Buyers don't appreciate excessive postage charges - and will walk

[bykimbo]

Using the shipping calculator, x amount only covers the price to post. Not my supplies to package, insurance, delivery confirmation, etc. The handling charge covers those extras.

I think Rainy might have forgotten you guys have a calculator. As you know, we don't.

[raindropsies]

How you allocate costs is your business, but I don't see why you'd expect everybody else to do it exactly the same way. What "doesn't make sense" about somebody choosing a different break-down to you?

Firstly, personally speaking I don't give two hoots how someone comes up with a final sale price to a buyer, I am along the lines of Magz who bases decisions on what the cost will be overall.

I'm not having a go at anyone (sorry if it came across that way) I was just trying to get me brain around the handling cost. I just don't think I will be able to understand the concept of it.

[florida33549]

I think Rainy might have forgotten you guys have a calculator. As you know, we don't.

Yes, I have gathered from that from previous posts. It seems that the U.K. postal system is much easier to use/calculate/navigate than the U.S. postal system. Our system nickels and dimes us for everything...from size of box, to insurance, to delivery confirmation. It's crazy!

[raindropsies]

Using the shipping calculator, x amount only covers the price to post. Not my supplies to package, insurance, delivery confirmation, etc. The handling charge covers those extras.

That now makes sense. Given that I have never used a shipping calculator, I have not seen what it adds or don't add

[raindropsies]

I think Rainy might have forgotten you guys have a calculator. As you know, we don't.

Knowing what the calculator did or didn't do was my downfall, now I know that it only calculates the postage cost without people being able to add a packaging cost to it now makes things clearer on the handling fee as I just posted

[florida33549]

That now makes sense. Given that I have never used a shipping calculator, I have not seen what it adds or don't add

I wish we had a simple postal/shipping system in this country, but unfortunately we don't. It used to be but about 2-3 years ago all the dimensional rates [size of boxes] came into effect and from there, figuring out shipping cost without a calculator, became almost impossible.

[raindropsies]

I wish we had a simple postal/shipping system in this country, but unfortunately we don't. It used to be but about 2-3 years ago all the dimensional rates [size of boxes] came into effect and from there, figuring out shipping cost without a calculator, became almost impossible.

Do you have to use certain boxes for some items?

[florida33549]

Do you have to use certain boxes for some items?

Some of my toys are what our PO considers extra large packages. A package that goes over 12" x 12" x 12" gets a shipper into what is called the dimensional rate. From that point it starts to get complicated. Length plus girth over a certain limit puts a package into a certain category. A flat envelope that is thicker than 1/4" [I think that's the latest height] makes the package a certain category. It just goes on, and on, and on. Our PO does have what they refer to as flat-rate priority boxes. These boxes ship for set rates no matter what you put in them and if the package doesn't weigh over 70 pounds. But believe me, those boxes don't hold much unless you're shipping light-weight items that can be crushed/folded/etc. such as linens/paper items/jewelry. It's just crazy.

[cherubsgirl]

When i was selling on ebay I quite regularly stood a loss on the p & p due to the fact that a lot of my goods were either very heavy le creuset casseroles or fragile crockery. I used carriers for a while as it was handy having the collection service as I live in a rural area. However, I had quite a few breakages which prompted me to use Royal Mail, 1st Class Recorded. I also use vast amounts of packaging which is costly but I'd rather have a happy customer. My worry was that my charges seemed high but once I started working it out exactly, sometimes I made a loss. I always choose to "display postage cost" so as the customer can see I'm not ripping them off. The bottom line is though, as Judesnicethings said above, if the p & p are too high then people will simply choose not to buy. I know my p & p costs are realistic and valid. Offering combined postage and postage discounts is also helpful.

[raydio]

I have sold hundreds of items on Ebay,its a shame that ebid is not so popular.
The problem with buyers is that they purchase an item worth £50 for a couple of quid and then whinge about a few pound postage.
Postage and packing is costly and a nuisance, besides finding all the packing materials, there is the cost of having the item packed,(unless you do it yourself) and then booking the carrier or taking it 3 miles to the Post Office, all this is time and money, and then theres the Paypal fees for the postage.
If you buy anything in a shop, its the buyers responsibilty to take your goods or to arrange delivery ,the same applies to newspaper adverts, however if you offer postage you do get a lot more bids.
The fact is that postage will always cause problems,unless this is paid by Ebid, so its no good waving a stick at the buyer for the charges imposed by the carriers.