topic Combined postage vs Free postage in Buying

Combined postage vs Free postage

penered — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 05:53:05 GMT

eBay's inclusion of postage in calculating fees has prompted an increase in 'free postage' listings. This acts against the interest of both buyer and seller.

I frequently buy books on eBay, and have often chosen to make multiple purchase from a single seller because of the savings from combined postage. I do the sums, and if they don't work out, I don't choose the 'free postage' seller. Sorry, mate. It's your own fault.

Case in point: I've been considering a series of 6 non-fiction books from a certain seller. Two weeks ago, the price was $59 for the books, and combined postage would have been about $13 for a 3kg satchel (total $72) instead of the 5 x $5.95 listed postages. Combined postage would have been about 22% of the books' value. Today the same books are listed with 'free postage' for a combined total of $95. if the 'real book' component of the $95 is still $59, that's $36 for postage, or $6 per book, or 61% of the books' value.

Guess what? I'm not buying them.

Re: Combined postage vs Free postage

harley_babes_hoard — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 05:56:07 GMT

it's only ebay's best interest that ebay are worried about. "free postage" means more in the kitty for ebay. simple

Re: Combined postage vs Free postage

curraone — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 06:06:23 GMT

@penered wrote:
eBay's inclusion of postage in calculating fees has prompted an increase in 'free postage' listings. This acts against the interest of both buyer and seller.
     I frequently buy books on eBay, and have often chosen to make multiple purchase from a single seller because of the savings from combined postage. I do the sums, and if they don't work out, I don't choose the 'free postage' seller. Sorry, mate. It's your own fault.
      Case in point: I've been considering a series of 6 non-fiction books from a certain seller. Two weeks ago, the price was $59 for the books, and combined postage would have been about $13 for a 3kg satchel (total $72) instead of the 5 x $5.95 listed postages. Combined postage would have been about 22% of the books' value. Today the same books are listed with 'free postage' for a combined total of $95. if the 'real book' component of the $95 is still $59, that's $36 for postage, or $6 per book, or 61% of the books' value.
       Guess what? I'm not buying them.

Sellers are struggling against the ebay policy of recommending "free postage" - even though we all know it is not free, and the seller has to build the price into the cost of the item. Ebay enforces this by giving sellers with "free postage" better coverage in Best Match.

Don't worry most sellers hate it too.

However, good sellers are always looking to SELL. 🙂 why not write to the seller and explain your problem. They might put up a special listing for you with the books you are interested in, with combined postage.

Re: Combined postage vs Free postage

penered — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 06:14:35 GMT

is it legal for eBay to charge what amounts to commission on sales by Australia Post?
- penered

Re: Combined postage vs Free postage

penered — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 06:21:43 GMT

Re 'better coverage in Best Match': This may not be much of a trade-off. Personally, I always list by 'Price+Postage: lowest first', not 'Best Match'.

Re: Combined postage vs Free postage

harley_babes_hoard — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 06:22:42 GMT

Who knows. ebay "encourage" sellers to add postage to the price and call it free post. I only have free post on my small items otherwise it's price + postage listings for me. I am not jumping through their hoop this time.

Re: Combined postage vs Free postage

lane-ends — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 07:30:42 GMT

I use free post as its simpler for me, I dont have to weight or estimate anything when making the listing nor answer any postage questions. It will cost what it does, can't change, that nor can i sell for anymore simply because it needs a bigger stachels. I have best offer on many items that I can use to accomodate any incentives for combined postings.

Buyers decide what they are willing to pay, so can't add anything to anything. Its just an overhead the same as anything else.

Would prefer if Ebay set up better discounting rules for "free post' items..

Re: Combined postage vs Free postage

cq_tech — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 20:20:31 GMT

There is no power or incentive on this earth that could possibly make me list with "free postage", not under any circumstances. I think most people who know me are well aware of my stance on the matter, and if eBay ever tried to make it compulsory, I'd pull my listings faster than you could say "get stuffed eBay, you bunch of thieving mongrels!". 😞

Re: Combined postage vs Free postage

ooak3 — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 22:45:49 GMT

I list as free postage not to suit Ebay but because i was sick of buyers crying 'i have been overcharged on postage' so often just because the stamps were not to the cent of what they paid

but they never offered to pay more all the times i sent to WA or NT and it cost me a lot more than charged lol

Re: Combined postage vs Free postage

phorum_junkie* — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 23:07:15 GMT

I have always listed my store items as free postage except when I occassionaly sell books, those I list with postage and the offer to combine and discount, also give the weight and how much I charge per satchel.

