Ebay 'cheap' postage labels not so cheap

[pnc75]

So much for the save money on ebay postage labels spiel; their 'cheap' postage for a parcel under 1 kg is $18.91! Not real cheap when over the counter at the PO it's $15.25 (and that's without any discount). And no, I didn't have the real dimensions of the box in the ad, I had it reduced to 20 x 20 x 15 and clearly stated the weight as 980g. 

I hate to think how 'cheap' their postage label would have been if I'd put the correct dimensions of 28 x 23 x 14! Would have needed a bank loan!

[purplemon18]

"No, I'm afraid they don't. They're often more expensive, because unlike Ap, ebay insist on cubing all parcels under 1 kg as well as catering to the zone charges. That's what is causing the problems. "

eBay charge their fees at the time the customer makes a purchase. If you haven't told eBay that you intend to use their label for shipping at that time, they just charge the fees on the sale total. If you then purchase a label through eBay after that, they only charge you the label price, there are no extra fees on shipping you buy at a later date.

eBay are not trying to charge anyone a fee for shipping. There was a time in the past where people would sell things really cheap with really expensive shipping as a way to avoid paying fees to eBay. eBay solved the problem by charging their fees on the sale total instead of on the item sub-total. Dodgy sellers are to blame for this current situation.

So, my point still stands, if you don't use calculated shipping, then any postage discounts are not automatically passed along to the customer, which means that those discounts can be used to offset fees and handling costs.

[shoppingbag*]

I am being overcharged just like you.  I had one parcel to travel only 10 kms, and while the buyer got a discount on the postage, to print the label it would cost me $5 more than the buyer paid.  Ebay offered to refund me the difference if I printed the label, I declined and paid over the counter at the Post Office, and while still out of pocket over what the buyer paid, I was only out of pocked 20 cents, not $5.  I since changed my listings to "flat rate" not "calculated" and enter what Australia Post quotes online (you can enter, size and weight, own packaging etc and get this from their website) and that amount is always accurate to what they charge over the counter. However the quotes for printing a label are still too high, so no choice but continue to pay over the counter.  The latest one which posts for $14.10 (under 500g with siganture on delivery) Ebay and Australia Post quote $19.93 to print a label and state that they are giving a 25% discount. Are they kidding??

[pnc75]

It's because they cube everything and apply the zonal charges.  Complete mess. 

Even if you use flat rate and they offer you a discounted ebay label, it's still highly inflated.  Over the counter is definitely cheaper most times. 

[lezned-toycollector]

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@shoppingbag* wrote:

I am being overcharged just like you.  I had one parcel to travel only 10 kms, and while the buyer got a discount on the postage, to print the label it would cost me $5 more than the buyer paid.  Ebay offered to refund me the difference if I printed the label, I declined and paid over the counter at the Post Office, and while still out of pocket over what the buyer paid, I was only out of pocked 20 cents, not $5.  I since changed my listings to "flat rate" not "calculated" and enter what Australia Post quotes online (you can enter, size and weight, own packaging etc and get this from their website) and that amount is always accurate to what they charge over the counter. However the quotes for printing a label are still too high, so no choice but continue to pay over the counter.  The latest one which posts for $14.10 (under 500g with siganture on delivery) Ebay and Australia Post quote $19.93 to print a label and state that they are giving a 25% discount. Are they kidding??

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While there are actually numerous options available to you, I think you may have overlooked MyPost Business - just saying

[shoppingbag*]

I looked into mypost business, but I am only selling personal items, so not a business and would not sell enough to make it worthwhile, I could not make the second stage. I also have read there are problems with labels there also, and I suspect they will overcharge for labels as well.

[shoppingbag*]

What a fiasco this whole thing is.  Ebay claim they are getting postage discounts for us, because they have listened to us, yet the reverse is true, labels are now much more expensive if you want to print them via eBay.  I have been printing labels for years, all correctly priced before they changed to "so-called" discounted postage rates.  It was so easy to get other people to drop off the parcels at the post office, now I have to do it all in person, and without a car, I have to find someone to drive me.  How to get the message through to eBay that these aren't discounted prices, and please change it back?? Any ideas??

[lezned-toycollector]

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@shoppingbag* wrote:

I looked into mypost business, but I am only selling personal items, so not a business and would not sell enough to make it worthwhile, I could not make the second stage. I also have read there are problems with labels there also, and I suspect they will overcharge for labels as well.

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I only mentioned MyPost Business because you stated that you had no option other than lodging over the counter. 

Unfortunately, it looks as though you may have misunderstood the information you found.

To clarify, you don't need to be a business to open a MyPost Business account. There is also no minimum send requirement, and you can still pay over the counter, or you can pay online - both methods are charged at the exact same rate.

The notifications alone make it worthwhile, but you can also avoid going to the PO altogether if you so choose... and if you're looking at the savings bands, it really doesn't take a lot to reach band 1 (you can get there on one shipment a week).

[garymacscw]

To work out the cubic weight for what you have used would be .2 x .2 x .15 = 0.006, then times that by 250 = 1.5 kilos. If you did the correct size it works out to be 2.25kgs. Same price 1 to 3 kgs for post in Australia. If you take it into the post office, some times they wont check the size and just go by weight and then you save money, you can also get the Austpost app and scan it at the post office, if you sell it bit you will ended up saving money. 

[shoppingbag*]

I realize i do not need to be a business to have a My Business AP account.  However, to get a discount on Postage depends on selling a certain amount.  Also, I use my own packaging which does not qualify for flat rate postage, instead items are cubed etc, which is apparently what is happening on Ebay, so I would be stuck with the same problem with overpriced postage that I already have.  It is flat rate on my parcels over the counter which is the same as estimated via AP website.  I have printed labels for years with no problems, only since the so called "discounted Postage" was introduced, they are charging me much more than I need to pay.  Unfortulnately, I think I will be wasting my time trying to get this issue rectified. Thank you for all your advice and information though, much appreciated.

[twyngwyn]

Anyone else get this?