topic Re: Free postage - does it attract more buyers in Selling

Free postage - does it attract more buyers

jaks_thingz — Sat, 27 Jan 2018 10:49:01 GMT

I am in the process of compiling listings for an assortment of video games. These are discs only, so can be posted as a large letter for a couple of dollars....

Normally I add postage to my listings.. But i'm wondering if offering free shipping would attract more buyers

Re: Free postage - does it attract more buyers

padi*0409 — Sat, 27 Jan 2018 10:56:10 GMT

As a buyer it's the total price that I look at, "free postage" for me doesn't come into it, what does influence me more is what the seller's feedback is like, how the listings are presented etc.

But I guess some buyers would be tempted by it.

Re: Free postage - does it attract more buyers

k1ooo-slr-sales — Sat, 27 Jan 2018 11:14:52 GMT

@jaks_thingz wrote:
I am in the process of compiling listings for an assortment of video games. These are discs only, so can be posted as a large letter for a couple of dollars....

Normally I add postage to my listings.. But i'm wondering if offering free shipping would attract more buyers

Adding the postage to your asking price will ensure you are not out of pocket if you are doing Buy-It-Now listings. If you include postage into all your item prices then a buyer who buys more than one item will not benefit from combined postage discounts.

For auctions, make sure you start your auctions at the minimum price you are prepared to sell for + the cost of postage. This too will help cover you in the event of only 1 bid being made.

Including the postage in your Buy-Now asking price will also see you out of pocket on a change-of-mind return (if you accept change of mind returns) as the item price will be refunded, and that price includes the postage. For eBay MBG returns you will be out of pocket.

Make sure you don’t get caught out having to post international for free.

Re: Free postage - does it attract more buyers

digital*ghost — Sat, 27 Jan 2018 11:54:44 GMT

@jaks_thingz wrote:
But i'm wondering if offering free shipping would attract more buyers

Personally, I don't think this is really a yes or no question, in most cases, as it's something that can work for some sellers, but not others. I think if anything, a lot of the time it's more a case of being more likely to attract a certain type of buyer (I don't mean that in a bad way, just that free post can simplify things for some people and they would find items listed that way more appealing).

For free post to be the most appealing, or more specifically 'postage included', I think the costs being included need to not tip the purchase price over the level of reasonable (a $5 item with $5 postage is actually more likely to sell IMHO than a $5 item listed at $10 with free post), and usually it benefits items where people aren't looking to purchase multiples, plus have a low return rate (you can implement a restocking fee for change of mind returns, to cover the cost of outgoing postage in those cases, but last I heard there was some issues getting them to be applied).

Some buyers like the simplicity of free post, others like to maximise the savings with separate combined postage. As a seller, I like the best of both worlds and can accomodate it with my items by using a flat rate - i.e. a separate postage charge, but it's only charged once no matter how many items are in the order.

Re: Free postage - does it attract more buyers

kopenhagen5 — Sat, 27 Jan 2018 12:04:54 GMT

Personally, if an item has free postage and an item has $3-$4 postage, I don't care about that small difference.

I am going to buy from the buyer that seems to have the better condition item and better feedback.

Re: Free postage - does it attract more buyers

egglesdtp — Sat, 27 Jan 2018 13:01:54 GMT

I usually make postage 'free' on items of low value that I send as a letter, which usually costs $2 or $3 in postage.

I don't do auctions, I don't accept returns and I don't post overseas, so the points raised by k1ooo are not relevant to me.

I don't think free shipping attracts more buyers, however I just find it a bit 'neater' to combine a low cost item with low cost postage into one figure.

Have a read of the thread titled What the funt, eBay?! as this may have some relevance to you.

Re: Free postage - does it attract more buyers

springyzone — Sat, 27 Jan 2018 20:46:36 GMT

@jaks_thingz wrote:
I am in the process of compiling listings for an assortment of video games. These are discs only, so can be posted as a large letter for a couple of dollars....

