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

what would you charge for P&P on a VERY heavy amplifier?!

15 replies

lisbapalea · 17/04/2012 11:07

I put an amp that weighs 20kg on ebay yesterday. As it's so heavy I said collection in person only but someone's been in touch asking what the P&P charge would be.

How would you calculate this?

OP posts:
SparkleSoiree · 17/04/2012 11:09

I would probably get a courier or Parcelforce quote.

scampadoodle · 17/04/2012 11:11

I wouldn't. It's too heavy for Royal Mail anyway. Tell them to organise a courier. It's not your responsibility if you've put Collection in Person Only. If you want to be nice, refer them to Shiply which is a website which works in tandem with Ebay and hooks people up with van & lorry drivers with an 'empty run'. It's a bit cheaper and your potential buyer just has to input the item's ebay code & Shiply works it out.

HTH Grin

lisbapalea · 17/04/2012 11:32

that's great - thank you. I have suggested that they try Shiply.

OP posts:
fergoose · 17/04/2012 11:41

please do not let the buyer organise a courier - if you do use courier organise it yourself then you have all the tracking info yourself in case buyer claims not to receive it.

Flightty · 17/04/2012 11:42

I'd put the thing in a really strong box (and I mean really strong) and pack it extremely well with LOADS of polystyrene, newspaper, bubble wrap and those air cushion thingies and whatever else it took to survive being dropped from a first floor window (you can expect this with most couriers).

I'd then get a quote from parcel2go or senditnow as they cover stuff up to 31 kilos at least, often very cheaply.

Check it isn't on the 'restricted items' or 'no compensation' list when you book, or they'll drop it and it'll break and you'll lose everything.

OR get the buyer to arrange their OWN courier but you will need to know their tracking number before you let them take it, so you can prove it was delivered ifthere's a paypal dispute. Online tracking/proof of delivery is what you need.

There is always a risk in selling heavy stuff as it might get damaged...I just got a car seat collected, I arranged it myself but the seller packed it badly and the box broke on the way. LUCKILY it is just about fine, however, had it been busted I'd have lost my money I think. (hard to claim for damage from parcelforce unless something is packed to within an inch of its life - and this wasn't!)

Soooo just be careful. Offering collection only is a good way to start, you'll get a lower price but at least you'll know the thing is safe.

fluffygal · 17/04/2012 11:49

Shiply is great, I found a really reasonable courier through them, much cheaper then the company was quoting who I was returning to.

Flightty · 17/04/2012 11:49

Sorry I crossed with you Fergoose Smile

If they make sure to get the tracking number, is that ok?

Just wondering about the damage side of it/SNAD if buyer organises the courier, too, I guess the seller couldn't prove it either way.

fergoose · 17/04/2012 11:55

No to be honest. If it is damaged the buyer could claim not as described, claw back Paypal payment then you the seller cannot claim from the courier for damage as you are not the one who has the contract with them. So in short no - either cash on collection or get quote, buyer pays and arrange courier yourself. You will need to get packaging and wait in for courier too, so if you don't want to offer that option then you do not have to - your auction after all.

lisbapalea · 17/04/2012 12:33

more advice needed! The person has now said they would organise a courier and will buy it now, but have offered a reduced price - that's out of order isn't it?

Buy it now was £60 and they have offered £45 if they arrange the courier.

OP posts:
maydaychild · 17/04/2012 12:35

Tell them sorry no!
I don't think it's worth the hassle

MustControlFistOfDeath · 17/04/2012 12:43

If you want £60 tell them no.

Don't let them arrange the courier, see Fergoose's posts above

lisbapalea · 17/04/2012 13:10

I have told them no, the buy it now proce will stay at £60. They have now made a bid at the opening price and have said they will wait to see how the auction pans out. There's already someone else watching it so hopefully it'll get beyond £60 anyway!!

Thanks to everyone for the replies - am a bit of an ebay novice although have put about 25 things on over the past two days, so am hoping it all works out!

OP posts:
scampadoodle · 17/04/2012 13:14

Flightty & Fergoose made v good points - I hadn't thought of the tracking issue.

And the potential buyer is being really cheeky suggesting a discount because they've got to organise a courier!!! It's not as though you offered that service to start with.

I'd put it on Gumtree if it doesn't sell on Ebay - it's free, local and you know how much you're going to get.

fergoose · 17/04/2012 13:21

If you are not happy with the buyer you can cancel their bid and block them from bidding altogether

what is the starting price anyway - did you put a reserve on it. If they are not local you will still have this courier issue won't you and it looks like they will not let you organise it yourself - it may be wise to consider blocking them.

sarahtigh · 19/04/2012 20:47

also if they organise courier and pay for it you get nothing for packaging for a heavy amplifier, then double walll cardboard box and polystrene, ( our local homebase gives it away for free)

there are some couriers that take upto 32kg beyond that it is a pallet as 32kg is the absolute max a single person can be expected to lift more than that is 2 people or pallet truck, please remember to allow for weight of packing materials so if amp is 20kg package will be 23-25 kg pack assuming it will be dropped would sugest 4" all round as a very minimum depth of packaging

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