topic Re: Overcharging on postage in Buying

Overcharging on postage

hjcircus — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 23:22:10 GMT

I recently purchased some trousers and when they arrived the postage was only $6.60 even though the seller had stated it was $11.50. They came wrapped in some brown paper and a plastic bag. I emailed the seller and said that I thought it was a bit expensive and she said that all eBayers overcharge postage to cover for interstate costs and that she was really time pressed and that she had more urgent things to think about than refunding me. I was taken aback, because I go out of my way to make postage as cheap as possible. I also told her about the postage calculator by postcode that she could use. She thinks I am just an unhappy eBayer and stated so. She has a 100% feedback and I am reluctant to give her a negative. I also stated that in her listing she should state that her postage covers all states. What do you think?

Re: Overcharging on postage

leader-of-the-band — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 23:54:27 GMT

I think that if you bought the item and paid the asking price for the postage then now is not the time to be communicating with the seller regarding postage cost. Rate them appropriately in the DSRs you leave. Don't mention high postage in your feedback comment or it will look like you are " just an unhappy eBayer". Leave something like "Ok" as I think this says more than it looks (and I think sellers hate a feedback like that). I would also wait a few days or even a week before leaving feedback. Let the heat be removed from your thoughts regading the seller.

If your 'total spend' was acceptable to you at time of purchase then what is the problem? This is especially true of Buy-Now items. Was it an auction item or a Buy-Now item? For auction items, ask about postage before bidding. If you don't like the answer you get from the seller then don't bid. If they won't reduce the postage then bid lower to factor that in AND let the seller know that you and probably others will be doing so.

Basically, the time to question postage costs with a seller is BEFORE bidding/buying.

Re: Overcharging on postage

hjcircus — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 23:58:54 GMT

Thanks. I see your point.

Re: Overcharging on postage

cjm2589 — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:06:44 GMT

the only time I have messaged a seller asking for refund on postage paid was when I paid about $12 for express postage and the item arrived wrapped in plain brown paper sent regular for about $6. I ended up getting $6 refund because the seller did not send the way they said they would.

If your seller has charged for a more expensive postal service than the one actually used then your complaint is justified. If they have sent exactly as the description said it would be then move on.

Re: Overcharging on postage

bella_again — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:12:19 GMT

The other thing to consider is that it actually takes time and money to take a parcel to the Post Office, I'm not advocating that sellers should over charge but really we also need to consider the time and money involved esp for those in rural areas.

I agree with the first poster the time to question postage is before you bid and pay.

Re: Overcharging on postage

lane-ends — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:37:17 GMT

Seems like seller has quoted for over 500gm parcel. Item has turned out to be less than 500gm. They have kept the difference.

If you had bought a "free post" item for same total, you wouldn't be complaining and there would be no issue.

All you can do is mark down postage cost stars.

Re: Overcharging on postage

nouveau_retro — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 01:39:01 GMT

I would 'suggest' that as the overall cost was about 1/10 of new for designer jeans - including prompt delivery to your door - that you should let it go.

Re: Overcharging on postage

iamanark — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 01:40:29 GMT

“and she said that all eBayers overcharge postage”

I take great offence at that comment

In 9 years of selling I have never even charged a handling charge, and if postage has been cheaper than quoted, I have ALWAYS given a refund of the difference

"she had more urgent things to think about than refunding me"

That "smart" statement alone would be enough to earn a neg from me

NEG her and leave a one for communication and postage charges

It is people like that who give honest aBayers a bad name

Re: Overcharging on postage

nouveau_retro — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 01:45:04 GMT

considering they've charged an extra 4.90 and buyer agreed to post cost when purchasing, negs are for scammers, not someone with an allowable (if rather high compared to actual post cost) handling charge.

Re: Overcharging on postage

*kazumi* — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 01:47:33 GMT

I agree with the first poster the time to question postage is before you bid and pay.

Before the OP bid they assumed that the seller has entered valid info into the calculator, and the sum showing is what the postage will cost.

If the postage was 1/2 of listed cost, the seller is making money on postage and ripping eBay off on fees = that means all the honest sellers, who only charge dollar or so for handling (or do not charge handling at all) are supporting those who do not pay their fair share.

Re: Overcharging on postage

hjcircus — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 01:49:04 GMT

Yes I did feel a little bit that she was not very helpful. I spend the time and weigh everything I send to be fair to the buyer. If anyone ever questioned it I would try to resove it and refund postage. I did consider the extra time and cost for packing and postage, however considering it was not packed in a pre paid and she told me she posted it from work, then it seemed a bit rich. I think it was more the point of it and not fair play on eBay. I will just leave it for a few days, but feel I do need to warn others.

