I would like to talk on the recent policy changes by SOUQ management on fee and courier options and how does it will impact on sellers, buyers and then finally on the business goals of souq.com itself.

First of all, it is justifiable to have some increase in the courier charges and its fee structure.

But, I wouldn't be hesitated to say that majority of souqers will quit soon due to its new fee structure as it is much trickier than one can imagine.

With the new financial statement, I found the money I owe to souq is almost double than the price of the item i sold through it.

Where will you loose money?

The main hidden clause with its new fee structure is the OPTIONAL LISTING FEES. Souq made the following small note: ( Which usually, no one will look at)

NEW: Please note the optional listing fees are charged once the item is listed, regardless if it sells or not..


Okay, To me, the optional listing fee is justifiable ONLY if the sales take place.

With the new policy souq will rip off you money from seller in different ways:

How SOUQ can make you bankrupt?

>> If you opt to choose your items to be listed for 1 day ( that is the default option),

>> with an automatic resisting for 5 times

>> And then you opt for Optional Listing

Now, I am rich as Lehman Brothers

A single item I sold recently was for 220.00 and the souq charges for it is 14.00 per old pricing policy which includes optional listing charges.

Now, my current statement shows that I owe the following extra amount to souq.com

>> My optional listing charges for unsold items : 145 Dhs.

>> Stores fees charges of 35 Dhs a month


What can be largely justifiable to souq community now?

>> Monthly stores Fee Charges

>> Increased courier charges

>> Increased Optional Listing fee, ONLY if the item is sold


What should be revoked from the previous version?

>> The option that allow buyer to collect item directly from seller.

This will be more helpful to many buyers and sellers. People don't like to wait for 7 days for something they can get from a nearest location. Even International courier don't take that much time!

Most of the people living in UAE don't even want to be on traffic jams.

>> What would be added as courier option?

There are plenty of small courier agents who can get the job done much faster than aramex.

>>Let SOUQ give an option to sellers or buyers to choose their own courier agents.

>> Give an option for fast delivery with additional charges. In business, Time is money.

To Souq Management:

Please don't insist with your new fee structure. Rethink and initiate what people really want. Better and sustainable marketing methods should be sourced from social values. Learn from the tragedy of American economy.

If you recently hired someone as a policy maker ( may be an ex real estate agent ) please ask him to step down.

Including hidden costs in your fee structure will take your buyers and sellers away from your service. I certainly, don't have a credit card from Mashreq Bank!

If you want to have a sustainable growth, please allow market to dictate your policies rather than trying to dictate the common market values.

May God bless you and wish to see you SOUQ survives with SOUQ (market) values. [Report]

you are totally, for me i open an online site , it costs me $27 per month and it;s totally for me, but i sold here theree items they sent me an invoive of 1200 dhs charges , my God !!! [Report]

i just don't understand that i purchase an item thru credit card, then i called in souq office to ask what would be the next..they told me to call in a bank n verify it..but due to unavoidable circumstances..i didn't verify yet but when we called in a bank its already debit by souq.com but until now not yet delivered n its more than a month..but there is a written in a souq like this:

What will happen to unverified transactions?

Souq.com will refund back the full amount if 30 days have past on unverified transactions...


Then why until now its not refunded..n i tried to check the item i can't open it, its written pending-verify, when i click the verify.. asking for enter refund amount when i enter the amount 1 attempt..it blocked..how is it? [Report]

SOUQ "FREE" online payment option.
While it is being advertised everywhere it is free delviery, Souq made online payment mandatory. The seller has no more the choice to choose to offer or not the service and of course charged for this service. I wonder if Souq understand the concept of ONLINE service provider and when will they reach the service level of ebay? [Report]