topic Re: Postage costs in Selling

Postage costs

ferris43 — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 04:56:13 GMT

To certain sellers out there...do you realise that more people will bid on your auctions if your postage costs are reasonable??

I see so many auctions listed where I know that postage could be cheaper...I see items that could easily and safely fit into a cheaper pre paid satchel. To me in the long run you are just doing yourself out of making more money. What money you do gain by buyers paying more for the postage, Im sure would be far less then the amount you could make by more people bidding on your items.

I know for a fact that postage is one of the first things that determines if I will bid on something so Im sure it is the same with other buyers.

And then you get the seller who puts a really low starting bid but then a huge postage price..of course we all know the reasons for this.

I sell and buy on Ebay..When selling I always try and find the cheapest (taking into account the items safety) way to send the item to the buyer.

Re: Postage costs

lateralcanvasstore — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 05:48:15 GMT

Hi,

All this depends on what you are selling and whether you are working your business as a full time, part time or as a hobby business. There are many more factors as to why sellers have higher postal costs.

If you don't include your handling costs like you would do in a retail setting you could quickly find that you will go out of business.
Postal does need to include what it costs you to run your every day ebay business. Sellers still need to include costs for running their business from home including and covering general utility or petrol costs. Not all of us live in the city where services are close to us and these small costs can mount over a month and need to be paid for.

I'm sure there are some excessive postal prices out there, but on a general basis you are not just charging for the postal satchel. I would like the postal and handling to be clearer to customers myself even itemized so customers realize the break down. I'd also like customers to be able to see end of auction fees that both ebay and paypal charge a seller after an auction. Then I believe transactions and postal charges become transparent.

We started with second hand books and now work our business full time and there are many aspects that effect our daily cost of operation.

Re: Postage costs

ferris43 — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 07:01:53 GMT

Hi lateralcanvasstore...

I see a lot of it with ebayers who do not seem to be running a ebay business..I feel that some sellers shoot themselves in their own foot and would make more money with more people bidding on their auction if their postage quotes were cheaper..for example I collect novelty decanters and bid on one today with the postage being $13.00...I saw another decanter that I would have loved to add to my collection and yet the postage was $30.00..it was one of those hound dog decanters and I have one at home similar and I know that it could have been sent cheaper and still safely for far less then $30.00...so thats a bid they miss out on.

When you say that people may be charging for postage and handling all in one, and handling costs need to be taken into account especially for the ebay business..yes I agree with you here and I also agree that an auction should clearly state that there is a handling fee...

But...when buyers are charging postage for more expensive pre paid bags when the items can fit in a smaller pre paid bags then that is just plain stupid because they aren't making any more money its just the buyer that is forking out more money on a more expensive bag...

Personally if I ever got an item sent to me and the amount I paid in postage wasn't the same that showed up on the parcel I would be asking the seller a few questions.

Re: Postage costs

ferris43 — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 07:04:50 GMT

That was meant to be 'when sellers are charging postage for more expensive pre paid bags etc

sorry

Re: Postage costs

the3coopers — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 07:24:24 GMT

I replied in your other identical thread...

http://forums.ebay.com.au/topic/Buying/Postage-Costs/500141822

If you are a buyer, then you would be wise to keep quiet about this 😉 The very best bargains are those where "postage zealots" won't bid.

It shouldn't matter to a buyer what the postage split up is - if the decanter is worth $50, why not go for the one that has $30 postage where other buyers choose not to bid?

Consider - which is of these is cheapest:

$5 + $30 postage
OR
$30 + $10 postage

.

Re: Postage costs

the3coopers — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 07:29:59 GMT

Personally if I ever got an item sent to me and the amount I paid in postage wasn't the same that showed up on the parcel I would be asking the seller a few questions.

And I reckon that is just plain wrong. Your bids are based on the TOTAL price including delivery. As an astute buyer, you will only offer what the item is worth, eh?

The item and quoted postage are a "pair", they cannot be separated!
You cannot choose the low item price from one listing, and demand the low postage price from another.

I reckon just stop fussing about postage costs... if seller over charges postage then they don't pay eBay fees on that portion of the transaction. But one way or the other, does it actually matter if the seller makes profit from postage or the item itself?

It's six of one, half dozen of the other. Focus on the TOTAL price and let eBay worry about whether they collect their fees. 😉

.

Re: Postage costs

ferris43 — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 07:59:56 GMT

Yes I made the mistake of posting twice I got mixed up and thought the first time I did it that it hadnt worked- only to later realise it had in this section too..

