Funny logic or avoiding e-bay fees?

[ekrabappel]

I recently noticed a seller with about 100 dvds for sale individually.  The DVD releases ranged in age from a few years old up to 10 or more years (i.e no really recent 2013 or 2014 releases).  The DVD had starting bids between 49c and 99c and postage ranged from $4.95 to $6.95. I thought it odd that what are virtually identicle items in size and weight should have such differences in postage. Anyway I was interested in about 30 or more of these. As a general rule I don't pay more than $2 for DVDs of this age and that is why I always ask for pick-up as an option. I also explain to the seller that if I don't pay postage then I have more money to bid on the item so it's a win-win for seller and buyer (sorry AusPost!).  I messaged the seller and asked if I won the items could I pick them up (it was about a 40 minute trip). To my surprise the seller said I could then went on to say he had listed them for 4-5 dollars each on gumtree with pick-up an option and had no success so was now listing on ebay but because of the ebay fees he would have to charge more for the items if I picked them up.  **bleep**? I responded that I certainly was not going to pay more than the winning bid for the privilage of driving to his house and picking up the items.  I also asked what fees he was referring to? Assuming nearly half the items would have not incurred an insertion charge (he is a low volume seller) then the only other charges are a percentage final sale charge so the more the item sells for the more he has to pay.  I suggested that perhaps he was charging too much on Gumtree and that postage costs of $5-7 would not help. He responded that he was happy leaving the items listed as they were without pick-up.  His auctions have ended and I think he sold about 8-10 items for single bids of 49c or 99c.  Assuming he paid insertion fees of $1.50 for half the items he's down $75 already. He hasn't re-listed any items.  What is he playing at?

[dylan11235813]

As a seller pickup items cost more as I usually have to wait around for hours for someone that might turn up. It is much easier and cheeper to post.

[2106greencat]

Regardless of what it has cost a seller (and you have not taken into consideration the cost of the original item I notice) - would you go into a BM store and assume they would negotiate because the cost to them for a particular item is only  $$??.

It all boils down to the seller owns the item until sold, and can do what they want with them until that itme. If he is losing money ??

[digital*ghost]

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@ekrabappel wrote:

 What is he playing at?

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Stating pick-up terms clearly, and only being prepared to sell his items to someone who doesn't accept those terms, I presume.

It's ok to not agree with / accept a seller's terms (as long as you don't then buy the item), and I guess it's cool to tell the seller you won't be agreeing to their terms, but that doesn't oblige them to change their terms. 

What things cost the seller is irrelevant. Completely and utterly. Your only concern is what something is going to cost you and whether you're prepared to pay it. If you're not, most sellers - especially if they are not willing to compromise on their terms and charges - won't mind. 😉

[ekrabappel]

Greencat - I will agree to disagree regarding waiting for someone to arrive. Personally I much prefer pick-ups when selling. Unless you are a bulk seller it takes me way more time to obtain packing materials, pack the item, go to the PO, probably wait in a queue etc. Then you have the hassles if the items don't arrive or arrive damaged.  For one item it may take 30 minutes by the time you do everything to get the item dispatched. In my books that's about $20 worth of my time yet if I added that to the postage cost I would be negged for exhorbitant postage. At least while waiting for someone I can have a beer and do some other work around the house.

Anyway, no one has explained why having pick-up incurs more e-bay fees (apparently). Also why charge different postage for the same size and weight items?

[ekrabappel]

Digital Ghost - Of course he is in his right to sit on the items. Am I right in assuming he made a loss (it has been a while since I sold items and looked at fees)?  To me it doesn't make sense to have an offer to buy items and decline and incur a loss particularly when you have already tried to sell the items on another site without success.  Just seems odd. I know I would sell at a lower price just to get rid of them and minimise losse due to fees.

[ekrabappel]

Sorry Greencat - meant Dylan.

[ekrabappel]

Greencat - Absolutely! That is what negotiating is all about. If I know an item is worth less than the seller is asking of course I will ask for a lower price regardless of what the seller paid for it. I have thousands of movies on Blu-Ray and DVD and paid on average $2-3 for each one. I shop for bargains in Oz, UK and America which is why I don't buy older DVDs for more than $2 because I know I will pick it up later for that price or less.  I always let sellers know what the prices are even if I'm not interested in buying their items.  Besides generating profits for e-bay what is the point for selling a DVD for $6 when there are multiple copies of the same DVD on e-bay for $1? I think particularly with movies people don't realise how fast they depreciate in value and how many copies are floating around on the second hand market.

[digital*ghost]

Considering eBay regularly give out 100+ free listings to non-store sellers, making assumptions about what the listings may or may not have cost the seller is pointless, and my point was it doesn't matter either way to a buyer (potential or otherwise). The seller was rather silly in trying to explain their reasoning, especially mentioning fees and I'm pretty sure they didn't mean fees for pick-up items specifically, but they didn't actually owe you an explanation for their decision - it's a shame more sellers don't realise that when they're questioned by buyers about these sorts of things. 

Just a specifc comment in regards to this:

"I shop for bargains".

That's your perogative, but not all sellers will offer them, and I honestly think it's a non-issue when their pricing doesn't allow for you to get the bargain you're looking for - it's the seller's issue, and decision to make....I dunno what else to say about that/this.

A while back, I listed some CDs, something I very rarely do because I am a possessive hoarder when it comes to music. I priced them at a point that in no way could be considered a "bargain" for buyers, they were the prices people had to pay in order for me to part with the item. I sold some, didn't sell others. I was happy with either outcome, TBH. 

[ekrabappel]

It is 100 free is it? I know it used to be that but when I checked out fees I could only find 40 freebies.  Is this the norm and the 100 freebies are random e-bay specials or is it 100 all the time? 🙂