topic Re: Sellers using excessive postage cost to avoid fees in Selling

Sellers using excessive postage cost to avoid fees

daniellebradydesigns — Thu, 13 Mar 2014 05:04:49 GMT

Apologies in advance if this is a duplicate thread.

I recently came across a seller while searching for an item I was looking to purchase.
The item was listed for $3, with postage cost of $80 within Australia standard postage, not an overly large item either.

I messaged the seller asking if it was an error, and he pretty much flat out said his postage cost was to avoid paying the FVF.
He'd incorporated the cost of the item into the postage. Which mind you was still higher than the actual value of the item.

I reported the seller, and eBay are going to have his account checked by the Trust and Safety team and most likely removed.

My issue here was the flat out cockiness that this seller conveyed. Made the remark that he'd been doing it for years. And he got aggressive at me for even questioning the postage costs.

I do think eBay fees are a little higher than I'd like to pay, but nevertheless I pay them. I've never overcharged on postage. One time I overestimated the postage cost of something, and I refunded the buyer the excess and then a little more for the inconvenience.

I'm curious what other seller's and buyers views are of these kinds of practices.

Re: Sellers using excessive postage cost to avoid fees

kopenhagen5 — Thu, 13 Mar 2014 05:10:18 GMT

There are always going to be the ones that don't give a darn in life.

It sounds like you have done all you can and best to move on.

Karma gets them at some point. (usually when they trip up)

Re: Sellers using excessive postage cost to avoid fees

bsal6160 — Thu, 13 Mar 2014 09:54:39 GMT

You are doing the right thing by all sellers for reporting this type of activity. Sellers are complaining about the high fees already and part of the reason would be because sellers like that forcing the fees higher through them not paying their dues.

Re: Sellers using excessive postage cost to avoid fees

haolove13 — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 02:53:45 GMT

This looks like a case that should be reported and acted on, but there are also cases where people complain unnecessarily.
I saw a case recently where a buyer left a negative for an item with $10.00 postage and complained it should have been $7.00 postage but did not allow for handling, cost of packaging etc.

With my postage costs I guesstimate everything as if I had to weigh every item individually or take it to the post office I would need to add five dollars to everything to allow for my time and wasted effort.
Sometimes I make a dollar or two and other times I lose a dollar or two.

so there is balance in everything.

Re: Sellers using excessive postage cost to avoid fees

bsal6160 — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 09:46:43 GMT

halove, i think you missed the OP point. It was selling at very low price but way overcharging on postage to get out of paying fees. if this practise keeps up then i can see that ebay au may change to the same as the US site. Fees paid on TOTAL including postage. Just a thought.

Re: Sellers using excessive postage cost to avoid fees

dazzledayz — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 10:00:06 GMT

The OP's seller is doing us all a disservice big time.

eBay had this problem in the US some years ago.

They fixed it by simply extending FVF's to postage price as well.

Problem solved!

But sellers who sell low value high postage items were severely impacted.

The OP has done the right thing by reporting this scammer.

Noone likes FVF's and they are high but the alternatives are a lot worse.

Re: Sellers using excessive postage cost to avoid fees

haolove13 — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 10:04:40 GMT

I did not miss the point, I was just balancing out the view as quite a few buyers complain about fifty cent overcharges on postage.

As I said I agreed with the point that it was excessive I did not miss the original point.

If Ebay do change to FVF on the total cost (just like we pay paypal on the total transaction what will happen then to postage charges allowed.

For me the actual cost of postage will become quite expensive.

Say $ 13.40 for post, $2.00 for packaging, so on $15.40 there will be FVF of about $1.54 so will Ebay allow me to charge $17.30 just to recover actual costs?

And then there is the time it takes for a business to actually post parcels which means paying wages etc.

And will Ebay amend the DSR ratings if uninformed buyers leave me low DSR's for postage cost when I make nothing from posting parcels. The stupidity of it is the buyer is allowed to perceive an overcharge which could even be postage at a loss.

Re: Sellers using excessive postage cost to avoid fees

daniellebradydesigns — Sat, 15 Mar 2014 01:00:45 GMT

@dazzledayz wrote:
The OP's seller is doing us all a disservice big time.
eBay had this problem in the US some years ago.
They fixed it by simply extending FVF's to postage price as well.
Problem solved!
But sellers who sell low value high postage items were severely impacted.
The OP has done the right thing by reporting this scammer.
Noone likes FVF's and they are high but the alternatives are a lot worse.

