To be pissed off with eBay sellers who...

[0pheliaBalls]

...use 'recycled' packaging and charge a fortune for p&p?

I've just received a bag which was wrapped in - I kid you not - a Sainsbury's carrier sealed with address labels. Not even a bag for life which might have offered some protection, just one of the thin ones. It cost £2.80 to post second class, but she charged £6.20 p&p! I know the charges are stated in the description and I don't mind it so much if the item is decently and securely packed but that's just ridiculous.

Last week I was sent something wrapped in newspaper and duct tape which cost them two quid to post but me four quid.

The packaging cost you nothing! So surely you should only be charging me for one p, not two!

Arseholes.

Raise it with eBay - it's not on. If you do nothing they'll just continue.

How is duct tape free?

You can account for "reasonable P&P charges" in the feedback now, might be worth doing for shoddy packaging.

As a seller though I often reuse packaging, but with plenty of protection and bubble wrap if appropriate. I also have to drive quite a way to find a post office with decent disabled access So I often end up out of pocket on the postage I charge, but you are being charged for this too. (although I agree it seems YANBU in this case!)

How is a scrap of duct tape £2?

It is sneaky and irritating.

Igggi well it seemed obvious to me they'd just packaged it with whatever they had lying around. I don't think anyone goes out shopping for packaging and thinks, Ooh, duct tape, MOST suitable Besides, they were very, um, sparing with it so it can only have cost them a couple of pennies. Certainly not two quid!

Yeah I think I will report them, and leave neutral feedback. Clearly they're hiking p&p costs to increase their profit which is not on.

If p&p charges are too high then I don't buy the item unless I really really want it. But it still annoys me. But as long as people get away with these high charges they will continue. Don't buy from them.

I've had stuff in parcel taped carrier bags too, wouldn't dream of sending something that way. It looks dreadful, but more often than not is not adequate for the postal system.

I always mark their stars way down. If it's more than £3 I notify ebay.

I got a package like that yesterday, it was wrapped in a bin bag. Postage cost was £2 or thereabouts (will have to check). I paid £9 p+p. Seller won't be liking the feedback, as the shoddy packaging has actually caused damage to the item. A little bubble wrap or cardboard would have cost very little extra and would have prevented any damage.

Contact the seller and ask to be refunded some money first, before leaving negative feedback. You can still rate down their stars on the packaging rating. If the seller doesn't refund you some then report and leave negative/neutral feedback.

It annoys me when some sellers take the piss. I've been charged a lot for a sellotaped carrier bag and it's ripped in the post.

I saw some trousers once and the postage was very high so I messaged the seller and asked why so high before bidding. She told me it was for jiffy bag, first class signed for and her bus fare to get to and from the post office. Understandable and I had no problem with that at all.

Funny you should day this - I received one this morning that was wrapped in a used plastic post bag, you know the ones that mail order companies use.

It had a huge hole along it where the original addressee had opened it. Somehow Royal Mail must have left it out overnight in the storms - its soaking wet thanks to the hole, but even better, the note popped in the package by the seller was written in green felt tip, which has bled all over the t-shirt!

Using recycled packaging makes sense from a financial and environmental perspective. It's only to carry the item, not win a bloody fashion parade!
As for the cost, you know what you're buying, simply judge the TOTAL price like any sensible person. You know the price in advance. If it arrives safely you have nothing to moan about.
Get a grip!

I just remembered. A friend that sells a lot on ebay told me she upped her P&P charges to account for ebay now billing her not only for a percentage of the item sold but for the postage. She passes on the % of the charge for P&P to her buyers.

Actual newspaper!

I too would contact seller and ask for a partial refund of postage. They may have overestimated costs or not realised (well, you never know).

I had a seller send something made of fabric. She secured it internally with loads sticky tape, which then transferred to the item. She grew really angry when I pointed it out to her, though Iwas really careful and tactful initially and wasn't even requesting a refund.

Quite why everyone doesn't offer "free" postage and factor it into the item cost is a mystery. eBay charge fees on the total anyway. If you don't offer "free" post, buyers (like the OP, maybe) can mark you down on P&P charges and you can end up being kicked off the site.

"I always mark their stars way down. If it's more than £3 I notify ebay."

Minimum first class post for a small parcel is £3.20. "2.80 for 2nd.

I don't charge for packaging but I use strong brown parcel paper and tape. I don't make any profit whatsoever on postage, and the costs are printed on the parcel label (by Paypal) so buyers can see this is so. Yet still get marked down for postage on occasion.

Sounds like you're another reason to add post to the item cost crawlycat

I didn't know ebay charged fees on the postage costs too!

I used to offer free p and p on some items. I remember, before it was changed, people would still mark down on p and p costs even though it had cost them nothing (a frequent seller gripe at the time).

Crawlycat, jennifer meant if the overcharge is more than £3.

Yes, they do. So if a seller sells an item for £50 with free post or £45 with £5 post, they pay the same. They risk some cretin marking "stars way down" though. So why everyone doesn't offer "free" post is a total mystery.

Sorry Jennifer

Thanks Percy

I find it impossible to judge how much postage will be so I charge £1.50/£2.00 for very large items, but I usually list as free P&P for smaller items and recycle the packaging. I've never had any complaints.

Goodness. I shall consider doing that if I sell anything in future. Thanks avoir

I haven't had any actual complaints. But my star rating for p and p charges (just checked) is 4.7. as I don't make any profit as is shown on the postage label.

I totally agree about it being annoying - I simply don't buy from ebayers who do this - but there's not much point in reporting it to ebay; now that they're taking commission on the P&P too, it suits them just fine for folks to overcharge ...