Oh and Im not fussing about anything ok...

All that Im trying to get across is that sellers would get more bids if they didn't over quote on postage or quote on larger pre paid bags when the items would fit in a smaller bag..thats all..plain and simple..and no the decanter was not worth the 50 and then another 30 on top of it.

As far as sellers who have large postage quotes and small starting amounts because they do not want to pay large fee's then thats fine with me..that wasnt what I was protesting about if you read my original and subsequent posts.

If a seller quotes me $30 for postage and I see it only cost $10..you dont think I should ask any questions??

Re: Postage costs

annies_fancy_dress — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 09:21:58 GMT

I wish some people would realise that postage is not just the postage label price.

Aust post do NOT give out 'tough bags' for free, neither does any other office supply place.

Zip-lock bags are cheap, but I still have to pay for them.

Rounding up the postage (usually less then a dollar) is not piracy, it's just business.

?:|

Re: Postage costs

ferris43 — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 11:38:58 GMT

I do understand about all what you have said and thats not even what my postings have been about..all of what you said should be included in the postage quote shouldn't it? I know that when I have given postage quotes Ive included all packaging etc in the price.

There is no way that I would dispute a small descrepency in the postage I paid to what I saw the actual cost was for the postage when i received the parcel. I wouldnt even dispute it if it was a few bucks..

Sellers usually state on their listings if they charge extra ontop of what Aus post actually charge them.

Thanks 🙂

Re: Postage costs

lane-ends — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 12:23:47 GMT

The two decanters you are talking about, would they be boxed parcels?..If so then sellers probably are using ebay postage calculater. hence price will be automatically showing by postcode, depending where they are relative to you. ie they dont set the value, and it will vary for each buyer

sellers who do charge excessive postage, will not sell much hence, market forces will put them out of business.

Re: Postage costs

lane-ends — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 12:29:22 GMT

If a seller quotes me $30 for postage and I see it only cost $10..you dont think I should ask any questions??

That is the reason it sells for $10 rather than $30

Years ago I ran an experiment for a while doing extreme cases both high postage and subsidised postage.Without a doubt it showed me that any fee avoidence gained by loading postage was totally lost by lack of sales due to high postage, not to mention dealing with grumpy buyers,and buyers were less picky then.

Re: Postage costs

ferris43 — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 12:47:59 GMT

Hi lane-ends thanks for your comments....with that quote you referred to..when I said $10 what I actually meant was $10 postage..so I was saying that if I paid 50 and saw that the postage only cost 10 I would definitely been asking questions..

I think most people realise what sellers are doing when the item is listed at a very low start and yet postage is high...fee avoidence of course..but good luck to anyone that wants to do it.

I just can't seem to get across my point (or aren't believed) that buyers do take note of postage costs.. and postage costs can determine if an item is bid for or how many bids it gets. Also the pre paid satchel thing that ive mentioned too...

But anyways what would I know Im just a seller/buyer with 100% feedback LOL

Re: Postage costs

arb_games — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 12:59:07 GMT

To Ferris43,

Perhaps you should learn a little about running a business before you start criticising sellers for charging postage & handling costs that are higher than the actual Australia Post charges.

I charge postage & handling charges to cover all my costs, not just the postage costs. There are other costs involved apart from the actual postage costs, for instance, any packaging, boxes or envelopes purchased, who pays for me to stand at the Australia Post counter for anything up to 2 hours every time I do a postal run?

But of course, what do I know. I have only been running my business sucessfully for 8 years, I must be a crook!

But you are such an experienced business person with your 100% feedback score of 375.

Re: Postage costs

straybooksoz — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 13:05:02 GMT

To Ferris43,

Perhaps you should learn a little about running a business before you start criticising sellers for charging postage & handling costs that are higher than the actual Australia Post charges.

I charge postage & handling charges to cover all my costs, not just the postage costs. There are other costs involved apart from the actual postage costs, for instance, any packaging, boxes or envelopes purchased, who pays for me to stand at the Australia Post counter for anything up to 2 hours every time I do a postal run?

But of course, what do I know. I have only been running my business sucessfully for 8 years, I must be a crook!

But you are such an experienced business person with your 100% feedback score of 375.

Ouch. All pay homage to the Powerseller.

We all have the same costs, regardless of volume. In fact, I would hazard a guess that for a low volume seller it would be a lot more relevant.

If I had to wait more than 5 minutes at MY PO, I would be peeved.

