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eBay

If you buy or sell items on eBay, you will find tips and advice on this forum.

Quick question about postage

7 replies

lapislazuli · 18/11/2011 20:34

I just wondered how most ebayers choose to post their items? I don't mean particularly valuable stuff - just clothes/accessories etc.. that go for around £5-10.
Do you send just by regular post (1st or 2nd class)? Do you opt for proof of postage/delivery? Or is this too risky, and do you always go with recorded?
Am listing a few things and am not sure how much to charge, and want to be as realistic as possible.
Ta!

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FabbyChic · 18/11/2011 20:36

I always use recorded for items above a tenner, below that if the item does not arrive within 10 days I refund in full and take the loss. Generally most people are honest.

lapislazuli · 18/11/2011 20:56

Thanks Fabby, just trying to gauge an idea of what best practice is, as the Ebay help pages don't really recommend as such.
Have been a buyer for ages, and only just started selling, and I have never really noticed how items have got to me, only very occasionally are they signed for.
But I would hate anyone trying to pull me up on overcharging for postage.

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saoirse86 · 18/11/2011 22:30

Royal Mail's website is down at the moment, but I think adding signed for to your choice or 1st or 2nd class is only an extra 72p or something. From my experiences with horrible buyers recently I think it's worth paying and charging the extra.

And if you do ever realise you've miscalculated and overcharged for postage, a quick partial refund through paypal usually makes a buyer very happy, even if it's only 50p or something.

PrimaBallerina · 19/11/2011 01:04

I always send 2nd class and get proof of posting. I've never had anything go astray yet. If it was worth a lot I'd send recorded.

Definitely refund excess postage charges. Someone did it for me when I first started buying off eBay and I was so taken aback I never forgot it.

ragged · 19/11/2011 14:14

Always get proof of posting. You can claim up to 32 quid (I think?) without recorded delivery, to make it cost effective I mostly post by cheapest service possible & only get recorded delivery if it costs more than 30 quid. You can't get recorded delivery with parcels, btw, and (?I think) cannot send heavy items by 2nd class; recorded first class can be quite dear, though.

For some items I offer first class if I think they'll likely want fast delivery (I don't look at speed of delivery service when I buy either, but I think some people expect it fast no matter what you've said about how slow you'll be Hmm).

I personally think charging 10-15% above actual postage is quite reasonable given that Paypal takes almost half of that margin, anyway, and I don't expect anyone to give all their time & parcel tape for free.

sarahtigh · 20/11/2011 21:27

its £46 or a 100 first class stamps, I send second class or standard parcels add signed for if over £15-20

if selling vouchers etc must be special delivery which is about £5 extra, my Dh and I have sold over 350 items and have had only a couple of not received claims, each was an address fault by purchaser ... one put home postcode on business address another had moved i think 2 completely missing both small value less than £10 so just refunded, ( that is less than 1%) if you send everything signed for even if they paid 99p you may get low DSR for how reasonable were postal charges. I really don't think signed for for everything is necessary

I do think some areas like selling phones or software are more prone to complaints and non arrival than say clothes books and ornaments

for stuff heavier than 1 kg the cheapest way of getting signature is collect+ about £3,99
there is no point in offering first class unless you post the very next day

i think a small mark up on postage is ok for packing I charge about 40p extra for just a bag or envelope 75p for small box and bubblewrap ie china orif a large breakable like coffee set which needs loads of bubble poly chips and double boxing £1.50 extra

if you quote £4 and it costs £2.16 give partial refund as soon as you get home it earns you brownie points and makes you look very honest

if someone buys 3 items make sure combined postage is that; the 3 items individually may have cost £1,72 and you were charging £2 but together they will only cost £3.15 so dont think that charging £5 instead of £6 is doing them a favour its not you shoul charge £4 max still

some people try and use postage to make up for 99p sales

lapislazuli · 01/12/2011 15:19

Thanks for all the tips. So far I've gone 2nd class + proof of postage for cheaper items and recorded for the more expensive and seems to have worked out fine - feedback is all positive.

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