topic Re: Should ebay profit from a FVF on postage costs? in Selling

Should ebay profit from a FVF on postage costs?

mamacas65 — Tue, 20 May 2014 13:28:06 GMT

Bad enough for the big sellers and their bottom line but what about the poor sods selling an item for a dollar with a postage cost of $7.20?

They'll end up with 18c after ebay have done their bit and then have to pay 50c to paypal.

Not only has he made nothing but is, in fact, 32c out of pocket!

Ebay govern us to not profif from postage and are quick to chastise the over-chargers but is it now the kettle calling the pot black when, for so many sellers, the FVF on the postage will be greater than that of the actual item?

For me there is only one conclusion..........

It sux like a Dyson!

Re: Should ebay profit from a FVF on postage costs?

phorum_junkie* — Tue, 20 May 2014 14:23:25 GMT

I have no sympathy for sellers who list things for a dollar, why would you bother? it has been on the cards for years now that ebay would bring in fvfs on delivery in Aus eventually to bring it into line with the US. Can't see how anyone can be surprised and sensible sellers will have been gradually changing their prices for both items and delivery over the last couple of years so they do not have a sudden increase in either prices or profit margins.

Ebay has one aim and one aim only. that is to make the maximum amount it can in order to keep the shareholders happy, they are not in business to do things that sellers want one week and that buyers want the next.

If you want a say in how ebay is run you will have to acquire a large number od shares!

Re: Should ebay profit from a FVF on postage costs?

dylan11235813 — Tue, 20 May 2014 15:54:14 GMT

"it has been on the cards for years now that ebay would bring in fvfs on delivery in Aus eventually to bring it into line with the US."

It is Australia simple as that, there are, as you know many things different. By your rational they might as well have a single website with the same rules for everyone, which is not going to happen anytime soon.

They may have wanted it for years but could only do it after striking a deal with Australia Post. I'm also curious as to how much GST is payed for the service that is supplied by ebay to print postage labels. The cost is still comparable to walking into the post office and paying for the postage, yet what happened to the GST?

I am by no means 100% on this but it would seem that as a customer of ebay no GST is payed on postage, in effect ebay is collecting the 10% GST and also charging the 10% or so FVF and also getiing a discount by taking the burdon away from Australia Post. I have no idea how GST works in this situation though, I don't collect GST myself so....

Re: Should ebay profit from a FVF on postage costs?

sparrow2207 — Wed, 21 May 2014 01:16:58 GMT

Its actually against ebay's own policy to PROFIT FROM POSTAGE.

Its all a case of "do as I say NOT as I Do".

Its another reason why ebay should be pulled by by the ACCC.

The only company that shoukld profit from postage is Australia Post or a nominated courier company.

Maybe we should all send our packaging expenses to ebay for reimbursement as we now are out of pocket for what we weren't before.

Where is the postage discount when they give with one hand and take with the other. And in a lot of cases its cheaper to post direct with AP.

Its just another case of stealing iMO.

Re: Should ebay profit from a FVF on postage costs?

porcelainforyou2 — Wed, 21 May 2014 02:36:20 GMT

I couldn't agree more.

Below is what I am writing on all of my eBay "surveys" when sent to me:

"Customer support experience OK, but I am extremely upset by eBay's decision to charge FVF on postage. This has completely terminated my selling to international buyers, as the FVF on international postage is considerably more than the final selling price for nearly all of my relatively low value second hand items. I have therefore had to remove the worldwide shipping option from my eBay sites, and restrict selling to Australian buyers only. Talk about "cutting off your nose to spite your face". To clamp down on the minority of unscrupulous sellers who lower the starting or fixed price and artificially raise the shipping cost in order to minimise FVF under the old system, you have killed off international sales for the scrupulous/ethical majority of sellers who charged 'honest' item prices and Australia Post postage cost only. Another metaphor that springs to mind is "killing off the goose that laid the golden egg"

Re: Should ebay profit from a FVF on postage costs?

