I appreciate that when you're selling off old miniatures you have to consider them having no value, so that whatever you get back is a bonus. That's all fine in theory, however, this weekend's Ebay sales were less than stellar – models that I paid £6-10 for going for £2-5 and being as new, still in blisters. A bit gutting, mainly because it was my Salute fund, which has come in at less than 50% of projected.
Yet this was just a minor blip. The real kick in the trousers came when I went to the Post Office yesterday to send off the first batch of sales. I had priced everything as Second Class and charged people £1 (80p stamp plus envelope). Alas, the actual cost of posting a blister in a small padded envelope was £2.60!!… Second Class!!
The upshot of this is that, in some cases, I have sold £7 figures for 60p.
Now, I will hold my hands up and admit that this is partly due to me not researching the recent Post Office price hikes. Historically, I've always been able to gauge the postal costs of something and this has speeded up the Ebay process no end. This time is has truly bitten me on the backside.
Needless to say, all future Ebay sales will be heavily researched for postage costs with a minimum of £3 likely. I also think that the days of the 99p staring price are gone. Going to have to give this some more thought.
Kudos to the sellers on Ebay who offer free postage.
I had similar trouble recently, the prices went up between me listing some stuff and the auctions actually finishing!
ReplyDeleteAhhh! Now that is harsh. I wouldn't mind but it's gone up by so much!
DeleteOUch mate.. just reading this hurts.. sorry to hear that it didn't pan out a well as you hoped, but I guess others are also saving up for Salute instead of ebay sales also? maybe? Hope you at least have a good time at Salute!
ReplyDeleteThat's what I've concluded – selling stuff the week before Salute wasn't, upon reflection, the cleverest thing to do.
DeleteI've also concluded that a lot of stuff I was thinking of buying would actually be cheaper online, so I've streamlined my buying list accordingly. The wife's pleased!
The same thing happened to my Mrs last week, she sold an ornament for £10, it was rather large so she charged £10 for p+p, but after the nre price rip-off pricing it cost £15!!!!. She had a conversation with the teller who said that since the price hike, they've noticed a massive drop in parcels being sent. Ebay was their biggest earner.....not anymore it won't be!!
ReplyDeleteI used to be in the PO all the time with Ebay bits, but when you're selling such low-priced bits it's a nightmare having to make up the shortfall.
DeleteI can top all of you. It cost me $12.50 to send three figures to Ray a few weeks ago. These new prices in the UK and the US are raising the retail prices of our mini's and we're paying more for shipping and handling. The gaming world must unite to crush the tyrants!
ReplyDeleteWow. Post to/from the States can be mad – I wonder if the two postal services are in cahoots to sting the customers together?!
DeleteI just (today) got hit with a £15 customs bill for some rewards (4 metal minis) from a Kickstarter I backed… I only donated £25 so that's cost nearly double too!
Aye, the new RM prices are ridiculous. The changes have specifically targeted small mail order business (and ebay obviously,) have a look at the changes to the small packet sizes and measurements. Gits
ReplyDeleteI've started charging on the high side for postage on eBay, then refunding any excess back to the buyer. It might put the odd person off bidding, but it prevents the kind of situation you've just encountered.
I think you're right – they've probably seen a sharp rise in small packets thanks to ebay and realised there is a new market to be tapped.
DeleteI like you're idea with the refunding. Might have to try that one.
Yup sold a load of stuff and fortunately they sold well and some stuff I estimated (EU) was cheaper so it kinda averaged it out. I feel your pain and you can't blame people. Theres alot of community pages on facebook now where you can buy and sell stuff in your local area.
ReplyDeleteOh that smarts!
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear that mate, I totally forgot to bid on one of your items, the RM is really extracting the urine.
ReplyDeleteIts almost as if the RM don't wan't to carry our Parcels or letters any more. Just lots and lots of Junk Mail.
ReplyDeleteBit of an update to this story…
ReplyDeleteIt seems the lad who served me in the PO on Monday was classing my small padded envelopes as 'small packet' instead of large letter, so charged me £2.60 instead of 79p!!
Oh, please tell us that your getting a refund from the little lad on this muck up!
DeleteWould love to get a refund but I have no way of proving that what I sent was anything other than what he put through the till – the receipt says small packet. Worked out I was overcharged by a total of £6 in the end.
DeleteLesson learned. At least it wasn't £60.
I trade a lot of magazines and have found the people in the PO do not always know what they should be charging. Always worth challenging them!
ReplyDelete