Things likely to annoy buyers.

[springyzone]

I don't know how others feel, but there are some things that put my back up as (mainly) a buyer.

I just struck one of them today and it lost the seller a sale.

It's the issue of 'free postage'.

I am well aware no postage in Australia is free. But if a seller lists free postage in an ad, then I expect them to have built the cost into their price. No ifs, no buts, the postage is up to them.

I came across an ad today which I thought had slightly threatening undertones. This was for a simple hole punch with free postage. Total price was similar to what several other aussie sellers have listed so it wasn't amazingly cheaper or anything.

I will quote. "if you choose standard delivery it may post as a letter, this is cheaper but you may suffer an insufficient postage penalty from the post office ($6.90)

Since the whole item is only $5.50, I certainly would not be paying it.

And I would not be accepting it as 'my' problem.

There are a few ads around that try to persuade people to upgrade postage or suffer the penalty but I don't think that will wash these days, will it?

In any case, I get a bit turned off by ads with too many warnings etc

item 181116349954

[247newdeals]

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@springyzone wrote:

I don't know how others feel, but there are some things that put my back up as (mainly) a buyer.

I just struck one of them today and it lost the seller a sale.

It's the issue of 'free postage'.

I am well aware no postage in Australia is free. But if a seller lists free postage in an ad, then I expect them to have built the cost into their price. No ifs, no buts, the postage is up to them.

I came across an ad today which I thought had slightly threatening undertones. This was for a simple hole punch with free postage. Total price was similar to what several other aussie sellers have listed so it wasn't amazingly cheaper or anything.

I will quote. "if you choose standard delivery it may post as a letter, this is cheaper but you may suffer an insufficient postage penalty from the post office ($6.90)

Since the whole item is only $5.50, I certainly would not be paying it.

And I would not be accepting it as 'my' problem.

There are a few ads around that try to persuade people to upgrade postage or suffer the penalty but I don't think that will wash these days, will it?

In any case, I get a bit turned off by ads with too many warnings etc

item 181116349954

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That is because ebayers want these items at $5.50 a seller can not pay for parcel post. Personally I think seller selling these items are crazy to make a few cent ( and that is all the profit will be) it is not worth the grief but some sellers are still trying to send items like this I can not see them doing it for much longer and then buyers will just have to wait and order them from China.

If buyers where willing to pay a fair price for items, on ebay, this would not be an issue but I am sure some of them seem to think we deliver by magic pixies at no cost.

[*tippy*toes*]

If the seller puts a return address on the package, the penalty is just as likely to be sent to him! Would serve him right.

I see it's written in their best Chinglish. It says to select parcel post to avoid possible penalty. There is no option for parcel post other than an inflated express post.

It's a BIN, yet they're talking about high bidders and under bidders.

It says posts to Australia only, yet they have this in the description. Tell me it's not being sent from China: Buyer should take care of local custom risk before purchase as there is custom restriction on your country.

[saarzi]

Most of my items are free postage, and that means free postage (standard or parcel, depending on the item and where its going).

Ive never ever seen a listing that says a buyer could suffer a postage penalty. Thats just bizarre for two reasons -

1. its not free postage if the seller doesnt pay for the postage cost in full that it takes to have the item posted. Surely thats breaking a Ebay policy somewhere.

2. Whenever I have posted within Australia and a stamp has fallen off, or Ive miscalculated postage, I'M the one who has been made to pay the difference plus admin fee. The "please pay" letter from Auspost comes to me, not the buyer. So I dont understand why this seller is saying the buyer will have to pay it?

[*tippy*toes*]

If they don't put a return address on it, then the buyer would be lumbered with it I'd imagine.

[247newdeals]

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@*tippy*toes* wrote:

If the seller puts a return address on the package, the penalty is just as likely to be sent to him! Would serve him right.

I see it's written in their best Chinglish. It says to select parcel post to avoid possible penalty. There is no option for parcel post other than an inflated express post.

