topic Re: Over charged on postage in Buying

Over charged on postage

belindabargainhunter — Mon, 28 Oct 2013 08:41:35 GMT

I am someone who use to think that people shouldn't complain about postage once they buy an item as they know how much they are charging.
The problem is sometimes I think the sellers are trying it on.
I purchased a dress and postage was $18 ok I thought because its mostly lace I expected it box and well packed.
It came scrunched in a eBay 500g parcel with no so much as a shopping bag to stop the lace from sticking to the seal.
So I emailed the seller who said that they were going to express it until they found out it would fit into the 500g parcel. Is it to much for me to expect them to refund the difference.
Normally I would not fuss but its a big difference for little care taken.

Re: Over charged on postage

belindabargainhunter — Mon, 28 Oct 2013 08:42:21 GMT

Sorry for double post 🙂

Re: Over charged on postage

kopenhagen5 — Mon, 28 Oct 2013 10:31:40 GMT

No I think it is good to pull up those that need it.

I would probably do the same mostly out of principle if it arrived in a very shabby manner.

Re: Over charged on postage

zanadoo_56 — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 07:58:59 GMT

I agree - if we are paying more for postage, the seller should be taking better care with wrapping and sending.the item

I received an item from overseas where the postage was double what what the post office charged the seller and the wrapping (such as it was) was shabby recycled stuff held together with copious amounts of sticky tape. Padding inside was non existent. it was more luck than good judgement that my purchase wasn't damaged. 5 stars for postage and handling? I don't think so.

Re: Over charged on postage

davewil1964 — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 08:16:52 GMT

Why not? You got the item you bought, at the price you were prepared to pay, in advertised condition.

Are you aware that there are many postal services that don't appear on the stamps/postage label? In Australia, for example, SOD/Registered, insurance? Plus the fact that the seller is justified in adding a charge for their time, their packaging materials in preparing an item for postage.

Or is that their gift to you? After you've agreed to the overall price, and recieved the item in GOC, how does the actual amount of visible postage, bearing in mind my above points, have any bearing on the transaction? Except that you feel you can trash a seller's business standing on a whim?

THE TIME TO ASK QUESTIONS IS BEFORE PURCHASE. AND BUYER REMORSE IS NOT A VALID REASON TO LEAVE ADVERSE FEEDBACK

Re: Over charged on postage

belindabargainhunter — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 21:43:42 GMT

if a buyer is paying postage we should get what we pay for and our items should be cared for when packing. In my case $11 for time and materials. Well nothing was uses other than the eBay parcel and is the time to shove something in a parcel really worth that.
So yes that should be taken into account when leaving stars. There are two questions.
Time posted
And cost of postage. So overcharging and re using packaging and lack of protection for our items when we pay for it under postage charges should be rated based on the service received for what we paid.

Re: Over charged on postage

ambridgebuckskins — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 23:36:20 GMT

Just a thought, Belinda, on your comment about "re using packaging"...

A lot of sellers, myself included, use recycled boxes, air bags, peanuts, whatever. Do you really think a seller should have their DSR's marked down because of that?

I've not had any complaints about using recycled stuff but l guess theres always a first time. Wouldn't of thought it mattered as long as the item arrived safely.

Re: Over charged on postage

curraone — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 23:40:24 GMT

@belindabargainhunter wrote:
postage was $18 ok I thought because its mostly lace I expected it box and well packed.
It came scrunched in a eBay 500g parcel with no so much as a shopping bag to stop the lace from sticking to the seal.
So I emailed the seller who said that they were going to express it until they found out it would fit into the 500g parcel. Is it to much for me to expect them to refund the difference.
Normally I would not fuss but its a big difference for little care taken.

I would ask the seller for a part refund for postage, in that case.

Re: Over charged on postage

springyzone — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 23:51:03 GMT

I am not a person who expects postage costs to equal only the cost the PO charged. I understand packaging and sticky tape and the seller's time should all be taken into account.

$18 for a 500g parcel though, without so much as a plastic bag to stop lace sticking to the seal, might be over the top.

Had I been the seller, I think I would have at least folded it neatly and wrapped it nicely, perhaps with some tissue.

You've done all the right things-messaged the seller to let them know your concern.

They are entitled not to refund any postage costs, but you are also entitled to mark them down on that category.

Re: Over charged on postage

thecatspjs — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 00:44:34 GMT

I would very cross indeed to to pay postage and handling of $18 in expectation that I would be receiving a suitably packed garment, and instead receive a post service with actual costs of no more than $7.40 at most, and maybe give or take a dollar or two extra for label printing, paper etc -with no care taken with the garment being stuffed into a satchel.

It is post piracy, no ifs or buts from my perspective. Belinda, as you are aware you have paid more than twice the cost of the actual service used - ouch !!

Whilst some buyers take the "total price - goods+post " approach, others, including myself, don't.

If a seller lists post and handling costs additional to the item cost, I expect to get an appropriate post and handling service for the $$$ I have paid.

IMO the seller walks a fine line in terms of breaching ebay post and handling policy as well as the circumventing ebay fees policy. I would report them,

10 bucks profit on post costs for every sale they make with no ebay fees taken, come-on, not good for this trading place at all. In line with ebay policy, a sellers profit margin needs to be rolled into the item price, not the post charge.

