misleading listing re 'Free Post' and things

[eddiewoof]

There is a seller who has two identical items listed, one as 'Free Postage', this latter item is some $30.00 MORE expensive than the first item, which has a postagse of some $30.00. Surey this is against decent rules. The item which is not free postage will be exactl the same as the other once postage is paid, etc. I think I habe pointed this out before but nothing was done. Also, when searhing for 'Nikon Scanner', I get a heap of Nikon Cameras listed as camera and scanner. This again is misleading. I contacted ebay who moved on my comments to the Italian seller (power seller) who answered me in Italian and removed the two example listings only from many . Again, completely misleading listings as these camaeras are NOT scanners.

Eddie

[digital*ghost]

Ditto 🙂 A seller that charges and combines postage is much more likely to get multiple purchases from me than a seller that has free post on everything, in fact I'll almost always at least look at the seller's other items if they offer discounts, and if I'm only looking to make a single purchase then total price is more of a deciding factor than the postage cost.

If 'free' is a motivator, then I should be able to make my items free and just charge 'postage'. According to eBay, I'll sell loads! :^O

[wishuponastarcelebrationsandgifts]

I have come across this too, but it doesn't phase me. I think the seller is trying to achieve better search rankings in best match by offering an identical item as "free post" with the postage cost incorporated into the item price. They may be testing the waters to see where each item ranks in search results and which sells better.

EBay have advised sellers that buyers prefer "free post" even if the price of the item is the same as item price + postage. Free post items are also given preferential treatment in search rankings. As has been said this is to encourage sellers to list items as 'free post' so that ebay derive more fees as the seller then has to pay ebay fees on the postage as well as the price of the item. Inevitably this can only drive prices up, as costs to the seller increases.

Personally I cannot see the benefit to buyers or sellers of free post. I rarely use free post on items, as it essentially penalises customers that make multiple purchases instead of rewarding them.

[davewil1964]

I offer 'free' postage on anything that can go as a large letter.

Generally combining doesn't work as parcel costs are higher than sending individually.

[cheekyrebels]

On my selling ID I sold an item at 8.95 + 6.60 postage which is 15.55 the buyer then asked to cancel the sale as she has purchased one for $19.95 with free postage.

They obviously think they are getting a better deal with free postage!!

[i-once-was-bump]

Surey this is against decent rules.

The OP asks this and the answer is yes but the rules are set by eBay.

eBay do not have an option for sellers to list their goods as "postage included in the price", instead eBay force sellers to tell lies about some whimsical, imaginary, whiffenpoof that delivers all mail for free on behalf of eBay sellers because Australia Post sure don't offer free postage.

[austeam]

Of course buyers would prefer Free Post but most items listed as Free Post are in fact Included Post and unfortunately ebay does not offer this as an option.

Congratulations eddiewoof on being smart enough to price shop and compare, eBay seems to think buyers are stupid and will be tricked into purchasing just because it has the word Free.  Like others, I found that when I genuinely offered Free Post buyers assumed I had overinflated prices, so I actually put up my prices, added postage and started to offer Discounted Post for purchasing two items and Free Post for purchasing three or more items and now buyers genuinely believe the postage is Free.

There is no point complaining to the seller as eBay actually encourages this practice and there is no rule to say you can't.  However, please do write to eBay and ask why sellers don't have an Included Price option when listing.

🙂