topic Re: postage in australia in Selling

postage in australia

mechellemaple1 — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 00:35:36 GMT

Hello can anyone help me with this question so I do not have to line up twice at the post office,when a buyer pays for postage does that include the packing i.e 3 kilo medium size sachel?

I usually supply packing at my cost but wondering if I am doing this wrong?

Re: postage in australia

kopenhagen5 — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 00:46:38 GMT

It's up to each seller how they set up postage in eBay listings.

I for example if the parcel is around $7.50 will have $10 postage in the listing as I usually use tissue paper, bubblewrap, tape, box etc as packing.

It is quite normal for sellers to have $2-3 for packing and handling.

So if you are paying $13.11 for the satchel and postage, you might make the postage $15 in the listing to include packing.

Re: postage in australia

mechellemaple1 — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 00:45:41 GMT

true ,but then I am getting charged from ebay for handling and postage so I dont get it?

Re: postage in australia

mechellemaple1 — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 00:48:34 GMT

can you tell from my picture if I am suppose to buy the sachel or the buyer?

thank you for your help,I have a baby and I do not want to line up to ask the post office as the line is about 10 people deep.

Re: postage in australia

kopenhagen5 — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 00:51:23 GMT

Yes and many sellers, myself included factor in eBay fees in the price of the item.

So if I sell a $60 item with $10 postage, I will list it at $68 to cover fees.

You buy the satchel, pack it, address it and send. That's part of selling.

You get the satchels a little cheaper if you buy in lots.

Re: postage in australia

performance_parts_clearance_centre — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 00:49:13 GMT

eBay factor your postal charge into the Final Value Fee they levy on the sold item: they add the item's sell price and the postal charge, and charge you 10% of the total. If you charge $10 post, ebay will effectively charge you $1 of that, not the whole $10.

I've calculated my postal charges allowing for that, as do many sellers.

Re: postage in australia

lyndal1838 — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 00:49:47 GMT

You are going to pay ebay commission on the postage and handling as well as the item cost anyway.

Using Kopes example, if you add $3 for postage and handling you will give ebay roughly 30c leaving you $2.70 towards your expenses.

If you don't charge that $3 you are out of pocket for all your packing costs.

Re: postage in australia

performance_parts_clearance_centre — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 00:52:10 GMT

You buy the satchel, and charge the buyer the cost of it.

Re: postage in australia

mechellemaple1 — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 00:53:46 GMT

Thank you everyone, so do I add that cost in the cost of the item or separeate in the shipping? Sorry I am pretty ebay naive.I know I am doing it all wrong well what I have been doing so far.

Re: postage in australia

clarry100 — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 01:06:01 GMT

All our stuff is listed as "FREE" postage.

But when we are figuring out the price to list an item we include (among other things) Post, Packaging and Handling (PP&H).

This includes not only the cost of the stamps themselves but the cost of the envelope, the address label we use, the liner plastic bag we use and a very small fee for our time to pack it. Also never forget the ebay fee on top of all that as well. So we don't profit from postage costs but make sure it is all included into the item final price so we don't lose anything on it.

Re: postage in australia

kopenhagen5 — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 01:14:19 GMT

Usually sellers will include eBay fees in the price of the item.

Then any packing and handling costs are added to the price of postage.

Or some sellers include it all in the price of the item and list with free postage.

But it's up to you, some sellers prefer to add any pack n handling to the price of item as well and charge exactly the postage price only. Because some buyers when they get the item see a postage price of $7.50 on the package and then complain that they paid $10 not realising it is also for pack n handling.

But as I said, it's up to you how you factor the costs into your listings.

P.S. We were all newbies at some stage.

Re: postage in australia

lyndal1838 — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 01:32:39 GMT

@mechellemaple1 wrote:
Thank you everyone, so do I add that cost in the cost of the item or separeate in the shipping? Sorry I am pretty ebay naive.I know I am doing it all wrong well what I have been doing so far.

Never ever give the buyer a breakdown of your costs. If the actual postage is $7.50 and you add $2.50 for packing and handling, ebay fees and whatever else it covers, just put the postage as $10.00 otherwise you will get the numpty buyer who will want a refund because you charged more than actual postage.

Re: postage in australia

thesoulyearns — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 05:46:19 GMT

@lyndal1838 wrote:
@mechellemaple1 wrote:
Thank you everyone, so do I add that cost in the cost of the item or separeate in the shipping? Sorry I am pretty ebay naive.I know I am doing it all wrong well what I have been doing so far.
Never ever give the buyer a breakdown of your costs. If the actual postage is $7.50 and you add $2.50 for packing and handling, ebay fees and whatever else it covers, just put the postage as $10.00 otherwise you will get the numpty buyer who will want a refund because you charged more than actual postage.

I disagree. If the packing costs are $2.50 over the actual postage, the buyer may often notice it anyway. Sending a friendly message explaining your costs may help the buyer to understand how it came to be $2.50 over the stamp cost. If they're going to want a refund because of excess cost, they'll want it anyway. At least the message explains it so they can understand.

A better way might be to include the extra packing fees into your item price, e.g. if it's more than $1 extra than the stamp cost. I don't think most buyers will mind a couple of dollars extra than what they pay, aslong as it's packaged well and arrives as described. More than $2 might be pushing it a little, which is where you than incorporate it into the item price.

Re: postage in australia

davidc4430 — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 06:30:01 GMT

its pretty basic, you work out the cost to post your item, then add that to your lowest price for your item to make the profit you want.

if it doesnt sell well thats the luck on ebay.

no point selling if your losing money.

Re: postage in australia

lane-ends — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 08:03:00 GMT

When listing you have 3 choices;

~ List free post with enough to cover everything

~ List item price + a price under shipping to cover cost, say no more

~ Ditto but disclose a handling cost.

After an item is sold you receive the money as per the listing and absorb whatever costs are incurred to get to buyer, you cannot add anything or make any adjustments after sale.

Ebay take a fee in effect to cover total money transacted regardless of whether it is item or shipping, or however it is broken down.

Re: postage in australia

jimmyjoejoe_jnr — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 10:21:49 GMT

Hi I had a look at your listings and some you have offered free postage your probably going to pay between $5-$8.50 for postage of these items so you are going to be at a loss.If you offer free postage you have to factor it into the price,I post in $8.50 prepaid satchels so that means the buyer pays the price of the item say $20 plus the $8.50 postage.You then buy the satchel for $8.50 and you have made $20 minus fees on your item.Hope this helps.