topic Re: postage cost in Buying

postage cost

ppp3033 — Tue, 06 Aug 2013 10:56:48 GMT

hi everyone, I just purchased and received some curtains. Paid $20.00 for them with $25.00 postage. Received today. Post stamp says $.8.95. Box is small and as such the curtains are folded very tightly and are very creased. Box was taped up well.

Would most buyers be compaining about this postage cost? If so, directly to seller or - feedback?

Thanks for any info.

Re: postage cost

davewil1964 — Tue, 06 Aug 2013 12:07:59 GMT

I wouldn't. If I decide $45 is fair for an item, I don't care how it's apportioned.

Did it come with signature required? That's another $2.95. Did the seller manufacture the box out of thin air? There's another expense that is a legitimate part of postage.

Re: postage cost

ppp3033 — Tue, 06 Aug 2013 12:19:20 GMT

no sig required. the box was an already used box from a fruit shop.

Re: postage cost

extra-keen — Tue, 06 Aug 2013 12:50:09 GMT

That does seem a lot. Did you check beforehand to see what the cost of postage would be or was it a rather nasty surprise?

When buying I always check the cost of postage and include that in my decision whether to continue with a purchase. However all that being said, $25 for a small box that is marked $8.95, I'd be upset too. Why don't you ask the seller about it, maybe it was an oversight on their part, you never know. I am primarily a seller and I do make postage errors from time to time, but I always refund any excess I have charged or sometimes it goes the other way and I don't charge enough, in that case I just wear it.

Re: postage cost

belindabargainhunter — Tue, 06 Aug 2013 13:11:20 GMT

I think its to much I would let this be a part of my feedback in giving stars for postage costs

Re: postage cost

thecatspjs — Tue, 06 Aug 2013 14:10:37 GMT

I think the postage you paid is over the top. I would be very unhappy and following up with the seller.

Post is a seperate charge - so overall price paid is not a rule of thumb - I don't know why anyone thinks that combined cost should be the gauge - if you, the buyer pay $25 for post - that is clearly listed and advertised as post and packaging then you should get exactly that, you are paying for that service.

I would have thought too that post may be expensive for the size and weight of curtains so I probably would not have asked any questions first regarding posting.

I think that it is just not acceptable that they have been squashed into a box to keep post costs down for the sellers benefit.

If it was me, ALWAYS before leaving feedback I let the seller know - very, very politely - exactly what I am disappointed or annoyed about. I give them 48 hours to respond, and then if no response, I leave feedback and mark stars accordingly - not ding them a one star on all areas - thats just spiteful I think.

I never ever mention or refer to feedback in any messages to the seller.

Re: postage cost

*crikey*mate* — Tue, 06 Aug 2013 14:20:40 GMT

I posted a B4 box with SOD for about $15 today (can't remember if that was the cost before or after I added SOD so it might have been about $18.

Personally, I get peeved when it turns out that the postage charged was a whole lot more than it actually cost. As a buyer, it is hard to know how the seller intends to wrap and pack my item or how they're going to ultimately send it, so it's kinda hard to jusge if the postage charge is fair prior to receipt.

So when bidding, I do take into account the entire amount - cost and postage when deciding if I want the item, or if I am reasonably confident that there is no way postage would come close to the amount stated, I would send a querie to the seller BEFORE I bid,

The first thing I would do is contact the seller and ask if they had made a mistake, if not and they don't want to rectify it, then I'd use the feedback system to indicate my feelings of the transaction.

I don't mind a few dollars over, but $16 seems a bit rough to me.....

My DSR's cop a flogging for postage cost and I charge not a whole lot more than what AP charges me, but I also have to pay for the satchels or the boxes in which I post (satchels aren't included in price of postage for C&S) plus the packaging I use to ensure that AP don't damage the item in transit etc, and it probably costs me more than I charge.

One of my items, whilst small and light, is more than 20 mm thick so has to go as a parcel, people think I am trying to rip them off I guess,

*shrugs*

Once I run down my current stock, I won't restock that line and in the meantime, I just compensate by having a few free post items and build in the 60c postage into the price to balance it out and keep my stars reasonably respectable.

Re: postage cost

retailtherapist_8 — Tue, 06 Aug 2013 14:58:38 GMT

I think the postage is excessive, however the Seller may not have known exactly what the postage was going to be ( even though they should) & felt $25 was going to cover it.

I think maybe they feel if you dont way anything then you are ok with it, and if you do say something they will do something about it then. ( a terrible customer service philosophy )

I agree contact them & politely ask.

Personally, and this does NOT make it right for all Sellers. I absorb my costs for postage materials in the pricing policy of my items.

Re: postage cost

retailtherapist_8 — Tue, 06 Aug 2013 14:59:59 GMT

cripes typos......."say" not "way please excuse all my typos.

