To be fed up of CFs on eBay?!

[Ninoo25]

I’m fed up of buyers on eBay thinking they can demand the earth for such a small sum of money.
I’ve been selling our old clothes etc to try and make a bit of money before Christmas. I am an individual and not a business. My postage charges are high and I explain this on my listings - I only send recorded delivery, due to people claiming not to have received items in the past and include the cost of postage, the wrapping and the bus fare to the post office. I set my starting price at 99p as otherwise I don’t get bids given the higher than usual postage charge and have had people leave snotty feedback about the postage being far too expensive, despite me having explained that it only covers my costs (I explain this on the listing as have had people see the cost of posting on the parcel and then query why they have paid more).
Example - a Radley handbag with some small scuffs on it (shown in photos and detailed in the item description) bidder paid 99p + £5.95 postage. Left negative feedback about the postage and put in a claim to PayPal for excess postage. I posted the day after delivery and what they paid me only just covered my costs and with eBay fees I will have received around 50p for all the effort. In return I left negative feedback, saying that the buyer has been unreasonable and now they have complained to eBay.
AIBU ago be peeved at these CFs who expect something for nothing?! 😡

I sold an item of clothing about a month ago, it sold for 99p.

About three weeks later I started getting messages saying it didn't fit and the sizing was weird so they wanted a refund. I said no, it was accurately described. I started the size in the title and listing and photos showed the size on the tag.

She sent me messages every few days for the last month and then left negative feedback which eBay removed for me anyway as it was factually incorrect (it was the correct size, it just didn't fit her)

99p, bloody weirdo.

I rarely use eBay to sell anything these days as all the rule changes have made it so much in favour of the buyer that it’s not worth the hassle. I have sold things with clear photos, descriptions etc. but if the buyer says it’s not as sold eBay will automatically refund them and you lose out on the postage it cost you. Some of the P&P price limits they put on are also less than the actual cost of posting.

@LewisMam I got caught out by someone like that once before: I sold something locally, she turned up to collect it but claimed she was £20 short of the agreed price, struggling for money, desperate etc. I caved in and let her have it. Next thing it was being resold on a local facebay group for more than I’d originally asked! Sadly you can’t trust anyone these days.

It's a pity we can't have some sort of secret, long time member selling room for us to benefit from between ourselves.
I'm honestly NOT a cheeky fucker. I am always grateful for the little that I have and i've never haggled or bartered in my life. I'd be embarrassed to be seen behaving in the way they do. No shame.

Ah yes, the "I'm, soooo poor / sell it elsewhere later" scam I once had one of those, who slowed down to see the house number while in a brand new, souped up Range Rover (which she then parked around the corner)

The "costume" effects were quite good but such a pity she forgot to take off her very expensive watch before ringing the bell ...

I have given up with auctions, as you say, they are a lot of bother. I use BIN with free postage (and best offer sometimes). Best Offer can be set to reject offers that are too low. Include the postage price in the selling price. List it for more than you want and for shorter times and then re-list as sell similar then it won't be hidden in results because it didn't sell, it will be a new listing.

After a few people have viewed then reduce the price and sometimes people get sent an e.mail to let them know that the item they viewed has been reduced, if they are interested they will buy it.

Check feedback left by buyers, and read feedback left for them, see if you can spot any problems with delivery and refunds, such as 'sorry the item was lost in the post' or 'didn't arrive' or 'thank you for the refund' then decide whether to spend extra on recorded delivery, it really isn't worth it for low value items if you have a POP from the Post Office and can claim.

I tell people that haven't received their item that I will report it to Royal Mail for them as they have records of addresses that have a lot of lost items, and will see if there is a problem in their area. Usually the parcel appears.

I don't use eBay anymore because of this sort of thing. I've also been on the flip side of the coin where I sent something back to a business and never got a refund (I, naively, didn't get proof of postage) so I guess I walked into that one, but it left a bad taste in my mouth all the same. I prefer FB Marketplace and Gumtree... if you want a bargain come and see me, I'm not faffing around at the Post Office for you.

I hate it when you sell a piece of furniture and have Collection Only in your details, but they still email and ask you how much to pack and courier it.

