topic Re: combined postage in Buying

combined postage

1800signshop — Fri, 26 Apr 2019 03:37:41 GMT

I won two auctions from the one seller for similar items and both listed with 3kg satchel post of $14.90. At checkout I requested a total with combined postage. I know, I should have asked BEFORE I bid, but presumed (I know!) it would be no problem. The postage turns out more expensive than the total for the 2 items I purchased.

I was almonst positive they would both fit into a 5kg satchel and save myself a bit of money. I did not receive a response from seller, but both items were combined in the one invoice, but with two lots of postage. I did not receive a response to my request from the seller so I emailed seller again about the "combined" post price, only to be told "Sorry I don't combine postage". Ok, no problem, it must be their system or whatever. Only I now see in my Purchases that the items have been sent together in the one 5kg satchel.

If a seller goes to post their items and sees they are from the one buyer and for delivery to the same address, I don't mind them combining into one satchel and them having a little win on the postage $. However, is it petty of me to fthink the seller has done the wrong thing when combined postage was asked for; and what they have sent but not discounted for? I feel a bit wronged by being potentially overcharged about $13 on postage.

Re: combined postage

imastawka — Fri, 26 Apr 2019 03:57:17 GMT

self edited..........sorry

Re: combined postage

gutterpunkz05 — Fri, 26 Apr 2019 04:00:38 GMT

combined post, does not automatically mean DISCOUNT. Postage and handling does not only equate to the AP stamp value.

you and I have no idea what expenses the seller incurrs.

PS: Eg: I am about to do a 60km round trip to post office, takes about an hour out of my day as well.

Re: combined postage

tazzieterror — Fri, 26 Apr 2019 03:59:10 GMT

Gosh, this scenario is *strikingly* similar to a couple of others being discussed in another topic here. Quite the coincidence!

Maybe have a read through there, and then jump on to eBay chat to seek official clarification. At the end of the day, a seller is obliged to provide the postal services charged for - if they haven't, you're within your rights to seek a refund on those you've paid for but not been provided.

Re: combined postage

1800signshop — Fri, 26 Apr 2019 05:46:07 GMT

ok, I understand that, I am a seller as well. But if I had bought the one item from them, not two, it would still entail the same trip to the post office, same amount of time and effort to pack two seperate orders. And the post on the listing had some loading of about $2 per post already. So approx $4 loading on 2 x 3kg satchels - if one 5kg satchel + $4 loading for extras = approx $20 and given me a $10 DISCOUNT for combined post. So they could have made the same amount of $$ handling. I don't expect a seller to have to stick to the actual AP "stamp" price of the postage.

Re: combined postage

1800signshop — Fri, 26 Apr 2019 05:47:32 GMT

thanks for the response. I have had a read of that discussion as well. ta.

Re: combined postage

gutterpunkz05 — Fri, 26 Apr 2019 05:49:57 GMT

When you send a combined invoice, the charge states postage and handling, so maybe the question should be are the sellers handling charges reasonable and/or justified, and we can never know what any individual sellers costs are.

I know of one company that requires all packing to be processed and verified by 2 persons and conducted under full cctv recording,

purely to combat online fraud.

Re: combined postage

1800signshop — Fri, 26 Apr 2019 05:57:47 GMT

actually my question was they would not COMBINE post re $$ but has pysically combined them after all. They have put both items into the one satchel but charged me for the 2 x 3kg satchels on the listing. I accepted their response that they would not combine postage and paid immediatly. The dilemma arrives because the seller HAS combined the postage pysically into ONE x 5kg satchel.

so the seller has seen the advantage in sending the two purchases as one, but is charging as if they are sending as two parcels. And as I stated above, I have no problem paying for packaging and handling.

