Hi James - I certainly vote to keep the X5 cost price. The RRPs you used to use were in some cases, plainly ridiculous. Mind you your postage costs could use a rethink; are we to understand from your message that you charge EVERYONE the most expensive postage to anywhere in Australia??? It's been noted in other blog comments that members assume you are inflating "postage" fees to cover costs on non-highly bidded items (especially free bid items). Now that X5 is selling advertising, perhaps postage fees can become a bit more realistic???

i prefer the way you do the pricing now . if we can get it cheaper we can let you know and hopefully you can bargain with your suplier and get even cheaper prices for all at x5. still think the pastage is to high on a lot of items.can we have more $5-00 postage items?keep up the good work. you all do a great job at x5

X5 price is okay, I assume you mean that is the price X5 pays for it. I do a lot on ebay and understand that sometimes postage is more than the cost of the item which is due to its size not weight. Australia post works out cost from cubic measurement which can make say a 1kg item cost same as 10 kg item. The biggest problem is X5 handling fee is so different from item to item and appears that is how you make your money,like I won an item that you charged $60 for and I posted it same distance for $24.95. I THINK X5 PRICE WILL BE FINE IT IS EASY ENOUGH TO GET A RRP OF A SIMILAR ITEM BY DOING A GOOGLE SEARCH. REALLY THOUGH ONE SHOULD ONLY BID WHAT THEY WANT TO PAY REGARDLESS OF ITS COST TO X5. JUST A REVISION OF HANDLING FEE WOULD BE GOOD.

MY LAST COMMENT WAS A BIT LONG. I VOTE USE THE X5 COST NOT RRP AND REVISE HANDLING FEE TO MORE REALISTIC LIKE A MOBILE PHONE I AM BIDDING ON HAS FEE OF $49 AND SHOULD BE NO MORE THAN $10. I THINK YOU WILL FIND MOST X5ERS WOULD AGREE WITH THAT.

the packaging can be better as i have received a item from your x5 and it had a couple pf pieces of cardboard stuck around the box... true...

X5 Cost Price should stay it’s more realistic but have to agree with others on the Postage Price which does seem a bit inflated sometimes. Thanks.

I believe all members have thought that the prices shown have been ridiculous but took that with a grain of salt. Shipping costs have been pretty heavy particularly when X5 sends 2 or more articles in one shipment parcel. Hey guys, X5 has to make a profit so lets be reasonable. My vote is for the cost price with shipping kept at a fair price. It would be an advantage if both prices could be shown, say cost price & RRP in brackets.

I agree keep X5 price but lower the postage fees.

I would like to see the quoted RRP/x5 Price as the average price of an item retail. For example an item can be bought retail for about $55. On internet they are anywhere between $35-$80 (not including postage) So the price shown as RRP or x5 price should be about $55-$90. I would love to see realistic prices. If you want members opinions on what a realistic price would be on an item, I am more than happy to help with pricing and to find out what retail is.

I do agree with Dennis. Sometimes the postage cost is too high. But I understand x5 has to pay employees. How can x5 make anything if all they are getting on items is extra extra low (from .01c). How can you sell something for cents as well as providing low postage and stay afloat as a business? (Yes, the advertising would definately help!) x5 might as well give it away!! $30 postage should be maximum unless it is a bulk buy. But don't get me wrong, I LOVE THE $5 AND $10 POSTAGE ITEMS!!!!!

LOOKS LIKE WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME PLANET SAYING X5 PRICE IS GOOD AND FIX HANDLING FEE. ERIC SAYING CHARGING EVERYONE THE SAME MOST EXPENSIVE POSTAGE TO ANYWHERE IN AUSTRALIA WELL I THINK THE X5 CHARGE IS WELL ABOVE THAT BUT FEEL THE SAME HANDLING FEE SHOULD APPLY TO ALL OR X5 WOULD BE TOO BUSY GIVING EVERY CUSTOMER A FINAL INVOICE AFTER THE AUCTION CLOSES WHICH WOULD THEN PUSH UP THEIR COSTS . JUST A MORE FAIR CHARGE AND X5 WOULD COMPENSATE FROM CHEAPER POSTAGE TO CUSTOMERS CLOSER TO SYDNEY. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK JAMES, SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE TRYING TO MAKE IT GOOD FOR ALL.

I do understand the postage can change depending on the destination. why not have, like on ebay, different prices depending on where you live. I know some people, like in WA might not like it, but I have worked in a despatch centre, and that is just the way it works everywhere.

Just had a look at the $11 whiteboard, the pictures actually display a pushbike. By the way, the video does not work.

I vote to keep it as it is now. The RRP was at times out of date and also some times not realistic. Now that X5 has explained that the $ for items is the cost price that X5 get it makes more sense. Keep it as it is I say.

I think having the cost price is better then RRP. Postage needs to be a bit more better calculated.

