Ebay shipping cost rules? [Archive]

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Ext User(DAC)

07-02-2006, 06:22 PM

Does anyone know what the shipping cost rules are for ebay?

As an example see this game:
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/New-GENIUE-NINTENDO-DS-MARIO-KART-DS-Game-Fast-Ship-24h_W0QQitemZ8257458057QQcategoryZ111760QQrdZ1QQcm dZViewItem

Its listed at 25$, but postage is 26$ plus 16$ for insurance.
They claim that they ship from the UK. Then down the bottom it says it ships
in 24hours.

It seems like pretty much everything seems to have outragous shipping costs,
I have to view so many items and scroll past walls of text just to find out
how much I the item really is.

Ext User(Oldus Fartus)

07-02-2006, 06:51 PM

Ext User(DAC)

07-02-2006, 06:56 PM

"Oldus Fartus" <denisand@iiNOSPAMnet.net.au> wrote in message
news:43e85187$0$30414$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...
> DAC wrote:
>> Does anyone know what the shipping cost rules are for ebay?
>>
>> As an example see this game:
>> http://cgi.ebay.com.au/New-GENIUE-NINTENDO-DS-MARIO-KART-DS-Game-Fast-Ship-24h_W0QQitemZ8257458057QQcategoryZ111760QQrdZ1QQcm dZViewItem
>>
>>
>> Its listed at 25$, but postage is 26$ plus 16$ for insurance.
>
> Close. $28.99 plus $25.99 postage, plus $14 insurance. Seems about
> right.
>
>
>> They claim that they ship from the UK. Then down the bottom it says it
>> ships in 24hours.
>>
>
> They say both UK and Hong Kong. Suppose it is too hard to just email the
> seller and see what the story is?

The point is almost every 'online ebay store' is like this. You email them
and ask if its in stock at their location, they say yes, but then they still
want the 40$ postage, on a 29$ item.

Ext User(Oldus Fartus)

07-02-2006, 07:17 PM

DAC wrote:
> "Oldus Fartus" <denisand@iiNOSPAMnet.net.au> wrote in message
> news:43e85187$0$30414$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...
>> DAC wrote:
>>> Does anyone know what the shipping cost rules are for ebay?
>>>
>>> As an example see this game:
>>> http://cgi.ebay.com.au/New-GENIUE-NINTENDO-DS-MARIO-KART-DS-Game-Fast-Ship-24h_W0QQitemZ8257458057QQcategoryZ111760QQrdZ1QQcm dZViewItem
>>>
>>>
>>> Its listed at 25$, but postage is 26$ plus 16$ for insurance.
>> Close. $28.99 plus $25.99 postage, plus $14 insurance. Seems about
>> right.
>>
>>
>>> They claim that they ship from the UK. Then down the bottom it says it
>>> ships in 24hours.
>>>
>> They say both UK and Hong Kong. Suppose it is too hard to just email the
>> seller and see what the story is?
>
> The point is almost every 'online ebay store' is like this. You email them
> and ask if its in stock at their location, they say yes, but then they still
> want the 40$ postage, on a 29$ item.
>
>

If you think the postage is excessive, then don't buy from them. It is
blindingly simple.

--
Cheers
Oldus Fartus

Ext User(Fred At Home)

07-02-2006, 07:28 PM

"DAC" <Mister@Enigma.net> wrote in message
news:43e84aca$0$19685$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.a u...
> Does anyone know what the shipping cost rules are for ebay?
>
> As an example see this game:
> http://cgi.ebay.com.au/New-GENIUE-NINTENDO-DS-MARIO-KART-DS-Game-Fast-Ship-24h_W0QQitemZ8257458057QQcategoryZ111760QQrdZ1QQcm dZViewItem
>
>
> Its listed at 25$, but postage is 26$ plus 16$ for insurance.
> They claim that they ship from the UK. Then down the bottom it says it
> ships in 24hours.
>
> It seems like pretty much everything seems to have outragous shipping
> costs, I have to view so many items and scroll past walls of text just to
> find out how much I the item really is.
>

No-one is holding a gun at your head and forcing you to buy anything. Are
they? Simply don't buy from these people.