Re: combined postage

gutterpunkz05 — Fri, 26 Apr 2019 06:14:14 GMT

@1800signshop wrote:
actually my question was they would not COMBINE post re $$ but has pysically combined them after all. They have put both items into the one satchel but charged me for the 2 x 3kg satchels on the listing. I accepted their response that they would not combine postage and paid immediatly. The dilemma arrives because the seller HAS combined the postage pysically into ONE x 5kg satchel.

so the seller has seen the advantage in sending the two purchases as one, but is charging as if they are sending as two parcels. And as I stated above, I have no problem paying for packaging and handling.

My last reply was to tazzie.

Well now you have a problem, you have paid for 2 x 3kg satchels but are going to get 0 x 3kg satchels delivered.

5kg satchel, most charge about $20.00 which is cost plus the ebay fees on postage and then any handling fees on top.

Maybe the seller meant that they do not offer a discount for combined post, who knows.

Re: combined postage

davewil1964 — Fri, 26 Apr 2019 06:42:20 GMT

@1800signshop wrote:
ok, I understand that, I am a seller as well. But if I had bought the one item from them, not two, it would still entail the same trip to the post office, same amount of time and effort to pack two seperate orders. And the post on the listing had some loading of about $2 per post already. So approx $4 loading on 2 x 3kg satchels - if one 5kg satchel + $4 loading for extras = approx $20 and given me a $10 DISCOUNT for combined post. So they could have made the same amount of $$ handling. I don't expect a seller to have to stick to the actual AP "stamp" price of the postage.

Standard AP satchels in singles are $14.55, so a loading of ~~a whole~~ 45c, not $2. And the difference between 2 x 3kg @ $14.90 and 1 x 5kg satchel @ $17.65 is $12.15, so a $10 discount would leave $2.15 handling. And the fees on the $10.

Re: combined postage

k1ooo-slr-sales — Fri, 26 Apr 2019 08:07:02 GMT

**** sorry if these post seems out of place. I started typing it at 3pm but got distracted. I see that there are some posts since 3pm, but will post this as it was anyway ****

@1800signshop wrote:
I won two auctions from the one seller for similar items and both listed with 3kg satchel post of $14.90. At checkout I requested a total with combined postage. I know, I should have asked BEFORE I bid, but presumed (I know!) it would be no problem. The postage turns out more expensive than the total for the 2 items I purchased.

I was almonst positive they would both fit into a 5kg satchel and save myself a bit of money. I did not receive a response from seller, but both items were combined in the one invoice, but with two lots of postage. I did not receive a response to my request from the seller so I emailed seller again about the "combined" post price, only to be told "Sorry I don't combine postage". Ok, no problem, it must be their system or whatever. Only I now see in my Purchases that the items have been sent together in the one 5kg satchel.

If a seller goes to post their items and sees they are from the one buyer and for delivery to the same address, I don't mind them combining into one satchel and them having a little win on the postage $. However, is it petty of me to fthink the seller has done the wrong thing when combined postage was asked for; and what they have sent but not discounted for? I feel a bit wronged by being potentially overcharged about $13 on postage.

are you sure you got your figures correct?

Going only on your figures, a 5kg satchel is only $1.90 more than a 3kg satchel.

Are you using actual satchel prices in determining your $13 overcharged amount? I am assuming that the $14.90 you have used is the P&H cost the seller uses for a 3kg satchel (I don’t know if that is actual cost or a bit inflated to allow for the final value fee on postage)* (see notes below)

To me it is a moot point anyway, as you have acknowledged, the time to try to get a commitment from a seller for reduced postage when items are combined is before bidding (for auction items). Otherwise, you pay what the listing says even if they are posted in one satchel.

If paying full postage on both items is a problem then don’t bid as high and factor the full postage into your total spend limit when bidding.