I would rather give it away then be arsed, wrapping, packing and arranging for a man and van to courier it to the Isle of Wight love.

Do not get me started! Winds me up no end, to the point I don't ever sell on eBay now.

I once listed around 11 pairs of kiddies designer shoes (weird french designers that I guess a lot of people wouldn't have heard of)

I listed all at 99p as I really just needed them gone, then postage £5.95 (interlink courier next day, tracked bla bla)

The same person bid on all, some she won for about £4 a lot she got for 99p. She KICKED OFF because I wouldn't combine the postage. I said hell no I won't, there's about £800s worth of shoes you're getting for about £80. They were all like brand new and I went on her eBay and she had a shoe shop. So I said she couldn't have them and gave them to charity

Sorry for the rant there. I now join fab groups for such items and post.

I tell people that haven't received their item that I will report it to Royal Mail for them as they have records of addresses that have a lot of lost items, and will see if there is a problem in their area. Usually the parcel appears.

Ooh that's good. I'll use that in future if there's a chancer.

CaMePlaitPas
It happened to me as well. I even had proof of delivery and the snivelling grub still argued and withheld refund. Too much backwards and forwarding and I had a lot on at the time and so my demand for a refund fizzles out from my end.
Greedy shit head.

Tbh I think you are being cheeky OP - recorded delivery parcels are £3.95 or £4.45 depending on whether 1st or 2nd class. If I received something from an ebay seller where the postage value shown on the parcel was less than claimed, I'd be seeking a refund for the difference too

Edison, you need to put it on the listing in HUGE letters and in the title. Some people just can't read, or don't bother.
My titles are eg: 'Item colour size Collect Postcode City Only or similar and the first line of the listing is Collection in Person only from city postcode. No couriers.

Otherwise people buy it from places with the same name that are the other side of the country, or want it couriered, or don't see the little it that says collection in the Ebay details.

If it is in the listing you are not obliged to sell it to them. Sadly you have to think a lot and pre-empt the hard of reading/thinking with every listing these days.

I recently sold something with measurements in the title and listing and tape measures in the photos. Was asked to take it back because it was bigger than expected, duh.

I sell a bit and buy a bit on e-bay. Mainly clothes. As a seller I now use the e-bay shuttle service which is brilliant. Just costs £2.78 for up to 2kg and everythiing is tracked. it even works for international sales. I use new packing bags and tissue paper all of which costs very little. As a buyer I am horrified by the dreadful state that packages arrive - often using old carrier bags - and some people seem to charge an arm and a leg. I didn't think one was meant to make money on the postage. maybe I am missing a trick.

It's a pity we can't have some sort of secret, long time member selling room for us to benefit from between ourselves

I've seen this suggested a few times, and once posted a 'code of conduct' that users would need to sign up to. I think you'll like it:

All ads to be written in English not txt spk and must not feature the words 'need gone'

No glittery shite

Anyone asking for items must not be cheeky fuckers. Eg its reasonable asking if anyone has spare items of low value, but they must not expect a full set up of everything for a house, baby etc of new from John Lewis quality for free.

Similarly no-one should be stalking the site for freebies to then sell at car boots etc

People should not expect items to be delivered unless offered.

People should not make up ridiculous stories as to why they deserve the item the most

People to turn up when they say they will and take the item without imposing on the offerer - ie if the item is suitable to be left outside, they do this.

If the site offers items for sale, as well as for free, no ridiculous bargaining or stupid swap requests. Eg sale of a good quality push chair for £100. Offering £80/90 is fine but don't come up with a sob story about why you must be allowed to buy it for £20 or swap it for a dirty 15 year old car seat of dubious origin.

If a price is agreed, they should stick to that when they collect the item.

This is my issues with postage too, I got a query for why there item was taking so long. I sent it second class because it's so costly and so is recorded.
I sent the buyer a copy of the receipt that states her postcode( even second class they add it) and next second she tell me that the parcel was put in her child play house and they had been away this weekend and didn't see it.
Once the item has been post by law it's not your responsibility, but Ebay are terrible. Over the last 5 years they have got fee crazy!!!
And Facebook are joining in with all the reviewing your items.
My kids clothes got reviewed for two days!