Re: postage cost

phorum_junkie* — Tue, 06 Aug 2013 16:08:28 GMT

Ebay will investigate instances of excessive postage if it is VERY high but only if it is reported before the item is purchased. Once you have bought it they take the attitude that you have accepted the seller's quote. If after you receive the item you think they have charged more than a few bucks for packaging and handling then you should mark down their postage cost star.

To be honest I too don't care how much the postage is compared to the item price, I search by the total cost plus postage so how it is appoerioned makes no fifference to me. I don't look at the stamp cost, that is a bit unfair anyway because another seller who has a contract could be charging more when it cost less and you would never know as there is no stamp with the cost on the parcel.

Re: postage cost

lemmayj — Tue, 06 Aug 2013 21:44:21 GMT

The seller was charging a flat postage rate for the whole of Australia. (I had a look at the listing). They've sold a massive 15 items this year so while they're not new to selling they quite possibly don't know the ins and outs of calculated postage or clickandsend. They must have been overjoyed when a local buyer won, as they would probably have lost money if the curtains had sold to , say TAS or WA. They also had pick up as an option, so it definitely wasn't a postage price designed to make them lots of money.

$8.95 is a flat rate price for up to 20kg if you happen to live within 50km of the sender, and is exceptionally good value.

I can guess what would happen if the seller had posted here complaining that the curtains had sold to WA and it was going to cost $33.85 (price for 8kg parcel, I'm guessing at weight of curtains).

When you offer flat rate postage for heavy items you win some and lose some. It's not a route I personally go (unless offering free postage), just because of cases like this one, but I wouldn't be leaving negative feedback over it.

The complaint about the too-small packaging is valid, though since the listing stated that they were already wrinkled, I'm not sure how significant the packaging was.

If you feel strongly about it contact the seller and/or leave 3 stars for the postage price, I don't personally think it's fair to bash the seller's feedback over this one.

Re: postage cost

springyzone — Wed, 07 Aug 2013 00:40:51 GMT

I am glad you explained this. I bet you are right. When they were loking at postage costs, they would not have known where the seller would located so they would have had to go with a flat rate postage or thought they did.

I used to sell on ebay but I have to admit I don't know how caluclated postage or click and send work.

As you say, if the postage had been higher, I think most of us would have expected the seller to wear it.

In this case, the main problem I can see is the fact it was packaged so tightly, but whichever way they were packed, they were always going to get some creasing.

I think they still deserve a positive rating-the buyer knew the prices beforehand, the seller sent the item. maybe thebuyer should just email them to mention any concerns, and give a low star rating for postage costs if they don't respond.

Re: postage cost

rkwm888 — Wed, 07 Aug 2013 00:47:09 GMT

that seller has been around since 2005 so they should know how the system works

even if they post the item in a flate rate box its not going to cost $25, a total rip off and they should refund the buyer the difference

Re: postage cost

ppp3033 — Wed, 07 Aug 2013 02:22:30 GMT

thanks for response. I did email the seller and receive the answer about the flat rate. I do understand the reasoning for using flat rate and don't think that initially she was out to make a postage profit. However as a seller myself, it goes against my moral fibre to make profit that way and in any situation like this I would be refunding excess post cost pronto. no such offer from the seller. I would not be as cranky if the curtains had been packed with care. To make a profit of $15 + and pack the curtains into such a small box they're in a ball shape, its pretty mean spirited i think.

Re: postage cost

ppp3033 — Wed, 07 Aug 2013 02:23:26 GMT

sorry for typos. typing on my phone.

Re: postage cost

rkwm888 — Wed, 07 Aug 2013 02:47:31 GMT

i dont know how much the curtains weigh and even if they put them in a 3kg or 5kg satchel or a B4 flat rate box its not costing $25

once the seller has your post code they can work out the postage and even allowing for a small bit of p&h they should quote the correct price, def not right and i'd mark their stars down if they wouldnt refund

Re: postage cost

ppp3033 — Wed, 07 Aug 2013 04:50:58 GMT

final word-she responded saying i should never have bid if i didn't want to pay $25. but my point us I would have been happy to pay $25 if that was the service I received. My unhappiness stems from the fact that she made a large profit and took little care with packing.
she has offered $5 refund because she is 'kind'.

Re: postage cost

thecatspjs — Wed, 07 Aug 2013 04:57:00 GMT

"Kind" ..... rolls eyes

Well 5 bucks is better than nothing back - so it was worth some $$$$$ to follow up directly with seller

Re: postage cost

ppp3033 — Wed, 07 Aug 2013 06:09:00 GMT

i had exactly the same response to the 'kind' comment.
the mean spirited side of me would rather leave neg feedback than get $5 back from her and have her thinking she's doing me a lovely favour

Re: postage cost

belindabargainhunter — Wed, 07 Aug 2013 07:47:48 GMT

Nah on this one they should take the fiver and still leave feedback that refers to the postage. I am one for you know what u paying before u bid for postage but not if they make a profit by not looking after the product you have paid for then they deserve three stars on postage maybe even two