"A lot of people will pass right by things with a shipping price listed separately, and go to an item marked as Free Shipping"
That's because a lot of things are listed with low prices, until you factor in separate P&P. Then they are way higher than the ones that include it in the listing price. Everyone knows it isn't "free", but they also know what the real price is up front. Some company here in NA just got fined for defrauding people into paying a lot more than the advertised price http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/snuggie-magic-mesh-other-as-seen-on-tv-hit-with-8-million-fine-030515.html
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"Thai crown prince's poodle, Air Chief Marshal Foo Foo, has been cremated"
Yep - I remember selling a printer for £199 a good few years ago, ended up with around £170 (possibly less) after p&p. Needless to say, I took that as an offense and avoided selling stuff on there whenever possible.
Yep, have the same thought every time I'm stupid enough to bother. The only time I ever made any useful money was selling my Wii and that was only because it was worth a fair chunk and they paid in cash.
Despite being huge eBay is a long way from what it set out to be and, as you say, definitely not a place for casual buyers and sellers.
Out of all the things I've sold, I may have had a half dozen not sell, and I'd say it was more no one wanted them. I say that because I watch how things go with other sellers who have similar items. When I checked on the other sellers, their items weren't selling either, and many had listed their item for less than mine.
I've also found your selling tends to be affected by your seller rating. The higher your rating, the more likely people will be to buy your item for a bit more. They'd rather do that than risk a bad sale with someone who has a lower rating, and sometimes even a lower price than yours. I understand the logic. I do it myself sometimes. Pay a bit more to deal with a better seller. :)
Just sold my son's wood turning lathe on eBay - I had weighed it at 28kg and so asked £15 P&P
I miss-weighed it, when all packed and ready to go it weighed 37kg and so cost £18.95
My fault, so I decide to swallow the extra £3.95 (and the £5.40 in packaging)
it sold for £62, and he paid the £15 P&P so I 'grossed' £77
the post and packaging actually totalled £24.35 - so I'm already down to £52.05
but wait, eBay wants £6.20 'final value fee' - oh, and £1.50 FVF on P&P! - now I'm down to £44.35
and there's more, paypal gets a fee too - that's £2.82
so out the £77 total paid I got £41.53 (about 54%)
but it was picked up on time, shipped overnight, delivered next day and signed for at 2:04pm
the buyer even left me positive feedback for a quick delivery... all seemed well...
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today, 48 hours after delivery, the buyer has contacted me saying the box was severely damaged
several parts are missing and some of what is there is badly damaged,
the box was very wet and had a huge hole in it!
he wants to return it and have his money back!!! (all £77 that he paid!)
oh, and eBay says I should pay for the return as there are 'problems with the item'
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I actually think he is being genuine, there doesn't seem to be any previous issues showing in his feedback. If it was me, I would be wanting my £77 back too. I have asked him why he signed for such a badly damaged package, to keep all the packaging and take photos of the damaged parts. I have also started contact with the carrier to see what's gone on and suggest a claim against the insurance I paid extra for.
I suspect the answer I will get might be - "well, they signed for it, so it must have been ok on delivery"
fuck, fuck, fuck, I can easily see eBay making me refund him £77 and the carrier leaving me holding the bill :(
It is the carrier's problem, Jon - not yours. Tell the custmer to file a claim with the carrier. I am assuming you did not use a sledgehammer to load the merchandise and didn't load it from the bathtub.
Did you ever see such a messed up situation in your whole life, son?
I guess he is SOL then, if he signed for it in Good condition. If he did, then it is his problem and he needs to file a carrier claim - but the carrier will likely deny it. Had he signed for the package as damaged, it still would be a carrier claim, but then the carrier would reimburse him for the default amount if no insurance.
Sounds like the receiver is playing you, mate. ;-)
Did you ever see such a messed up situation in your whole life, son?
We bought some fireworks for our engagement party years ago and had then delivered to my mother in law's place of work. The boxes were placed neatly up against a wall and looked perfect so were signed for by someone. When we picked them up the boxes were smashed up, all the damage covered by the way they'd been stacked, and the fireworks inside were damaged.
We complained to the company we bought then off who asked why we had signed for them. They sent out replacements but pretty sure they said they wouldn't be able to claim because it was signed for.
bastard by name