topic Re: The big postage question in Selling

The big postage question

garymatthews7 — Sun, 29 Jan 2023 02:43:56 GMT

I would like to get opinions from buyers on what they like to see when purchasing an item and from sellers, to see what they have found works for them.

As a part time seller on eBay, I always ask myself, should I do postage this way or that way. I have watched many videos and gone to many sites but I am still not satisficed.

I started selling items all with free postage but found, I always lost money especially if I accepted an offer.

I then went on to doing half postage which seemed to work pretty good for the most part.

Now, I just started doing full postage but am un decided if I should price my items as normal or reduce the price as a buyer might not want to pay for a full priced item and postage.

Lets say an item you are selling is for $20.

Do you like to see "Free postage" meaning the seller would sell the item for $30 with the postage built in?

Do you prefer seeing the postage separated from the item you are buying?

Say, half price postage, so $4.85 postage and $4.85 built into the price making the listing $25 with $4.85 postage

Maybe full postage selling the item at $20 with $9.70 postage?

Or would selling a $20 item for $30 be to much? So listing the item at $10 with $9.70 postage maybe?

Re: The big postage question

twyngwyn — Sun, 29 Jan 2023 02:49:04 GMT

I always add & combine postage.....that way customers are tempted to buy more. I have 3 customers on the go at the moment who are all bulk buying.....works for me

Re: The big postage question

padi*0409 — Sun, 29 Jan 2023 02:53:20 GMT

As a buyer I look at a couple of things with the seller/item. Firstly the total item price with postage (free or not) compared to other seller's prices and secondly their feedback, I hesitate to deal with high-volume sellers with under 99.5%.

I like it that you take the time to leave follow-up feedback for your buyers, most sellers won't do that or if they do it's a retaliatory feedback for a neg - not a good look.

I will also avoid sellers using Sendle because that company just doesn't work well for me at all.........ever.......

Re: The big postage question

earthdreamer — Sun, 29 Jan 2023 03:05:29 GMT

As a buyer, I am actually wary of free shipping, as I think the seller may skimp on special care when packing in order to recoup some of the postage expense.

As a seller, I realize many buyers prefer free shipping, but I am not prepared to pad the price of my item just to capiluate to the "free" crowd.

The reality is, there is no such thing as free shipping in Australia, because one way or another the buyer pays for it.

When postage is charged separately, the buyer sees the true cost of the item.

The postage cost is just the convenience of having the item delivered to their door.

Re: The big postage question

eol-products — Sun, 29 Jan 2023 03:14:55 GMT

There is no simple answer as it depends on the item you are selling. Some items will struggle to get top search results without free postage when in a saturated market. Other items that may only have a few available will not matter.

Re: The big postage question

countessalmirena — Sun, 29 Jan 2023 04:43:28 GMT

I look at total price.

If I’m placing a large order, it’s nice to see the postage component included (stated as FREE SHIPPING), but it’s not the decider. I’m well aware that the postage has to be paid in some way; the seller can’t absorb postage if the item cost doesn’t make it worthwhile.

Re: The big postage question

paper-jack — Sun, 29 Jan 2023 05:40:54 GMT

As a buyer my first consideration is finding the item I want. Then if I'm buying one item from a seller I'm OK whether the total price is with included (so called free) or separate postage, if the end result is a reasonable amount. However, if I want to buy several items from a seller I would not be paying the extra postage added into each if they were listed as "Free Postage". I prefer to shop with sellers who treat their buyers as I treat mine, and offer combined postage.

If free local pick up is welcomed and possible that would be a good reason to have item price and postage price listed separately.

Off ebay I shop with several places that offer free postage when the total purchase is over a certain amount. I have yet to find that as an option on ebay but I could be buying the wrong things.

On another account I have some repeat customers who don't bother to ask for combined postage as they know I will include an extra item to the value of the extra paid (less ebay fee) - easy to do when selling handmade products. For other non-handmade sales, eg 2 books to the same customer and they've paid too much postage I refund the extra less ebay fees without being asked.

( if a seller had robbed a post office and acquired a stack of pre paid satchels and or postage stamps, it would be free postage from their point of view. )

Re: The big postage question

papermoon.lady — Sun, 29 Jan 2023 06:28:10 GMT

If I intend to buy multiple items from a seller, I prefer postage to be separate, so the seller can combine postage.

Otherwise (if I only want to buy an item) it doesn't really matter if the total is the same.

One thing I would like to see is an indication of the postal service a seller is using. Most sellers do indicate it, but not all, and personally I prefer to avoid Aramex, so when the listing indicates "standard parcel delivery" under postage I always have to ask.