Ninoo25 Thu 15-Nov-18 11:16:08
Furforkssake thanks I might give that a try. I just can’t believe how cheeky some people are. All the things I’m selling are expensive brands - Radley, Boden, Modalu etc and they pay so little for them and then complain it’s too much, or complain about a fault that has been shown in photos and detailed in the description. It’s crazy!

You need to set your starting price higher and weed out the people that want something for nothing. If they are genuine designer brands then they will sell eventually for a decent price.

I'm one of the many who don't bother with eBay any longer. My buyers were all fine, but I got sick of all the stupid questions / comments. The amount of "profit" wasn't worth the bother, these days I don't list anything I think won't raise £50+, it just goes in the bin and straight to landfill.

Also, Ebay takes a fee from the postage now too. So if you don't add to it then your actual paying for some of the postage.
And it postage and packaging, so the extras cost.

If I received something from an ebay seller where the postage value shown on the parcel was less than claimed, I'd be seeking a refund for the difference too

Er, no. You read the listing before bidding and check that you are happy with the stated postage cost. You then take that into account when deciding how much to bid. If you are unsure as to whether the stated postage cost is reasonable, you can always look at the Post Office website and guess about the parcel size/weight and hence price.

You then bid and if you win, you pay what you agreed to pay. It doesn't make a blind bit of difference to you whether you pay £10 incl free p&p or £6 plus £4 p&p which costs the seller £2.

I think it's fair to include the cost of the actual postage and packing materials but not bus fare. I'd just put a higher starting price.

I bought something recently that was sent as a second class small package (just under £3 on the postage label) but the seller charged me £8. I was not impressed.

I haven't read the postage rules for ages but at one point you weren't allowed to charge to your costs such as time and travel to post office/packing materials.

I find with clothes that I have better success offering free postage but with a higher starting price (which in effect I can add in a sum for travel/envelope/packaging/recorded) . People are suckers for free p&p

eBay, Amazon etc have done a real number on the general public by convincing them that postage is 'free'.

The consequence is that we have to deal with the likes of Yodel, MyHermes etc trying to deliver things for less than the cost of providing a decent service.

Set the minimum price at 5.95 and free postage? At least then you have covered your costs and people will feel they are getting a bargain as it is free delivery

great idea I might try that

*BarbaraofSevillle

If I received something from an ebay seller where the postage value shown on the parcel was less than claimed, I'd be seeking a refund for the difference too*
What about the cost of the box and bubble wrap etc? Surely that’s part of what P&P covers? Not just the postage charged by Royal Mail.

I sell bits and bobs, mostly clothes, on Ebay and it does seem to be harder to make any money these days with all the fees. I think I need to investigate this Shutti postage and Royal mail has got so expensive now it makes it not worth it for a lot of items.

As a buyer high postage really puts me off, my son is 18 months and I buy a lot of his things online. When I see a child's t shirt that will fit in an envelope with 3.95 postage it does seem crazy. When I have sold things I have sometimes offered my buyer a refund if the postage ended up being cheaper than expected (sometimes the difference between a parcel going large letter or small parcel can be slight).

The thing that has got me this year is the neutral reviews that say things like 'it doesn't fit' or 'I don't like it' those are not grounds for not giving positive feedback when the size has been correctly shown or the item properly photographed.

eBay, Amazon etc have done a real number on the general public by convincing them that postage is 'free'.
I recently had the opposite problem. There was a BNWT item listed on Facebook for £40+£10 delivery. The item could be purchased brand new for £49.99 with free delivery. So I offered £30+£10 delivery.

The seller was indignant and said the price was already a bargain 10% less than retail! I said yes but when you include postage I’d be paying 1p more than retail. She said “Ah but the postage doesn’t go in my pocket so I’m selling it for 10% less than retail”. And I’m like “Yeah but I’m still paying the postage so in total it would cost me 1p more than retail”.

She totally did not get it at all. She was fixated on the amount of money that would go in her pocket and didn’t appreciate that from the buyer’s perspective the postage forms part of the price paid. To top it off she accused me of being greedy, wanting her to sell BNWT stuff for cheap and not considering that she “needed” to achieve a fair price of 10% under retail.