Ext User(Jawa)

07-02-2006, 08:00 PM

On Tue, 7 Feb 2006 17:22:46 +1000, "DAC" <Mister@Enigma.net> wrote:

>Does anyone know what the shipping cost rules are for ebay?
>
>As an example see this game:
>http://cgi.ebay.com.au/New-GENIUE-NINTENDO-DS-MARIO-KART-DS-Game-Fast-Ship-24h_W0QQitemZ8257458057QQcategoryZ111760QQrdZ1QQcm dZViewItem
>
>
>Its listed at 25$, but postage is 26$ plus 16$ for insurance.
>They claim that they ship from the UK. Then down the bottom it says it ships
>in 24hours.
>
>It seems like pretty much everything seems to have outragous shipping costs,
>I have to view so many items and scroll past walls of text just to find out
>how much I the item really is.
>
The fact is that postage from the UK is expensive, and even worse from
continental Europe, Germany in particular.

.................................................. ...............
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Ext User(Ben Thomas)

08-02-2006, 06:45 AM

Ext User(Rod Speed)

08-02-2006, 07:27 AM

DAC <Mister@Enigma.net> wrote

> Does anyone know what the shipping cost rules are for ebay?

There arent any that are enforced.

> As an example see this game:
> http://cgi.ebay.com.au/New-GENIUE-NINTENDO-DS-MARIO-KART-DS-Game-Fast-Ship-24h_W0QQitemZ8257458057QQcategoryZ111760QQrdZ1QQcm dZViewItem

> Its listed at 25$, but postage is 26$ plus 16$ for insurance.

Its much worse than that with DVD blanks particularly, $1
for the spindle of 50, $25 for the shipping, insurance extra.

> They claim that they ship from the UK. Then down the bottom it says it
> ships in 24hours.

That doesnt mean that you get it in 24 hours, just
that it ships within 24 hours of the auction closing.

> It seems like pretty much everything seems to have outragous shipping
> costs,

Not everything, tho that is quite common. Its done
like that to minimise the ebay fee the seller pays.

> I have to view so many items and scroll past walls of text just to find
> out how much I the item really is.

You can customise the list display to include that.

Ext User(Terry Collins)

08-02-2006, 11:18 AM

Rod Speed wrote:

> Its much worse than that with DVD blanks particularly, $1
> for the spindle of 50, $25 for the shipping, insurance extra.

Yep, brought some of those. I just do my calcs based on the buy + post
costs.

> That doesnt mean that you get it in 24 hours, just
> that it ships within 24 hours of the auction closing.

Unless you pay exhorbitant rates or live in the CBD, all deliveries
usually take longer than 24 hours.

some ebay sellers love to get stuff out the door ASAP. others just do a
weekly post.
>

> You can customise the list display to include that.

Thanks. I will look into that.

Is there any way you can customise the default setting on search?

>
>

Ext User(Tsunami Australia)

08-02-2006, 12:30 PM

DAC wrote:
> Does anyone know what the shipping cost rules are for ebay?
>
> As an example see this game:
> http://cgi.ebay.com.au/New-GENIUE-NINTENDO-DS-MARIO-KART-DS-Game-Fast-Ship-24h_W0QQitemZ8257458057QQcategoryZ111760QQrdZ1QQcm dZViewItem
>
>
> Its listed at 25$, but postage is 26$ plus 16$ for insurance.
> They claim that they ship from the UK. Then down the bottom it says it ships
> in 24hours.
>
> It seems like pretty much everything seems to have outragous shipping costs,
> I have to view so many items and scroll past walls of text just to find out
> how much I the item really is.
>
>

I could be wrong here but I see many items go for 99c with $25 postage
when the postage is only about $5. I think it is a method of fooling
newbies into thinking they got a bargain then hitting them. I personally
think that it is wrong to do such a thing but doubt that its against the
ebay rules or actually illegal. I check the postage price for everything
before I bid incase of that.

If it is stated then fair enough, however if I were to win an item (say
a cd which should cost about $4 max to post) and they have a $30 postage
fee which was not advertised on the auction, then I would simply tell
the seller that they were not trading fair and to null & void the sale,
and would contact ebay to state why I refused the item. Some might class
me as a bad ebayer for such practice but fair is fair.

Ext User(Rod Speed)

08-02-2006, 01:49 PM

Terry Collins <newsonespam-spam@woa.com.au> wrote
> Rod Speed wrote

>> Its much worse than that with DVD blanks particularly, $1
>> for the spindle of 50, $25 for the shipping, insurance extra.

> Yep, brought some of those. I just do my
> calcs based on the buy + post costs.

