Postage Discounts on calculated postage for Buyers Australia

[collectivejam]

Hey Guys, 

Recently eBay Australia has offered buyer reduced postage costs for calculated shipping after getting a blanket deal with Australia Post. I think eBay have got this process completely wrong. As we know eBay charge their sellers fees and also promoted listing percentage on the complete amount of the transaction (including the postage, not just the item amount). So generally sellers who post items with an Australia post discount would absorb the fees as they got a discount from Australia post, as it covered it.  But WHY offer customers reduced postage? Makes no sense at all. By doing this what eBay are doing is forcing me to increase my weights or item prices to cover the fees they charge on the postage. Tell me I'm wrong but seems like another penalty to sellers here. 

[davewil1964]

Giving a buyer a postage discount achieves NOTHING, only higher prices on items.

But the same price overall, which is what savvy buyers look at.

You could always NOT use eBay labels, set your own flat rate postage, and be a general seller with an AP MyPost Business account.

Issue resolved

[collectivejam]

I'm not debating that, I don't use eBay labels as I am on the highest band with Aust Post. BUT.... if you use calculated shipping on your items. eBay calculates the buyers shipping less 20% that they have got from Australia post but still charges their fees on your total, so they pass the 20% discount to the buyer but also charge their fees on your postage amount??? Not exactly helping to keep sellers on their platform now is it? So how do sellers react? They up their prices to compensate. Now why would I buy from eBay for more than amazon.... that's where it heads. 

[collectivejam]

If you think savvy buyers on eBay out weigh the general joe who just looks at the price.... Well I doubled my postage once to see what would happen. I had two customers question it out of 22 sales. 

[brickworksmarket]

The discount shown to the buyer varies depending on the delivery zone so not 20% to everyone.  Same delivery zone may be that high but some will on be 2-3%. If you add a handling fee that will help.