porcelainforyou2 — Wed, 21 May 2014 02:50:23 GMT

You clearly have not thought the issue through, as evidenced by your glib posting. Yes, for sellers who sell bulk items of 'fixed' value for which postage is 'fixed' (e.g. items < 500g posted within Australia which cost $7.20 to any postcode) - e,g. C.D.'s or jewelry, it is easy to incorporate the FVF on postage (approx. 0.72c) into the item purchase price. For items > 500g it is impossible to incorporate the postage FVF into the auction starting price or fixed price. For example, I recently sold some plates to an international buyer in South Africa. The plates cost $9.99, and international postage was approx. $84. Are you seriously suggsesting that I routinely add $8.40 to the item starting price, when domestic postage on the item would only be $12 - $15, just in case an overseas buyer purchases the item?? I have now removed international shipping from my eBay sites, and restricted sales to domestic buyers only. I am currently "wearing" the FVF on domestic postage, as I cannot incorporate it into the starting/fixed price, bbecause it varies so widely depending upon the buyer's postcode. Postage of a parcel to a buyer in W.A. (where I am) is significantly lower than to the Eastern states or to Tasmania, so I would need to add on 10% of "worst case scenario postage" (e.g. postage to outback/remote QLD) to the auction starting or fixed price, which would kill off sales to W.A. buyers, particularly those who want local pick up.

Re: Should ebay profit from a FVF on postage costs?

porcelainforyou2 — Wed, 21 May 2014 03:13:04 GMT

I have contacted both the ACCC and Fair Trading re eBay's FVF on postage, and neither bureaucracy is interested. They basically said that eBay can do what they like re FVFs as long as they make their 'customers' (principally sellers in this case, as sellers pay it) aware of the fees prior to the sale / transaction.

Re: Should ebay profit from a FVF on postage costs?

cq_tech — Wed, 21 May 2014 10:22:45 GMT

You obviously don't realise that phorum_junkie* is only a posting ID and that she does in fact sell under a completely different ebay ID.And no, of course she's not an ebay employee.

Re: Should ebay profit from a FVF on postage costs?

davewil1964 — Wed, 21 May 2014 08:14:41 GMT

@dylan11235813 wrote:
"it has been on the cards for years now that ebay would bring in fvfs on delivery in Aus eventually to bring it into line with the US."

It is Australia simple as that, there are, as you know many things different. By your rational they might as well have a single website with the same rules for everyone, which is not going to happen anytime soon.

They may have wanted it for years but could only do it after striking a deal with Australia Post. I'm also curious as to how much GST is payed for the service that is supplied by ebay to print postage labels. The cost is still comparable to walking into the post office and paying for the postage, yet what happened to the GST?

I am by no means 100% on this but it would seem that as a customer of ebay no GST is payed on postage, in effect ebay is collecting the 10% GST and also charging the 10% or so FVF and also getiing a discount by taking the burdon away from Australia Post. I have no idea how GST works in this situation though, I don't collect GST myself so....

Five days after you print a label (the period allowed for a cancellation of said label) you can obtain a Tax Invoice for the postage. I believe it is issued by AP but it is still valid.

Apples with apples -

500g ebay satchel= $7.15, 500g C&S satchel = $8.00. 3kg = $11.70 vs $13.05.

Plus B1 boxes are about half the cost to post, and flat rate B4s are only available through eBay.

Re: Should ebay profit from a FVF on postage costs?

porcelainforyou2 — Wed, 21 May 2014 08:17:44 GMT

You are incorect. I have ben selling on Bay for over 7 years through different eBay IDs and have >3,000 feedbacks over the different sites.

Re: Should ebay profit from a FVF on postage costs?

cq_tech — Wed, 21 May 2014 10:26:34 GMT

think about it. If I was, do you really think you'd still be able to post here? 🙂

Re: Should ebay profit from a FVF on postage costs?

davewil1964 — Wed, 21 May 2014 08:31:15 GMT

I reckon there is a thesis or two in this.

The proportion of allegedly highly experienced members who, upon finally discovering the boards, assume anybody who doesn't agree with them is employed by eBay vis a vis new members who are just trying to solve issues who assume anybody who.....

Re: Should ebay profit from a FVF on postage costs?

digital*ghost — Wed, 21 May 2014 08:33:22 GMT

@porcelainforyou2 wrote:
You are obviously an eBay employe yourslf then!

eBay employees must declare themselves as such, and their posts are indicated by a bold blue border, plus this icon:

If they employed secret 'plants', then they're not doing a very good job if they can't convince you to change your mind, so either way it would seem it's eBay's loss.

Re: Should ebay profit from a FVF on postage costs?

davewil1964 — Wed, 21 May 2014 08:39:44 GMT

Only the originating member has access to an ID. As you would well understand as you claim to have several.

if you think p_j and cq are the same person, you really need to get a grip. They are on opposite sides of the world, atm.

Just because people don't agree with you doesn't make them eBay employees. Or using false IDs. Or right, for that matter. But the likelihood is higher the more that don't agree with you.

I suspect you may well find out about another interesting feature of the boards shortly.

