Ebay

"Pat EAXStitch" wrote "Is it just in the UK, or does the bottom seem to have generally dropped out of the cross stitch market on Ebay?"

It has seemed to me that lately international transactions seem to be fair game to sellers to inflate their prices by, on occassions, staggering amounts. I know international rates can be expensive and factor that in when I am bidding, but as it is quite easy to see charges on Royal Mail and/or US post websites it helps to judge what costs are likely to be. A few months ago I purchased 2 items from the UK only a few days apart, both near on identical in size and weight one seller charged me actual mailing of £3.58 and the other charged me something like £6.50, and the cheaper one was better wrapped! I did mention this discrepancy to the seller of the inflated item, and was not particularly politely told to take it or leave it.

As a seller I only ever charge actual postage, for the few cents extra that one might make via handling charges etc it hardly seems worth it.

Joanne in Perth, Western Australia where the Autumn sun is shining yet again - will it ever rain?

I weigh everything before I put it onto Ebay, and round it up to the nearest

50 pence or £1.00 for packaging (That, of course, depends on the size and shape and fragility.) You can usually find a shelf filler at the supermarket who has a good selection of empty boxes and/or packaging, which they will give you. Otherwise it only goes for recycling. In that case the most expensive cost of packing is the parcel tape!

Pat P