Hi all,

I often drop in here for answers & inspiration & find these forums very helpful. I usually don't comment as you are all way more experienced than me, lol.  I just have to comment this time as this is a subject that has really got under my skin.  I only started serious selling & opened a store late last year and constantly receive the same messages from eBay and as others have commented, (I agree with everything that has been said) I also see it as another money grab by eBay - not a tool to help either buyers or sellers.

I sell a product that I realise is not the most popular around here, but that's beside the point.  Sales since the second last week of February have been almost non-existent, (like someone commented in another thread, don't know that there will be any profit this month!) but I was concerned it may have been because I wasn't following the premium badging requirements, but also attributed it to all the site glitches.  My smaller items are vey low priced items, so to add Free Post would be ridiculous as I also offer Combined Postage.  Anything over about $15 in value, I offer Registered and Combined Postage.  eBay must think we are fools . . . . . .  worse still, what are Buyers really going to think if the price of the item is increased to cover the postage ?  Using the DVD as an example, what if I want 3 DVD's ? 3 x $10 ($30) instead of 3 x $4 + $6 ($18).  And I don't have the time to list every item twice anyway.  And wouldn't that be spamming ?  I do have little single item sales, but the majority are multiple items. I think it would be very poor customer service and immoral to overcharge like this.  If a buyer purchases more than 1 item from me and pays individually without requesting a Combined invoice, I refund them the overpaid postage !!

If you go to a shop that charges for bags and you buy 5 items, you would not expect to be be charged for 5 items plus 5 bags if all items fit in 1 bag - to me, it's the same thing, it is just wrong.  Worse still and more deceitful if the price of the bag is already included in the price of the item. 

Totally agree with the comment, when the buyer opens the parcel, the item is either in good condition (which it should be as I post in bubble lined envelopes) or it is broken - it doesn't take 30 days to work that out !  Mind you, I have only ever had 1 buyer

complain a charm didn't fit  ? so I offered a refund and 1 buyer who received a broken bracelet, (everything else in tact) so I sent a replacement (It seemed the package had been bent). In both cases they let me know the day they received the parcel, so I feel 7 days is adequate.  Who knows what they could do with the item in 30 days and if it was a genuine complaint outside 7 days, I would resolve the issue anyway.

I have spoken to eBay along the lines that I think these requirements are unfair - for certain products, but as someone already mentioned - it's a one size fits all policy !!  I do believe they are trying to push us little guys out.

I post within 24 business hours of cleared payment, but I don't think buyers really consider that when leaving Feedback, they rate based on how long it takes for them to receive.  I spoke to eBay about this also as I received a '1' for postage time which I took very personally - they refused to look into it, saying it didn't effect my rating, but to me, that wasn't the point - what if I received a second '1' ?  I suggested if you list as 1 day turn around & the item is marked as posted within that time, it should be an automatic 5, I know this could be open to dishonesty, but at least it would protect the majority of us honest Sellers.  I know there are overseas Sellers who must have worked out how to do this somehow, because the instant you pay, your item appears as 'Posted'.  My daughter actually bought something recently and two days after she paid and it was marked as posted, she received a message saying the colour she chose was not available, lol.  Well, she's a bit feisty (like her mum) so went straight back to them, with well, you had it listed and marked as posted, etc so . . . . .  find one !  My point is, they then admitted the Marked as Posted comes up Automatically.  I have also noticed the automatic 'Posted' when I pay with some overseas Sellers.

Now that I have ranted and vented, does anyone know -  If you offer a discount on your invoice do eBay charge FVF on the original price or the amended price. 

I was thinking this may be a way around it - deduct the hidden overcharge for postage ?  It would be very difficult though, because most buyers pay immediately and unfortunately, they don't seem to read much.  It would create more work, but was thinking if you could offer 'Request Combined Postage discount before paying' - can you, if its FREE ? , then you could deduct the multiple charges.  I would consider doing this if it were possible.

Lol, maybe it is just too hard !!!!  Sorry to have bored you all and raved on, but it's all very much connected.  eBay appear to be so strict in some matters and then down right dishonest in some of their policies and guidelines.