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Original poster

I could cry! Didn't know about the postage increases..

39 replies

lololizzy · 03/04/2013 18:00

So...i've just returned from post office, spent £116 sending off my ebay parcels, all UK (had a LOT of parcels) Did not know about the increase due to now charging for bulk (did eBay warn? if so, I never saw.) Many of my items that would normally go for £2.20 postage (normal second class) now £5.20. Am very out of pocket..could not repackage. Items had to go today. No time. And how can you flatten certain items eg bags, shoes etc?? You cannot. I have lost so much of my profits! Not the buyers faults so i had to cover the extra myself. How i wanted to scream, to have to for eg pay £5.20 postage for a Primarni handbag, that had sold for 99p plus £2.20 postage! I had to honour it... I have lots more to sell too. I don't see how i can shift it now. Who's going to want to pay £5.20 postage for a jumper or jacket when the starting bid is 99p? Or a light handbag, that may be featherweight but is bulky. ALL my jackets, jumpers, shoes and bags sent today were £5.20 per packet. That wasn't even Recorded Delivery! Just reg second class! How the fecking feck can they justify an increase of £3. £3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OP posts:
Original poster
lololizzy · 03/04/2013 18:03

£2.20 to £5.20 should be illegal!! Surely a lot of sellers will now be out of business. Royal Mail, you may have shot yourself in foot.

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weebleknievel · 03/04/2013 18:14

Royal Mail have publicised it on their website and they emailed registered customers as well back in feb.

It's not up to ebay to warn you as it's the seller's responsibility to check they are charging correctly.

You can download a pdf of the new prices from Royal Mail website which gives you the cost by size/weight.

It has put me off selling for the time being but once the new charges have been in force for a few months buyers will be used to it and will have to be prepared to pay postage if they want something.

If I do list anything from now on I'll be stating the weight and size of the parcel so buyers can see that the postage cost is justified as they will be able to check on Royal Mail for themselves.

I think it will hit sellers who bung a quid or so on top of actual postage costs to enhance their profits as the charges will seem extortionate to buyers then!

DomesticCEO · 03/04/2013 18:17

This is why I don't sell clothes on eBay - not worth it Sad.

Bakingnovice · 03/04/2013 18:20

I sent some baby clothes off and it was £2.60 but I agree that sending anything bigger is pointless.

fergoose · 03/04/2013 18:31

try collect plus or My Hermes - the latter is £3.20 up to 1kg.

INeedThatForkOff · 03/04/2013 19:01

I went today expecting to pay the usual £3.15 for my 2nd recorded parcels, but they'd gone up to £6.30. I'm not paying that so I've contacted the buyers and said I'll repackage and post tomorrow (clothing, but there'd be no way around bulkier items, as you say).

It's either an alternative e.g. Collect+ or selling on Facebook and Gumtree for me now.

Original poster
lololizzy · 03/04/2013 19:14

i paid it as promised i'd send today and can't tomorrow. I had 33 parcels and it took an hour and it was the only free time i've got. So i lost a lot of money, every single item i lost money, but many at least £3 per item on.. Thing is, certain things can't be repackaged /flattened . I feel for the people who sell novelty mugs, that kind of thing! £5.20 to send a mug. Well, £5.20 for a sodding Primark bag i sold for 99p yep that stings....

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Original poster
lololizzy · 03/04/2013 19:16

Since i had to leave my job two months ago i've really relied on eBay to keep things going (and helped me have a clear out) and now i'm really down about it as so much won't sell now as postage will put off buyers

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INeedThatForkOff · 03/04/2013 19:23

I definitely won't be buying from eBay at RM rates I'm afraid. It's worth looking into alternatives, if nothing else so that you can be cheaper than most on postage.

fergoose · 03/04/2013 19:25

try My Hermes instead- £3.20 up to 1kg and they collect from you door. I used them lots before the price rises as they were cheaper then, will no doubt use them even more now.

FattyMcChubster · 03/04/2013 19:29

You can also use a shop to drop things off at with my Hermes. I can't wait in all day. Don't have a printer tho so have to print labels at library which is a pita.

treaclesoda · 03/04/2013 19:31

this probably represents the end of me being able to either buy or sell on ebay, because I'm in Northern Ireland and couriers are not an option due to price. So if I try to buy from someone who uses a courier, they will not be able to send it to me for the price quoted. And if I try to sell stuff, I'll be up against people using couriers so no one will want to buy from me. Really frustrating.

lljkk · 03/04/2013 19:49

I think Collect Plus prices are same to and from Northern Ireland. If that's any help.

lljkk · 03/04/2013 19:49

(Sorry, I mean same as mainland, and generally better for bulky items than new RM prices).

INeedThatForkOff · 03/04/2013 19:55

I'm going with Collect+ for the ones I didn't send today so I don't have to faff about repackaging. I don't have enough large mailing bags anyway. £3.99 per parcel. There's only place here that does My Hermes and it's 3 miles away. In future I might use that but make sure all my auctions end at the same time rather than staggering them over a couple of days.

Original poster
lololizzy · 03/04/2013 20:39

i was just reading elsewhere, that this increase is due to cost of diesel??

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SirChenjin · 03/04/2013 20:42

What??? How did I miss this price increase? Shock

fergoose · 03/04/2013 20:42

My Hermes will collect too - I don't drop off to them as there isn't a drop off point near me.

Original poster
lololizzy · 03/04/2013 21:14

yes SirChenjin, be warned. I had a very nasty shock. If you sell clothes...Basically...summer wear is going to be ok..maybe not maxi dresses though . Winter wear...likely going to be £5.20 a parcel. That's just for standard second class. Winter coats / boots..you can go higher than that for sure. The Primark handbag i sent, was a small, quilted jobbie, light as a feather. Due to so called bulk (of its base) - £5.20. Never again! Forget things like soft toys, cushions, ornaments, balls of wool etc.. i cannot see how these things will ever sell now unless particularly spectacular. I wouldn't pay £5.20 postage to buy a large ball of wool. Am going to look into Hermes..

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Original poster
lololizzy · 03/04/2013 21:16

just a basic jumper...was £5.20. Same with lightweight trainers...

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Original poster
lololizzy · 03/04/2013 21:16

and a blazer. Yep..i could really cry.

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Original poster
lololizzy · 03/04/2013 21:17

(there was a lot more than that, for me). Just listing some examples so others can be warned!

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sarahtigh · 03/04/2013 22:29

myhermes will collect or you can drop at shop they are cheapest under 1kg

collectplus cheapest from 1-5kg

over 5kg use someone like parcel2go to quote from multiple couriers

if going to drop off in bulk i suggest you finish auctions say sunday night and bulk post on tuesday and say this quite clearly in listing that anything paid by 9pm monday will be posted tuesday and anything paid by thursday 9pm will be posted friday

SirChenjin · 04/04/2013 13:25

Will definitely be looking at My Hermes or similar from now on. Was this increase well publicised, or did I just have my head in the sand?

PurpleFrog · 04/04/2013 13:38

There have been several threads about the postal increases on this board. (That is where I found out about it, originally.) Ebay also announced the changes on March 4th, and again on March 22nd.