Thank you. You made my point so clearly and eloquently!

In response to haolove13, I'm primarily a seller. And sometimes a buyer. As a buyer I don't have an issue with sellers adding on a couple of dollars for their time and effort.

But as a seller, when they are clearly trying to avoid the final value fee's by adding the costs onto the postage and then blatantly admitting to it and stating they have been doing it for years, I feel that reporting them is the only option.

I feel as though people like that who try to cheat the system so to speak should not be allowed to sell on eBay. This seller was allowed to relist this item 4 times, before eBay stopped him from doing so for the fifth time. I always though it was a three strikes kind of deal?

Thanks again to dazzledayz who couldn't have said it better!

Re: Sellers using excessive postage cost to avoid fees

familyisall9 — Wed, 09 Apr 2014 06:32:21 GMT

Here's another: Stunning Sterling Silver Antique Pocket Watch Chain w/ Coin Fob Scrap/Use 12.9g

POSTAGE $45.00 AUST

What's with the postage cost when this would fit in an envelope?

This is why ebay decided to include postage in their charges - because sellers were scamming the system.

Unfortunately, as usual, because others were doing the wrong thing, people who were doing the right thing will also be hit by this.

Re: Sellers using excessive postage cost to avoid fees

go-tazz — Wed, 09 Apr 2014 06:49:01 GMT

That seller is in the US: $45.00 (approx. AU $48.54) USPS Priority Mail Express International

Re: Sellers using excessive postage cost to avoid fees

nara_120 — Wed, 20 May 2015 08:01:40 GMT

Sorry for jumping in on your post but for the life of me, I cannot find where I can post a new topic! grrr

My question is, how do I report an item for excessive postage? I've found the report button on the item page but I seem to have gone through all of the options and still can't find it, unless I'm missing something? TIA

Re: Sellers using excessive postage cost to avoid fees

joethenuts — Wed, 20 May 2015 08:13:50 GMT

to nara on top of page click new message

Re: Sellers using excessive postage cost to avoid fees

thecatspjs — Wed, 20 May 2015 08:21:26 GMT

You can use this link to create a new topic on the selling boards nara http://community.ebay.com.au/t5/forums/postpage/board-id/2500000010

Re: Sellers using excessive postage cost to avoid fees

hotrodvideo — Wed, 20 May 2015 23:21:32 GMT

With the FVF on postage isn't it actually calculated at a higher rate on postage , 10% so buy loading the postage they're paying more in fees?

Re: Sellers using excessive postage cost to avoid fees

joethenuts — Wed, 20 May 2015 23:45:37 GMT

to hot its an old thread last year

Re: Sellers using excessive postage cost to avoid fees

spapas01 — Sat, 25 Jul 2015 00:37:57 GMT

Blown away on all the fees, Paypal, Postage & Ebay costs just to send a magazine to someone.

Just restarted selling again. After all costs added it added to $6.98 (not including packaging costs) for a magazine weighing 200g !

Just trying to make $1.50-$2 a magazine without excessive costs to buyer to get my product is almost impossible.

Honestly believe Ebay is no longer a viable or cost effective method in selling low cost items. This needs to be addressed by Ebay/Paypal maybe a reduction of fees on items sold under $20 (inclusive of postage). I understand the scam some sellers were doing on hiking postage fees to avoid FVF and see the need on commission on postage. To have to then put $7-$8 postage (cover pakaging costs - travel/envelope/lining) to send a $2 magazine will keep prospective buyers away.

Always send items registered post as required for seller protection. Been scammed ages ago " i didnt get item when sent std postage" wont ever do that again.

Any thoughts?

Re: Sellers using excessive postage cost to avoid fees

spapas01 — Sat, 25 Jul 2015 01:29:00 GMT

had a long talk with post office. Best option, prepaid registed post envelope to 500g. $6.10 each, or if bought in bulk go under $6.

Re: Sellers using excessive postage cost to avoid fees

harley_babes_hoard — Sat, 25 Jul 2015 06:24:00 GMT

stop dragging up old irrelevant threads.

start a new topic if you must

Re: Sellers using excessive postage cost to avoid fees

li.vish — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 17:34:12 GMT

Hi everyone, the discussion is getting a little heated. Please be sure to keep your communications civil. Thanks!