2 hours? Pfft.

Re: Postage costs

ferris43 — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 13:22:11 GMT

My god...IM NOT.. I have not said anywhere that i do not think sellers should charge for postage and handling..read my posts again please.

Thats the problem with posting on here people do not read posts properly and then accuse others of stating something that they have not.

I actually agreed with annies post a bit further up that there are added costs for packaging etc on top of what Aus post charge to send the item. I did say that a seller should state they charge handling fees and thats all, as others have also.

My actual posts have not even been about added costs or zip bags or string or petrol or time taken waiting in line etc etc others have brought that topic into the posts...

All I have ever wanted to get across is the fact that some sellers state high postage costs for items that could be sent cheaper and it is mainly sellers that use pre paid satchels and post items that could fit in a cheaper pre paid satchel then in the more expensive ones..I just wanted to get across that this can cause buyers not to bid or less bids.

So please don't accuse me of criticising sellers for charging postage and handling fees because that is completely untrue.. and i dont care if ive only got a feedback score of 375 with 100% I value my 100% feedback..thanks

Re: Postage costs

straybooksoz — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 13:26:37 GMT

My god...IM NOT.. I have not said anywhere that i do not think sellers should charge for postage and handling..read my posts again please.

Thats the problem with posting on here people do not read posts properly and then accuse others of stating something that they have not.

I actually agreed with annies post a bit further up that there are added costs for packaging etc on top of what Aus post charge to send the item. I did say that a seller should state they charge handling fees and thats all, as others have also.

My actual posts have not even been about added costs or zip bags or string or petrol or time taken waiting in line etc etc others have brought that topic into the posts...

All I have ever wanted to get across is the fact that some sellers state high postage costs for items that could be sent cheaper and it is mainly sellers that use pre paid satchels and post items that could fit in a cheaper pre paid satchel then in the more expensive ones..I just wanted to get across that this can cause buyers not to bid or less bids.

So please don't accuse me of criticising sellers for charging postage and handling fees because that is completely untrue.. and i dont care if ive only got a feedback score of 375 with 100% I value my 100% feedback..thanks

I think arb has got bored and lowered themself down to the pleb boards.

Arb is a pertinent example as to why I would not want to be a powerseller

Re: Postage costs

straybooksoz — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 13:29:19 GMT

And arb's feedback is only juist acceptable for a powerseller, and DSRs are embarrassing. At least, I would be embarrassed if my DSRs were that low.

Re: Postage costs

ferris43 — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 13:47:31 GMT

Cheers piratepete..

With some peoples replies they bring up stuff or defend things that didn't even have anything to do with what I was trying to get across, or that I didn't even state in my posts.

Re: Postage costs

jensmanchester-australia — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 14:02:42 GMT

Ferris,

Sellers may have different reasons for choosing not to post items by using what you consider a cheaper posting method.

As a WA based seller I choose to use the express post service prepaid satchels in preference to regular post satchels.

The main reason for this is that regular post from WA to the Eastern States can be very slow, particularly when going to country areas. In addition the express post service is partially trackable which gives some peace of mind to the buyers.

I have found over the years that the majority of my buyers are more than happy to pay the extra dollar or two as they appreciate the speedier service. They are thrilled to receive their parcel within a few days rather than having to wait up to two weeks for it to go by camel train across the Nullabour.

Another thing is that unless you know the size and weight of an item sometimes it is easy to assume it may go into a smaller size satchel or could be posted cheaper but in reality it isn't.

For example - recently I had a buyer purchase three items and they asked if they could be sent regular post as it would be the cheapest option. In actual fact the cheapest option in this case was a 5kg express post satchel which cost around $19.00 whereas a regular post parcel was going to cost around $23.00. This just shows how it is easy to assume one thing but that assumption may not be correct.

Re: Postage costs

ferris43 — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 14:52:19 GMT

jensmanchester

I have no dispute to anyone sending their items with pre paid satchels or even with express ones as you say you do...Im sure you probably state that you use express post on your listings so your buyers can see why postage may be a bit more expensive..maybe you list why you prefer to use them like you stated above too

With me referring to some sellers quoting more expensive pre paid satchels when they could have used a cheaper one- it has been where it is quite obvious that what they have been selling would definitely be ok in a cheaper satchel. eg 3 barbie dolls.

I do understand that sometimes it can be cheaper using pre paid satchels then regular post as you stated..I have seen this for myself as well.

I have not sold in a long time but when I have I have always used pre paid satchels myself...