home delivery when paying for post?

[lotsamagsnbags]

when questioned if I mind if the seller keeps my post money  I'm happy to pay if the seller delivers... just wondering what others thoughts are on this situ:

bought a fragile item, it was hand delivered which I was not expecting....(i paid $13 post)...which I realise now they're kept.

advantages being no post office queues if not home, comes to me in one piece and earlier than would have got to me via post.

is this the way it works?

I sell too, and where closeby I have delivered but not for that amount of money...i'd be inclined to refund partial... but perhaps thats just me.

the item is nice.  the person was friendly. any comments?

[egglesdtp]

Everyone will have their own opinions about this, but I am presuming you were willing to pay the $13 for postage? if so, you are no worse off, and in fact are better off - no breakage, faster than posting, etc. I personally think the seller is entitled to keep the postage money if they have made the effort to hand deliver.

[munchkin83munchkin]

If someone is within a certain vicinity I will sometimes hand deliver....but usually only charge $10 which I think is fair to cover my petrol & time. And as you said you know it will arrive safe & sound, which can't be guaranteed with post and probably a lot quicker than Australia Post seem to be these days.

That's my opinion.  But I know some people don't like strangers turning up to their door unannounced so it's something that should probably be asked and arranged with the buyer first....that's what I do.

[amber-eyed-girl]

There was a recent thread here based on the seller's experience. They had hand delivered, a fragile item, kept the shipping.

If you were happy with receiving it in that manner, and do not think the charge for delivery (by either method) to be high, then don't ask for a refund/partial refund.

If you were ok with the item being delivered by hand, to your home, rather than by AP, then that seems ok too.

Personally I prefer a seller to post by the agreed method unless it's been mentioned beforehand...so no surprises and no issue over costs.

That is how it should work...you paid for a specific service. For the seller to hand deliver a fragile item, well, they are being considerate if it was packed well and not just left in the mailbox as is.

There is no right or wrong way if the seller just decided to do it without asking you. Up to you if you were 100% happy with everything and don't consider the cost too high.

[davidc4430]

i agree with your answer. as long as both seller and buyer have agreed to the hand delivery prior to it being delivered no problem. i also think postage should not be expected to be free if the item is hand delivered. but a gesture from the seller of a parcial refund depending on distance travelled and packing supplied, but dont just assume you'll get it. remember the seller does pay fees on postage now.

[mbselections00]

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@egglesdtp wrote:

Everyone will have their own opinions about this, but I am presuming you were willing to pay the $13 for postage? if so, you are no worse off, and in fact are better off - no breakage, faster than posting, etc. I personally think the seller is entitled to keep the postage money if they have made the effort to hand deliver.

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@lotsamagsnbags wrote:

where closeby I have delivered but not for that amount of money...i'd be inclined to refund partial... but perhaps thats just me.

the item is nice.  the person was friendly. any comments?

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I agree, not only will everyone have their own opinion, but I also think it depends on the circumstances, the item and the postage cost. 

In this specific instance, perhaps a partial refund would be in order, as one would assume less packaging would have been required to hand deliver.  But as there was the benefit of less risk and receiving the item faster, the sellers time etc, the fact you had already paid postage (therefore fees were taken etc) I don't think it's outrageous, but personally, as a seller I would have contacted the buyer first to ensure they were agreeable - then assuming the item is packaged in some way (which again as a seller I would have done), I would probably offer a $5 refund, so the buyer is less likely to feel ripped off (in case they're inclined to feel that way).

If the postage was a lot higher, then I would think a bigger refund would be appropriate.

On my large letter items, I have on several occasions noticed a buyer lives almost en-route to the PO, so have offered to hand deliver, so rather than offer a refund that wouldn't buy you a coffee these days, I offer them an extra item to cover the postage.

I had a lady buy several items just prior to Christmas and said she would pick up, so no postage.  Several messages and days later

I offered to hand deliver as we were getting nowhere & she seemed a little stressed.  She agreed - and on arrival I was greeted with a beautiful selection of home made shortbread done up in cellophane with ribbons. She made my day with that thoughtful gesture

It turned out she had very good reason to be stressed (we both ended up in tears !), but she said she felt like we had been friends forever and felt so much better having talked through her problem with someone who wasn't family and wasn't involved.

On the other hand, we have another ID which is mainly Pick Up only items for which we do not charge a fee.  Quite often people will buy & then expect because you live 'local' you will deliver for free !  That really irritates me

Late Edit  :  Lol because I type  so slowly, sorry I have repeated some other members comments

[lane-ends]

It is a variation from contract and therefore subject to negotiation by both parties. Ie They ask if ok, if you want post refund it is up to you to ask before delivery and it is then ok for them to say I will post it then. There is no right or wrong, only negotiated alternative.

TBH for me as a seller my time and effort is worth more than cost of postage. So it would not be done for financial gain, only to provide either a quicker or safer delivery. Likewise pick ups for me are more inconvenience than post cost, and only allow for items where there is no alternative

[pennyforum14]

I would be asking a few questions. 

1,  Did the seller ask if you were okay with them hand delivering?

2.  What sort of distance are we talking about?

3.  Were you inconvenienced in any way by the delivery?

I would always ask the buyer first before hand delivering, I don't allow buyers to pick up because I value my privacy, I would expect my customers might feel the same.    If the seller had to travel any sort of distance, more than a few kms perhaps, then I would not think it inappropriate that they keep the delivery fee I would have paid willingly when the item was to be posted, especially with a fragile or awkward item that might be inclined to suffer damage in the post.  However, if hand delivery meant I had to wait around for the seller when I may have had other places to be, then I would not have agreed to hand delivery in the first place.

Bottom line, I don't think a buyer can complain about the postage charge they paid being retained by a seller who delivers in person (provided it isn't someone who lives in the same suburb).  Clearly the buyer was happy to pay X amount for delivery, and regardless of the method of delivery, that is what they got, so there is nothing to complain about, unless, as I said, they seller didn't first seek permission, or failed to show up when arranged and kept the buyer from other business.

[lotsamagsnbags]

pennyforum no delivery hadn't been prearranged, infact I was still in bed asleep and the kids had to come and wake me as they're not allowed to open the door.  Which is also why I never said anything at the time as I was not particularly with it.

they worked in the next street (so not far out of their way).  they volunteered this info tho so I'd be none the wiser.  they did say they'd come by yesterday but no-one was home, and they hadn't left it on the doorstep.

I had also forgotten about the % a seller pays on post so they would have paid 1.30 on that.  - good point.

I guess its a bit awkward to say something now I've accepted the parcel, not sure how I'd word it re a partial refund?  the photos were also misleading colourwise in the description - very white when the item was infact beige colours, however the buyer did say what colour it was in the description text - so that was my bad.

[phorum_junkie*]

IMO it should never have happened without the seller asking you first and making it clear they were not going to refund any postage.