Seller - deceptive and misleading information - what to do now?

[janellehollycat]

Hi there - thought I would throw this open to see what others think.  I recently purchased and paid (yes, silly me!) for items from UK.  I did complain about the postage as I thought it was too high at the time.  Later on when I worked it out, the seller had not used combined postage for the items even though their ads state that they combine post for multiple items.  I complained about this again and asked for the weight of the package so that I could work out what the item should cost to post to Australia.  The seller has responded saying they have decided to charge extra for packaging and handling to give the money to charity.  This is not mentioned in the ad and they are not listed as a charity seller. 

So basically they charged me 29 pounds postage for a small packet that costs 18.60 pounds.  They have refunded me 2 pounds 'goodwill'.  So now I am being charged 27 pounds for 18.60 package.  I am chasing them for a refund for the rest.  A 'reasonable' handling charge would I think be 1 or 2 pounds on top of posage not 8.40 pounds.

Obviously this is very poor seller behaviour.  Can I report this seller to Ebay for misleading and deceptive conduct?  What do other people think?

[springyzone]

I'm sorry - the seller clearly lied to me personally and lied in their advertising.

I didn't like the reply you were given, that the extra money was being donated to charity. If that was not in an ad, I agree with you it should not be mentioned later. I would be upset too. It comes down to-why should the seller donate your money to charity?

Personally I always refund overpayment of postage and when I say I combine postage, I actually do combine postage to make it cheaper for my buyers.  Any 'ebay fees' or whatever I factor into the purchase price NOT the postage price so for me this point is ridiculous. 

This part I do not agree with. Just because you do it this way, doesn't mean everyone else has to. Some sellers advertise free postage too, some don't. The basic situation is some people will charge less for the item but will charge postage after factoring in the fees they will have to pay on the postage and that is extremely reasonable. If the fees are on the postage why shouldn't that be added to basic postage?

Postage also includes more than the cost of the stamps, as others mentioned, it includes wrapping, bags. It's postage and handling and I think it is perfectly okay to charge more than the post office.

 Don't forget that pounds is double in AUD - so it's $10 or so I have been scammed.

Not if the postage price was mentioned upfront. Mind you, when it costs a lot more than the actual cost I know it does leave a bad feeling. The seller did refund some to you so they aren't all bad. If the item arrives, I would be inclined to call it a case of being overcharged on postage rather than a scam, exactly.

The seller has lied and ripped me off - poor fool me I know as I have paid - but to lie in your advertising I believe is against Ebay rules and I will try and report this seller for their deceptive and misleading behaviour.  I don't know how far I will get but I will try.  I think we can do without these sellers on Ebay - it sours the whole experience.

[2106greencat]

 Don't forget that pounds is double in AUD - so it's $10 or so I have been scammed

Less the $4.00 refund (2 pound stated somewhere earlier) so all this is over $6.00 ?

Sheesh.

[phorum_junkie*]

Was it the dvds with delivery quoted at £3 and $1.50 for each additional?  That means if you buy more than one of that dvd you will get the discount, there is no mention of a discount for buying other items.

[janellehollycat]

Original post quote 28 pounds less 2 pounds refunded = 26 pounds.  Postage should have cost 18.60 which is 7.40 pounds over which is AUD$14 and I think that is alot of money to charge on top of postage even allowing for a handling charge. 

[janellehollycat]

Not DVDS - cat figurines from UK.

[fixnwear]

Postage should have cost 18.60 which is 7.40 pounds over which is AUD$14 and I think that is alot of money to charge on top of postage even allowing for a handling charge

janelleholycat,

$14 dollars is NOT a lot of money anywhere these days,  small price to pay on top of your "promised" postage for not having to leave your chair to go and fossick and fing items that you clearly love and maybe collect.

Seller was maybe dismissive and sick of your claims for refund being so little money involved so she told you:

"I'll give it to charity" - a common enough adage in similar situations

However, I do admire your motivation and persistence with this - but wander where do you find the time?

Just think, for the time it took you to post and then reply to everyone here you could have found heaps of more of the little dudahs!

[i-love-my-sheep]

Did you wait for the seller to send you an invoice or did you just go ahead and pay and assume you would still qualify for combined postage? Did you pay using the phone app? You can't pay a combined invoice on the phone app. 

[springyzone]

fixnwear said-

$14 dollars is NOT a lot of money anywhere these days,  small price to pay on top of your "promised" postage for not having to leave your chair to go and fossick and fing items that you clearly love and maybe collect.

Seller was maybe dismissive and sick of your claims for refund being so little money involve

------------------------

This is a little off topic, sort of, but I was fascinated in a grisly way by this comment.

Oh boy, I suspect that is an attitude fraught with danger if you are a seller.

$14 is a fair bit of money to a lot of buyers. Postage costs are often a contentious issue.

Recently my sister and I had a NZ buyer (who should never have bid as it was listed as posts to Australia only) who had a hissy fit when she found out postage costs from Aust to NZ were dearer than within Aust. She actually expected a postage cost under what it would cost merely to send the item interstate. We are talking of roughly an extra $14. The woman paid under protest then claimed damage but wanted to keep the item and surprise, surprise, get a partial refund.

She basically got her extra postage costs back just to shut her up, but there you go.

Never underestimate how annoyed people feel if they think they have been overcharged, even if it is only a few dollars and sometimes even if the extra charge can be fully justified.

I suppose the thing to remember is it is easy to say $14 is nothing, but it is not your money.

[janellehollycat]

WOW - not alot of very nice people on these boards is there?  I was just after some constructive advice and suggestions.  I won't bother next time. 

AND to that very nasty person - I type over 100 wpm so NO it doesn't take alot of time for me to type up a reply AND I'm just so happy for you that you are so very very wealthy that $14 means nothing to you and you are obviously very happy with yourself on top of it - good luck to you! 

Some karma coming your way very soon ... bye for now AND thank you for the nice people who gave me some good advice!

[lyndal1838]

Oh dear, another poster who does not like what she is told on the boards.

Janelle,you came here for advice, suggestions and, according to the first thread you started, a discussion.

You are on a public forum here and will receive opinions from a wide variety of posters....some you will like, some you will hate, but all opinions are valid.

Some posters will tell you exactly what you want to hear and you will agree with them....others will be short and to the point but you will not agree with them.

You asked for a discussion on a public forum....you have to take the good with the bad, the "nice" posters with the "nasty" ones, those that agree with you and those that do not.

To be blunt...if you want a discussion on a public forum you need to toughen up and accept all the opinions that are given and in whatever manner they are given.