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Original poster

AIBU to think this Ebayer is taking the piss?

40 replies

theeverydaydancer · 07/02/2014 09:02

This is just a bit of a rant tbh.

I got a message this morning from someone who has put a bid on a designer handbag that has a starting price of 99p. It is in great condition (I have only used it once, very briefly for a few hours for a job interview). I have put it on so cheap as I just want to get rid of a load of stuff. I calculated the price using the Royal Mail online package calculator tool etc and adding the price of the packaging.

Anyway, this seller has messaged me asking if I could drop the price of the postage by £2 saying she thinks I could do it cheaper. I sent a message back saying no, this the price of the post and packaging and that overall what she is bidding for i.e. gorgeous, leather designer handbag inc p & p is very reasonable.

She really should have asked about the price of P &P before placing a bid, right? Anyway, I think she is massively taking the piss. If she is the only bidder, she have this handbag sent to her for a few pennies over a tenner.

For some reason it has really annoyed me! Perhaps it was the lack of sleep last night, but I just keep thinking "Jesus, some people!".

OP posts:
Gatekeeper · 07/02/2014 09:07

I am assuming you are charging in the region of 9 for postage which does sound high but agree that she should have asked before bidding

MissMilbanke · 07/02/2014 09:09

How much are you charging for P&P ?

I'm with you I'd be a bit irritated...

littleredsquirrel · 07/02/2014 09:10

TBH I can see her point and I always think its cheeky of people to pretend they have a starting price of 99p when actually they don't, they actually have a starting price of £10 because the postage is high and so they've got their guaranteed payment that way (and it really does not cost £9 to post anything the size of a handbag).

At the same time yes she should have read the advert.

Freyathecatt · 07/02/2014 09:13

She didn't have to bid on the bag if she had beef with the TOTAL cost of the item. I'm with you OP.

Link to this spectacular bargain??

GlitzAndGiggles · 07/02/2014 09:13

The price of large items to be posted is around £5.75 I think? I had a seller try and charge me an extra £8 to post a box of shoes because he realised he'd sold them a lot cheaper than he wanted

MirandaWest · 07/02/2014 09:14

If you are charging postage of £9 then I can see her point. You need to start the item at a price that you'd be happy to sell it for, not try to compensate with the level of postage. How much did the Royal Mail website say postage would be?

MirandaWest · 07/02/2014 09:14

I agree though that she should have asked first and then bid.

MissMilbanke · 07/02/2014 09:15

Ah just worked out now that you are charging £9 ish.

Thats too much really…

Chopstheduck · 07/02/2014 09:16

i think yanbu charging that much in postage, but I also think the buyer is begin unreasonable messaging you to drop the price. If it was me, I simply wouldn't bid. You probably are putting quite a few people off with unreasonably high postage costs.

Ifcatshadthumbs · 07/02/2014 09:21

Your postage is too high, you should do postage a cheap as possible then start your auction at a price you are happy with. I generally get put off bidding on items with high postage.

spillingthebeans · 07/02/2014 09:22

You'll probably end up losing money anyway once you've taken into account fees - if you sell a 99p item and p&p is £9 your already 90p down with Ebays 10% P&P fee then add FVF, Listing Fee, Paypal Fees and you're paying to send an item! Couriers can work out cheaper for larger items

SirChenjin · 07/02/2014 09:24

If my maths is correct, that means you're charging around £9 to post a handbag. Just how big is this bag??!

She's asked the question, you've said no - but I would imagine you're doing yourself out of further bids by charging so much for postage (which is a pet hate of mine on ebay)

TinyTear · 07/02/2014 09:28

To the people who don't bid where postage is high, not everyone has time to faff about with couriers.

I am selling a BNWT kids dress but am charging £3 postage and i will lose money on there as 2nc class signed for is probably going to cost me more (i know not signed for is £2,60)

i can pop to the post office on the way to work, but i work full time and don't have time for couriers. i am not a power seller, i just sell things that don't fit any more of that i was gifted and don't like

DownstairsMixUp · 07/02/2014 09:31

Yes the P&P is high but no one forced her to bid so yanbu. Some people are just so cheeky on ebay.

SirChenjin · 07/02/2014 09:32

Yes, but there is a vast difference between what I know for a fact the Royal Mail charges for a signed for parcel (I know, because I sell stuff on ebay and use that method of postage - I don't have time to faff around with couriers either) and what some people add on to postage to boost their profits.

Wuxiapian · 07/02/2014 09:37

Why charge excess postage?

I find that really cheeky - regardless of whether item was won cheap.

Start your auction higher and charge true postage!

Ifcatshadthumbs · 07/02/2014 09:37

Tiny tear. I use collect plus or myhermes and they both have several local drop off points, so you just pay online, print out the postage label and the drop it off at the nearest shop that has a drop off point. You don't have to wait in for a courier.

LilyBlossom14 · 07/02/2014 09:38

£9 is very high - and it will stop many potential buyers bidding, plus the winner is likely to trash your stars and feedback. Why didn't you start it over 99p on a free listing weekend and then offer reasonable p&p instead - much more sensible. selling an item for 99p is not going to make you any money, unless you massively overcharge on postage, which of course not only is greedy but risks you losing your ebay account.

Saying a buyer knew how much p&p when they bid is in my opinion just a really crappy excuse for over charging postage and greed. Sorry.

LilyBlossom14 · 07/02/2014 09:39

And yes - use Collect+ or MyHermes, will cost under a fiver, - online proof of delivery, and they will collect from a porch or shed or you can drop off if near a shop.

DownstairsMixUp · 07/02/2014 09:41

But it's HER bag. She could charge £100000000 (obviously exaggeration lol) if she wanted to. No one forces you to bid. I agree, it is cheeky, so items that have ridiculous P&P I just don't bid on tbh. It's the sellers loss though there always seems to be someone out there willing to pay £££ for P&P.

rookiemater · 07/02/2014 09:42

Just checked royal mail ( saddo that I am) and if its a biggish handbag then it could be 10.00 for signed for delivery first class.

People don't realise that postage is very expensive these days - I know as I have started selling stuff on E-bay recently. It impacts on my selling profits as the cheapest price for a non signed for second class delivery is 2.60.

Yes it might be cheaper if I shopped around, but frankly what with working, DS and all, it's hard enough to fit in regular trips to the post office, never mind fannying around with other delivery types.

And yes poster could just not bid. I had some cheeky type asking if I would take a cheque rather than paypal for something as they happened not to have a paypal account Hmm. Just say no OP.

LilyBlossom14 · 07/02/2014 09:44

yes - and overcharge on postage and a buyer will wreck your stars as it is AGAINST ebay rules - but hey, don't listen to me.

And what is wrong with taking a cheque - not cheeky at all. Wait for it to clear and post the item, no paypal fees and no risk of chargeback - no brainer isn't it?

Ifcatshadthumbs · 07/02/2014 09:46

I think it's just ebay etiquette to not over charge on postage it puts people off. Your right if you don't like postage cost don't bid and a lot of people won't so you've kinda shot yourself in the foot.

Franchini · 07/02/2014 09:49

Use collect + much better than royal mail. Check out their website.

Original poster
theeverydaydancer · 07/02/2014 09:58

I'm sending it signed for on delivery, that's why it is a bit more expensive. I also need to buy the packaging which is a couple of quid. Its a big bag, I've weighed it, so am not making a profit from the postage.

OP posts:
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