Free Shipping which is not.

[autoseak]

Why is that EBay allows sellers to advertise with photos that read 'FREE SHIPPING' and actually charge shipping when you open it up. Just checked 4 sellers stores , and found on the first 2 pages of each site several items being falsely advertised. 4 sites, 2 pages from each, it totaled 79 items which breach Australian Law. On 16/02/2024 Ebay were advised of this and I forwarded them 4 sites that were not complying to Law. Since then the practice is getting worse. Obviously EBay did nothing. What should I do? Go to ACCC or Current Affair or both?

[sandypebbles]

Go for both I say

But first, have all info ready for the questions they will ask

Were the sellers registered in Australia? 

Are you on the app or the real site?

Was the 'free' shipping referring to local pick up?

If the seller(s) were not in Australia, was the 'free' shipping also for international sales?

Do you have the items numbers you can share?

If you want an eBay answer. you will will need to ask eBay 

[imastawka]

I'll bet you're using the app.

Use the full site on your phone's browser.

The app is notorious for being a pain in the a

[sugar249]

What should you do?

Avoid those sellers and dont get so worked up.  Move on,  you are obviously smart enough not to get scammed by it, so dont worry.

[sandypebbles]

We do not even know it *is* a scam in this case, since the OP did'nt want to let us know items numbers or if they are using the app

Same as with the person who posted the same thing very recently

Possibly scammy sellers, possible totally innocent sellers who do not offer free postage at all but using the app shows that they do

No way of knowing in these cases 

(At the time of replying) 

[brickworksmarket]

I agree that without more information there are so many things this could be. 

Reading the OP it sounds like the seller has free shipping pasted into the photo. But could just be the add as a whole and they call it a photo.

I used to offer local pick up and pay on pick up but would always get questions that the add said free shipping from google search. Also noticed the other day one of my listings on showing in the adds at the bottom of another sellers listing on ebay showing free shipping. Go to my listing and it shows free local pick up and then the postage option with price.

Clearly an issue and hopefully the OP comes back with an item number.

[sugar249]

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@sandypebbles wrote:

We do not even know it *is* a scam in this case, since the OP did'nt want to let us know items numbers or if they are using the app

Same as with the person who posted the same thing very recently

Possibly scammy sellers, possible totally innocent sellers who do not offer free postage at all but using the app shows that they do

No way of knowing in these cases 

(At the time of replying) 

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I agree it may not be,  my reply was more based on OP's emotive response to something they should just be getting in with life about.  

[sugar249]

Did have another thought maybe OP did buy and pay the postage,  but even than I dont think ACCC or a current affair, would be interested,  because before they hit the big pay button Ebay shows them the totals.

And personally I think OP would be better of with Judge Judy than a current affair, she gets things done,  a current affair just do it for the story and than nothing happens

[paper-jack]

There is no such thing as free shipping. Far better to search using "price and postage lowest first", especially if  you are wanting to buy more than one item from a seller.

This is what I do as a buyer. As a seller I rarely use free postage.

[sugar249]

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@paper-jack wrote:

As a seller I rarely use free postage.

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I've experimented with both, doesnt seem to make much difference in sales.

With a couple of items I had the same listing, one with free and one with postage , both same total price of course (nothing is free).   In the end both had sold about the same amount. And I am talking listing with many many items, so it was a good test.

There is one benefit I can see from free,  if they purchase more than one item, technically you don't need to reduce the postage, so you could make a little extra there if you still put them in one parcel.   I just ask them and still refund some postage.  But others I notice say they wont.