Returning to ebay selling after 2 years away. Postage questions.

pfpf

what a lot has changed.

just done a "test" listing run through so as to get a handle on whats changed. i'm ok overall but postage has me a bit baffled.

i always used to price things up with a BIN and free postage via RM tracked, BIN requires immediate payment. i had hoped to do the same going forward.

do i not have the option to set my own postage? it's all "simple postage"?

my "test" came up as £2.94 for postage but whats that for? 99% of my stuff is small or medium via RM.

i only used RM previously. my local Post office is closing, is there still the option to have RM collect the parcel?

if one buyer bought several items which often happens i'd be charged £2.94 x however many purchases? that would be a real killer to me as i rely on someone buying 2+ items to save on the postage cost as we're talking low cost items. i could probably send 5 items together on the small parcel scale.

i just can't get my head around how the parcel type/size can be correctly identified by ebay especially when muliple items are purchased.

thank you.

se2020

When you list an item there is am options box to choose the size and weight and the price is dependent on the option selected.

When you make a sale ebay will provide a postage label for either royal mail, evri or yodel.

You have to dig around for another page to de-select options if you don't want to use any of those carriers.

Collection is still available with royal mail and is free (rather than paying 30p directly)

You can still require immediate payment with (but read below)

Combination postage is not so simple.

If a buyer adds a few items into the basket and completes checkout in one go you 'might'get one label for the lot. However, that label will be charged at a higher rate.ie, if you list a 200g item the only postage option is 1kg at £2.94. If you sell 2 items at once you'll get charged for a 2kg label

It's also completely random if it works at all. Sometimes a buyer will buy 4 items at the same time. You'll get 2 royal mail lables for 3 of them plus an evri lable for the 4th.

Some buyer habits mess things up as well. Like when a buyer purchases and pays for a single item then makes best offers on a few more.

Also if buyers just see 'free postage' they don't care what it costs the seller to send so tend to buy items as they browse rather than sticking them all in the basket to checkout at once.

If you set things to 'buyer pays' postage they seem to work out how to use the 'add to basket' a bit quicker. Unfortunately you'll still get buyers who buy a few items over a weekend then moan afterwards that you didn't give them a refund for the excess postage

On the other hand, the free postage for combined items (when it works) is still cheaper than selling the same 2 items individually and even if it's not working its no different selling 3 items to one buyer than getting 3 different buyers for single items.

If your sales need multiple purchases to make any money then a simple option would either be to revise your prices or just list a selection of items in bundles. Ie, put 999g of items together to get the most out of a 1kg label and sell as one listing.

Or, make the buyer pay postage and add a note to the advert saying you'll list multiple items with free postage on request. But you'll spend hours dealing with messages and creating listings for time-wasters so not really worth the effort for low value items.

dnpark38

I'm no longer a seller on Ebay and like yourself it was a long time ago.

But I do buy and have been very disappointed with how long an Ebay item via Royal Mail takes to get to me 10 to 14 days.

I've decided NOT to buy anything more from Ebay if the Seller is going to use RM.

pfpf

thanks very much se2020.

lots to think about. how on earth have they managed to make the most basic/important of tasks (postage) so complex and difficult?

soolin

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81879458#Comment_81879458

Actually when you get used to it it really is very simple.

the option box for SD allows the seller to choose the postage size and weight and I always opt for buyers pays. Then eBay just send me a pre paid label and as soon as that shows as accepted by courier eBay take over any damaged in transit or INR claims.

A lot of LL items under £20 can go via custom postage , but I’m having quite a few issues with RM items not arriving , or arriving very very late that I’ve actually even moved some of them across to SD.

pfpf

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81879714#Comment_81879714

thanks soolin, always happy to hear your advice.

if i set to "buyer pays" and then buyer buys 5 things, all of which could be sent for one posatge cost how would that work on BIN and "must pay straight away", am i better not listing as MPSA and combining afterwards?

likewise if i offer free postage i would be hit with 5 x P&P but could send as one for one cost.

se2020

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81879256#Comment_81879256

Private sellers on ebay have no choice in what carrier is used.

Business sellers do but they have pot luck with the choice. Just look through a few threads in hear and you will see people saying they won't buy from sellers that use evri, then loads more like yourself saying they won't accept Royal mail so the sellers cannot possibly keep everyone happy.

I've even sold stuff and pampered to the buyer's request to use a specific carrier and still had buyer's moaning at me when it's got lost in the post or been delayed by a day or 2.

Spoonie_Turtle

likewise if i offer free postage i would be hit with 5 x P&P but could send as one for one cost.

IIRC you need to be able to upload tracking for all the items, and you run the risk of it not letting you input the same tracking number 5 times.

soolin

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81879774#Comment_81879774

If the items go as simple delivery then you can’t combine as you must use each label to be covered. Ideally the buyer needs to add all the items to their basket then buy , and eBay ‘should’ then combine postage , but most buyers just go ahead and buy.