Over charged on postage

[belindabargainhunter]

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.

[jameshouseofstyle]

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.

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.

[belindabargainhunter]

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.

[belindabargainhunter]

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

[digital*ghost]

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@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

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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.

[belindabargainhunter]

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.

[thecatspjs]

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.

[jameshouseofstyle]

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!

[nicole-n-daz]

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.

[jameshouseofstyle]

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.

[nicole-n-daz]

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.