*notes:

- I am not suggesting that sellers should charge the buyer the fees on postage, only that savvy sellers (legitimately) include all postage costs into their P&H charge

- Handling costs are subjective, and eBay do not require sellers to provide a breakdown or justification of their Handling charge . . . . . only that Handling charges should be ‘reasonable’. To me, a 10% above actual satchel price as a Handling charge is reasonable

- For some buyers, sellers charging 10% on top of actual satchel price seems like a ripoff, BUT, a seller does incur a 10% fee on the postage cost and this can not be avoided unless they incorporate it into a P&H charge

- on $29.80 a seller will pay $2.98 in fees on postage. Is a 5kg satchel only $14? ($29.80 - $2.98 [fvf] - $13 [overcharged] = ~~$13.82~~ $14)

- bottom line is to think about these costs before bidding or buying and act appropriately and do not presume the seller will behave in a way you expect them to

Re: combined postage

springyzone — Fri, 26 Apr 2019 09:34:58 GMT

@gutterpunkz05 wrote:
combined post, does not automatically mean DISCOUNT. Postage and handling does not only equate to the AP stamp value.
you and I have no idea what expenses the seller incurrs.

PS: Eg: I am about to do a 60km round trip to post office, takes about an hour out of my day as well.

I agree with you that postage cost does not necessarily equate to the AP stamp value and I sympathise that you have a 60km round trip just to get to a PO.

But that is a business decision that you as a seller would make about whether it is worth the effort to sell online. Buyers would not know how far any seller is from a PO and would not expect exact petrol expnses etc to be loaded onto postage costs, although obviously the overall total price you get for any item has to make it worthwhile for you.

---------------

Just a general comment.

I think when any buyer asks about combined postage, what they are asking is if there is a discounted way to post.

I'm not saying there always will be.

But if a seller says yes, then they need to provide a discount or else explain why not.

If they say no, they can't combine, then fair enough, but they should be posting the items separately.

I can guarantee 99% of buyers are going to feel disgruntled if they ask about combined postage, are told no, it can't be done, then pay full price, only to find the items come combined and at a cheaper rate. It's not good business practice to do that.

PS I have had sellers who have combined 2 small purchases into one, probably with a small saving in postage to themselves and I have had no problems with that at all. But if I had larger items and asked about combined postage and was told no, then I would feel a bit put out if they then combined and saved themselves eg $10. Even a dollar or 2 off for the buyer would sweeten the deal. Just my perspective.

Re: combined postage

gutterpunkz05 — Fri, 26 Apr 2019 10:25:09 GMT

Hi Springy, Not complaining about the distance to the PO, I would not live anywhere else.

Was only stating an example of how we do not know what an individual sellers costs are. I do include a handling charge on the majority of sales, but it is minimal and unless I have a real good day, it does not cover the additional costs. Quite often I will turn the 60km trip into a 200km trip to enable buyers to receive their items quicker, no extra charge, after all it is only time and money.

Re: combined postage

springyzone — Fri, 26 Apr 2019 21:24:32 GMT

Back when we were sellers, we often charged a little bit extra on top of the actual postage charge, to cover things such as bubble wrap, boxes etc and that was well before the days of paypal and fees on postage.

But the one thing I learnt with selling, although we never received a neg (which in hindsight on a couple of occasions may have been because the buyer knew we could tell the truth and would have done the same to them), was that you get the very occasional buyer who is unreasonable and quite often it is about postage prices. Even if they are only paying exact postage costs, that is still too much, according to them. They are convinced there would have been a cheaper option if only you had tried harder. They want postage for next to nothing but at the same time they expect tubes, boxes etc to be used.

The one thing that is often visible to a buyer is the exact postage cost and resentment sets in pretty quickly with some people if they think you've made a cent profit on it. If I had my time selling again, I'd bump the cost of our items up, we sold way too cheap, and I'd set postage prices up so they were fairly close to the actual postage cost. I'd combine where possible but where it wouldn't make a difference in price, would explain that and just send separately as paid for. It's the one area that is totally visible to buyers so it pays to step carefully.

Re: combined postage

eol-products — Fri, 26 Apr 2019 22:02:58 GMT

I remember having buyers complain they paid a few dollars more than shown on the parcel many years ago. But now that I have stopped displaying the postage paid on the parcel it has solved that problem and as you say it is better to increase the item price not the postage to cover costs.

