eBay free postage equals higher fees

[stevebills]

I was thinking of dropping free postage but I have read that eBay charge us 10% of postage fees
It's a joke how do they get away with that scam

Thx
Steve

[cool customer]

Because people were selling the item at a silly low price and ramping the postage cost up to make up the difference - therefore dodging paying fees.

The charge on postage costs was implemented to combat this.

[easy.bake.oven]

Yes, years ago I remember seeing listing for 99p and postage was £200 !!!!

Those sellers saved load on fees back then but that has all finished as the person above has already mentioned.

The worst I saw was a £5 item with £90 postage.

Most people played by the rules but there's always a few that don't.

EBay would have introduced fees on postage anyway.

[stevebills]

looks like eBay got all the cake and more

[Play]

I don't see why people dont just offer free postage, and implement the cost into the price of the product...

• FREE postage helps improve your listing rank

• Charging postage separately still means you have to refund cost of postage + item price in the event of a dispute

• Charging postage separately means buyers spend a few extra seconds working out the total price

The only situation it may remotely be useful is if you are offering combined postaged rates/options to entice the same buyer to buy other items from you store. But with stealth sellers, I assume the products are scattered between accounts anyway.

[James Brown]

I suppose to some buyers, the item price looks cheaper if they fail to see postage is extra. Seeing as your average ebay buyer now seems to have an IQ number equal to his shoe size that could be an advantage

[chango]

Originally Posted by James Brown

I suppose to some buyers, the item price looks cheaper if they fail to see postage is extra. Seeing as your average ebay buyer now seems to have an IQ number equal to his shoe size that could be an advantage

True but when they get to check out and see the total they backtrack.. the sort system is also geared to free postage.. try it Lowest price including P&P ..top ones are always free Postage.