Yeah, I do too. And welcome the lower fee the seller pays ebay.

>> That doesnt mean that you get it in 24 hours, just
>> that it ships within 24 hours of the auction closing.

> Unless you pay exhorbitant rates or live in the CBD,
> all deliveries usually take longer than 24 hours.

No they dont with Aust Post Express. And it aint that expensive.

> some ebay sellers love to get stuff out the
> door ASAP. others just do a weekly post.

Yep. Thats what the ebay listing meant, that they ship daily.

>> You can customise the list display to include that.

> Thanks. I will look into that.

Didnt work when I tried it tho, havent run that to ground yet.

> Is there any way you can customise the default setting on search?

Thats what it appears to be for in the sense that the button to
customise is on that screen. It just didnt work for some reason.
I have customised other stuff that way. I'll have to have a closer look.

Ext User(Rod Speed)

08-02-2006, 01:54 PM

Tsunami Australia <glen@gocconline.despam.com> wrote:
> DAC wrote:
>> Does anyone know what the shipping cost rules are for ebay?
>>
>> As an example see this game:
>> http://cgi.ebay.com.au/New-GENIUE-NINTENDO-DS-MARIO-KART-DS-Game-Fast-Ship-24h_W0QQitemZ8257458057QQcategoryZ111760QQrdZ1QQcm dZViewItem
>>
>>
>> Its listed at 25$, but postage is 26$ plus 16$ for insurance.
>> They claim that they ship from the UK. Then down the bottom it says
>> it ships in 24hours.
>>
>> It seems like pretty much everything seems to have outragous
>> shipping costs, I have to view so many items and scroll past walls
>> of text just to find out how much I the item really is.
>>
>>
>
> I could be wrong here but I see many items go for 99c with $25 postage
> when the postage is only about $5. I think it is a method of fooling
> newbies into thinking they got a bargain then hitting them.

Its actually done to minimise the ebay commission.

> I personally think that it is wrong to do such a thing but doubt that its
> against the ebay rules

It is, actually.

> or actually illegal.

Corse its not.

> I check the postage price for everything before I bid incase of that.

Yeah, tho that does catch newbies quite a bit of the time.

> If it is stated then fair enough, however if I were to win an item
> (say a cd which should cost about $4 max to post) and they have a $30
> postage fee which was not advertised on the auction, then I would
> simply tell the seller that they were not trading fair and to null & void
> the sale, and would contact ebay to state why I refused the item. Some
> might class me as a bad ebayer for such practice but fair is fair.

Yeah, tho its hard to say what is acceptible above
the minimum, what they actually pay Aust Post etc.

My initial reaction when I bought 10 nics dirt cheap was that
I was being gouged on the shipping, because they would all
have fitted in a 500g Aust Post Satchel fine, but I was being
charged about twice that. Turns out that the seller appeared
to have prepacked them carefully in a decent little box that was
a bit to big to go into the satchel even tho the weight was fine.

The box certainly gave them more protection
against someone standing on it etc.

Ext User(John_H)

09-02-2006, 09:56 AM

Tsunami Australia wrote:
>
>I could be wrong here but I see many items go for 99c with $25 postage
>when the postage is only about $5. I think it is a method of fooling
>newbies into thinking they got a bargain then hitting them. I personally
>think that it is wrong to do such a thing but doubt that its against the
>ebay rules or actually illegal. I check the postage price for everything
>before I bid incase of that.
>
>If it is stated then fair enough, however if I were to win an item (say
>a cd which should cost about $4 max to post) and they have a $30 postage
>fee which was not advertised on the auction, then I would simply tell
>the seller that they were not trading fair and to null & void the sale,
>and would contact ebay to state why I refused the item. Some might class
>me as a bad ebayer for such practice but fair is fair.

In fact it should only cost $1, or $1.45 max, to post a CD without
additional packaging -- since a CD usually meets the Australia Post
definition of a large letter... $1 up to 125g, $1.45 between 125 and
250g.

If packing costs are involved, which might legitimately be the case,
then it's only reasonable if the total amount is stated up front. Any
legitimate business operates that way in the real world.

It's a fair bet that anyone who doesn't state their postage charge on
a small item either intends to spike the rate, or is just too plain
lazy to check the postal charges -- which are also uniform throughout
Australia for anything under 3kg that fits in a pre-paid satchel.

