'why are your postage costs so high?'

[misdee]

errrrrrr.

just got a message about my postage costs for my bears. I am sending them out 2nd class record. £5 for first bear, £1 for each additional, £8 overseas.

it does seem high admittingly. but each bear varies in weight, the cheapest postage has been £1.90, the heaviest has been £3.50 so far, but i havent got onto the heaviests ones yet. and then there is packaging costs on top.

Is it really that unreasonable? the postages costs are clearly stated. will they neg me?

do i really care lol.

Seems perfectly reasonable explanation, but because (IIRC) Ebay doesn't charge commission on p&p people often inflate the p&p charges, so that's what your questioner might be thinking of.

i always think taht you get to see how much the postage is and if you don't like it don;t bid!!
have you tried payperdrop on ebay they deliver items weighing up to 30kgs for only £5.99 they might have a cheaper option for smaller items

what bears do you sell

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pruni, the cheapest has been £1.90 but that is one of a couple that is unboxed and just in bubblewrap(a lot of bubblewrap), and is a lot lighter than the others.
the others all come boxed and a lot of people have praised at how well packaged these are being sent out. I know collectors get upset if the original boxes are damaged,and the packaging isnt that cheap.

I must say that high postage charges do potential buyers off. I sell stuff on ebay myself (mostly dc's outgrown clothes), so I know how much it costs to send a pair or trousers or something & know when people are overcharging.
Personally I estimate the p&p for each individual item (I used to weigh things) + the cost of a padded envelope/other packaging.

I also think £5 is high if the actual postage is £5, can you not weigh things, the postoffice website is very helpful or you can geta bookletexplaining charges from the postoffice.

but its not just postage is it, its pachaging as welll. i am not skimping on packaging.

so should i drop it down a quid?

Could you have variable P&P costs depending on the size and weight of each bear, by changing it with each posting?

I do not think that people [buyers] realise that you have to pay for packing materials and are far too quick to jump on sellers postal charges.
Personally I include about £1 to £1.50 for packing on of of actual postage then iti up to the buyer to decide if it is still a bargain

I add on for my packaging and even a few pence towards ink as I send receipts, although I buy my packaging in bulk from ebay to keep costs down.

I mainly sell dd clothes and have kept a price list of what types of items will be to post, although I only ever used my electronic kitchen scales to work out the prices in the first place.

i just use the same templete for each listing, and change the heading.

so would £4 be reasonable do you think?

refund each person a quid? i havent sold many of these yet, was basing it on previous items i have sold and the new post office rules grrr.

If I am unsure I also check what simialr items are being posted foron ebay.

its tape (good quality parcel tape, not sticky tape), envolope, bubble wrap, boxes etc.

I generally add £1.50 for the P&P, including ironing my item ( i generally sell clothes) polylope, brown paper, tape, time and £1.00 for going to teh post office, queuing etc. so you can add £2.50 to the postage cost to start. I don't think £5.00 is too much for an item costing £1.90 - £3.50 to post. if you add £2.50 to the £1.90 (what's that? £4.30?) then you're being quibbled with over 70p. pfft!

oh F*ck i have just realised why he has questioned it. i left the postage costs higher from pervious items (heavier stuff), this lot are at £6. all have bid though .

will adjust for next lot and refund these people a bit back.

silly me.

i just want to add that if you think that you overcharged on any item by mistake you can give a partial refund of a paypal payment really easy.

I weighed everything in pounds an ounces in nov cos did not figure out my new digital scales and was overcharging left right and centre but gave a bit back on the ones that I mucked up on got some nice feedback too

I need to type quicker lol

lol.

i am so embaressed lol.

wil lsend this lot out 1st class and quickly!

I have made the odd error and overcharged, I always try and refund it though as it helps mantain your positive feedback and encourage repeat customers.

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TBH I think you should be varying your postage costs according to weight. You could decide on a standard price for packaging - say £1.50, add this on to the postage costs and possibly round it up to the nearest 50p. So for the £1.90 postage, you would end up at £3.50.

Personally I think some Ebayers are out to make a profit from their postal charges. Last week I bought a book for my dd which was £1.50 p & p £3.50. The person only paid £0.75 for postage and it was wrapped in brown paper - which would have come off a roll anyway which would divide the cost between more than 1 item. Yes, ok I knew the postal charges before I bid, but the book is an out of print one and would complete my dd's set and I have tried and tried for ages to get hold of it for her, so really I was over a barrell.

I have never sold anything on Ebay only bought but I live in a small village with a PO and have to pass it most days so I don't think I could justify myself for adding on charges for "a trip to the post office", as some Ebayers seem to think they should be charging for petrol money as well!

Sorry p & p on Ebay really gets on my nerves. I am not having a go at anyone on here btw.

People tend to up it to compensate for the paypal charges - you would surprised how expensive it is to post things.
For instance, it costs me 60p to park for half an hour to get to PO, 10 per packing bag, so that's all passed on.
I find it's relative, I stick to postage at cost and find my items reach higher prices with more bidders.

Agree with you Fimbo about P&P costs too high on ebay. Buy-it-now articles are the worst offenders, some are ridiculous.

Bought dd's pushchair off ebay, one b.i.n. seller wanted £22.00 postage for same thing which cost us £9.95 postage. Also some of them would not let people collect in person, obviously hoping to benefit from high postal charges.