eBay AusPost Worldwide Calculated Post By Location: Incorrect Postage Rates

[floor_manager]

Dear E. Bay

There is a serious flaw in the eBay Aus Post International Parcels "Calculated: cost varies by buyer location". It is stated that this board is read by the eBay technical team which I assume means staff directly employed by eBay Inc.

From reading through the community message board posts and scanning numerous listings of other Australian sellers, listings which included many volumous and convoluted conditions with copy in big bold text addressed to overseas buyers, it appears this problem has been occurring for a number of years.

This Using a 1 kilogram package posted to the USA as an example the extent of the problem is clear. The following compares the actual rates charged by Australia Post directly against the same Australia Post rates on the charged on the eBay listing. (Note: This is a comparison of raw charges without handling fees, signature, etc)

Standard Parcel (AusPost Registered Post International Parcel)

• $37.70 AP
• $43.20 AP/eBay
  
• $5.50 overcharge

AusPost Express (AU Post Express)

• $51.25 AP
• $37.70 AP/eBay
• $13.55 undercharge
  

AusPost Courier (AU Post Courier)

• $101.25 AP
• $51.25 AP/eBay
• $50 undercharge

It's clearly evident that the Express rate is actually the Standard, and the Courier rate is in fact the Express rate. As to what dropdown selection gives the Courier rate is anyones guess.

This brings up a number of questions.

1. Is eBay aware of this problem and if so why is there no mention of this issue on the Announcements Board?
   
2. Does the problem affect all ebay.com.au users when listings are posted on the various international eBay websites?
3. Whom is responsible for this problem? Ebay? AusPost? Or is there a disagreement between the two parties over its ownership?
4. Where does the root of the problem lie?
5. How will this problem being addressed and what is the timetable?
6. Has a study been done to assess the cost of lost productivity to all stakeholders?

Also of concern is the commercial disadvantage affected sellers are placed in. Not only do they lose potential sales from an advertised Standard Parcels rate up to 16% higher than competitors, they are exposed to suffering financial loses of up to 19% on Express Parcels and 52% on Courier Parcels.

There is also inherent reputation risk which can affect the goodwill of all stakeholders which explains why so many stores feel compelled to print the Litany of International Postage on each page listing.

One cannot ignore the shift in organisational culture underway within eBay and I commend the changes taking place. When engaging with eBay staff I have found the experience to be productive and cooperative. So this one little thing, Is it really that hard to fix?

Sincerely

S

[enigmabear]

Your post is addressed as Dear eBay, however ebay staff do not read this forum

We are all simply buyers and sellers like you

The blurb about ebay tech staff reading here is pure fantasy . No ebay staff/ebay techs/associated employees of ebay read here or respond to posts here, nor check for issues

Even phoning eBay fails to get them to check for issues or look into things

Sorry but it is true

[floor_manager]

So you're not the only enigma then. 

Thanks for the heads up.

[enigmabear]

LOL, I'm enigmabear, whoever posted that blurb is much more enigmabull 

[gillians_gallery]

The internationl standard post has been incorrect ever since AP changed it from registered. I've messaged ebay about this a few times over 1-2 years and they say its because their calc adds in signature on delivery for the standard one. Why? No one knows. they don't care about it.

[floor_manager]

That's annoying to say the least. If that were the case it isn't applied consistently across all parcels.