When the rate isn't stated a question on postage will invariably
confirm the above, and if it does reveal that the seller is too lazy
to check the rate it probably means they're also too tired to either
pack it properly or to write the correct address on it.

If you bid on item that doesn't include a reasonable postage rate
without a good reason, chances are you'll be dealing with either a
dickhead or a thief, and occasionally both.

Ebay is so heavily biased in the seller's favour that it's too late
after the event -- even when they're only robbing ebay it seems.

--
John H

Ext User(Rod Speed)

09-02-2006, 10:18 AM

John_H <john4271@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Tsunami Australia wrote:
>>
>> I could be wrong here but I see many items go for 99c with $25
>> postage when the postage is only about $5. I think it is a method of
>> fooling newbies into thinking they got a bargain then hitting them.
>> I personally think that it is wrong to do such a thing but doubt
>> that its against the ebay rules or actually illegal. I check the
>> postage price for everything before I bid incase of that.
>>
>> If it is stated then fair enough, however if I were to win an item
>> (say a cd which should cost about $4 max to post) and they have a
>> $30 postage fee which was not advertised on the auction, then I
>> would simply tell the seller that they were not trading fair and to
>> null & void the sale, and would contact ebay to state why I refused
>> the item. Some might class me as a bad ebayer for such practice but
>> fair is fair.

> In fact it should only cost $1, or $1.45 max,
> to post a CD without additional packaging

You can in fact post it for the normal letter rate with a bit of
cardboard either side and still be less than the allowed 5mm thick.

> -- since a CD usually meets the Australia Post definition of a large
> letter...

It meets the definition of a small letter too. You can use a
jewel case at the large letter 20mm thick or a slim case
and the thinner soft packing.

> $1 up to 125g, $1.45 between 125 and 250g.

50c with the CD between a couple of bits of carboard.
I use the cardboard off microwave dinner boxes.

> If packing costs are involved, which might legitimately be the case,
> then it's only reasonable if the total amount is stated up front. Any
> legitimate business operates that way in the real world.

> It's a fair bet that anyone who doesn't state their postage
> charge on a small item either intends to spike the rate,

Nope, its a lousy bet. Plenty who dont say anything are happy
to send it using an Aust Post Satchel for what Aust Post charges.
Either the 500g or 3Kg satchel depending on what it is.

> or is just too plain lazy to check the postal charges

Or isnt aware of the value of the Aust Post Satchels.

> -- which are also uniform throughout Australia for
> anything under 3kg that fits in a pre-paid satchel.

And cheaper if its less than 500g too.

> When the rate isn't stated a question on postage will invariably
> confirm the above, and if it does reveal that the seller is too lazy
> to check the rate it probably means they're also too tired to
> either pack it properly or to write the correct address on it.

Mindless silly stuff.

> If you bid on item that doesn't include a
> reasonable postage rate without a good reason,

What matters is whether the total cost makes sense.

> chances are you'll be dealing with either
> a dickhead or a thief, and occasionally both.

Or just someone who hasnt noticed what good value the satchels are.

> Ebay is so heavily biased in the seller's favour

Bullshit it is.

> that it's too late after the event -- even
> when they're only robbing ebay it seems.

I'm quite happy for them to minimise what ebay gets.
That means they are prepared to sell it for less in total.

Ext User(Tsunami Australia)

09-02-2006, 01:01 PM

John_H wrote:
> Tsunami Australia wrote:
>> I could be wrong here but I see many items go for 99c with $25 postage
>> when the postage is only about $5. I think it is a method of fooling
>> newbies into thinking they got a bargain then hitting them. I personally
>> think that it is wrong to do such a thing but doubt that its against the
>> ebay rules or actually illegal. I check the postage price for everything
>> before I bid incase of that.
>>
>> If it is stated then fair enough, however if I were to win an item (say
>> a cd which should cost about $4 max to post) and they have a $30 postage
>> fee which was not advertised on the auction, then I would simply tell
>> the seller that they were not trading fair and to null & void the sale,
>> and would contact ebay to state why I refused the item. Some might class
>> me as a bad ebayer for such practice but fair is fair.
>
> In fact it should only cost $1, or $1.45 max, to post a CD without
> additional packaging -- since a CD usually meets the Australia Post
> definition of a large letter... $1 up to 125g, $1.45 between 125 and
> 250g.
>
> If packing costs are involved, which might legitimately be the case,
> then it's only reasonable if the total amount is stated up front. Any
> legitimate business operates that way in the real world.
>
> It's a fair bet that anyone who doesn't state their postage charge on
> a small item either intends to spike the rate, or is just too plain
> lazy to check the postal charges -- which are also uniform throughout
> Australia for anything under 3kg that fits in a pre-paid satchel.
>
> When the rate isn't stated a question on postage will invariably
> confirm the above, and if it does reveal that the seller is too lazy
> to check the rate it probably means they're also too tired to either
> pack it properly or to write the correct address on it.
>
> If you bid on item that doesn't include a reasonable postage rate
> without a good reason, chances are you'll be dealing with either a
> dickhead or a thief, and occasionally both.
>
> Ebay is so heavily biased in the seller's favour that it's too late
> after the event -- even when they're only robbing ebay it seems.
>