Normally I add postage to my listings.. But i'm wondering if offering free shipping would attract more buyers

I don't know but I suspect it is a question a few other sellers ask themselves & I've seen one testing it out.

I buy occasionally from a seller who sells spices/teas etc and the first time I looked at their range, I saw one of the spices, exact same size, seemed to be a couple of dollars cheaper, so I clicked on it to see what was different. It was the fact postage was separate.

So on some of their listings they have 'free postage' & on some they have separate postage. Price comes to the same.

These are on items which, like yours, are posted as a letter I presume (or mine are at any rate). I don't know what the results of their experiment are. I've bought both ways, depends which ad I find first.

I suspect for small items on 'buy it now' though, a lot of buyers just want to find the product, know at a glance how much it costs, buy the thing. So 'free postage' fits the bill, no maths to be done.

I'm like DG in that i think a low cost item with maybe a dearer postage is a bit of a psychological turn off to buyers.

In your position I'd probably go with 'free postage', see how you go.

Re: Free postage - does it attract more buyers

shoppingbag* — Sat, 27 Jan 2018 22:26:41 GMT

I don't think it makes a huge difference. I think most buyers (myself included) add the postage and cost of the item together and look at the total. It may, however save you from getting only 3 stars for postage costs on a $2 postage charge. This is what happened to me, and I supplied the padded envelope for free. However, there is no guarantee that you still won't get a bad DSR rating for postage even with free postage. You do not get an automatic 5 star for this unless you are a powerseller.

Re: Free postage - does it attract more buyers

cezm — Sun, 28 Jan 2018 01:41:39 GMT

It probably depends on the items being sold but, personally, all other things being reasonably equal, I will go for the option to be able to combine postage to make a saving.

If I only want/need one item then it doesn't have any impact on me.

I don't see 'free' postage as an inducement because I am paying it in the price of the item anyway.

Re: Free postage - does it attract more buyers

davidc4430 — Sun, 28 Jan 2018 02:21:11 GMT

i have tried both when selling, i have now just put the postage calculator into it as when i was adding postage to my items i was getting it wrong too often and ending up out of pocket.

its fine if you know the amount your going to be charged but once you go over the basic 500grams, suddenly different postcodes are different costs and box sizes alter things. nope, just put the info into the calculator and if its wrong and they get overcharged just refund the extra.

its far from perfect but if its wrong at least i can blame ebay.

as a buyer i look at total cost not if there is free post. i see some sellers double listing the same item, one with postage one with free post but to 2 totals are the same. go figure that one out.

Re: Free postage - does it attract more buyers

davidc4430 — Sun, 28 Jan 2018 02:23:37 GMT

oh and hasnt having the postage printed on the label killed the charging more for postage than it actually costs lol

now the buyer knows exactly how much it cost and did the seller make a profit on post.

Re: Free postage - does it attract more buyers

lane-ends — Sun, 28 Jan 2018 02:42:20 GMT

i will throw in an often overlook aspect. Buyers like to kid themselves (and their partners) they got things cheaper

eg

$29+ $8= Look i go this for less than $30

$37= not sure i want to pay over $30 for it / you paid HOW MUCH for that?

ie everyone likes to kid themselve how savy a buyer they are, and often delude themselves over the real cost. Add to which there is a buyer perception that free post prices are loaded.

Ebay does not boost freepost items in searches as much as often thought, if at all.

I choose a subsidised option, ie a flat rate which is less then the minimum regardless of what it turns out to be ie $5 whether it end up in a 500gm or 3kg satchel. That way, no need to estimate it (and many of my items are borderline). No disputes if i get it wrong. It gives a facility to discount postal rates for combined if necc, in many cases no need to as 2x$5 is still under price of a 3kg satchel even 3x isn't loaded especially if using signature.

A lot depends if it is a common item with definate market value or not, if they are individual items with suck it and see values then perception plays a bigger part than actual total $ price point

Re: Free postage - does it attract more buyers

lyndal1838 — Sun, 28 Jan 2018 03:07:37 GMT

As a buyer I look at the overall cost of the item and postage.....I don't care how it is made up I just want the cheapest overall price.

