posted on January 14, 2001 02:47:26 PM
I was doing some research for launching some new auctions and came across a seller with the following in his/her listing:
Buyer responsible for insert fee, commission, postage, and if desired insurance.
Isn't this blatant fee avoidance by the seller? Yet, eBay wants to come after those that have a link to their websites. Go figure.
posted on January 14, 2001 02:50:15 PM
No... it's not Fee Avoidance... the seller will be paying those fees to eBay. However, the seller is letting potential bidders know that he WILL be passing those fees onto the buyer as part of his Terms of Sale.
posted on January 14, 2001 02:52:04 PM
They should be reported to eBay.
If that were me, I would just add it to the opening bid price, unless it would make the opening bid too high.
Sounds to me like a newbie cheapskate seller that wants something for nothing. That seller is forgetting that it takes money to make money, ad ought to go to Lycos Auctions, or an auction that's still free.
You can't have it all: maximum expose and free services. If anything, that will turn off a lot of potential buyers.
posted on January 14, 2001 03:00:21 PMDottie - I don't understand - if he is charging a commission above the closing price - why would that not be fee avoidance? Or, if the bidder is paying eBay's commission, that again raises the amount that he is paying as the 'final' price, so would again be paying more than the closing price.
motiv8 - he is newbie - 1 feedback. But the auctions have lots of bids - no pictures - no real descriptions of the books, (but they are a collectible series). I'm truly amazed.
Either way - I personally think it is kind of shady. (I also hate 'buyer's premiums' in real life auctions and avoid them, so it may just be my hang-up!)
posted on January 14, 2001 03:05:12 PM
Here in my area (the state of Maine) there is
only one B/M auction that does not charge a buyers premimum. All others do 12 percent with 2 percent discount for cash payment.
Buyers premiums are a way of life here in this great state!!
[ edited by chizlemon on Jan 14, 2001 03:06 PM ]
posted on January 14, 2001 03:05:15 PM
Ah! But you say they ARE getting bids...Go figger... And here, I pay for my Buyer's Return Receipt so their parcel does not disappear...
posted on January 14, 2001 03:10:06 PM
blatant fee avoidance would be removeing your credit card from there files before ebay gets there payment.
Informing a bidder that part of there bidding and Shipping and handleing cost pays ebays fees is doing what a thread here the other day asked sellers to break down the fees so all can see what will be paid.
Facts are facts weather buyers are told or not your buying from the sellers pays there bills this includes listing fees
you want it broke down to show all that your paying then when the seller shows you, you call this fee avoidance well how did you figure all the fees and credit card bills got paid they get paid through the money paid from winning bidders.
Another Identical exsample you go out looking for a new job you come to the point they ask what pay rate your willing to work for when you tell then they ask you to spell out how this money they pay you will be spent so you list houseing, car payment, gas, lights, phone, credit cards and postage to mail out bills.
The employer looks at you and says well thats it I never hirer anyone who ask me to pay them to buy postage stamps I cant hirer you.
posted on January 14, 2001 04:09:48 PM
Typical of blatant fee avoidance seen long ago (ebay had less policing then) went approximately as follows:
Wholesale lot of 538 Swiss army knives. <a lot of blather about how wonderfull they are and how much money buyer will make reselling them>. Opening bid at only $1.00 for the entire lot. Buyer to pay $538 for shipping to anywhere in North America. This is not negotiable, even if you live next door and wish to pick them up, the shipping fee must be paid.
posted on January 14, 2001 04:29:54 PM
Catchy title for a thread (certainly got my attention!) but no, it's not fee avoidance. In fact, I like it, except for the fact that most potential bidders would go haywire! [cuckoo!]
posted on January 14, 2001 04:49:46 PM
The seller probally doesnt have the heart to charge handling fees anymore since the huge mail rate happened. At one time a seller could charge 4.00 and make enough to pay the fees, but now charging 5.00 for a small 2lb package is crazy. I look for a eBay fee hike this year as well since Yahoo is now charging.
It ok there is enough of us here to find you you wont be lost for long
My point is this I know I pay for my fees to list ebay from my sales I dont say in my auction buyer is responcable for insertion fees insurance and postage but the fact is the buyers who win the auction actually in the end will pay all the fees related to the listing.
The person who pays me for the item they bid on actually pays my listing fees for the auction my FVF on the auction and if they paid through billpoint they pay these fees too.
There is no good credit card fairy that pays my credit card bill ebay charges me monthly and the frist time all the fees have to come out of my pocket im out of business my pockets are only as deep as the people buying from me. MY PayCheck from auctions comes from people who bid my auction as well is this fee avoidance ??? I dont think so. http://www.Dman-N-Company.com
posted on January 14, 2001 05:15:41 PM
Okay...maybe I'm reading this entirely wrong.
I understand that these fees come out of a seller's profits - but it still seems to me that this is avoidance - bottom dollar.
example
Seller 1 lists an item at $10 - it sells for $10.
Buyer pays $10 plus actual shipping
[u]eBay fees[/u]
listing - $0.25
FVF- 0.50
seller nets $9.25
Seller 2 lists the same item at $10 - it sells for $10. His auction states that the buyer is responsible for the listing fee and commission (assuming they mean eBay's commission)
Buyer pays $10.75 based on the above fee calculation (plus actual shipping).
Seller nets $10
Accordingly, isn't it avoidance on the additional $.75 that the seller netted?
I just think that it is ironic that eBay is going after off-site sales and has this going on on-site.
I didn't bid, so it doesn't affect me, and I don't plan on doing this, so it isn't a question of is this ok....I just didn't agree with it.
posted on January 14, 2001 05:19:18 PMdman...Phew!!! Glad you found me! I Was scared there, for a minute...
Well, I am one of those dummies who would feel awful passing on all these costs to my customers! There has to be a limit...somewhere...
But then, again, it depends what one sells. A lot has to do with $$$ amount of sales. If I sell expensive items, I suppose I can be less demanding as far as charging buyer for all my costs. Still, there IS such a thing as "Cost of doing business", for which there is a category on the itemized deductions. Can't have both ways...
********
Gosh Shosh!
