A 2nd class package is £2.20 -am I missing something

[sherbetpips]

So as far as I know a package (not a letter) sent 2nd class in the uk is £2.20. So why do buyers on eBay try to make complaints about postage. I have had feedback comments with 'postage expensive, etc. Usually eBay remove them from serial complainers but am I missing something - are the post office ripping me off?

[PurpleFrog]

FVF - Final Value Fees

DSR - Detailed Seller Ratings

[sarahtigh]

you can not charge for your time as a private seller because if you charge for your time it is income and then has to be declared to inland revenue and you pay tax on it, it does not matter whether you charge for your time for baby sitting wrapping parcels cleaning washing cars or gardening if you charge it is taxable,

the profit on selling personal things is not taxable hence you can not charge for your time, inconvenience or petrol, parking. only packaging costs as if you charge for petrol, parking it means your car is being used for business purposes and you then need to insure for business use

[lljkk]

I am interested in learning more about the business insurance aspects of charging for one's time, I don't know anything about that, what are the possible risks are for uninsured business sellers on Ebay? I also don't know anyone (like me) who is self-employed on low income & who insures themselves as a business, even if we have to identify ourselves as a business for IR.

Only would pay tax if it exceeds the usual personal tax allowance.
Technically IR require ALL earned income to be declared, but the recipient may well still be within the tax allowance and not owe anything. I imagine not reporting income might be a civil offence, does anyone know? I imagine IR really doesn't care about self-employed folk with income well below the tax allowance threshold.

All this chat over 50p's!

[lljkk]

Having spent an hour this afternoon sorting out motor insurance I now I understand one of the risks of no business insurance! If you were only getting the car out to take an item to post office & you were charging for time, the car would be used for business purposes & technically not covered under usual motor policy.

However, if you were including other personal errands as part of the driving, then, I reckon the insurance claim would be valid under usual policy T&C. Not that the insurance company could easily check one way or the other.

[maxybrown]

BFPO prices ARE slightly higher, posted BFPO parcels for years - not much more, but defintely more

[maxybrown]

here are the special BFPO prices

[YouOldSlag]

It really annoys me when sellers deliberately overcharge on postage in order to avoid ebay fees. i.e a 99p item such as a 30ml boxed used perfume with 6 quid postage charges.

Whenever I've questioned it I get stupid answers like "I need to make money" or " it's only 99p, you're getting a bargain".

More fool them when they get fewer bids and negative feedback and one star on their seller dashboard postage status.

[lljkk]

But how do they continue trading if they do get that many 1 & 2 stars? Coz I read on here how people get their accounts restricted after just one or 2 bad lot of DSRs.

[YouOldSlag]

I don't know lljkk, but I do find it's usually NOT experienced top sellers. It's usually newbies who think they are the first ever person to think of a way of dodging fees. I really hate the stroppy replies when you question it too!

[maxybrown]

My stars are my lowest on my P&P (not enough to affect me) - I charge just less than the actual cost from RM

[amck5700]

Do the people here who charge the same or lower than RM and get marked down on P&P take their items to the PO or mark them up themselves?

The items I send have the postage cost on them from the PO sticker so they are able to see what the actual cost is - I never get negative feedback.

Just wondered if that makes a difference to peoples perceptions.

[amck5700]

If the postage cost is reasonable based on what it actually cost, I give 5 stars as that equates to very satisfied - it should probably be 4 which means satisfied, but I tend to be grateful that I haven't been ripped off - I guess i am easily pleased :)

[PurpleFrog]

I think there is a big difference in attitude between buyers who "just buy" and those who sell as well. I don't think the first group realise the importance of good feedback and 5 star ratings. On eBay a rating of 3 stars is not the average expected standard as it would be in all other things.

[YouOldSlag]

TBH, If the postage is under 4 quid (say it's 3.75) I don't usually mind. Recently I accidentally bid on an item (perfume) only to find the postage was 7quid. I couldn't undo my bid and I was stupid not to have read the postage first, but since the postage sticker only said 2.20 and the item was wrapped normally i.e sellotape and polythene, I did take issue and only gave one star.

I also wrote to the seller (who was newish at 23 sales) and said buyers will hate this and she risks negative feedback in future. It was well meant constructive criticism and she took it well.

[maxybrown]

I take mine to PO - I have never had any negative feedback or even been complained about, but my stars are my lowest on my P&P

[YouOldSlag]

As a seller and a buyer, I charge exactly what Royal Mail charge me and write off mailing bags/bubble wrap as negligible cost that keeps my feedback 100%

[AngelOne]

I only charge for actual postage cost, but always post recorded. No one has complained yet...

I don't charge for packaging as I re-use old packaging. I save all cardboard boxes, and any jiffy bags I get.

I use rubble bags (like really thick blue bin bags) and parcel tape for soft things, and cheapo bubble wrap from Home Bargains for things that need cushioning.

I don't buy jiffy bags as they are expensive, but you can get them cheaper in Home Bargains if you want them

Ps. I don't work for Home Bargains, I just love them :)

[YouOldSlag]

AngelOne- I know what you mean- Home Bargains is great for everything!

[sarahtigh]

the question is

" were the postage costs reasonable?"

if you highlight 5 stars is very reasonable ( ie at cost or with minimum packing costs) if postage is free ebay automatically give you 5 stars buyer does not get opportunity to give star ratings)
4 stars reasonable ( to my mind packing charge perhaps a bit much by 10-30p)
3 stars neither packing charge well over
2 stars seriously overcharging by £1 plus
1 star overcharging to the extent practically fraud and fee avoidance ( like the bottle of perfume above with £7 postage)


note it is much much cheaper to use bubble wra p and plastic bags than jiffy bags

[maxybrown]

I know and I only ever charge exact cost or less, never ever over and always well packaged and still my lowest stars are on my P&P

[sarahtigh]

because of buyers like the one above you only give 5 stars if free and give 3 stars for a perfectly good transaction

ie they bought they paid it was delivered on time and goods as described etc, they think 3 stars is satisfactory, when in ebays eyes 3 stars is a failure and if you have average of three stars you will be stopped from selling completely

thankfully most buyers understand that 5 stars are what is required, i occasionally give 4 stars if moderately unhappy but I would never give 3 stars for something that was problem free

[Lougle]

I compare the actual cost of postage with the amount that I was charged, then look at the packaging.

£2.20 postage with up to £3.00 charged - 5 stars.
£2.20 postage with £5.50 charged - well, actually that's unreasonable!

So, if ebay want sellers to have 5 stars, don't tell buyers that 2 stars is 'unreasonable'. Tell us that 2 stars is 'Thieving the crown jewels'.

[lljkk]

Well I often charge 25%+ over RM cost & my postage stars are very high! So just goes to show how pointless DSRs are.

If I had problems with postage costs rating I would start offering items with free postage. Bastard thing to do, but I'd feel that I had to.

[YouOldSlag]

I always give 5 if problem free, 4 if it's a bit slow but still reasonable, and I gave one star for the rob dog who charged me 7 quid for a bottle of perfume and only paid 2.20.