posted on August 2, 2008 04:32:14 PM new
The concept of "free shipping" that ebay is always pushing on us may just be classified as fraud.
Many, perhaps most of the ebay sellers who state "free shipping" with their items, have really just raised the selling price to compensate for the cost of shipping. You know, a jewelry seller who had listed their items at 0.99 plus $6.00 shipping, now lists the items as BIN for $6.99 with "free shipping."
ebay is just wrong in advocating this concept, and should further advocate the terminology "shipping included." Then that jewelry seller could state "shipping included" and not have to fraudulently claim "free shipping."
Sometimes I wonder just where ebay's legal team is and where they went to school, because they sure are remiss in their review of ebay statements, and policies.
posted on August 2, 2008 05:02:33 PM new
I absolutely concur with your observations!
Totally misleading and deceptive.
On the other hand I have seen a seller of Cups & saucers who is starting all her auctions at 99 cents and giving Free Shipping.
At first when I looked at her completed listings I thought she was getting great prices but I see now that once she has paid the shipping she is netting about the same as 'normal' for those items.
She has 'Free Shipping' all over her listings so the buyers are bidding but they end up paying about the same as they are bidding high!
posted on August 2, 2008 06:13:28 PM new
I couldn't disagree with you more, Bill. And no, I don't offer free shipping.
But good luck getting eBay -- who really wants to be Amazon, the pioneer of free shipping -- to see it your way!
I doubt very much if even the state of California would agree with you. It likes $6.99 with free shipping because s/h is not subject to tax in this state.
fLufF
--
It looked like she had that dreaded neurological disorder that lets you browse and bid on eBay all day long but won't let you push the "Pay" button.
posted on August 2, 2008 06:16:10 PM new
But... ebay is also collecting more $$$ from the seller b/c shipping is part of the price of the auction. This is why they push this type of listing.
Ebay doesn't charge fees on the seller for shipping/handling charges we add to the price after the auction ended.
There is always a MONEY motive for eBay's madness. Never forget that!
posted on August 3, 2008 07:03:32 AM new
We pay more to Ebay in fees but the seller can't say you over charged on shipping if you ship the item first class even though you charged them for priority shipping.
Like if you list shipping for 6.00 but the item is light and you ship it first class for 1.68 now the seller dings your DSRs on shipping.
So maybe on some items it's better to add the shipping into the price and list it free shipping. Because it makes no difference with paypal fees. They take the fees on the total amount which includes shipping
posted on August 3, 2008 09:56:01 AM new
I would gladly ship for free to anywhere in the world.
IF the POST OFFICE WOULD GO ALONG WITH IT AND NOT CHARGE me for using their service!
posted on August 5, 2008 08:56:15 AM new
I brought this up about 6 month ago, and everyone poh pohhed my concept of what this was, it was just a scam. There is no such thing as a free lunch.
What you may also not realize, but ebay is ripping you off. You are paying a percentage of the selling price, so you are in effect, paying commission to ebay FOR YOUR SHIPPING costs. Yup, thats right kids, ebay is ripping you off on your shipping costs
HA HA HA
Ebay is turning crooked, and trying to make money off of your shipping costs. And there are many people buying it.
So by offering free shipping, you are paying 5% addition money to ebay annually on your shipping costs.
And the difference between "free shipping" and "shipping included" is the wedge ebay gets you for. If shipping is included, ebay would be forced to pull that funding out of it's commission schedule normally used for shipping. Free shipping, they can claim the total cost of the item and you eat the shipping cost.
There is a big difference in the legal world between the two statements.
