question re adding more postage

[grevilleas4me]

I am interested in some items from 2 sellers but I am worried about the postage

Although postage is showing at $17.80 (registered mail);   further down in the description it says

final postage cost will be determined at the end of the auction based on your postcode.

I have bought from yet another seller, and paid instantly like I always do, and got an email several days later saying “I will let you know later how much more to send for postage”   and he had the same thing in the description right at the bottom   (I know, my fault for not reading it through).:-(   

My question is, is this allowed?    Can sellers add more postage?    If not, what should my response be?

[ss1630]

Can you contact the seller first and ask what the postage will be based on your postcode, before you buy ?

As for whether it is allowed, I'm not sure.. maybe some more experienced posters can answer that?

[*sparklz*]

 IF they state if paying by paypal the buyer needs to pay the extra $3.00 (or what ever the cost of registered post is) to have paypal protection for the seller.

If the cost of postage depends on the postcode then they should have a postage calculator to give the buyers the correct postage cost at the time of viewing the item.

[grevilleas4me]

I did query the seller with the item I bought:  this is his reply

I only add when extra postage costs when the cost is above the average i have quoted. I use the aussie post online calculator to determine postage costs

which sounds double-dutch to me - if he has already used the postage calculator, why does he want more?

and I did suggest using click and send flat rate boxes and he says

have never heard of the one you have mentioned  i will be sticking to the old fashioned way.

[***super_nova***]

The postage that shows on the top is the postage that you should pay; the calculator calculates the postage accurately to your postcode. 

The seller could have a problem if his location is not entered correctly; lets say he has his location as Melbourne but the items are shipped from WA.  but that is his problem, he needs to enter valid info and then the quoted postage will be spot on.

Just tell him that as the postage calculator already takes into account your post code, the sum quoted is correct and that is what you will pay.

Some sellers are determined to complicate their lives and drive away customers. 🙂

[grevilleas4me]

this particular seller has obviously no idea how to add calculated postage - he has estimated an amount

I can see that he has just put in a fixed amount, so it is the same for everybody - which is why he wants to change it afterwards.

Guess I won't be buying again:-(

[aj111003]

Sounds like they may be doing an average cost of postage on their listings then they are adjusting the cost later once they know the exact postcode of the buyer.

Whether they can do this I don't know, especially when they have listed a price for postage??

I would think the maximum they could charge for postage would be the price they have quoted and if any adjustments were to be made it would be to charge the buyer less as the postage cost has come up less when they have taken into account your postcode. I feel it is the seller’s responsibility to ensure their costs are covered for posting the item where ever they have selected to post whether around Australia or Worldwide.  In the past I have made errors with calculating postage like undercharging for postage to WA, but I have never asked the buyer to pay more once I have quoted a price.  What I have done though, is to refund the difference if postage came up cheaper for the buyer at the post office.

If you know or can find out the size of the packaging, weight and then enter the postcodes in the AP calculator this would give you an idea on the cost. You will also need to take into account that this seller may be charging for handling fees.

Personally I wouldn’t be paying anymore than what is quoted in the listing. They can make an adjustment if they like, but only if the cost comes up less than the quoted price of $17.80. 🙂

[davewil1964]

You can send 15kg of stuff in a Bx4 with C&S for $17.80 including packaging.

A buyer is not obliged to pay any more than quoted postage. If the seller can't work out how to use the eBay postage calculator and has never heard of C&S then that is their problem, not the buyer's.

Just pay for the item using Paypal. Don't pay any extra they try to charge. If they don't send the item, open an INR case with PP and report them to eBay as a non-performing seller.