Re: combined postage

shoppingbag* — Fri, 26 Apr 2019 23:52:55 GMT

While I only charge actual postage costs, I find buyers don't appreciate it, but more likely expect it. They think boxes and bubble wrap etc come for free. Some actually think that eBay supplies it.

Re: combined postage

Anonymous — Sat, 27 Apr 2019 00:04:04 GMT

Yep, I had that buyer tell me they knew for a fact eBay supply ALL sellers with ALL packaging materials free of charge

Had another one tell me I could post them a bottle of body lotion as a large letter because their friend does it all the time

Re: combined postage

gutterpunkz05 — Sat, 27 Apr 2019 01:53:31 GMT

Some people are just not happy no matter what. Recently received an email requesting a buy it now price, for 3 seperate items, that were listed for Auction without best offer. Auction start prices equalled $50 + 3 x $15 for post. Normally I would not have bothered but they had some BS reason they needed items ASAP.

So I sent an offer of $50 + $20 Post which was accepted....... Did up a special listing incurring ebay insertion fee +FVF, instead of the $3 FVF weekend deals would have incurred.

After they received goods, I got an abusive email, demanding a $5 postage refund because they felt ripped off and intended to leave negative feedback. Politely told them that they could feel as ripped off as they liked and that they could leave what ever feedback they wanted. Then I detailed all additional fees and costs. No feedback received !!

I learnt along time ago, not to sweat the little things in life

Re: combined postage

curraone — Sun, 28 Apr 2019 01:05:20 GMT

@1800signshop wrote:
actually my question was they would not COMBINE post re $$ but has pysically combined them after all. They have put both items into the one satchel but charged me for the 2 x 3kg satchels on the listing. I accepted their response that they would not combine postage and paid immediatly. The dilemma arrives because the seller HAS combined the postage pysically into ONE x 5kg satchel.

so the seller has seen the advantage in sending the two purchases as one, but is charging as if they are sending as two parcels. And as I stated above, I have no problem paying for packaging and handling.

I think in this case it will be better to just wait until you receive your item. If they did indeed send them in one satchel,, you could re-open the convesation with them and ask for a refund of postage as they did not send as paid for.

Re: combined postage

springyzone — Sun, 28 Apr 2019 01:45:39 GMT

@1800signshop wrote:
actually my question was they would not COMBINE post re $$ but has pysically combined them after all. They have put both items into the one satchel but charged me for the 2 x 3kg satchels on the listing. I accepted their response that they would not combine postage and paid immediatly. The dilemma arrives because the seller HAS combined the postage pysically into ONE x 5kg satchel.

so the seller has seen the advantage in sending the two purchases as one, but is charging as if they are sending as two parcels. And as I stated above, I have no problem paying for packaging and handling.

I missed seeing this post.

So you're saying that on Friday they told you they have combined the items but at no saving to you?

Sorry, folks, but this seller is an idiot.

It is perfectly fine for a seller to say (especially after a sale), that they can't combine items & sale conditions are final.

However, no buyer that I have ever come across asks about combined postage just because they want the items together in a neat parcel. If a seller needs a translation service on what combined postage means I can do it for them. Dear seller, Can it be sent more cheaply if you combine the items in one package and can you pass some of those savings on to me?

Now, I had a little look at the Aust Post website, at prices as they look to your everyday person. I get the feeling this ebay seller isn't a professional seller so they may have been looking at what I see: $14.50 for a 3kg satchel and $17.65 for a 5kg satchel.

I know sellers pay fees on postage & we're told the items were separately listed with $14.90 postage each, presumably to cover that. Fair enough.

But you're looking at a buyer who paid $29.80, a seller who said no to a reduced postage charge BUT combined and sent for $17.65. This scenario is a surefire way to cause buyer resentment. Guaranteed.

Seller should have sent both items separately.