E-Bay P & P Charges

[Buddy]

I want to start selling on E-Bay rather than buying.How does anyone determine the cost of P & P fairly.

I feel I have been conned on previous occasions with the cost - naive I know.How can some sellers justify almost trebling the P & P  - does anyone think  - like me its another way of potentially offsetting perhaps a poor selling price,in advance.I would like some advice as well.Thanks 

[Hermia]

I have set prices for some things (�1 for CDs, �1.50 for DVDs). I think these are pretty standard charges for these items on ebay. The reason some sellers put such high postage costs is because of the high listing fees and paypal fees that are charged. Sellers obviously don't have to pay a listing fee for the postage charge so they might price the item very cheaply, but put high postage. Remember to include your packaging costs (I get through sellotape by the bucketload!).

The www.royalmail.com website is excellent. You need to get yourself some digital kitchen scales and then you can just weigh things and look the cost up on the website.

[Mattk]

but even �1 And �1-50 is too high.ive sent items like this before for a fraction of that cost but usually bump the p&p up to allow for postage but also my car parking ticket.everyone does it just be aware when bidding !

[mystress]

Hi Buddy,

I buy a lot of things on EBay,and always remember the following regarding postage:~

1.The actual postage.

2.The packing costs (bubblewrap,sellotape,boxes etc)

3.The cost of going to the Post Office (some sellers live in Rural Areas,and their nearest PO may be miles away).

4.As Hermia says they try and keep the item price low so as not to incur high PayPal and EBay charges,and then add something onto the Postage.

5.Many sellers will give you a choice of Postage rates(If you ask them un advance) and usually will be pleased to give you an approximate postage before the auction ends. Personally I NEVER bid before finding out the postage(especially if it is not listed in the listing).

I hope this clarifies things?

[dodgyshirt]

Also since Ebay have banned the practice of passing on Paypal fees as a surcharge, some sellers get round this by incorporating them in the P & P costs.

I personally refuse to bid on auctions where the P & P costs are exorbitant as I am sure do many other prospective buyers.

[MargeB]

I just bought a �200 item, was charged �12 for postage and packing which would have cost him �8. His paypal fee would be �8, I don't mind splitting it with him. Especially since I only bought it to prove to someone that I can sell his item the next week for �350, properly described. :-)

[MargeB]

From what I can see overall, mostly final profit to seller is lower the higher the postage quoted is above a reasonable amount. Most buyers hate to feel ripped off, and postage seems like 'dead money'. When I sold regularly I would often lose money on postage, deliberately.

[Buddy]

Thank you all for your replies.

As you can guess I am a virgin seller so all comments were appreciated