I don't agree with your later comments. I don't put the postage price
with my items on ebay. But rather than checking price, its a case of we
only go to the post office every few days unless there is a need and
that is to send/receive mail.

All my items I have sold I have supplied postage cost within a day
(unless our internet drops) and is posted usually the same day as the
money hits the account or the next day at latest.

So should I fit into your description just because I live in the country
and don't have a regular post service?

Ext User(Rod Speed)

09-02-2006, 02:24 PM

Tsunami Australia <glen@gocconline.despam.com> wrote
> John_H wrote
>> Tsunami Australia wrote

>>> I could be wrong here but I see many items go for 99c with $25
>>> postage when the postage is only about $5. I think it is a method
>>> of fooling newbies into thinking they got a bargain then hitting
>>> them. I personally think that it is wrong to do such a thing but
>>> doubt that its against the ebay rules or actually illegal. I check
>>> the postage price for everything before I bid incase of that.
>>>
>>> If it is stated then fair enough, however if I were to win an item
>>> (say a cd which should cost about $4 max to post) and they have a
>>> $30 postage fee which was not advertised on the auction, then I
>>> would simply tell the seller that they were not trading fair and to
>>> null & void the sale, and would contact ebay to state why I refused
>>> the item. Some might class me as a bad ebayer for such practice but
>>> fair is fair.
>>
>> In fact it should only cost $1, or $1.45 max, to post a CD without
>> additional packaging -- since a CD usually meets the Australia Post
>> definition of a large letter... $1 up to 125g, $1.45 between 125 and
>> 250g.
>>
>> If packing costs are involved, which might legitimately be the case,
>> then it's only reasonable if the total amount is stated up front. Any
>> legitimate business operates that way in the real world.
>>
>> It's a fair bet that anyone who doesn't state their postage charge on
>> a small item either intends to spike the rate, or is just too plain
>> lazy to check the postal charges -- which are also uniform throughout
>> Australia for anything under 3kg that fits in a pre-paid satchel.
>>
>> When the rate isn't stated a question on postage will invariably
>> confirm the above, and if it does reveal that the seller is too lazy
>> to check the rate it probably means they're also too tired to either
>> pack it properly or to write the correct address on it.
>>
>> If you bid on item that doesn't include a reasonable postage rate
>> without a good reason, chances are you'll be dealing with either a
>> dickhead or a thief, and occasionally both.
>>
>> Ebay is so heavily biased in the seller's favour that it's too late
>> after the event -- even when they're only robbing ebay it seems.
>>
>
> I don't agree with your later comments. I don't put the postage price
> with my items on ebay. But rather than checking price, its a case of
> we only go to the post office every few days unless there is a need
> and that is to send/receive mail.

> All my items I have sold I have supplied postage cost within a day
> (unless our internet drops)

You can get it online instead.

> and is posted usually the same day as the
> money hits the account or the next day at latest.

> So should I fit into your description just because I live in the country
> and don't have a regular post service?