Re: Should ebay profit from a FVF on postage costs?

chameleon54 — Wed, 21 May 2014 08:54:17 GMT

@porcelainforyou2 wrote:
That is fascinating! I was unaware that one could post on the discussion forum using a false / assumed eBay ID. Can you please instruct me how do this, as it would be most useful to be able to use an alias / "assumed" eBay ID that is not one's own when posting comments 'critical' of eBay on the discussion forum, in order to prevent potential repercusions. I do suspect, however, that only eBay employees are able to post using inactive eBay IDs that are no longer in use. Please feel fee to correct me if my assumption is incorrect, and let me know how to use an eBay ID that is not my own when posting comments.

All you have to do is set up another ID, going through the normal procedures to do so. People use posting ID's for all sorts of reasons. In my case it is as a security measure to protect my main accounts from unwanted attention from other forum users. ( things are not always as they seem on the forums ) . Many of the regular low feedback score posters are highly experienced ebayers with thousands of feedback scores on their regular selling ID.s.. I do agree with some of your sentiments, but would suggest a little care before questioning the motives and experience of other forum members, based on their posting ID,s, feedback scores and views ( which vary greatly between different members ). Its always nice to welcome another point of view in discussions though. Keeps things interesting !!!

Re: Should ebay profit from a FVF on postage costs?

davewil1964 — Wed, 21 May 2014 09:02:07 GMT

i always find the number of posts a member has made a far more accurate indication of their experience. At least at giving advise. Given that a seller could, for example, have over 3000 feedback as a seller, but have never had an issue. Then 7 years in suddenly they get a bee in their bonnet, find the boards and expect anybody with less than their alleged feedback (not declared in their posting ID) to know nothing.

For example.

Re: Should ebay profit from a FVF on postage costs?

thecatspjs — Wed, 21 May 2014 10:37:55 GMT

@davewil1964 wrote:

i always find the number of posts a member has made a far more accurate indication of their experience. At least at giving advise. Given that a seller could, for example, have over 3000 feedback as a seller, but have never had an issue. Then 7 years in suddenly they get a bee in their bonnet, find the boards and expect anybody with less than their alleged feedback (not declared in their posting ID) to know nothing.

Should eBay profit from a FVF on postage costs? Not IMO if it is coupled with a push on sellers to use FREE POST.

I find the number of posts a member has made on these boards doesn't really provide an accurate indication of the "posters" experience or any wisdom, particularly those with posting IDs. In fact IMO there are several posters who use several different IDs to post on the boards.

Don't know why anyone would take advice from someone who posts on a ID that provides little to none of their credentials as a seller or a buyer.

Re: Should ebay profit from a FVF on postage costs?

go-tazz — Wed, 21 May 2014 09:39:43 GMT

@porcelainforyou2 wrote:
That is fascinating! I was unaware that one could post on the discussion forum using a false / assumed eBay ID.

as it would be most useful to be able to use an alias / "assumed" eBay ID that is not one's own

They are not false /"assumed" ID's,(they are genuine second ID's).

They are used so that their seller ID's aren't "targeted"

when posting comments 'critical' of eBay on the discussion forum, in order to prevent potential

repercussions.

That's against eBay policy,(you can't use an ID to disrupt the boards).

I do suspect, however, that only eBay employees are able to post using inactive eBay IDs that are no longer in use.

Inactive accounts can't be used by anyone else and as explained ,(eBay employees can't "hide")

Please feel fee to correct me if my assumption is incorrect,

You assumptions are completely wrong.

Can you please instruct me how do this,

and let me know how to use an eBay ID that is not my own when posting comments.

Not likely as you don't plan to use it for it's intended purpose,

As stated,for future reference look at the number of posts by members,(that will give you a better idea

on how knowledgeable the poster is)

Re: Should ebay profit from a FVF on postage costs?

thecatspjs — Wed, 21 May 2014 09:44:42 GMT

Lol tas - so if I amass thousands of posts on CS by partaking in political debates or post to the games threads on a regular basis others should trust my advice more - I think not.

Re: Should ebay profit from a FVF on postage costs?

davewil1964 — Wed, 21 May 2014 10:09:03 GMT

@thecatspjs wrote:
Lol tas - so if I amass thousands of posts on CS by partaking in political debates or post to the games threads on a regular basis others should trust my advice more - I think not.

Porcelain for example? Claims 3000+ feedback, then berates others who have less than that, even though has 127 or something on the posting ID.

i would hazard a guess that most of the members who regularly post here (even you) regularly post trying to help/answer others. Eg I defy you to find ME posting outside of buying/selling on a regular basis. You too, probably. Some do only post in a vain effort to prove black is white, but that is fairly rare, and nothing to do with porcelain's allegations.