It's a BIN, yet they're talking about high bidders and under bidders.

It says posts to Australia only, yet they have this in the description. Tell me it's not being sent from China: Buyer should take care of local custom risk before purchase as there is custom restriction on your country.

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A lot of sellers do this most do not put any warning on and most if you go through their negs have at least 1 buyer complaining for being charged a postage fee by AuspPost. I sent of for a lot of items in this range and your correct most did not have a return address and a lot (not all) of the account originated in China. Personally I wish AusPost would clamp down on it. An item like this should be aroung the $10 sell and post buyer want pay that while some (dodgey imho) sellers are selling them for $5:50 even if 1 in a hundred (random number I reckon it is higher) get collared for the extra postage

[phorum_junkie*]

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@*tippy*toes* wrote:

If they don't put a return address on it, then the buyer would be lumbered with it I'd imagine.

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Only if the buyer accepts it, you can refuse it if you want and I certainly would. I would then be filing an item not received dispute.

[digital*ghost]

Refusing delivery due to insufficient postage is actually one of the (few) exceptions that remain expressly covered under eBays MBG (i.e. generally, buyers aren't [supposed to be] covered if they refuse delivery or don't collect an item, and they need to provide written evidence from AP if there's insufficient postage) - the seller should know better.

[springyzone]

247 new deals said:

That is because ebayers want these items at $5.50 a seller can not pay for parcel post. Personally I think seller selling these items are crazy to make a few cent ( and that is all the profit will be) it is not worth the grief but some sellers are still trying to send items like this I can not see them doing it for much longer and then buyers will just have to wait and order them from China.

If buyers where willing to pay a fair price for items, on ebay, this would not be an issue but I am sure some of them seem to think we deliver by magic pixies at no cost.

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They are available from china for a couple of dollars less & from the craft store for about $6.

I am not disagreeing with you, I also think the seller is silly to do it this way if there is no profit in it. But most of all he is stupid to do it if it is likely to incur postage penalties.

I just don't think it is a good ad, it is likely to put buyers offside.

Like Tippy toes, I noticed other discrepancies in the ad and I wonder if this is just a cut and paste from what used to be auction items.

I certainly know postage isn't free, but as I said, if a seller lists it as free, i expect it to be included and for the item to reach me without a threatened penalty.

And realistically, it might mean, with postage costs, some of these items are eventually no longer available from local sellers on ebay.

[mxaus]

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@springyzone wrote:

247 new deals said:

That is because ebayers want these items at $5.50 a seller can not pay for parcel post. Personally I think seller selling these items are crazy to make a few cent ( and that is all the profit will be) it is not worth the grief but some sellers are still trying to send items like this I can not see them doing it for much longer and then buyers will just have to wait and order them from China.

If buyers where willing to pay a fair price for items, on ebay, this would not be an issue but I am sure some of them seem to think we deliver by magic pixies at no cost.

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They are available from china for a couple of dollars less & from the craft store for about $6.

I am not disagreeing with you, I also think the seller is silly to do it this way if there is no profit in it. But most of all he is stupid to do it if it is likely to incur postage penalties.

I just don't think it is a good ad, it is likely to put buyers offside.

Like Tippy toes, I noticed other discrepancies in the ad and I wonder if this is just a cut and paste from what used to be auction items.

I certainly know postage isn't free, but as I said, if a seller lists it as free, i expect it to be included and for the item to reach me without a threatened penalty.

And realistically, it might mean, with postage costs, some of these items are eventually no longer available from local sellers on ebay.

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they are actually for sale in Australia for nearly $2 cheaper also looking at the item again I doubt it would incur extra postage. I think the one you said is using a generic postage and handling policy and that statement may be true on other items but personally I reckon the punch want be bigger then 16mm and would weigh less than 120g so could easily be posted as a large letter. I have got items sent to me way over 20mm with just a $1 stamp on though. 

I am not conviinced that sentance would upset buyers I do not think 99% would read that far down 😉