Seller refuses to combine postage - profiteering on postage?

[9647ian]

So I am quite prepared to pay the $80 to a seller on two separate sales. The sales are for some spare parts that would fit into the palm of my hand when combined, but he wants $13.80 postage for each sale. That makes an incredible $27.60 postage on items that he will be able to post for half that cost.

And how much do you want to bet, he will post the two sales together in one envelope?

I have told him that if he intends to charge me two lots of postage then I will expect two separate envelopes.

I almost made the mistake of bidding on a third ad of his for another $40. That would have made a combined postage of $41.40 on small items that could be posted for less than half that amount.

Why are some sellers so unreasonable when it comes to combining postage? Are they profiteering on postage? Seems so.

[davewil1964]

My, and probably others' issue, is the expectation of combined postage AFTER purchase. It would be a simple thing to ask prior to purchase, but the OP doesn't seem to have thought that to be an option.

I also combine, if asked. But I also combine if not asked, and refund the difference between the actual postage and what was paid. Less the additional eBay fees (which I'm not prepared to chase) and any extra Paypal fees (for separate payments).

I understand that eBay make it hard for buyers to ask for invoices post-sale and prior to payment, but if they are really after a cheaper overall price it shouldn't be to much to expect a buyer to ASK beforehand.

The expectation that a seller will cut their margins post-sale to accommodate a lazy buyer is indeed rife.

[brerrabbit585 · Accepted solution]

It seems to be the seller's attitude that they would have combined if they'd been asked (while denying that they had been asked), but they won't do it because they weren't asked.  I honestly think if this is their attitude they're not very businesslike and aren't interested in repeat buyers, ie. they're not helping themselves. 

If they're prepared to combine under certain circumstances, why not do it all the time?  With this seller's attitude I would probably have told them to keep their item.  I can understand that many would decide to claim one lot hadn't arrived just to get back some of their postage money.

It's not like they can't add the fees on the second lot of postage to their combined postage amount.  They'd have a much happier buyer and they could possibly end up with lots of repeat business from that buyer and all their hobbyist friends.  Sellers like this can never understand why it's so hard to sell things, just as some b&m businesses end up folding because nobody will go back a second time.

Whilst nobody can say they're entitled to combined postage on ebay (unless seller says they combine), I've noticed that most of the big places that often send items from different locations state in their listings that they can't combine postage so that buyers know beforehand.

[9647ian]

So why does he offer combined postage?

Moreover, why does he send out messages after someone buys things, requesting they pay him by direct deposit rather than PayPal?

Anyone can tell that he is a rogue operator. It stands out a mile.

[9647ian]

You have hit the nail on the head my friend!

In fact I asked a friend to contact the seller, asking him if he was willing to combine postage if he bids on three or more of his ads. He got this in reply.

"Ebay set there prices you pay for the parts if you are ebay take it up with ebay."

I also contacted another friend who had bought some items off him in the past. He found the same lack of communication when he requested combined postage on what was essentially just a few bolts. He also got a message straight after the auction asking if he could use direct deposit instead of PayPal. He claims to be a seller who combines postage, obviously so he can attract bids to ads with horrendous postage costs. People presume that he combines postage, but only find out later that he will not communicate on the issue of postage after they buy. He pretends that he has not received their messages! Then if they press the issue he gets hostile.

I think this speaks for itself! Clearly he does not value his customers, thinks everyone is out to rip him off, including ebay and Australia Post, is never satisfied even when buyers bid up his items. He clearly does not care about return buyers.

[9647ian]

You are wrong! Please read my post above.

[9647ian]

The light dawns on marblehead, but evidently it sometimes completely misses.

[collect247]

Well if he offers combined postage in the listing that you purchased then ok he should honor it.

Didn't see that is what you said from the start of your thread lol.

Why don't you engage your brain and move on anyway, stop being a cry baby.

I've been in your situation many times,I moved on as I don't give a **bleep** about whinging to sellers I just find another one.

If you're so hard up about $13.80 then seriously don't bloody buy.

[collect247]

So you have now engaged in a tag team effort with your mates to break down the seller,well done,I'm sure you've managed to be on many SL's.

[brerrabbit585]

Some people just don't get it and they think buyers will pay anything.  When I first joined ebay you didn't have to put the postage amount in and a lot of sellers wouldn't quote for postage but would say "I'll advise the winning bidder of the postage cost after the auction finishes."  Of course they didn't get many bids but they would have been too stupid to see why.

About 8 years ago I bought about 20 to 30 items from a seller in the US.  Postage was a lot cheaper back then but it still added up.  She had her postage to the US set to a certain amount for the first item and half that for each subsequent item and I usually avoid sellers with that, but I messaged and asked for a quote and she said she'd only charged actual postage.  I filled the first flat rate envelope and she posted it, then while I was organising filling the next two (I knew exactly how much would fit) she sent a message that was basically complaining about losing out on her postage profit.  A friend was visiting me at the time so I showed her the message and she was as stunned as I was, and she said it sounded like the woman didn't want to sell to me, which was weird because she'd got no other bids on most of her items and I was taking a lot off her hands.  If she wanted more for the items she should have just asked a higher price and charged actual postage.  I finished the deal and she only charged me what she'd quoted but I didn't bother looking at her auctions after that.

[gutterpunkz05]

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@9647ian wrote:

So why does he offer combined postage?

Moreover, why does he send out messages after someone buys things, requesting they pay him by direct deposit rather than PayPal?

 Anyone can tell that he is a rogue operator. It stands out a mile.

---

Well that was fun,  Seems you like to provide information somewhat biased in your favour.

It took a bit, but have finally located the purchased items in question,  "Fit in the palm of your hand"  "Cir Clips".  Really.

Item 1  .  9  x  Old carboard style Blister packs of assorted items, including cir clips.  Largest  approx  200 x 75mm.

Item 2  .  7  x  """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

Nowhere in either item does the seller reference  Combined postage, one way or the other.

While the items would probably all fit in a 3kg satchel, I would presume the seller  seperately wrapped or boxed the lots, after

photos were taken .  Anyway I would not buy from someone who could not at least correctly orientate the photos  LOL.

Rouge operator?,  Profiteer? ......Hardly

The seller offers  Paypal,  so I can only assume that the buyer did not like your attitude and requested Bank Deposit  to T you off,

Just remember if you are going to tell little porkies,  The Truth is Out There.  Just sometimes it is harder to find than others.