Ext User(John_H)

09-02-2006, 05:26 PM

Tsunami Australia wrote:
>
>John_H wrote:
>>
>> Tsunami Australia wrote:
>>>
>>> I could be wrong here but I see many items go for 99c with $25 postage
>>> when the postage is only about $5. I think it is a method of fooling
>>> newbies into thinking they got a bargain then hitting them. I personally
>>> think that it is wrong to do such a thing but doubt that its against the
>>> ebay rules or actually illegal. I check the postage price for everything
>>> before I bid incase of that.
>>>
>>> If it is stated then fair enough, however if I were to win an item (say
>>> a cd which should cost about $4 max to post) and they have a $30 postage
>>> fee which was not advertised on the auction, then I would simply tell
>>> the seller that they were not trading fair and to null & void the sale,
>>> and would contact ebay to state why I refused the item. Some might class
>>> me as a bad ebayer for such practice but fair is fair.
>>
>> In fact it should only cost $1, or $1.45 max, to post a CD without
>> additional packaging -- since a CD usually meets the Australia Post
>> definition of a large letter... $1 up to 125g, $1.45 between 125 and
>> 250g.
>>
>> If packing costs are involved, which might legitimately be the case,
>> then it's only reasonable if the total amount is stated up front. Any
>> legitimate business operates that way in the real world.
>>
>> It's a fair bet that anyone who doesn't state their postage charge on
>> a small item either intends to spike the rate, or is just too plain
>> lazy to check the postal charges -- which are also uniform throughout
>> Australia for anything under 3kg that fits in a pre-paid satchel.
>>
>> When the rate isn't stated a question on postage will invariably
>> confirm the above, and if it does reveal that the seller is too lazy
>> to check the rate it probably means they're also too tired to either
>> pack it properly or to write the correct address on it.
>>
>> If you bid on item that doesn't include a reasonable postage rate
>> without a good reason, chances are you'll be dealing with either a
>> dickhead or a thief, and occasionally both.
>>
>> Ebay is so heavily biased in the seller's favour that it's too late
>> after the event -- even when they're only robbing ebay it seems.

>
>I don't agree with your later comments. I don't put the postage price
>with my items on ebay. But rather than checking price, its a case of we
>only go to the post office every few days unless there is a need and
>that is to send/receive mail.

But why would you need to check the postage cost unless the buyer has
special requirements. The rates are all available online (or as hard
copy from the PO) -- all you need is a ruler and a set of kitchen
scales.

>
>All my items I have sold I have supplied postage cost within a day
>(unless our internet drops) and is posted usually the same day as the
>money hits the account or the next day at latest.
>
>So should I fit into your description just because I live in the country
>and don't have a regular post service?

I'll bet yours is better than mine... I live 60km from the nearest PO
and aren't on a mail run. :)

No doubt there are many who don't fit my description, but such a large
a number do that I almost never bid on an item where the seller
doesn't indicate the rate. There are also a large number who
apparently have no idea of the most suitable and economical means of
sending a parcel -- for example a pre-paid express post satchel will
cost $9.70 for a 3kg item to anywhere in Australia and provide a
tracking number to boot. Put the same item in a carton that doesn't
meet the required dimensions and the standard rate can be more than
double (and varies according to the destination).

Nor do I particularly care if the seller quotes an inflated rate,
since I know what the total price is going to be and bid accordingly.
Ebay is the loser in that instance (which doesn't particularly bother
me either). :)

--
John H

09-02-2006, 05:50 PM

John_H wrote something like:

