FREE shipping is it really free...I dont think sooooooo

[adruml]

Witty

With a T.

[JimmyCee]

19 ...21...both wrong...I'm really 39 yrs
And gonna stay that way

[CarnoustieCats]

I have P&P included - or as it shows 'free P&P'. A couple of years ago in April I changed to this method as I had Easter, the grandkids off school and staying and so on and so on... it gave me a bit of a breather to change / update the prices without them showing the old price and looking a bit 'off' - my choice and I have stuck to it. I can still give discounts for more than one purchase etc so it suits me.

[RonOne]

19 ...21...both wrong...I'm really 39 yrs
And gonna stay that way

So you were born in 1972..........Not 1910

[vally18]

I have P&P included - or as it shows 'free P&P'. A couple of years ago in April I changed to this method as I had Easter, the grandkids off school and staying and so on and so on... it gave me a bit of a breather to change / update the prices without them showing the old price and looking a bit 'off' - my choice and I have stuck to it. I can still give discounts for more than one purchase etc so it suits me.

Just curious how you communicate the discount that you'll offer the customer if they decide to purchase more than one item from you...do you let them know this via an email to them before they pay?

Since you're using the 'free shipping' method, it makes perfect sense that to ship more than one item in the box often doesn't result in the shipping costs really doubling up...assuming the items are both similar weights/sizes. And I would assume that a savvy customer would realize this.

[CarnoustieCats]

Just curious how you communicate the discount that you'll offer the customer if they decide to purchase more than one item from you...do you let them know this via an email to them before they pay?

Since you're using the 'free shipping' method, it makes perfect sense that to ship more than one item in the box often doesn't result in the shipping costs really doubling up...assuming the items are both similar weights/sizes. And I would assume that a savvy customer would realize this.

they usually ask for an invoice - it says at the top of each page a reduction will be given where possible...

works very well with small items -

I am happy with they way I work - it suits me and what I have on offer....
everyone finds what suits them best I guess...

[vally18]

Hi Linda,
This might be the way for me to approach this as well. Thanks for your input. Appreciated!

[vally18]

Sorry but I need to get all this 'free shipping' nonsense off my chest. Please bear with me.

I remember reading on one of the posts how "customers 'really like this option". Again, are these customers truly this naive...to assume that they are truly getting the items shipped for 'free'???

To take an example...I've made a number of purchases from Amazon...(before even knowing about Ebid)...some books as I recall.

Amazon, as most of you probably know, offers this little thing called "Free shipping for orders over $25"...well, I'm not a fool. I've noticed so so many times that the same item/s offered by another seller or sellers just below Amazon's 'free shipping' listing, is almost ALWAYS priced at about TWICE the amount of the items being offered by these other sellers. The only difference is that the seller below has separated the cost of the item and the cost of the shipping so that you know clearly what is what. How stupid does Amazon really think we are? I personally find their method/policy very patronizing and insulting! And can't imagine that others haven't felt this way too. Are customers really falling for these 'free shipping' words and being lured by them to select the one 'offering it'?

"Customers really like this option'...really? They like being made fools of? Are they really this naive?

And because of this naivety, do most or many sellers find themselves having to choose this method of doing business when posting their listings...ie. factoring the shipping into their price...and then using the words 'free shipping' to lure the customer into choosing it over one that doesn't 'include' free shipping...because customers like to see those words 'free shipping'? and buy into that?

...................Part two

And then.......what would happen should a customer actually want to return a product for some reason...one that you sold them with 'free shipping'. On you're end, you've factored in the shipping cost. The buyer, for whatever reason, receives the product and decides that they want to return it. Because you sold the buyer the product under the guise of 'free shipping' (and I do feel it's really a guise), the customer will expect a full refund...a refund of the total that they paid. (even though you as the seller had to factor in the shipping cost).

Example: I list something for $10 plus $5 shipping / another seller offers same product but opts to use the 'free shipping' method, so his/her listing is $15 with 'free shipping'.

Buyer now wants to return the product:
I would have to refund just $10 right? (Or am I messing up here?)
But other seller would have to refund the customer $15, correct?

And who's obligated to pay the return shipping? (Of course, if it's through a fault of my own, I would certainly feel obligated to pay the return shipping...it's the right thing to do.)

But what if it's just the buyer deciding that they just don't want the product...(though they'll probably come up with an excuse to put the 'blame' on the seller I assume - sorry, this part of my comment comes from working in retail customer service for way too long )

....because seller #2 factored his shipping cost into the final price...if buyer wants to return the product, the seller can't be expected to also pay for the return shipping can he? If so, he's actually out the cost of shipping TWICE.

I realize this is long winded, but I'm a little tired and I can't seem to just lay this all out in a shorter way. Forgive me.

Any and all input and clarity most appreciated.
Warmly,
Vally

[vally18]

Sorry...I just noticed an error in my comments above. (I was definitely tired )

Where I say...
"Amazon, as most of you probably know, offers this little thing called "Free shipping for orders over $25"...well, I'm not a fool. I've noticed so so many times that the same item/s offered by another seller or sellers just below Amazon's 'free shipping' listing, is almost ALWAYS priced at about TWICE the amount of the items being offered by these other sellers." ...

I meant to say...
that Amazon's price with "Free shipping" is almost always TWICE the amount of the sellers below its listing. The sellers just below Amazon's 'free shipping' posting list the product itself at usually HALF the price that Amazon does. (not TWICE) And then clearly and separately list what the shipping charge will be. They don't just 'pretend' that the shipping is free.

My apologies...that original comment section didn't quite make sense.

Vally

[Salomina27]

Some very valid points there Vally and food for thought.
I hate deception and lies too and really this is pretty much what free shipping is about, its just trickery a con and its really about greed again too, why do feebay who started all this really push for free shipping? More money in their pockets as usual, its certiainly not to benefit the seller and it doesn't benefit the buyer either.
Adrumi sums it up, though humourously and ironically very apt.
Free shipping does NOT exist