Re: Overcharging on postage

nouveau_retro — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 02:03:24 GMT

BTW while not condoning such a relatively high addition to post, there's lots of things we may not totally agree with in the world but at the end of the day no harm is done +can't see merit in arguing the point.

We shouldn't assume that seller had weighed and used calc or that we'll ever be treated exactly the same way as we treat others- everyone is different and some add handling, some don't.

Re: Overcharging on postage

crypsynight — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 02:07:05 GMT

Her statement about 'all sellers do this' is just plain rubbish - I only ever charge actual postage costs, and all items I've recently purchased have only charged the actual cost as well.

However - it is postage and handling costs, not just the cost of the stamp. What's to say she doesn't employ someone purely to do up and post her parcels. That would be a legit handling charge, woudn't it?

When you purchased the item, surely you knew the cost of the postage then. When I buy something, I look at what it costs me in total. If you are happy with that price, then what does it matter what the postage charged was, and if you were unhappy you shouldnt have purchased in the first place.

Leave her low postage costs DSR if you feel it justified, and as another post mentioned, 'okay' for feedback comment is probably something along the lines of what I would do...more so for her lack of respect in her email to you than anything else.

Re: Overcharging on postage

iamanark — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 02:07:13 GMT

"buyer agreed to post cost when purchasing"

Yes, the buyer agreed to the cost because they TRUSTED the seller to be honest

There was no mention of “handling” charges, so the buyer is reasonable to expect that the cost quoted is the real cost

"negs are for scammers"

Yes, again you are right, but when the OP gets the answer

"she had more urgent things to think about than refunding me"

That screams SCAMMER to me

NEG her … stand up for the honest sellers on eBay

Re: Overcharging on postage

nouveau_retro — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 02:11:28 GMT

Direct C+P from listing, handling stated twice:

Postage and handling

Item location: South Eastern, NSW, Australia

Posting to: Australia

Postage and handling

AU $11.50

Re: Overcharging on postage

wishuponastarcelebrationsandgifts — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 02:13:02 GMT

I agree with nouveau's comments. The handling charge factored into the postage and handling charge is probably higher than you would expect, but at the end of the day you purchase an item on the basis that you believe the total cost you are paying is reasonable for the item.

The seller may not have scales, and may have estimated the item weighed over 500 grams only to find it was less when they posted it. Their comments to you about the postage were unprofessional, and certainly not appropriate but I don't think they warrant a neg.

Re: Overcharging on postage

leader-of-the-band — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 02:15:17 GMT

I did consider the extra time and cost for packing and postage, however considering it was not packed in a pre paid and she told me she posted it from work, then it seemed a bit rich. I think it was more the point of it and not fair play on eBay.

totally irrelevent!

If you were happy with your "Total Spend" then there is no issue.

Consider this . . . . . . would you be happier now if the seller HAD only listed with a $6 postage and handling charge AND more eBayers would have bidded the item up and you had to pay $50 more than what you did pay? I think not. Maybe her postage charge put people off bidding enabling you to the item well below you otherwise would have!

As another poster said . . . . move on!

Re: Overcharging on postage

room3_2010 — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 02:28:07 GMT

If you were happy with your "Total Spend" then there is no issue.

Maybe her postage charge put people off bidding enabling you to the item well below you otherwise would have!

As another poster said . . . . move on!

Three very good points leader.

OP, you make a choice about your feelings. Forget about negatives, choose to let it go and move on.

If you neg the seller they could put a follow-up/reply to your feedback along the lines of "Member accepted P&H charges by choosing to bid, buyer is an unhappy eBayer". Would that make you happy?

Re: Overcharging on postage

iamanark — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 03:49:16 GMT

"buyer is an unhappy eBayer"

Well that is stating the blooming obvious

NEG her ... she ripped you off

It doesn't matter if if if

IF your grandmother had wheels you would have been a bus

She overcharged you and then was rude and smart about it

and did not give a rat's behind about your item ... just wrapped it in a plastic bag

NEG her and give 1 dsr(s)

The quicker ebay gets rid of this type of seller the better for all

Re: Overcharging on postage

leader-of-the-band — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 04:11:08 GMT

NEG her ... she ripped you off

the buyer was not ripped off IF they had all the information required to make an informed decision as to whether or not to bid/buy, and then decided to bid/buy, which in this case they did. Buyers consider their 'Total Spend' when deciding . . . . . . I feel like I am going around in circles here!

This buyer knew the P&H costs as they were clearly stated in the listing and they agreed to them by deciding to bid/buy. Sure, all sellers should only charge reasonable P&H, but buyers can walk away from a listing if the P&H charges are unreasonable. By bidding/buying you are agreeing to their charges for P&H and are considering them reasonable, otherwise you wouldn't bid/buy.