OVERPRICING OF POSTAGE

[shellyshelly40]

DOES ANYONE HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I WAS CHECKING OUT DVDS AND FOUND ONE SELLING FOR $3.00 AND THEN $8.00 POSTAGE. BOTH SELLER AND BUYER ARE IN BRISBANE. WHY CAN'T EBAY DO SOMETHING ABOUT REGULATING POSTAGE AS THERE ARE SELLERS OUT THERE THAT SELL THEIR GOODS FOR A SMALL PRICE AND THEN HIT YOU WITH UNBELIEVEABLE POSTAGE. THEY SHOULD BE AWARE THAT IT ONLY DRIVES A BUYER AWAY AND IT IS NO LONGER CLASSED AS A BARGAIN.

[misterforgetfulsbooks]

I tried to list a few books over 500 gm the other day and it wouldn't let me put $9.80 in as the postage amount even though the red satchel was the cheapest postage, $8.30 was the maximum it would allow even though that's over $1 less than a satchel would cost me.

[purpuldream]

I totally agree with you Shelly, the postage on here is outrageous, I study the postage on items to see if it fair before i start any bidding!!!!!!!:_|

[purpuldream]

You can always put the remainder of the money into the package you are sending, its been done for me b4...:-)

[lozs.loot]

Getting postage right is the most important thing for internet sellers & it isn't easy. Buyers do want to know up front what cost is but for multiple purchases it is difficult to guestimate and don't want to waste time asking unless it is a special/cheap item. Where possible I offer free postage on letter items to encourage multiple purchases & it does work, buyers know they won't get slugged an extra charge so happy to buy more & for other items I refund overpaid postage so they'll come back knowing I won't rip them off on postage. It creates very good will. If you refund via paypal they refund you the fee they charged for the refund amount too if you do it properly.

It amazes me that those sellers who do not charge the correct rate for postage can be power sellers, many buyers mustn't check cost prior to bidding/buying and it does give eBay sellers a bad reputation, but it is a difficult thing to make postage charges compulsory due to the complexity of charges.

Best policy is buyer beware I suppose & always check sellers feedback.

[glitter-buggs]

This is a question I get asked a lot, in my case the buyer only sees the $1.10 stamp, but for me there is also the carding and zip lock bag or plastic box for fragile items, paper bag, bubble wrap, envelopes, printing costs (have you seen the price of printer cartridges lately), a cd box (they're cheaper than padded bags), and the $2.80 for registered post because if you don't and the parcel gets lost then Paypal just take it all out of your account again. On top of that, there are the overheads of driving to the post office, and what price can you put on standing in those queues for half an hour or more.
As a seller there are more and more hoops to jump through and unfortunately the costs of handling are usually far greater than the actual postage cost.
Cheer up, postage charges are due to go up again shortly, who knows what we'll have to pay then........at least you didn't get charged $34 per item as I did from Hong Kong. Explains why the items were so cheap, but we aren't allowed to play that game., wouldn't want to anyway

[pommylass]

A few years ago now my daughters brother in law brought a sony playstation game from Brisbane and he was in Ayr nth Qld and he paid $65.00 postage all i can say is it would want to have been a good game.....lol:^O Some peoples postage costing are outrageous

[kath6847]

I put my postage on and yet when it comes to send a book over 500g it cost me $12.50 to send it to WA.People buyers and sellers should be be aware of these different zones. I recently wrote to Ebay about them trying to get the actual copy of zones and wights plus price to no avail.They have $8.30 and then tell you to put the higher charge on the invoice. I do not agree with that I think the fee structure should be fairer.On DVD's and Videos I notice they say $8.30 i refuse to charge that and only charge $6.50 that only just covers the bag not travelling back and forth or any of the wrapping you need.On other items I ask to be paid by Paypal and if the postage is considerably lower then quoted I refund part of the postage. I know that it is not the ideal situation but I hope that people will realise that I am trying my best to be fair all round.

[who_can_it_be_now]

You just need to use the calculated postage option instead of the flat rate option & you can increase the amount to whatever you need to include costs & handling.

Under that option you are not restricted to $8.30 (or whatever it is).

[kath6847]

Thank you who-can-it-be-now, I have been listing for a few months and am still learning as I go.

[raggyqueen]

Yes I agree that some sellers take advantage of postage costs. They should only charge what it cost them to post.

I think it would be a good idea if sellers are obligated to itemise the cost of postage in a special section on their description page or in the shipping/postage section.

E.g.
Bubble envelope $1, Stamps $1.10, Registered label $2.80, tissue paper 10c Total $5

One seller had a really nice Pandora bead I wanted but charged $10 for regular post (not even registered, that would be another $2.80 extra!!!).
As my total cost list above shows, it should not cost more than $5 for reg. post NOT $12.80!

I also questioned another seller about the high postage and was told that he added the eBay fees and the PayPal costs to the postage!
This should definitely be calculated into the selling price, NOT the postage cost!

I usually tell them that because their postage costs are too high, I 'm not interested in their item and won't be bidding on it. Such a shame... sometimes I'd have loved that specific bead or item, but the ridiculous charges for postage repel me!