**EBAY** Why do people charge £5 for postage then send the item?

Question

out by second class standard post at a cost of like 75p???

I paid like £8 for a mosquito net and £7 for postage.. today it arrived and the actual postage cost was £1.12...

Them saying that the packaging material is expenisve is rubbish.. I can get 3 rolls of brown wrapping paper in shops in my town for £1, Sellotape is £1 for two rolls and I can also get 4 large jiffy bags from Wilkinsons for 99p and all of these items will do for several postings not just one!

Answer 1

That's nothing. I once nearly bought a jewellery box for £2.50 until I noticed that the postage was £62.00. Admittedly it was from China but what a rip off.
I am most reluctant to buy things now - some of the sellers are making more out of the postage costs - Buyer Beware....

Answer 2

Not only Ebay take money from sellers but Paypal take their share too. The poor sellers have absolutely nothing left so they resort to this kind of nastiness. I bought an item for 99p with £6.99 for packaging. Once I don't mind, but I ordered three pieces of the same items (for friends too) and I was still charged 3 X £6.99! Surely, I could have at least got a little discount for buying 3 items at the same time. So, basically, the items cost about £5.99 each plus £1 for p&p but then Paypal and Ebay would have cut a big chunk off that.

Answer 3

It is not only Ebay that does this. I purchased some vouchers, bits of paper, on which the postage was £3.50.
I assumed that this was to cover postal insurance and special delivery. They turned up the next day in a second hand envelope, hand written in not very legible writing with a first class stamp on. Total cost 35pence. I wrote to them and claimed a refund but they pointed out that they were within their rights as the terms on the web site quoted the postage. I contacted trading standards and they agreed with the seller although they felt that it was morally wrong.
Happy Christmas.

Answer 4

They can charge whatever ebay lets them get away with (which is supposed broadly to be reasonable), and you only bid if you're happy to pay, it's a free market. As others have said, the extortionate ebay fees apply only to the bid, not the postage. The postal service is usually defined, and if you pay for first class recorded and it arrives second class unrecorded, you have a valid complaint. Otherwise, just deduct the postage from the maximum you're prepared to pay for the item.

Answer 5

you're right, I've seen this happen. if you look at the listing they will say "$7 standard flat rate shipping & handling" but they won't say what kind. you think you are getting priority mail but then it comes at some second class mail that costs them $3. I've seen this before. You have to make sure what kind of mail they are using before you bid on the auction. If you complain they will say it was the handling charge. Some sellers will say that packaging material is expensive, or that they hire someone to pack the stuff for them and that's their salary.. the handling charge. I complained to ebay about these practices, but I ran into a brick wall. Live and learn, I guess.

Answer 6

Because of the time and effort to takes to wrap and label the item,Then physically take the item to be posted. Would you work for nothing? Every commercial item has overheads and costs. It is not a gift from your friend the whole point of ebay is for you to get something out of it and the seller too. Unless you are sold a doggy item whats the problem?

Answer 7

Don't forget, the cost of p&p isn't just the postage stamp. It also includes the cost of the wrapping materials and the time the seller gives in wrapping the article and standing in the queue at the post office to post it.

Many people don't value their time and are quite happy to stand in a line for 30 mins for nothing in return. My time is precious to me and I charge for it.

Don't forget, if you buy something by mail order, the wage costs of the people that pack and despatch are already built in to the profit margins and you pay for it anyway - it's just "hidden".

Answer 8

some are honest they put a price on which would be postage and and the packaging cost.
but i wanted windscreen wipers and the guy is looking £10 to post so im not gonna buy from him.some put the item in low looking £1 for it and p&p is high because thats what they are using to pay for the item.

Answer 9

I've noticed this too... Its so annoying, especially when its only something small like a dvd or a computer game.

I think eBay should decide on postage costs like Amazon do. That way unscrupulous sellers wont be able to con us buyers on postage.

Answer 10

It is a way to make a little extra money. Most internet and mail order companies do this. It also covers them in case the shipping to some destination cost more. In the US, shipping to a fairly local area is less than shipping across country. Also, in the US, the law for mail order (internet is considered mail order) shipping charges is if you only specify shipping cost you are to charge only the amount of actual shipping. If you say shipping and handling, you can charge whatever you like for handling.