More excessive postage

**arlene1622** · 10-02-11, 08:58

And even before you start commenting on the weight...buyers usually buy more than one item from me and then the postage is combined. I asked nothing when buyers specifically requested combining of items. Combining of the heavy items I sell/sold added up to more than R150.

**geewhizz** · 10-02-11, 09:00

Arlene perhaps you should try a few R1 auctions with normal postage.
I am sure you will get more bids than if postage is excessive.
Quality items always reach a good price on the R1 auctions.
Obviously we all consider the risk of crazy Wed but learn by trial and error.
Reading your replies gives me the impression you are a reasonable person and you will find most of the forum members reasonable people.
Just try a few crazy Wed you may be pleasantly suprised
Give the option of counter to counter,courier,ordinary insured and away you go

**SUNMASTER** · 10-02-11, 09:04

You can check with admin as he/she added the speed services courier rates. Luckily I did not post the rates...you can now start complaining and nagging admin for the rates he/she posted.

Who is Admin ???

**arlene1622** · 10-02-11, 09:06

Admin is the administrator of the forum...???? My oh my.

**SUNMASTER** · 10-02-11, 09:19

Originally Posted by arlene1622

Admin is the administrator of the forum...???? My oh my.

Hi thank You for clearing that

i thought he was at work and not watching us9723700654970e94c45.jpg

**lilythepink** · 10-02-11, 09:28

Originally Posted by arlene1622

And even before you start commenting on the weight...buyers usually buy more than one item from me and then the postage is combined. I asked nothing when buyers specifically requested combining of items. Combining of the heavy items I sell/sold added up to more than R150.

Just to help you, I hope, Arlene ... when heavy parcels have to be sent off, charge the buyers the reasonable postage costs on each item OR give them the option of paying less, i.e. by offering to combine items at a cost of R5 per item as this will offset any excess postage costs. (I've been doing the latter for years and very, very seldom do I lose on postage.)

And, yes, welcome to the forum. Hope your stay will be a happy and long one and you will soon have as many posts as everyone else!

**arlene1622** · 10-02-11, 09:29

Pleasure Sunmaster. As you see I have no problem clearing anything . Very special thanks to Geewhizz. I am a reasonable person who always tries my best to satisfy everyone. Guess no good deed goes unpunished.

**arlene1622** · 10-02-11, 09:38

Thanks for you post Lilythepink. I am new to BOB and just thought a flatrate would be best and assumed R150 would cover the bulky combined shipment. I just never say anything to the buyers after sending the stuff and paying out of my own pocket for the postage that the R150 did not cover. Me and my good deeds...have just got punishment and a hell of a bill at SAPO for it. Thanks for the welcome- what a welcome I received. The postage rate is now changed to cover combined shipment so I will not lose out anymore. If there's anything super heavy on auction I will just mention it on the auction page itself with the rate for heavy weight and should the want speed services for expensive high theft risk items sold.

**lilythepink** · 10-02-11, 09:42

Originally Posted by arlene1622

Thanks for you post Lilythepink. I am new to BOB and just thought a flatrate would be best and assumed R150 would cover the bulky combined shipment. I just never say anything to the buyers after sending the stuff and paying out of my own pocket for the postage that the R150 did not cover. Me and my good deeds...have just got punishment and a hell of a bill at SAPO for it. Thanks for the welcome- what a welcome I received. The postage rate is now changed to cover combined shipment so I will not lose out anymore. If there's anything super heavy on auction I will just mention it on the auction page itself with the rate for heavy weight and should the want speed services for expensive high theft risk items sold.

You've got a good welcome, Arlene! That's for sure! And the very fact that you cared enough to reply to all our posts means you are caring! Thank you.

May your sales on BoB be good and all your ratings positive!

**arlene1622** · 10-02-11, 09:55

You guys will be glad to know that communitywatch emailed me and that he's satisfied with my explanation. I will however distinctly categorize the rates from now on. No more flat rate and difference coverage out of my pocket.

**MsPlod** · 10-02-11, 09:56

Originally Posted by lilythepink

You've got a good welcome, Arlene! That's for sure! And the very fact that you cared enough to reply to all our posts means you are caring! Thank you.

May your sales on BoB be good and all your ratings positive!

And so say all of us! Welcome Arlene and hope that your sales go from strength to strength.

This forum is a really useful place to find out how to improve shipping and other costs and the traders on the forum are REALLY helpful (as well as making BoB into a safer environment for buyers and sellers alike).

Thought this was about to turn into a popcorn and coke saga but am thrilled to see that it has been resolved amicably!

**Cali Craft and Gems** · 10-02-11, 10:04

Please excuse my late "arrival" this morning... overslept! *yawn*

Re Arlene, etc.

Firstly, I do not appreciate the tone and accusations made in her first post. The postage issue was highlighted for several reasons, including that it is against the rules and BoB policies. Nothing personal so the personal attack on me is most certainly NOT appreciated!

Secondly, take a page out of the good BoB sellers and look at their postage setup. You can set the postage per each individual listing - not just as a general amount whether the item weighs a few grams to a few kilograms. (some of my parcels are so light that they do not even register on the SAPO scale!)

If you send the package via Econoparcel (green PE sticker), then you can jam-pack the parcel up to 1kg - SAPO cost excluding insurance is R18.15 as long as the dimensions are below 458mm x 324mm x 100mm. If the parcel exceeds these dimensions, or is heavier than 1kg, then the cost is R30.20 for the first kg, and R4.05 per kg or part thereof.

Speed services often run specials on their bags and 1kg labels - no specials at the moment so the price (in PE) is around R56 per bag. If the package is "flat" enough, you can get away with using the document pack which is currently R52.16 postage and R3 for the "envelope" (up to 500g only).

Granted you should add in for your "extras" (ie, petrol, parking fees, stationery, wages, other overheads, etc) so your additional amount should be an average cost. Our postage costs have remained the same for the past 4 years - we've absorbed the SAPO increases by keeping our other costs as low as possible.

An alternative to your postage (which will usually draw the buyers in too), is as Lily suggested - a small combining fee.

Sometimes you lose on postage (my beading / incense customers often hit over the 1kg mark and I do not charge them extra) - but most of the time your postage received covers these "small losses" at the end of the day.

The two main things therefore are:
1) don't be greedy
2) be "attractive" to potential buyers

I would not be where I am today by "greed" - it's taken a long time and a lot of hard work to earn the reputation I have! We all started at the bottom of the ladder and those who post on the forum the most often are not there to "complain" (as you claimed), but to help where possible.

PS. and if a customer does overpay on postage, offer a credit against a future purchase! Treat your buyers like you would like to be treated if you were the one buying!