If no refund was forthcoming from the seller for the overpaid post with an apology for their :"oversight". I personally would leave low DSRs for post and handling, and maybe even a neutral weighing up my satisfaction with the transaction overall.

Re: Over charged on postage

jameshouseofstyle — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 01:40:06 GMT

The catspjs - the role of any business is to make a maximum profit!

Ebay can relate to that prefectly - they are experts at it! What any other seler does here pales in comparasement.

$10 to profit on postage? Oh, she must be laughing all the way to the bank!

OP item was received, with no damage due to such appling lack of packaging.

OP knew what the postage was prior to buying, and just because she discovered later that it was a bit more isn't reason good enough to whinge - I mean - what difference did that make to the item received. If it was damaged in same way - and directly related to not being packed better - then of course there is a problem

And - on top of all that - since when is Ebay any different shopping place than any other shopping place? Just as good a place as any to maximise the profits.

Re: Over charged on postage

belindabargainhunter — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 01:46:01 GMT

No I don't have a problem with re using packaging. However as someone posted it was not materials that were in good condition, held together buy sticky tape.
My issue is that things need to be packed to keep our items in good condition.
The other issue is over charging by $11 even if u take off printing costs packing fee. There is no way to justify charging $18 to post a dress and to then have it squished into a 500 g beg. I had to carefully peel lace off the seal.

Re: Over charged on postage

belindabargainhunter — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 01:49:38 GMT

Not even covering the dress in a plastic supermarket bag before putting it in the parcel ment all the lovely delicate lace on the dress stuck to the seal. With my slow removal of the lace there was no damage. But could have been avoid if packed properly.
My whinge is I paid $18 more than enough to cover proper packaging

Re: Over charged on postage

digital*ghost — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 02:25:46 GMT

@jameshouseofstyle wrote:

OP knew what the postage was prior to buying, and just because she discovered later that it was a bit more isn't reason good enough to whinge - I mean - what difference did that make to the item received. If it was damaged in same way - and directly related to not being packed better - then of course there is a problem

I think it is reason enough.

In general, I don't tend to side with buyers complaining about postage costs after purchase, but that isn't the sole issue here and I think a lot of people are missing the point. The item being poorly packed is the main issue as far as I'm concerned, and the price charged for P&H is exacerbating the issue. It's great that damage was avoided, but if a premium price is paid for postage, one would reasonably expect a modicum of care to be taken. No one likes to pay premium prices for sub-standard service, and my guess is that's why it grates.

The seller's response is questionable. The listing has a 500gm eBay flat rate satchel selected as the postage method, so they never had any intention of posting it express for that amount and knew they were going to shove it in a 500gm satchel when they decided on $18.00. But to say that they indended to post via express (giving the impression that's what they charged for), and only decided later to post via a cheaper method is A) a lie, and B) telling a buyer that they charged for a service they didn't provide as if that somehow makes the $18 justifiable, and not offering to refund the difference is really quite silly, to put it mildly.

I don't begrudge a seller making a profit, but just because the seller can't retire on an extra few dollars here and there, it doesn't make it ok to breach policy and charge excessive amounts of postage.

Seller practices that don't necessarily affect the item definitely affect the seller. Some sellers should remember that.

Re: Over charged on postage

belindabargainhunter — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 02:37:45 GMT

You explained it better than me. Yes that was the main issue that I felt feel that for the cost it could have been packaged better. I have had many packages come and not match up with postage costs but just excepted it as a whole price paid that I was happy with.
I keep saying supermarket bag because I have had a few come this way, and I have to say I have won some bargains before and would never expect those sellers to spend money on tissue paper etc when the bag has done fine.
It's just in this case for a nice dress to be treated in such a way, when I feel I have more than covered there costs.

Re: Over charged on postage

thecatspjs — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 02:40:20 GMT

I think the comments in the thread reflect on the sellers making them accordingly.

My buyers will never be ripped off for the post services they pay for, IMO if you are in a market where there is competition, its far, far better business sense in terms of profit and ethics, not to treat customers - or their purchases - in such a manner.

Re: Over charged on postage

jameshouseofstyle — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 02:42:10 GMT

Seller practices that don't necessarily affect the item definitely affect the seller. Some sellers should remember that.

Hey, digital - spot on!

Like they hurt Ebay, like they hurt supermarkets, like they hurt telecommunication industry, like they hurt motor mechanics and motor trade in general, like they hurt insurance companies, like they hurt oil business/petrol stations - I know excatly what you mean!

Re: Over charged on postage

nicole-n-daz — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 03:08:00 GMT

people who rip others off with postage in this manor are totally dishonest.

If i accidently get it wrong i always message the customer and then refund the difference.

It is ethically the right thing to do.

Re: Over charged on postage

jameshouseofstyle — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 03:16:26 GMT

Bravo hawker!

Of course it's a right thing to do - we are here discussing business practices however.

And please please please - forward your above message to any legal office - they 'd probably die laughing!

They charge for every single photo copy, every letter they send you, every email, every fax message - without even finding it necessary to inform the client beforehand that the charges are at least 10 - 20 more than the actual cost of any of the mentioned above.

It somehow just appears on the invoice.

Re: Over charged on postage

nicole-n-daz — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 03:24:26 GMT

I understand what you are saying,But that makes these businesses unethical as well.

And we all all know that most businesses will rip you off in any way,But we dont like it though.

But remember that overcharging on postage is an Ebay violation as well.