> Tsunami Australia wrote:
>>
>>John_H wrote:
>>>
>>> Tsunami Australia wrote:
>>>>
>>>> I could be wrong here but I see many items go for 99c with $25 postage
>>>> when the postage is only about $5. I think it is a method of fooling
>>>> newbies into thinking they got a bargain then hitting them. I
>>>> personally think that it is wrong to do such a thing but doubt that its
>>>> against the ebay rules or actually illegal. I check the postage price
>>>> for everything before I bid incase of that.
>>>>
>>>> If it is stated then fair enough, however if I were to win an item (say
>>>> a cd which should cost about $4 max to post) and they have a $30
>>>> postage fee which was not advertised on the auction, then I would
>>>> simply tell the seller that they were not trading fair and to null &
>>>> void the sale, and would contact ebay to state why I refused the item.
>>>> Some might class me as a bad ebayer for such practice but fair is fair.
>>>
>>> In fact it should only cost $1, or $1.45 max, to post a CD without
>>> additional packaging -- since a CD usually meets the Australia Post
>>> definition of a large letter... $1 up to 125g, $1.45 between 125 and
>>> 250g.
>>>
>>> If packing costs are involved, which might legitimately be the case,
>>> then it's only reasonable if the total amount is stated up front. Any
>>> legitimate business operates that way in the real world.
>>>
>>> It's a fair bet that anyone who doesn't state their postage charge on
>>> a small item either intends to spike the rate, or is just too plain
>>> lazy to check the postal charges -- which are also uniform throughout
>>> Australia for anything under 3kg that fits in a pre-paid satchel.
>>>
>>> When the rate isn't stated a question on postage will invariably
>>> confirm the above, and if it does reveal that the seller is too lazy
>>> to check the rate it probably means they're also too tired to either
>>> pack it properly or to write the correct address on it.
>>>
>>> If you bid on item that doesn't include a reasonable postage rate
>>> without a good reason, chances are you'll be dealing with either a
>>> dickhead or a thief, and occasionally both.
>>>
>>> Ebay is so heavily biased in the seller's favour that it's too late
>>> after the event -- even when they're only robbing ebay it seems.
>
>>
>>I don't agree with your later comments. I don't put the postage price
>>with my items on ebay. But rather than checking price, its a case of we
>>only go to the post office every few days unless there is a need and
>>that is to send/receive mail.
>
> But why would you need to check the postage cost unless the buyer has
> special requirements. The rates are all available online (or as hard
> copy from the PO) -- all you need is a ruler and a set of kitchen
> scales.
>
>>
>>All my items I have sold I have supplied postage cost within a day
>>(unless our internet drops) and is posted usually the same day as the
>>money hits the account or the next day at latest.
>>
>>So should I fit into your description just because I live in the country
>>and don't have a regular post service?
>
> I'll bet yours is better than mine... I live 60km from the nearest PO
> and aren't on a mail run. :)
>
> No doubt there are many who don't fit my description, but such a large
> a number do that I almost never bid on an item where the seller
> doesn't indicate the rate. There are also a large number who
> apparently have no idea of the most suitable and economical means of
> sending a parcel -- for example a pre-paid express post satchel will
> cost $9.70 for a 3kg item to anywhere in Australia and provide a
> tracking number to boot. Put the same item in a carton that doesn't
> meet the required dimensions and the standard rate can be more than
> double (and varies according to the destination).
>
> Nor do I particularly care if the seller quotes an inflated rate,
> since I know what the total price is going to be and bid accordingly.
> Ebay is the loser in that instance (which doesn't particularly bother
> me either). :)

Same here. I live where there is no postal service. You have to go get your
own mail, but at least it's not 60 KM :)

I rarely bid on an item unless there is postage indicated, only sometimes if
I know the seller and have bought stuff there before and know they don't
screw around. I always quote postage on what I sell (it's usually dead easy
as you use a pre-paid post pack)... Not hard to work out costs...

Likewise, even if the post seems a bit inflated, you can still work out
total cost when buying. No problem.

You will lose bidders if there is no postage indicated.

Ext User(Ben Thomas)

10-02-2006, 07:35 AM

John_H wrote:

>There are also a large number who apparently have no idea of the most suitable and economical means of
> sending a parcel -- for example a pre-paid express post satchel will
> cost $9.70 for a 3kg item to anywhere in Australia and provide a
> tracking number to boot. Put the same item in a carton that doesn't
> meet the required dimensions and the standard rate can be more than
> double (and varies according to the destination).

The problem with express is there's no insurance available. I'd use it if there was.

> Nor do I particularly care if the seller quotes an inflated rate,
> since I know what the total price is going to be and bid accordingly.
> Ebay is the loser in that instance (which doesn't particularly bother
> me either). :)
>

--
Ben Thomas, Melbourne, Australia

"Red Bull tastes like canned carbonated concentrated evil."

Ext User(budgie)

10-02-2006, 10:30 AM

On Thu, 09 Feb 2006 20:35:04 GMT, Ben Thomas <nosp@m.thanks.mate> wrote:

>John_H wrote:
>
>>There are also a large number who apparently have no idea of the most suitable and economical means of
>> sending a parcel -- for example a pre-paid express post satchel will
>> cost $9.70 for a 3kg item to anywhere in Australia and provide a
>> tracking number to boot. Put the same item in a carton that doesn't
>> meet the required dimensions and the standard rate can be more than
>> double (and varies according to the destination).
>
>The problem with express is there's no insurance available. I'd use it if there was.

If you believe the AP website, you can't have registered service on a satchel.
I received one recently with all the registered service (had to sign, had the
sticker on it with the tracking number etc). Showed it to the "post office
agent" (local newsagency) where I post half my stuff, and he just shrugged and
says he does it often. Hummingbird.

So ask your local, Ben - they may just do it.