The only time I specifically look for Free postage is when there is an ebay discount promotion on.....postage is never included in the discount so the way to maximise your discount is to find items with free postage .

Re: Free postage - does it attract more buyers

melbourneclearance — Sun, 28 Jan 2018 06:44:24 GMT

The first thing I do when searching for stuff to buy on ebay is to sort it by Price+Postage. The Free Shipping thingie was cooked up by the dark souls at ebay so that when there is a dispute there is no dispute who gets ripped off for the original postage --> the seller.

Keep in mind that Free Shipping (plus 30 day money back return and Express Post) gives you a Premium Service badge if you are a Top Rated Seller which will rank your listings higher in Best Match searches. No doubt a lot of people are using Best Match, so I guess Premium Service gets you more customers.

Having said that, I am listing more and more of my items with postage nowadays because I just don't like this Free Shipping thing. It is not free and it is insulting the buyers' intelligence. I use it for some items but most of my items are listed with postage now.

Re: Free postage - does it attract more buyers

springyzone — Sun, 28 Jan 2018 19:45:14 GMT

As a buyer, I always search by typing in my own key words for whatever I want.

I had to check how my results are sorted & it is by 'items ending soonest'. What ebay's default setting is, I do not know.

But after that, my choice comes down to what's on offer & the overall cost. Free shipping in itself is not a drawcard.

I think its main value probably comes in for smaller items eg $4 plus $2 postage versus $6 with 'free postage'. I know postage isn't free, it's in there with the cost but the $6 ad is 'at a glance' user friendly, I suppose.

The only time a separate postage charge might turn me off a bit is where it is the major part of a purchase eg item $5, postage $15. I find myself asking whether it is really worth it to buy that particular item on ebay.

Re: Free postage - does it attract more buyers

collect247 — Sun, 28 Jan 2018 20:28:23 GMT

So kopes when you say the seller has better feedback do you mean overall positive feedback or the amount of positive feedback?

Re: Free postage - does it attract more buyers

collect247 — Sun, 28 Jan 2018 20:31:16 GMT

Yes but when I used to sell I sold at auction with free postage included and started at $0.99 so my postage was really free and no buyer was paying for it at all and there are alot of sellers that list this way also.

Re: Free postage - does it attract more buyers

springyzone — Sun, 28 Jan 2018 21:48:39 GMT

@kookakook wrote:
Yes but when I used to sell I sold at auction with free postage included and started at $0.99 so my postage was really free and no buyer was paying for it at all and there are alot of sellers that list this way also.

Did you find that worked for you?

My fear would be that if i got only one bid & the item only sold for 99c, I'd be out of pocket a fair bit as not only would there be ebay & paypal fees, but I'd be up for all the postage costs myself-plus the added bother & cost of wrapping, posting etc. No way would I want to be in that position.

I suppose some items generally might get multiple bids but you're braver than I would be!

Re: Free postage - does it attract more buyers

egglesdtp — Sun, 28 Jan 2018 23:28:25 GMT

@kookakook wrote:
Yes but when I used to sell I sold at auction with free postage included and started at $0.99 so my postage was really free and no buyer was paying for it at all and there are alot of sellers that list this way also.

The way things are now, if you sold at auction starting at 99c with free postage, you'd soon be in the red. 'Ordinary' items rarely attract more than one bid these days and I don't understand why some sellers continue to run auctions. I know there are some that find auctions still a good way to sell, but I think these would be far and few between (at least for the sort of items I am usually looking for).

Re: Free postage - does it attract more buyers

whiznumber6 — Sun, 28 Jan 2018 23:54:42 GMT

Dunno - if there are three or four of the same item at the same price, the one with free postage is the one I go for.Very often, the one with free post is the same as an identical item including post.

Having said that, I often have buyers purchase multiple items and paying without waiting for a combined invoice (so, paying five times as much postage as they need to in some cases), so free postage clearly isn't a determining factor for some!