topic Re: Postage Discounts on calculated postage for Buyers Australia in Selling

Postage Discounts on calculated postage for Buyers Australia

collectivejam — Sun, 11 Jan 2026 22:33:08 GMT

Hey Guys,

Recently eBay Australia has offered buyer reduced postage costs for calculated shipping after getting a blanket deal with Australia Post. I think eBay have got this process completely wrong. As we know eBay charge their sellers fees and also promoted listing percentage on the complete amount of the transaction (including the postage, not just the item amount). So generally sellers who post items with an Australia post discount would absorb the fees as they got a discount from Australia post, as it covered it. But WHY offer customers reduced postage? Makes no sense at all. By doing this what eBay are doing is forcing me to increase my weights or item prices to cover the fees they charge on the postage. Tell me I'm wrong but seems like another penalty to sellers here.

Re: Postage Discounts on calculated postage for Buyers Australia

pnc75 — Sun, 11 Jan 2026 22:45:47 GMT

Completely agree. It's an absolute mess. There are a few threads below around the topic, although not specifically the valid point you're making.

Re: Postage Discounts on calculated postage for Buyers Australia

brickworksmarket — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 00:00:48 GMT

If those who use a mypost account or ebay labels get a discount depending on where you are sending would stand to reason to also give the buyer the same discount.

This would make it easier for a seller to price their items knowing that the buyer will pay the appropriate postage amount depending on what postage zone they are in.

As a seller you could either increase your item price or add a handling fee.

If I switch to fixed price and just charge $9.70 for a small satchel to the buyer it will cost me from $6.31-$9.22 to send. So I will either make more from some buyers than others but also have to allow for the maximum cost of postage when pricing the item.

Re: Postage Discounts on calculated postage for Buyers Australia

collectivejam — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 01:10:42 GMT

Sorry, But postage also includes packaging and handling. The packaging is not free and neither is my time. So as a seller I charge exactly what a normal person would be charged to ship the item. By the time eBay take their cut of the postage in fees and I buy the box ect, The discount I receive from being a business customer is well and truly eaten up. But all charging fees and discounting postage for buyers is doing is increasing the sale price of every item on eBay. As a business you can't give discounts on postage really when you think about the true cost of the shipping..... Help the sellers and yeah sure if they are part time sellers, eBay should go into bat and get them a better deal, but not back hand them with charging fees on the postage and ALSO giving the buyer a discount. My thoughts... roast me if I'm wrong.

Re: Postage Discounts on calculated postage for Buyers Australia

collectivejam — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 01:45:06 GMT

My Bet is NO ONE from eBay will respond to this and if there are full time sellers out there, we need to make some noise about this.

Re: Postage Discounts on calculated postage for Buyers Australia

sandypebbles — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 01:48:24 GMT

Since eBay staff very very read the member to member forum, that is a safe bet

They certain never reply to comments on here

Re: Postage Discounts on calculated postage for Buyers Australia

brickworksmarket — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 01:52:00 GMT

I am certain full time sellers like myself solved this issue within the first few days.

If your postage is now showing cheaper by a few dollars to a buyer you only need to add that amount to your item price

The only reason I have not gone to showing a fixed price or free postage as some have is I don't won't to have to deal with offering postage discounts for multiple purchases.

Re: Postage Discounts on calculated postage for Buyers Australia

twyngwyn — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 02:49:06 GMT

From 2024:

https://www.ecommercebytes.com/C/blog/blog.pl?/comments/2024/4/1713387805.html

Re: Postage Discounts on calculated postage for Buyers Australia

collectivejam — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 10:15:29 GMT

Exactly what I stated to begin with. Giving a buyer a postage discount achieves NOTHING, only higher prices on items.

Sellers now have to add the price to the item. I know mate, I have been selling for years. I have an understanding on how it works. But WHO negotiates a better rate on postage and passes that on to the customer when they are already taking a percentage of the postage as "fees". Yes eBay takes a percentage of the WHOLE amount not just the item sale price. The negotiated price should be helping sellers, not making it harder for them as they now have to bump up the prices on all their items to compensate????

Re: Postage Discounts on calculated postage for Buyers Australia

collectivejam — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 10:18:52 GMT

Interesting read. Thanks

Re: Postage Discounts on calculated postage for Buyers Australia

davewil1964 — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 12:43:49 GMT

Giving a buyer a postage discount achieves NOTHING, only higher prices on items.

But the same price overall, which is what savvy buyers look at.

You could always NOT use eBay labels, set your own flat rate postage, and be a general seller with an AP MyPost Business account.

Issue resolved

Re: Postage Discounts on calculated postage for Buyers Australia

collectivejam — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 12:41:50 GMT

I'm not debating that, I don't use eBay labels as I am on the highest band with Aust Post. BUT.... if you use calculated shipping on your items. eBay calculates the buyers shipping less 20% that they have got from Australia post but still charges their fees on your total, so they pass the 20% discount to the buyer but also charge their fees on your postage amount??? Not exactly helping to keep sellers on their platform now is it? So how do sellers react? They up their prices to compensate. Now why would I buy from eBay for more than amazon.... that's where it heads.

Re: Postage Discounts on calculated postage for Buyers Australia

collectivejam — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 12:44:17 GMT

If you think savvy buyers on eBay out weigh the general joe who just looks at the price.... Well I doubled my postage once to see what would happen. I had two customers question it out of 22 sales.

Re: Postage Discounts on calculated postage for Buyers Australia

brickworksmarket — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 21:10:09 GMT

The discount shown to the buyer varies depending on the delivery zone so not 20% to everyone. Same delivery zone may be that high but some will on be 2-3%. If you add a handling fee that will help.