What really is FREE POSTAGE ?

[polly.the.cat]

I have been reading the many comments given in the light of ebay's delve, into the "cost" Sellers charge to post a said item. Without bringing up all that has already been mentioned, l am a bit confused now.  What l have been watching was a Video Card for a PC, Seller had it for BIN @ $7.95 with Postage added of $5.95    Same Seller now has same item BIN @ $16.95 FREE POSTAGE.

So looking at that example, l fail to see any FREE POSTAGE there at all.   Is is better to still show the actual cost of postage, along with the actual cost of the said item ?  Do ebay still "profit" no matter what out of the cost of postage to the said Buyer , which the Buyer is paying for.

I myself feel that it is not right to have a Seller claim you are getting FREE POSTAGE, when in reality, that is NOT THE CASE.

Just my thoughts though. Thank you.

[digital*ghost]

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@lane-ends wrote:

Seperating it out only has the benefit of accomodating pick up items and combined post discounts. Of course it helps buyers convince themselves (and thier partners) that they paid less than they did,

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And returns.

Yes, you can rename the postage charge component to "restocking fee" if you don't refund it on a free postage item when the buyer returns for change of mind and everything is still considered kocher, but a rose by any other name tends to cost the same.  

If something is free for the buyer, that is supposed to mean they haven't paid for it, so it theoretically can't be withheld in the event of a refund, because they never gave the seller money for that service in the first place, only the item. 

It's not just about impressions and marketing ploys, it's about what something actually means. As I said in a previous post, a seller upping the price on an item then marketing it as 50% off is wrong, despite the fact that it can help a buyer convince themselves they got a good deal. 

I begrudgingly accept the "free post" culture (more from sellers than buyers) on eBay because I know the choices are frustratingly limited, but I'll never be convinced it's ok to advertise a separate thing that's offered in addition to the item as free when the cost of it has actually been accounted for and included in the price. 

[heartfeltinspirations2014]

What I am having issues with is buyers wanting to return items as they want a full refund of the price and when I say it is less postage costs they tell me not to try that as the postage was free.  I am findingmyself out of pocket because I am paying for the original postage and having to refund the full price of the item.  Any one else experiencing this?

[lane-ends]

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@heartfeltinspirations2014 wrote:

What I am having issues with is buyers wanting to return items as they want a full refund of the price and when I say it is less postage costs they tell me not to try that as the postage was free.  I am findingmyself out of pocket because I am paying for the original postage and having to refund the full price of the item.  Any one else experiencing this?

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You dont have to accept refunds for change of mind, that is their other option if they prefer. State it upfront on your returns policy

I state a restocking fee on my returns for change of mind to discourage trivial returns, but in practice i usually refund in full. It does not happen that often, and I make more sales as a result of having no quibble returns.

I wish Ebay would drop this "free post" claim and just stated post inclusive.

[lane-ends]

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@digital*ghost wrote:

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I begrudgingly accept the "free post" culture (more from sellers than buyers) on eBay because I know the choices are frustratingly limited, but I'll never be convinced it's ok to advertise a separate thing that's offered in addition to the item as free when the cost of it has actually been accounted for and included in the price. 

Seller hasn't always included it, they rely on buyer taking it into account when deciding how much they want to pay. eg at an auction buyers will bid more if postage is not extra. I dont know what the postage is going to be when I list my buy nows. It may be a 500gms satchel or a 3kg. I dont know until I pack to ship it. The listed price will be the same, even if it can flatten into a letter. It is based on what a buyer will pay to have the item on their doorstep. Buyer does not care what size of satchel it comes in, nor is there anything I can do about it. The best price I can get for it is the same. "Free post" to me means I dont have spend time weighing everything when listing, nor having problems when estimate is different from actual, and all the other dramas that come with arguing about shipping cost.

[digital*ghost]

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@lane-ends wrote:

Seller hasn't always included it,

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I said the same thing in my first post. 

I meant this quite literally:

I'll never be convinced it's ok to advertise a separate thing that's offered in addition to the item as free when the cost of it has actually been accounted for and included in the price.

[jensmanchester-australia]

DG - buyers who like the free post or delivery included concept couldn't care less about the actual postage cost or any other costs a seller incurs, all of which are included in the selling price. As long as they are happy with the price and feel they are getting value for money the main thing they want is for the item they have purchased to be delivered as quickly as possible and to receive what they ordered. They really don't care if it is called free post or anything else.

Value for money doesn't necessarily relate to the price they have paid. Often buyers will pay a little extra for something because the value can be having a fast easy hassle free transaction.

[digital*ghost]

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@jensmanchester wrote:
DG - buyers who like the free post or delivery included concept couldn't care less about the actual postage cost or any other costs a seller incurs, all of which are included in the selling price. As long as they are happy with the price and feel they are getting value for money the main thing they want is for the item they have purchased to be delivered as quickly as possible and to receive what they ordered. They really don't care if it is called free post or anything else.

Value for money doesn't necessarily relate to the price they have paid. Often buyers will pay a little extra for something because the value can be having a fast easy hassle free transaction.

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That isn't the - or my - issue with the term 'free postage' and the way it is enforced on eBay when a seller uses one price. 

I'm quite sure, if I had an item for $10 and another item for $5 that buyers always bought together, and I decided to package them together for $15, buyers wouldn't care one jot because they're paying the same no matter what, and they would probably appreciate the ease or convenience of a single transaction rather than two. 

But it would still be wrong (legally) for me to market that deal as "buy the $10 item, get the $5 item for free".

Same thing applies when an item and postage is packaged together, whether postage is optional or not. 

[dylan11235813]

Ebay don't force anyone to use it though. They do encourage it with the supposed higher ranking on best match and an ebay premium service badge (assuming other criteria are met).

If ebay have any sense they would remove the free post requirment for best match and premium service. I think they only brought it in to get more fees and now they have them anyway it shouldn't matter.

I do find though that buyers buy and pay for items individually more often with free post items, as compared to grouping them together. More in fees to paypal I guess.

[digital*ghost]

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@dylan11235813 wrote:

Ebay don't force anyone to use it though. 

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I know, I wasn't trying to suggest that they do, just trying to highlight why I take issue to the use of the word 'free', and lack of other options. What I mean is, I get all the reasons why a single price or free postage model can be advantageous - and not just for eBay or the seller - and I'm also not suggesting every seller on eBay is lying or misleading customers when the list as free postage, but it is there if the seller had an item price, postage cost, added them together in order to list as free post.

And it'd be nice if eBay provided some other options so that it wasn't an either / or choice, and even better if they recognised the free postage model is not the Holy Grail of ecommerce. 

[amber-eyed-girl]

I have read everything here, so I understand why a postage cost might be labelled a restocking fee.

but, as a fairly long-term buyer, I have been stung by sellers with restocking fees, where unfortunately, it has tended to mean they sell goods not as described and count on the restocking fee as a deterrent. So I now avoid buying from any seller with a restocking fee.

I know that not all sellers, and I hope only a tiny minority, would abuse the system this way, but I mention it to highlight that any restocking fee may act as a negative on prospective buyers. If they do not know why it is there.