topic Re: Combined postage advice please? in Buying

Combined postage advice please?

s00033591 — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 09:01:35 GMT

Hi,

I can't find an answer to this exact question so I'd appreciate your help.

I bought 2 small (the size of a pencil) items from a seller, who advised me they couldn't process combined postage, so I was charged 2 x $17.99. I accepted that answer.

The problem is the items did arrive in one package so clearly they had no problem combining it when it came time for them to pocket the extra postage.

I feel I've been overcharged and it's no different to charging me for a product they didn't supply. Do you think I have the right to demand a refund of one lot of postage?

Thanks for your advice.

James

Re: Combined postage advice please?

putney32 — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 09:15:18 GMT

not really, james, as it is not mandatory for a Seller to offer discount on combind postage,

combining the postage is NOT the same as a 'postage discount'

whilst most good sellers will offer a discount, many do not, and are not required to.

always ask Before buying, not after.

Re: Combined postage advice please?

foxette-in-sox — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 09:26:00 GMT

JMO but I'd spit the dummy.If you were dishonest,you could have opened an item not received dispute for one of those tools & seller would have no proof of posting as they sent togther but charged seperately.

I know that I will be pounced on for this,but I'd neg them & leave 1 star for everything.there's nothing positive about postage pirates & they could easily offer even a token discount.

Re: Combined postage advice please?

kopenhagen5 — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 09:27:13 GMT

It could also have meant the seller didn't know how to combine an invoice.

In future ask first and if seller cannot combine you can advise to NOT click recalculate on combining the invoice as that reverts it back.

It is a common problem with sellers that don't often combine invoices.

Re: Combined postage advice please?

foxette-in-sox — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 09:29:13 GMT

Kopes-that seller has over 164,000 sales-they know exactly what they are doing.

Add to their negs IMO.

Re: Combined postage advice please?

rkwm888 — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 22:48:38 GMT

i agree what foxy said, give them a neg and mark their stars down, postage pirates

Re: Combined postage advice please?

the-kazbar — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 23:29:18 GMT

Before you jump to neg the seller, if you go to the listing P&H section and enter 2 in the sty box it does give you the same P&H that you paid so you can't say they have done any different to what was quoted.

Do I think it is right to profit from postage? Of course not but you can't change the rules after the game is over either

Re: Combined postage advice please?

2106greencat — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 23:34:29 GMT

I think the seller has been very unprofessional.

While they have broken no rules, if I did that I would expect a neg.

$17.99 is a lot of money (basically for nothing) and the seller should know better.

Customer service seems to be a thing of the past some sellers X-(

Re: Combined postage advice please?

wishuponastarcelebrationsandgifts — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 23:36:44 GMT

As has been said most sellers will offer combined postage. Many will state in in their listings. If they don't it is best to ask before you buy. If a seller does not state they offer combined postage and you don't ask, then you must assume that you will be paying for the price of each item and the postage specified for each. I do not believe a neg is warranted or low DSRs for anything (other than postage cost if you feel that is appropriate). Although you may consider that the seller has profited from the postage, they have made this clear by not offering combined postage, and a buyer accepting those terms should not punish them for it. When you purchase an item you do so on the basis of the total cost of the transaction. At the end of the day the seller is probably losing out on potential sales if they aren't offering combined postage anyway.

I presume many buyers are caught out by combined postage as I often get buyers asking if I offer combined postage (even though it is stated in the listing) and/or how do they go about getting the combined postage discount. I also refund postage to buyers on a daily basis as they don't wait for an invoice or request a payment total before making payment. It is one area that needs to be improved.

Re: Combined postage advice please?

2106greencat — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 23:44:10 GMT

As has been said most sellers will offer combined postage. Many will state in in their listings. If they don't it is best to ask before you buy. If a seller does not state they offer combined postage and you don't ask, then you must assume that you will be paying for the price of each item and the postage specified for each. I do not believe a neg is warranted or low DSRs for anything (other than postage cost if you feel that is appropriate). Although you may consider that the seller has profited from the postage, they have made this clear by not offering combined postage, and a buyer accepting those terms should not punish them for it. When you purchase an item you do so on the basis of the total cost of the transaction. At the end of the day the seller is probably losing out on potential sales if they aren't offering combined postage anyway.

I presume many buyers are caught out by combined postage as I often get buyers asking if I offer combined postage (even though it is stated in the listing) and/or how do they go about getting the combined postage discount. I also refund postage to buyers on a daily basis as they don't wait for an invoice or request a payment total before making payment. It is one area that needs to be improved.

I agree in part, but that said, the seller should have sent 2 parcels.

Re: Combined postage advice please?

phorum_junkie* — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 23:47:30 GMT

If both items were paid for on the same invoice then the seller has done nothing wrong, the total cost for two purchased in one go was clearly stated. It doesn't mean I think they deserve any credit but I would certainly mark their postage cost star as 1.

As soon as I saw that I would either have hit the back button or, if I really wanted them I would have purchased one, paid with Paypal and then gone in and bought another later, preferably changing the delivery address to a friend or relative, so at least they could not make a few extra bucks by sending them together.

Re: Combined postage advice please?

jensmanchester-australia — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 00:02:07 GMT

As you purchased the two items at the same time and not separately that is considered one transaction.

They would have been paid for together and therefore they are posted together. The seller has done nothing wrong sending them in the one parcel.

Shipping is clearly showing in the listing and the shipping cost would have shown even before you made the purchase so any questions should have been asked prior to purchase.

I am not sure how the USPS charge but if I am sending internationally there is very little savings on postage when combining items. The same may apply to parcels coming from the US to Australia and you may find the seller really hasn't made a profit on the postage side.

Re: Combined postage advice please?

wishuponastarcelebrationsandgifts — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 00:47:41 GMT

I agree in part, but that said, the seller should have sent 2 parcels.

If there is one payment for both items than the items should be posted together. If the items were paid for via 2 Paypal payments then they should technically be posted individually.

The issue is also the system, and lack of understanding by many on how to purchase and pay for multiple items.

By way of example I once had a buyer purchase multiple items and pay for each individually as soon as they bough the items. The end result was that the amount of postage overpaid was in excess of $75. I combined the entire lot into one parcel and posted it and refunded the buyer the $75 in postage as I believed that was the right thing to do. It of course cost me a Paypal transaction fee for each sale so I in fact ended up out of pocket. I had my fingers crossed that the buyer was honest as they could have easily opened a Paypal Item not received dispute and they would have got a refund for everything I sent them. The alternative was that they may have left me negs and low DSRs all round if I "followed the rules" and posted everything individually as they obviously didn't understand how to combine their items by requesting a payment total before paying etc.