postage cost

[ppp3033]

hi everyone, I just purchased and received some curtains. Paid $20.00 for them with $25.00 postage. Received today. Post stamp says $.8.95. Box is small and as such the curtains are folded very tightly and are very creased. Box was taped up well.

Would most buyers be compaining about this postage cost? If so, directly to seller or - feedback?

Thanks for any info.

[davewil1964]

I wouldn't. If I decide $45 is fair for an item, I don't care how it's apportioned.

Did it come with signature required? That's another $2.95. Did the seller manufacture the box out of thin air? There's another expense that is a legitimate part of postage.

[ppp3033]

no sig required. the box was an already used box from a fruit shop.

[extra-keen]

That does seem a lot. Did you check beforehand to see what the cost of postage would be or was it a rather nasty surprise?

When buying I always check the cost of postage and include that in my decision whether to continue with a purchase. However all that being said, $25 for a small box that is marked $8.95, I'd be upset too. Why don't you ask the seller about it, maybe it was an oversight on their part, you never know. I am primarily a seller and I do make postage errors from time to time, but I always refund any excess I have charged or sometimes it goes the other way and I don't charge enough, in that case I just wear it.

[belindabargainhunter]

I think its to much I would let this be a part of my feedback in giving stars for postage costs

[thecatspjs]

I think the postage you paid is over the top. I would be very unhappy and following up with the seller.  

Post is a seperate charge - so overall price paid is not a rule of thumb - I don't know why anyone thinks that combined cost should be the gauge - if you, the buyer pay $25 for post - that is clearly listed and advertised as post and packaging then you should get exactly that, you are paying for that service.   

I would have thought too that post may be expensive for the size and weight of curtains so I probably would not have asked any questions first regarding posting. 

I think that it is just not acceptable that they have been squashed into a box to keep post costs down for the sellers benefit.  

If it was me, ALWAYS before leaving feedback I let the seller know - very, very politely - exactly what I am disappointed or annoyed about.  I give them 48 hours to respond, and then if no response, I leave feedback and mark stars accordingly - not ding them a one star on all areas - thats just spiteful I think.

I never ever mention or refer to feedback in any messages to the seller. 

[*crikey*mate*]

I posted a B4 box with SOD for about $15 today (can't remember if that was the cost before or after I added SOD so it might have been about $18.

Personally, I get peeved when it turns out that the postage charged was a whole lot more than it actually cost. As a buyer, it is hard to know how the seller intends to wrap and pack my item or how they're going to ultimately send it, so it's kinda hard to jusge if the postage charge is fair prior to receipt.

So when bidding, I do take into account the entire amount - cost and postage when deciding if I want the item, or if I am reasonably confident that there is no way postage would come close to the amount stated, I would send a querie to the seller BEFORE I bid,

The first thing I would do is contact the seller and ask if they had made a mistake, if not and they don't want to rectify it, then I'd use the feedback system to indicate my feelings of the transaction.

I don't mind a few dollars over, but $16 seems a bit rough to me.....

My DSR's cop a flogging for postage cost and I charge not a whole lot more than what AP charges me, but I also have to pay for the satchels or the boxes in which I post (satchels aren't included in price of postage for C&S) plus the packaging I use to ensure that AP don't damage the item in transit etc, and it probably costs me more than I charge.

One of my items, whilst small and light, is more than 20 mm thick so has to go as a parcel, people think I am trying to rip them off I guess,

*shrugs*

Once I run down my current stock, I won't restock that line and in the meantime, I just compensate by having a few free post items and build in the 60c postage into the price to balance it out and keep my stars reasonably respectable.

[retailtherapist_8]

I think the postage is excessive, however the Seller may not have known exactly what the postage was going to be ( even though they should) & felt $25 was going to cover it.

I think maybe they feel if you dont way anything then you are ok with it, and if you do say something they will do something about it then. ( a terrible customer service philosophy )

I agree contact them & politely ask.

Personally, and this does NOT make it right for all Sellers. I absorb my costs for postage materials in the pricing policy of my items.

[retailtherapist_8]

cripes typos......."say" not "way please excuse all my typos.

[phorum_junkie*]

Ebay will investigate instances of excessive postage if it is VERY high but only if it is reported before the item is purchased. Once you have bought it they take the attitude that you have accepted the seller's quote. If after you receive the item you think they have charged more than a few bucks for packaging and handling then you should mark down their postage cost star.

To be honest I too don't care how much the postage is compared to the item price, I search by the total cost plus postage so how it is appoerioned makes no fifference to me. I don't look at the stamp cost, that is a bit unfair anyway because another seller who has a contract could be charging more when it cost less and you would never know as there is no stamp with the cost on the parcel.