eBay fees for postage.

[6528marcia]

I too am frustrated by eBay including postage cost in FVF. It seems very unfair. eBay doesn't do anything with post so why do they have the right to profit from the post service? I know sellers brought this upon themselves in the past by reducing the price of an item and increasing the price of postage, But, surely there is someone in eBay clever enough to work out the estimated price of an item now. If we enter the size and weight we get an estimate of post cost. As a casual seller, trying to supplement my age pension, I am disheartened by the result of selling my once precious items. My recent was a book 1911 vintage with a limited interest group. I know it would be very valuable in the USA but I am not experienced enough to deal with international sales. The book sold for $65 incl post. Post cost $15.99. So, by the time eBay finished I received $22.68 for a book that could be worth $50. I am limited in mobility and computer skills, so although angry with eBay, I feel I am stuck to getting meagre amount for my relics. A raspberry to eBay.

[gudasnu2005]

I, too, am not happy with ebay charges on postage but I do understand why they do it. I do think that ebay can do something to be fair to sellers though.

And this is my suggestion: ebay I do hope you are listening.

ebay knows what Australia Post charges, and it can also access what other couriers charge, even international post. With your computerised system, you will know if the postage being charged by a seller is ridiculously high, for example, $100 postage to send a CD/DVD.

Then ebay can charge only on the excess postage. 

What you have to require of sellers will be the weight and size of the parcel, so that you can work out the highest postage possible.

COMPUTE: Seller Postage LESS Highest Postage (possible out there) = $Amount that ebay can charge fee on!!! I think this will be fair for both parties - ebay and sellers.

[sandypebbles]

eBay do not read people's comments here

[katistrophik]

..........as sandy said eBay do not visit here, and to answer your 'idea' - eBay has over 18million sellers worldwide with over a billion listings - what you want them to do would be impossible, well it might be theoretically possible, but to pay for extra staff to handle such an enormous job your fee's would be sky high.

[k1ooo-slr-sales]

@gudasnu

your suggestion does not take into account the push by eBay to get sellers to offer 'free postage'.

Your idea would offer an incentive for sellers to charge for postage.

[Anonymous]

My approach to eBay fees is that I've run a bricks and mortar store and the costs of that are way beyond the 

+/- 20% ebay take of my sales. I factor in these costs and I also charge a discounted postage fee. I post directly with Aust post, buy my own mailers and receive a reduction on parcel post costs due to volume, I pass a % of this to my customers.  I'll offer free post for multibuys and this cost is factored in across my store. I don't agree with offering free post as it just brings out the pests. I believe if you were to sell 'relics' on Gumtree or even through a consignment you'd end up with around the same and most probably a continual headache from tyre kickers. I'd just look what you're trying to achieve $ wise and go to the platform which serves you best. Ebay, Amazon and the like are all business' and are also here to make a bottom line. 🙂

[glenbankloel]

I am afraid that you are "flogging a dead horse".

This topic and situation has been around for a long time now, and although if you ask any seller about it they will not agree with it, there is nothing that you can do to change it.   

You must make sure that you know your selling costs, and incorporate those costs into your item or suffer the loss.

We do not include post in very many of our items, (unless we have a reason to do so) the buyer nearly always pays for post on top of the purchase price and we pad the item to make sure that the % taken by eBay is not out of our pocket.    

Their fee is shown on the details in the "sale" so you can see very clearly how much you have paid to them.  

We are also trying to prop up our pensions as well as you, so understand where you are coming from.  And many other sellers are in the same boat. 

Sorry that you had this bad experience on this particular piece, wishing you many sales and good luck going forward.