecting parcels that is normally a little more expensive (even on the RM website) I guess because of the pick-up costs.

I have since read that the Royal Mail adds a surcharge to the postage charges displayed on eBay, perhaps someone else can clarify that for me.

sarah1972

Pmd the team to move to the eBay board here https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/ebay-auctions-car-boot-jumble-sales

RedImp_2

Leodogger said:

whsturm said:

I always use Royal Mail for my deliveries and used to go to the RM website to enter postal details, pay and print the labels. More recently I simply use eBay directly and make sure that I select Royal Mail for the delivery company. As far as I can tell it is the same price but you do have to make sure that you enter the parcel weight correctly as otherwise it defaults to 0 and the post office doesn't accept the parcel even if you've paid the right postage! The benefit of using eBay is that it automatically enters the correct postal address and you get tracking updates for email. So no disadvantages that I'm aware of for purchasing postage via eBay.

In terms of collecting parcels that is normally a little more expensive (even on the RM website) I guess because of the pick-up costs.

I have since read that the Royal Mail adds a surcharge to the postage charges displayed on eBay, perhaps someone else can clarify that for me.

Not as a general rule but I think it might for the specific tracked service you mention.  But that the same if you buy from Royal Mail and post at a Post Office
Edit : Post Office add surcharge not RM

soolin

Leodogger said:

whsturm said:

I always use Royal Mail for my deliveries and used to go to the RM website to enter postal details, pay and print the labels. More recently I simply use eBay directly and make sure that I select Royal Mail for the delivery company. As far as I can tell it is the same price but you do have to make sure that you enter the parcel weight correctly as otherwise it defaults to 0 and the post office doesn't accept the parcel even if you've paid the right postage! The benefit of using eBay is that it automatically enters the correct postal address and you get tracking updates for email. So no disadvantages that I'm aware of for purchasing postage via eBay.

In terms of collecting parcels that is normally a little more expensive (even on the RM website) I guess because of the pick-up costs.

I have since read that the Royal Mail adds a surcharge to the postage charges displayed on eBay, perhaps someone else can clarify that for me.

No that is incorrect, the prices are exactly the same for RM labels whether you buy from the RM site or eBay. I use RM48 a fair bit, you can add collection on eBay at no extra cost just by opening up more options under postage, you will see the price remains the same for RM48 drop off and RM48 collection. 

Money_Grabber13579

I don’t use the eBay postal system but use Royal Mail click and drop instead. It works in much the same way and have integrated it with my eBay account, so the address information comes through to the Royal Mail site and then once the label has been purchased, marks the item as having been dispatched and uploads the tracking number.

Leodogger

Thanks for all the info, that is what I wanted to know.

jon81uk

Leodogger said:

whsturm said:

I always use Royal Mail for my deliveries and used to go to the RM website to enter postal details, pay and print the labels. More recently I simply use eBay directly and make sure that I select Royal Mail for the delivery company. As far as I can tell it is the same price but you do have to make sure that you enter the parcel weight correctly as otherwise it defaults to 0 and the post office doesn't accept the parcel even if you've paid the right postage! The benefit of using eBay is that it automatically enters the correct postal address and you get tracking updates for email. So no disadvantages that I'm aware of for purchasing postage via eBay.

In terms of collecting parcels that is normally a little more expensive (even on the RM website) I guess because of the pick-up costs.

I have since read that the Royal Mail adds a surcharge to the postage charges displayed on eBay, perhaps someone else can clarify that for me.

For Tracked 48, there is an extra charge of 16p if you want to drop off at Post Office. If you drop off at a Royal Mail counter or get them to collect there is no fee. Also if you use a "traditional" service like 2nd class parcel there is no extra fee to drop off at a Post Office.

Broadstairs01

Money_Grabber13579 said:

I don’t use the eBay postal system but use Royal Mail click and drop instead. It works in much the same way and have integrated it with my eBay account, so the address information comes through to the Royal Mail site and then once the label has been purchased, marks the item as having been dispatched and uploads the tracking number.

How do you obtain the buyer’s email address and mobile number which are requested for Royal Mail tracking?

Broadstairs01

How do you obtain the buyer’s email address and mobile number which Royal Mail need for tracking?