Excess postage costs

[jeflee777]

Hi, I just received an item I won on auction. At time of payment I was charged $8.50 postage. On arrival of my parcel it was post marked $1.80, a differences of $6.70. Additional the envelope was used, turned inside out and stapled and taped back together. The garment inside was placed in crumpled used 'parcel post' bag.
I have contacted the seller (politely) and she maintains that the postage cost is part of the overall item cost (even thought I won this through auction). Am I being unreasonable about my complaint or am I due a refund?
Help please !!!

[a_beautiful_room]

No you're not being unreasonable but you won't get a refund. Ebay allows sellers to charge postage and handling although the handling in this instance seems excessive.

However you bid and won knowing the overall price and was happy with it. If the seller had used a "postage paid" stamp which didn't show the actual amount, you may never have known and be annoyed.

However, I would be annoyed as well, even though there is nothing you can do. When leaving your feedback, mark their postage stars right down as a sign of your displeasure. But you did buy knowing the cost, so that is really all you can do. I have seen sellers do this who charge a "parcel" rate and then send the item as a "large letter" and pocket the difference. A bit problematic as you are only supposed to send documents in the large letter rate, so not very good form on the part of the seller.

However in future please do understand that the price on the parcel is postage and handling.  I quite often can charge up to $20 handling on top of my postage price (but for a clock for $1000 you want it well packed don't you?) so there are a lot of variables.