on 03-07-2014 05:52 PM
I just recieved my item today and I'm overal very pleased with the goods but not the postage/handling fee. I fully agreed to pay the postage cost when I hit 'buy' button BUT I didn't expect to get majorly ripped off either.
They charge $6 for standard postage.
Well item turns up to doay...The package costs $1.05 (even cheaper if bought in bulk) and the stamp $1.40 (two 70cents stamps).
Plus, the package it came in is padded bag so there wasn't charges for bubble wrap.
Sooo..the "handling fee" is $3.55? That seems to be a bit high, right?
on 03-07-2014 05:56 PM
on 03-07-2014 06:07 PM
Depends what it is, how easy it is to accurately predict postage cost, sellers general postage policy, whether flat rate, same for all items.
Getting excited about such small amounts is hardly worth it.
What were you expecting for $6 given its less than parcel rate so was obviously going to be a letter.
on 03-07-2014 06:25 PM
Don't forget, he or she also delivers it to the PO (or box) and then has to pay commission on the item price as well as what they have charged for P&H. It's not really worth a sellers while to over-inflate this cost and I don't really think they have in this case.
Just my opinion.
Marina.
03-07-2014 07:22 PM - edited 03-07-2014 07:23 PM
if the postage was included in the listing and you didn't know what it was, would you have still bought the item? if so stop being petty
on 03-07-2014 07:22 PM
Would it have made a difference if the item had cost the total you paid with a quote for free postage? You got the item for a total price you were happy with so how does if matter how the components were allocated.
Would you have been happy with what you paid had the seller used eparcel so no cost was displayed?
It is not how it used to be when a seller could save on final value fees by selling the item cheaper and charging more for postage , they now pay nearly 10% in fees on the totsl price.
If it annoys you that much you could perhaps only give them 3 or 4 stars for postage cost but really you should keep less than pos feedback and DSR ratings for the sellers who are actually trying to rip you off or not offering good customer service.
on 03-07-2014 07:37 PM
add the 10% ebay charges in fees on postage & if paid though paypal 2.4 % in fees.
that $3.55 your complaining about is in fact approx $1.50 so handling fees at $1.50 seems pretty fair too me.
on 03-07-2014 07:39 PM
Some people here will defend a seller's right to charge a 'reasonable' handling fee, some people want to account for every little cent, for petrol, time, inconvenience of standing in a queque in the PO etc, for printing a label, ink, for sticky tape etc.
I do see where you are coming from. One pays a certain amount charged, fully believing it will cost that amount because maybe the seller has to send it as a parcel or in a satchel etc. They don't feel a need to question it at the time. Then the item arrives and it seems the seller sent it by the cheapest way possible, cutting corners etc to maximise their profit - it seems cheeky doesn't it?
Guess you have to decide whether the difference in amounts is worth saying something to the seller? I have raised postage costs with sellers a couple of times, but the amount was far greater and I think it was a genuine oversight (they were suppose to send by express or registered but forgot and sent it standard mail) and a refund was given. Another time was a blatant rip off but I had to suck it up. The seller probably laughed all the way to the bank.
I wish you happy buying experiences - hopefully ones that will make up for this one and balance things out a bit.
on 03-07-2014 08:07 PM
well diecast, the OPs postage was $6.00. Actual total cost for that postage was $2.45. Total fees payable would have been something like 30 cents. Now I would assume they could have charge about $2.75 - $3.00 to cover all costs. Sounds like a clear 100% mark-up in price to me.
on 03-07-2014 08:39 PM
According to a show I saw on TV the other day the average pay in Australia is $80,000 / year. If it take 5 minutes to package an item that equates to about $3.20 just for handling.