Postage

[dreamcaster51]

Hi people,
Any one noticed how some 'Top Rated Sellers' are upping the postage on auction items?
I was looking at some solar powered garden lights, one lot of 18 mtr of lights (100 globes) started at $4.99 but $10.99 postage, next item by same seller, exact same product 'buy it now' price of &16.99 but postage only $2.99 for this item. Me thinks this seller is trying to use postage to lift up his profit margin. 😞

[the3coopers]

Me thinks this seller is trying to use postage to lift up his profit margin.

No, actually what is happening is that the seller is using the item price of the Buy It Now,to subsidise the postage price. Do you realise that only a letter can be posted for $3.00?

Why do YOU care how the price is made up? Why do you care how, what and why the seller makes profit. Profit is profit, they cannot afford to sell stuff if they lose money on it.

I think that somebody is focussing on things that are not important. You are being given a choice, and it's up to you to choose what price structure you prefer. To me, and every other buyer who owns a calculator, the $15.98 is $4 cheaper.

Would you prefer to pay $20.99 with FREE Postage?

How about I buy the one for $4.99 + $10.99 postage, and then make a Buy It Now just for you? Of course, I'll need to make a profit so let's make it $20.99 in total. Please inform me of your preferred cost breakdown of Item and Postage so I can set it up for you.

[digital*ghost]

Hi there Annie, I think you miss my point, the SAME seller is selling two IDENTICAL items, one by auction one by buy it now. They appear to be trying to make the auction price up by charging more for the postage on that item. I just think its wrong, no one should not charge the correct postage but to over charge is wrong in my book.

Appear being thge operative word - as has been pointed out, you're assuming that because the $2.99 P&H quote is lower, that's what it's going to cost to post. Why?

I do exactly the same thing, by the way, with items that use 3kg satchels (which cost me around $11 to post). When they're BIN, I prefer to quote under $10 for postage so I subsidise the BIN price with the rest (I guess you could say I'm 'overcharging' the item price). If I send the item to auction, I charge actual P&H price so that not only are my costs are covered but it doesn't cost me more to sell the item at a lower price (which is always a lower total price, just like this seller's).

While I do not advocate nor practice postage piracy, the way I look at it is this - no seller makes profit on postage. They make profit on the items they sell - sometimes that profit is all in column A, sometimes there's a little in column B. I get why people don't like or appreciate when some of it is in column B, but I think part of the problem is that if you buy something for $5 + $10 P&H, even if it's an item that reatails for $50, and it arrives in an envelope with $1.20 stamps, people start thinking they should have paid $5 + $1.20 post, which would never happen no matter which way the seller divided their costs & profits.

[digital*ghost]

Well, that didn't work...

I was responding to, and quoting, post #3 by dreamcatcher

(Hi there Annie,
I think you miss my point, the SAME seller is selling two IDENTICAL items, one by auction one by buy it now. They appear to be trying to make the auction price up by charging more for the postage on that item. I just think its wrong, no one should not charge the correct postage but to over charge is wrong in my book)

[dylan11235813]

Hi there Annie, I think you miss my point, the SAME seller is selling two IDENTICAL items, one by auction one by buy it now. They appear to be trying to make the auction price up by charging more for the postage on that item. I just think its wrong, no one should not charge the correct postage but to over charge is wrong in my book.

I dont find this wrong at all and would actullly encourage this practice. All my profit is going into postage which is wrong.

It is stated up front so dont bid.....

[dylan11235813]

sorry screwed up my post and the quote but I am sure you get the idea

[dylan11235813]

No, actually what is happening is that the seller is using the item price of the Buy It Now,to subsidise the postage price. Do you realise that only a letter can be posted for $3.00?

Why do YOU care how the price is made up? Why do you care how, what and why the seller makes profit. Profit is profit, they cannot afford to sell stuff if they lose money on it.

I think that somebody is focussing on things that are not important. You are being given a choice, and it's up to you to choose what price structure you prefer. To me, and every other buyer who owns a calculator, the $15.98 is $4 cheaper.

Would you prefer to pay $20.99 with FREE Postage?

How about I buy the one for $4.99 + $10.99 postage, and then make a Buy It Now just for you? Of course, I'll need to make a profit so let's make it $20.99 in total. Please inform me of your preferred cost breakdown of Item and Postage so I can set it up for you.

I actually like my free post items that way when people buy 2 lots I have no worries as the cost is already incorperated into it.

I dont think the letter rate post needs to be a document....

[dreamcaster51]

Jesus, some of you need to take a chill pill