Comments on: eBay UK Seller Updates – February 2010

By: Sue Bailey

Sue Bailey — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 19:30:36 +0000

And don’t even get me started on “restocking fees” whatever they’re meant to be!
LOL, no, me neither. Absolute pet hate.

My own “don’t get me started” bit is from the OFT’s pdf:

the DSRs do not link cancellation rights with a supplier’s ability to resell items as new.
And believe me, I know it hurts sellers to have to take a hit on something, but it’s part of the costs of doing business. If people didn’t pare their margins down to the penny trying to be The Cheapest all the time, it wouldn’t be such a terrible issue for many sellers.

By: Bigpoppa

Bigpoppa — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 19:07:24 +0000

You are of course right Sue. I champion buyers rights, where they apply.

The DSR’s are something that should be read with your individual business in mind.

Many sellers both on and off eBay don’t even know the DSR’s exist never mind what’s in them. And don’t even get me started on “restocking fees” whatever they’re meant to be!

By: Sue Bailey

Sue Bailey — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 16:35:42 +0000

I think you’d want to word that a lot more clearly than
you don’t actually have to refund postage. (given certain circumstances)
There are enough sellers trying to get around the law on this one without making it look easy for them to do so.

By: AMFM

AMFM — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 16:35:33 +0000

Super Thank-you both.

By: Bigpoppa

Bigpoppa — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 16:27:19 +0000

I have been doing a lot of research into the DSR’s recently and it appears that in certain circumstances you do not have to refund postage costs.

For example, where you offer “free post” as a delivery option but the buyer chooses another paid postage option, such as upgrades to 1st class or Next day delivery etc.

The DSR’s say:

If you provided additional services such as gift wrapping or express
delivery that a consumer specifically requested, then you may
withhold the additional charges incurred by the consumer for these
services only if:…

It basically goes on to explain how you have to let the buyer know etc etc.

I’m not saying that this is what you should do, that’s for you to decide but I think it’s quite clear that you don’t actually have to refund postage. (given certain circumstances)

By: Everything Car Boot

Everything Car Boot — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:54:00 +0000

Hi,

I received a message in my eBay inbox yesterday and I went through the postage and PowerSeller changes in detail.

What I couldn’t see is how much you need to turnover in order to increase your discount from 5% to 10-15% on the standard visibility level?

I couldn’t see that mentioned anyway – does anyone else know?

I wrote up a longer summary of the changes and how I think they will affect users on my car boot sale blog (hope this is within posting guidelines)

http://www.everything-car-boot.co.uk/ebay-postage-policy-changes/
http://www.everything-car-boot.co.uk/changes-to-the-ebay-power-seller-program/

Anthony

By: Jimbo

Jimbo — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 07:53:27 +0000

Shush

By: unknown

unknown — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 20:11:08 +0000

Shoes and clothing are specifically listed on:

sellerupdate.ebay.co.uk/april2010/postage-limits.html

By: TheShopkeeper

TheShopkeeper — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 20:00:42 +0000

£9 to post a pair of Jeans? Where from?

By: TheShopkepper

TheShopkepper — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:58:09 +0000

It’s definitely the way forward.

If you have say twenty sales for your MVL and the title is Whirlpool Bath those twenty sales regardless of which item had been bought will count towards BM for search visibility for the terms Whirlpool, Bath and WShirlpool Bath.

If you’d sold 10 Oval Whirlpool Baths (bear with me I have no clue what the variations would be) those ten would count for that serahc term and so on.

So if most buyers use generic terms you’re away!