Quote:...Is it any wonder virtually all
eBay stamp sellers are using the printed labels or discounted postage these days?
Agreed, it is common sense.
Obviously
eBay has always 'maneuvered' sellers with policies which favor their profitability. Just as obviously the USPS would much rather people purchase new, metered postage than use stamps. (Certainly they would rather that discount postage not be used and also prefer efficient bar-coded labels over stamp items.)
I find that
Amazon online sellers (in general) are outperforming
eBay sellers in customer service. Many offer much faster shipping via FedEx (especially anything that comes from
Amazon fulfillment) and returns are painless and easy for buyers. Buyers of consumer items turn to online shopping for its convenience and
Amazon sellers (by hook or crook) have figured that fast shipping and easy return are a critical part of success.
I realize that
eBay stamp sellers are not the same as
Amazon consumer product sellers but this is not the point. The point is that
eBay is trying to compete with
Amazon.
eBay will do whatever they have to 'maneuver' sellers into customer service like
Amazon sellers offer. As much as we might not like it, selling stamps (or other inexpensive) items is not what
eBay wants to do and they will continue to make it more costly to do this.
And the same for the USPS, they are working to evolve into being profitable on parcels since First Class mail volume is shrinking. Sending a mailman to your door every day to only drop off discounted 3rd class mail is not profitable. Nor is it profitable to allow people to send merchandise using a 50 cent First Class postage stamp.
The USPS and
eBay both strive for the lowest cost per transaction as they can get and this does not favor small stamp sales.
Don