Postage-ebay-just out of interest?

[merglemergle]

Just out of interest, ebay sellers.

Around 2 pounds 50 seems to be fairly common for a newborn size vest. Thats for 1st class posting, no recorded delivery.

No obviously, caveat emptor etc and the sellers are quite upfront. Just seems like it couldn't possibly cost that much to post, so is it a sneaky way of increasing the price?

Just wondered...

[nikkisherri]

Mergle yes I think it is for a vest £1.50 more fitting.

[Nemo1977]

deffo way of increasing price. For one newborn vest to be posted would be around 30p then packaging which isnt exactly going to be a lot either

[Janh]

Some ebayers seem to be using p&p as a sort of tax in a very cheeky way. (Worst I've seen is one of those anti-bullying wristbands, 99p for the band and £8 p&p )

[nikkisherri]

With postage I would take into account the price to send if its recorded delivery etc. the packaging type used and a little fee maybe for the time involved in the person posting item

[emmatmg]

Some of the stuff I've just sold I put as £2.50 for 1st class recorded but they were things like trousers, denim skirts etc, and they didn't quite cost £2.50.


A baby vest certainly wouldn't cost that.

[nikkisherri]

I think many people on ebay bump up the fees for the p&p now to compensate for the rise in ebay listing fees and the cut that ebay take plus if its paid for on paypal fees taken for that too but it should still be within reason.

[debs26]

its taking the mickey and i have just complained about a seller who charged £2.25 over the actual cost and only used brown paper to wrap which resulted in box being damaged. its up to you what you charge but a lot of people will leave neg or neutral feedback if you rip them off (and rightly so!)

[abacus]

I always try to keep p+p down - worst I saw was a clear mascara with p+p £6.50. £2.50 is a lot for a vest, even if it was a new jiffy bag (£1 at most)+ about 30p postage.

[vickiyumyum]

the worst price for p&p that i saw was someone who had won a nintendo ds thinking that theyhad a bargain for £40 and then the seller was charging £80 p&p!!!!

i think that some ebayers really do take the mickey in there p&p costs, i have never sold through ebay but have sold a couple of items through mumsnet and freeads and on one occassion actually charging not enough for the postage let alone the packaging ( i charged £15 and it cost £16.50 for the postage alone, for a buggy)

most people seem to charge about th £2 mark for clothing, but i always check now as sometimes by th time you have paid p&p and the cost of the item you could have brought a brand new one cheaper!

[slartibardfast]

Well, at the ripoff end of the spectrum, rogue sellers are hoping that buyers won't notice their postage terms and will just pay up when they win. Correct thing to do is say there was an obvious listing error, offer something reasonable, maybe to collect personally if local, then register a dispute with ebay.

In the middle region are those trying to avoid ebay's fees by taking some of the money they think the item is worth as 'postage'. Ebay policy here

And at the lower end, sellers are charging the postage, the packing, and adding on fees for their time and energy doing the packing, going to the postoffice etc.

So best to read all the listing, and the feedback, and take your choice.

There might be some ebay free lunches, but not necessarily all that many