I think I prefer the new X5 price, but agree with others that the postage costs could do with review somehow. With the large number of parcels you send out you must be able to negotiate good contract rates with a transport company/Australia Post -- though I imagine you have already done that. I'm sure we would all appreciate more realistic postal charges, but by same token, you make it very clear what they will be for each item and if it is too much for someone, then they don't bid on that item! It is so nice to have someone in business listening to and responding to their customers. You are doing a great job guys.

I too prefer the X5 price, and agree with the comments on postage. It seems a little unfair to charge the same expensive postage for all items, and not consider where the items are beening sent.

Another consideration - could you show both prices? That way, we get to compare many similar products based on their RRP, which lets you get a rough idea which is 'apparently' the better specification.

I agree with Les, that the X5 price and the RRP should be shown. Also agree with everyones comments on postage, and getting a more fair postage system, as opposed to a one 'expensive' price fits all.

A fixed handling fee for all is okay because any other way would slow down the process because X5 would have to calculate postage for every single item which costs them and we would have to wait even longer to get our items. The charge just needs to be consistent and fair. I have been bidding on 2 mobile phones, postage cost $39 and $29 why is that??? and the dearest postal cost to anywhere would not be more than $12. Sadly if X5 can't make money by charging a fair handling fee then maybe it would be best to run the site like a normal auction where the highest bidder wins and have a starting price like ebay with maybe just special unique auction thrown in. I have suggested before when more than one item is sent to a customer that X5 could give virtual credit to compensate for the post charge.

Showing both X5 price and RRP will be great, but if one has to be chosen, I'd say to go with the X5 cost price. And definitely agree with the postage comments. Handling fees do need to be readjusted. Cos for $60 to post a phone, then perhaps it should be Fedex, not normal post.

I prefer to see a realistic RRP. Members don't need to know what x5 got it for. Postage and handling is a completely separate area. For anything that is bought over internet or retail postage is an extra. There should be set prices for small, medium or large size/weight items no matter where in Australia. You can't go on distance as I would rather know what the postage is BEFORE I bid. Makes life a lot easier for x5 too. But some postage prices do need to be reviewed. There really shouldn't be anything over $30.

X5 Members DO NOT need to know what x5 has bought the item for!!! Do retail customers know what the retail shop has bought their products for? NO!!! They don't need to know what mark up a business has put on an item. The price should not reflect what x5 bought it for at all. Just because x5 got a good deal from their supplier doesn't mean x5 has to then sell it really cheaply! X5 IS A BUSINESS TOO!! What is valuable is to know the RRP!!! BUT IT HAS TO BE REALISTIC! Thanks x5!!!

I would prefer to see rrp as it would be easier to compare online with other suppliers. Why don't you put a separate 'set' handling fee for all items according to size etc., then include actual postage on top of that. Also if sending more than one item at the same time, offer credit back as vc or reduced postage. You still get to keep every 'handling' fee.

Also I think your cost price should not be anyone else's business as your profit needs to be considered. When we go to a shop and buy something we do not ask what is the 'cost or wholesale' price we either take it as is, haggle for a discount, or go elsewhere. It is up to the seller whether to disclose cost price or not.

I agree with the comments already made especially about the postage costs. I used to buy kitchen and laundry goods direct and the postage was the same no matter what the size of the package - the sellers had a deal with Australia Post - for a set charge.

I THINK THAT WE DO NOT REALLY NEED TO KNOW WHAT X5 PAID FOR AN ITEM BUT IF YOUR HAPPY TO DO THIS THEN SO BE IT. I ALSO UNDERSTAND POSTGAE CAN BE EXPENSIVE FOR SOME ITEMS ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY ARE BIG SIZES. I ACTUALLY THINK YOUR POSTAGE IS NOT TO BAD ON MOST ITEMS.

Just thought I would thank you for recommending to download firefox because now I can finally leave comments where as before I could not get down that far to be able to leave a comment.

I THINK WE HAVE SPOKEN, KEEP X5 COST PRICE AND LOWER THE HANDLING FEE TO A MUCH MORE REALISTIC PRICE.

I vote for X5 price and realistic postage handling.

I like the idea of virtual credits if postage is unreasonable for an item. Its fair to pay a high price for posting a TV, but for posting a mobile it should be a lot lower. So give some of the price back in VC. As for price, show both i reckon.

hi everyone, i would like to thank x5 for tabling this question of costs. it gives a more realistic price than RRP. i also agree that postage should be looked at. it is too high especially when it is not reduced for combined articles. i won one of the glass tables that was big and heavy but the postage was cheaper than a mobile phone that i saw for auction. also packaging is in sore need of some work. except for the lawn mowers all the boxes i received items in have been thrown together.i think this also allows others to go through the boxes and take items that are loose and that is how items get broken. like all businesses things need to be checked until they work properly. my vote is for whatever works best and fair go for postage.

something i have just thought of. all the items on x5 are from china. which makes them a lot cheaper than australian models of the same thing but remember they are mass produced.this is why sometimes quality is given up for quantity. remember the powers that be are making a profit regardless of what we bid and what the postage is.

i would like personally to see both options up, but if i had to choose which of the two shod be chosen. then i would prefer to see the RRP of the products.