Re: The big postage question

cam-2793 — Mon, 30 Jan 2023 06:50:05 GMT

As a buyer I always look at price + postage, I don't usually mind too much if postage is built in to the price or charged seperately. I won't buy from a seller that states they use sendle. Just make sure if you say you use Ozpost ( or a specific courier) and buyer then recieves tracking from a different courier many will not be happy and the deal-breaker courier service will vary from region to region depending on the franchisee in each area.

Basically whatever you do some people will not be happy and others will. Do what is easiest for you and let the people who like what you do find you.

Re: The big postage question

domino-710 — Mon, 30 Jan 2023 07:09:07 GMT

Basically - there is no such thing as ' FREE POSTAGE '.

I will never use it - have never used it - simply because postage when FREE - is included - as of course are fees etc.

A buyer buys 3 items - combined - with FREE postage - literally means they are paying 3x postage.

Separate item & postage - combine purchases - the buyer is way better off.

No brainer for an honest seller.

Re: The big postage question

*sons_and_daughters* — Mon, 30 Jan 2023 13:16:00 GMT

As others have said, I prefer to see a postage cost. That way, if I buy multiple things, and assuming the seller combines postage, I'm only paying one lot, not multiple lots because the price has been incorporated into the price of the items.

I did try the free postage thing for a few months. Instead of $10 with $7 postage (yes, it was a few years ago), I listed for $17 with free postage. Sales came to an absolute grinding halt. People would look at the item and think, that's not worth $17, it's only worth $10. The postage cost was a given in their eyes, they were merely looking at an item that they didn't see was worth $17. So, I went back to adding a postage cost and sales took off again within a few day.

If you have 2 of the same item, try listing one with free postage, and the other with added postage. You've got nothing to lose.

Years ago an overseas seller had 2 of the same item (not identical because with that item, it wasn't possible, but a close match and both weighed exactly the same). Both items were listed as auctions. One started at $20 with free postage, the other 1c with $40 postage (it was after the fees on postage kicked in in Australia, but not sure about that overseas country).

I watched the free postage item climb and climb and climb. From memory, it sold for around $150. At the last minute, I bid on the high postage item and got it for 1c, and a third of the price other other piece. Moral of that story is, plenty of people get sucked into the free postage thing. So, give it a go on a few listings and see if it works.

Re: The big postage question

springyzone — Mon, 30 Jan 2023 22:44:53 GMT

I don't think there is an easy answer. A lot depends on what you sell but also, not all buyers are the same & you'll never please everyone in this life, so go with what overall works best for you.

Having said that, here are some of my views as a buyer these days.

-I definitely look at both prices-what the item costs, what the postage costs. And yes, a lot of things have free postage, but I know the price of posting has been added to the item cost.

I've actually seen some spices where the seller listed the same item both ways. I added the costs and they were identical prices.😁

But I have to say, with low cost items, free postage is 'easy' in that there is no maths involved.

Those ads present a customer with an 'at a glance' idea of what the total will be.

- one factor, I think, is the ratio. The cost of postage compared to the cost of the item. This is not logical, I realise that. Postage cost is based on weight and size, not the 'cost' of the actual item. But I suspect most buyers don't want to buy something for eg $4, if postage is eg $12. In that situation, they would possibly say to themselves-it's a cheap item, I'll look in op shops or elsewhere.

Would they pay $16? I don't know. But by labelling it as $4, you are making it look dirt cheap and I think impressions are important.

So what I think might work better in that situation would be to bump up the cost of the item to eg $10 and make the postage $6.

-buyers (well, I would imagine) might type in a few key words and browse the things that come up, so if you are selling the same or similar as other sellers, it is going to come down to total cost or how you present your items. I had a brief look and noticed you sell a lot of pre owned items. I used to as well.

I also noticed in one description you wrote 'condition is pre owned. As a buyer, I would find that frustrating. I already knew it was pre owned from the ad, what I would want is a bit more detailed description eg excellent, very good, no stains etc

For me personally, I will pay more for an item if I think I am getting quality.

-Have you had multiple people who bought several items at the same time? You charge for postage at present, so you'll know if any asked about combined postage. Combined postage, in a buyer's mind anyway, means they expect that if you can, you would send the things together with an overall saving in postage cost.

If you have a fair bit of that happening, then separate postage is the way to go. If it doesn't happen much, then don't factor it in to your decision. If you do decide to go with it though, mention it in your ads. It could be an incentive to some buyers to buy a second item.