Postage Confusion

[ndjamena_darkwoods]

I'm having a problem with an item I sold.  I live in Western Australia and no one from my state seems interested in what I'm selling so I'm left selling almost exclusively to the eastern states, the postage reflects that.  I've been using Flat-rate boxes to keep postage down but one item is too big to fit in even a BX4.  I found a box that would fit it then listed it with normal postage, since postage was so high I set the price to $1.99 which is much less than it's worth.  I got one bid for it, from a buyer who had bid on other items as well.  I sent a combined invoice and after a while he complained about the postage.  I pointed out that the original postage for the item was rather high and that combining it with other items wasn't magic that would make the postage disappear but he still wouldn't pay.  He said he hadn't known what the postage would be and sent me a photo of his phone screen showing that the postage was listed as FREE.  I'm not sure what to think about that.  I've checked the original listing and the postage it gives me is a little over $10 to send to myself, I'm pretty sure it was ebay itself that told me the postage for the item was a little over $34 but since I've sent a combined invoice the information seems to have dissapeared.  I've clicked 'sell similar item' to check if anything was wrong with the listing and as far as I can tell everything seems fine.  I'm not sure what to do, I've been getting stroppy with him but at the moment I'm not sure if that photo that showed FREE postage is actually relevant or if he's being an idiot and showing me a photo of something that only happened AFTER I sent the combined invoice.  I've removed the item in question from the combined invoice and he still doesn't seem interested in paying for anything.  What to do, what to do...

[thecatspjs]

There is a current ebay glitch with the mobile phone app that shows listings with calculated post or freight - as free post in ebay, (in the postage details page of the app I am pretty sure it shows that freight is applicable- but I doubt many buyers look at this section on the phone app) - so IMO I don't think your buyer is telling you fibbers.

If it was me, I would ring ebay and ask them to send an explanatory email to the buyer = they probably won't, even though it is their error, but doesn't hurt to ask.

In any case, I would also messge the buyer and explain that you have now been informed of the app glitch, and ask him does he want to cancel the sale and take it from there.

In relation to keeping your post costs down, depending on the type of goods you sell, you may wish to consider purchasing a pre-paid 5kg satchel they cost $16.70 and are relatively large (510 x 435mm) - you can pop well packaged boxed goods in, if extra packaging is needed to keep breakables safe, and avoid paying cubing and distance $$$

If you do use any pre-paid products, to ensure you get paypal seller protection and have relevant proof of address and lodgment, my advice is to complete an AP lodgement form, cross out express post platitium and write in parcel parcel satchel in that spot and tick box - complete all addressee details and get your post office to stamp it on lodgement of goods.  Lodgement receipts are available from post office or available on-line easily found via google.  Attach the tracking sticker to the lodgement form, and you have all the paypal required proof.