Are most buyers by now aware that sellers have to pay ebay a final value fee on the postage ?

[fixnwear]

It's a hidden cost that is not seen up front so maybe not considered.

So a seller takes $10.60 from you for postage and loses 10-13%  to ebay.

This system is rightly in place to protect buyers from postage pirates.

( many of you may be too young to remember the items selling for $1.00

but having a postal charge of $100.00 ).

[gutterpunkz05]

7

[springyzone]

Hey, I'm a buyer so I feel fully qualified to answer you.😁

The answer is no. Definitely no.

The majority of customers would be aware, vaguely, that sellers who place ads-whether that is on ebay, on TV, radio etc, generally get billed for that. There are some free ad venues-eg gumtree & marketplace-so some customers may not even be aware ebay charges fees, let alone wonder if there are fees paid on postage.

I'm well aware of fees but that is only because I was once a seller, plus I frequent the boards. Plus I know a couple of people who do sell on ebay.

One thing I can tell you is that customers don't give much thought to postage fees a seller might be charged but they do pay special attention to any fees THEY may be charged. That's what customers care about-how much THEY have to pay. I'm like that myself. 

Even then, some customers have extremely unrealistic views of what postage should cost.

My advice would be that if your stars are being dinged and you suspect it is because you add 50c to the postage cost, then add the 50c to the item price instead.

[sugar249]

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@springyzone wrote:

My advice would be that if your stars are being dinged and you suspect it is because you add 50c to the postage cost, then add the 50c to the item price instead.

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Unless things have changed,  as they are advertsing as free postage (claimed in an earlier update),   you don't get to rate them on postage cost .  So not really relevant for this person

[domino-710]

Just an up while you are burning people Sugar.

Advise - is a verb - to advise is to give advice.

Advice is a noun. 

Use it.

[sugar249]

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@domino-710 wrote:

Just an up while you are burning people Sugar.

Advise - is a verb - to advise is to give advice.

Advice is a noun. 

Use it.

---

Not burning anyone,  just clarifying.

I'm glad you are so perfect

[domino-710]

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@sugar249 wrote:

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@domino-710 wrote:

Just an up while you are burning people Sugar.

Advise - is a verb - to advise is to give advice.

Advice is a noun. 

Use it.

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Not burning anyone,  just clarifying.

I'm glad you are so perfect

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Me too. LOL

[kh-stanley1]

Hi everyone

This thread is getting a bit personal and off topic.  Please remember that, while it is fine to disagree with others, discussion should always remain courteous and respectful.

Thank you for your cooperation.

[countessalmirena]

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@fixnwear wrote:

Perhaps I didn't make myself clear enough in my OP.
I was not suggesting we itemize our costs to our buyers simply

that buyers will see a postage rate of so much as 5 cents over and assume a rip off
and leave low stars for Postage Charges. 
I don't need to mention postage costs as all my items are 'postage included'.

I was simply asking whether buyers are generally aware that ebay charges a fee on postage.
As usual, no answers were provided.
I guess 'buyers either don't know or don't care' seems to be the concensus here.
Here was I thinking some posters might provide clues.

Oh well.

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Several posters have answered this to the best of their knowledge, including me. Quoting:

I’m aware of it. I don’t think that most buyers consider it even if they know it.

[…]

I agree that too many buyers really do think there is some magical sort of eBay postage fairy who makes the actual cost of delivery go away for those sellers offering “free postage”.

I can’t enlighten you about the knowledge of most buyers other than to say what I have. Judging by the outraged posts by eBayers who are primarily buyers but infrequent sellers, about the FVF on the total transaction amount including postage, there are at least some buyers who don't know about this component until they’re faced with it themselves when selling something. It’s impossible to extrapolate from this a conclusion about all or even most buyers. We can only guess — as I did.

[springyzone]

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@sugar249 wrote:

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@springyzone wrote:

My advice would be that if your stars are being dinged and you suspect it is because you add 50c to the postage cost, then add the 50c to the item price instead.

---

Unless things have changed,  as they are advertsing as free postage (claimed in an earlier update),   you don't get to rate them on postage cost .  So not really relevant for this person

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Yes, you're quite right, I went back and noticed that in one of the later posts.

I think what misled me was an earlier comment Fixnwear made,

If I edit our postage business policies to make them all actual postage rates we will still save on most ( except those pesky rural postings ) and will score 5/5 instead of 4.9/5 for postage costs.

Perhaps he has more than one selling account and tries different strategies, I don't know.

But whichever way sellers list their items, I don't think buyers are generally aware of fees on postage price.

Even when items are listed as free postage, I think the majority of buyers don't stop to calculate how much the postage component would be (let alone fees on it). A lot of them wouldn't have a clue. All most buyers are interested in is how much it is going to cost them.

[paper-jack]

Having read through this whole thread while waiting in  a phone queue yesterday, I've had time to think about the awareness of buyers. As a buyer from various online stores I have frequently noticed that the postage charge is way above the APO charge. Eg fixed postage price of $19.95 for small sized items that weigh under 500g.  I suspect other buyers wanting this product (not available with my state, only in Qld or WA) would do what I did, ordered several items to get good value out of the postage.

Many online stores have a postage or delivery charge that is more that the standard postage rates. As they keep open one conclusion is that some people don't care/don't notice or, where offered, go for the "spend over $xx and receive free delivery".

I suspect if they wants it they gets it, no matter what. I also suspect that some people look for an angle to complain in every part of their life.

Would a potential buyer who looks into a seller, go past the feed back score? I've never considered looking at the Reasonable postage costs score.