I do state that there is no discount for combining on free postage items. I know exactly what my store items are going to sell for, exactly what the fees and postage are going to cost so can factor everything in to the buying price without having to take variables like different postage charges into account.

On my auction id I do quote postage and offer to combine however as I sell mostly plus sizes the buyer doesn't often save much if they buy more than one as more often than not it takes it up to the next satchel weight anyway.

I have sold this way for years and it has nothing to do with how ebay run their site.

Re: Combined postage vs Free postage

i-love-my-sheep — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 07:29:32 GMT

I have 'free' postage on my large letter items as it's usually always only $1.40 (occasionally 70c) and charged postage on parcels. I did try the free postage on parcel items, with the postage cost incorporated into the price, and sold nothing. As soon as I reduced the price and started charging for postage, I started selling them.

Re: Combined postage vs Free postage

spiderecologist — Tue, 06 Jan 2015 03:00:20 GMT

I have recently changed to free listing for convenience. As previous person said, this is best for items that can be sent as a letter. Combining this sized item often leads to a parcel price which is often more expensive than sending items seperately as letters. I would much prefer to list without free postage as then I can list many 'cheaper' books in the hope that people will combine them. For an occasional seller like me, the cost of a 3kg satchel is $13.40. If people buy a $5 book and claim they have not received the parcel then I have lost not just the book but $13.40 of postage. Therefore, registration is more-or-less essential on any parcels. However on a low-cost book people do not want to pay postage that is 3-4 times cost of book. On a $20+ book I factor registration into cost of book since it is then worth it. eBay then charge 10% on the total package including the postage. So $13.40 (post) + $3.10 (reg) + $1.65 extra commision for eBay = $18.15. True businesses can do better prices because they self-insure against loss and get good postage discounts for buying materials in bulk.

Australia Post combined with eBay have diminished the pleasure of both buying and selling on eBay. We all lose because I cannot list many books that individually are a bargain but become expensive with the added postage.

Re: Combined postage vs Free postage

classicedge01 — Tue, 06 Jan 2015 03:23:32 GMT

Or you could look at it the other way that the sellers price on these books have gone up due to their value,personally I think that this seller has just cut his own throat so to speak and should have just added the $13 that it would have cost for combining or a few dollars more and maybe they might be able to sell them.

But OP I'm sure there will be many potential buyers unfortunately out there unaware of this so will think that it's a great deal.

Re: Combined postage vs Free postage

daniel-cummings-stamp-supply — Fri, 18 Dec 2020 23:39:45 GMT

Can I list some items free postage, that which I most want to sell, quote a flat rate postage for other items including loss leaders, and combine the postage if buyers buy the free postage items ( I doubt if they would buy more than one of these ) ? My set flat rate $11 in Australia, $39 overseas... The main disposal sale free postage lots, $65 to Australia, $93 overseas, or 2nd grade $35 to Australia, $63 overseas. I want the other listings ( not free postage ) to be combinable to the free postage purchase.

Re: Combined postage vs Free postage

daniel-cummings-stamp-supply — Fri, 18 Dec 2020 23:43:38 GMT

The main items, stamps, catalogue value £188 per packet 11 types, so many of the same stockpiled by granddad.

Re: Combined postage vs Free postage

*tippy*toes* — Sat, 19 Dec 2020 00:02:05 GMT

Instead of dragging up a 6yo thread on the buyer's forum, I suggest starting a new post on the seller's forum. There you will get lots of help and advice from experienced sellers. I look forward to seeing your post there.

Re: Combined postage vs Free postage

daniel-cummings-stamp-supply — Sat, 19 Dec 2020 08:03:23 GMT

Thank You. May test the combined postage anyway, just overprice the goods.

Re: Combined postage vs Free postage

davewil1964 — Sat, 19 Dec 2020 08:11:30 GMT

Your choice. Don't be upset when your sales dwindle because buyers see you as overpriced.

The point is to target your audience. And spend some time working out what works for you and said audience.

'Free' post might work for some, postage as an extra line item might work for others.

I use 'free' postage for items that can go as a letter. There is minimal scope for combining with those, as multiples kick up to a parcel anyway. Unless they buy at least 4. Then I refund the difference.