Sellers combining (or not) postage

[Corundum]

I’ve just won a few items of clothing. I bid last minute so didn’t get chance the check seller would combine postage, they usually do so I tried to ‘request total’ but it wouldn’t process as it said seller doesn’t combine postage. I sent a message to the seller directly, requesting this but still haven’t received a response.

As a seller myself I offer combined postage and I’d personally calculate the cost of posting these items at £3.90, or £4.40 - first or second class recorded, small parcel. The total as it stands would be £16.00.

In order to justify not combining postage surely they’d have to post separately or they would be breaking eBay policy of not profiting from postage?

[19lottie82]

No they don’t have to justify anything unfortunately. There are no ebay rules against overcharging with postage. And you can’t force them to combine postage.

You did effectively accept the postage charges when you placed your bid, so all you can do is pay them (and give them low stars for postage costs) or not pay for items.

I could be wrong but I don’t think you can leave non positive feedback with comments against postage costs either.

[Corundum]

But overcharging and profiting by £10.00 is daylight robbery surely. I wouldn’t dream of taking such advantage as a seller. I will certainly pay but will also consider leaving appropriate and factual feedback. Communication is quite lacking and slow also!
We shall see, I may yet hear from them.

[Jollyandbright]

What you can do is pay, wait for the parcels and then open a case is their postage was more than a few £’s over the actual postage cost.

I’ve been in your position before and the seller just ignored my emails so eventually I paid, they ended up sending the items in two separate parcels at a total of £8 something.
The postage I paid was nearly triple that so contacted eBay and they said open a case for overcharged postage (they have an option for it)
The seller didn’t respond and I was given a partial refund of the postage (the seller was allowed to keep the actual postage cost plus a little bit extra for packaging costs)

[DianaT1969]

I think ebay takes a % cut of postage too. Depending on the item, sometimes combining turns the items into an unmanageable, unwrappable bundle. Which is probably why I've seen people posting stuff in black bin bags.
Other sellers of cheap items aim to make a profit from the postage to cover their time in wrapping and taking to the post office.

[19lottie82]

But overcharging and profiting by £10.00
is daylight robbery surely.

Unfortunately eBay’s rules aren’t based on morals.

I wouldn’t dream of taking such advantage as a seller

Fair enough but that doesn’t mean every seller will have the same attitude.

appropriate and factual feedback

As I mentioned earlier, if feedback is postage cost related I’m pretty sure ebay will remove it. Mainly due to the act that you accepted the postage costs before you placed your bid.

[Corundum]

Thank you. Jolly! That is good news.

I don’t begrudge a little extra for packing etc but £16.00 for a parcel costing no more than £4.40 (and that’s the maximum if they send 1st recorded) is a little off in my opinion.

As I mentioned earlier, if feedback is postage cost related I’m pretty sure ebay will remove it. Mainly due to the act that you accepted the postage costs before you placed your bid.

As I said, communications and service are clearly lacking so far. I would leave appropriate feedback relating to that.

[19lottie82]

As I said, communications and service
are clearly lacking so far. I would leave appropriate feedback relating to that.

That’s fair enough I was just warning that if you wish to leave negative / neutral FB then don’t mention postage.

[Corundum]

Of course, thank you Lottie

[Judashascomeintosomemoney]

If you’ve bought ‘a few’ items, they’re risking rather a lot of negative feedbacks for not being reasonable about the postage. If you’ve requested the total, and they’ve not updated it (even if they were to not reduce the postage they have to send you the ‘updated’ invoice), I guess you’re entitled to not pay until it is updated.

[Judashascomeintosomemoney]

As I mentioned earlier, if feedback is postage cost related I’m pretty sure ebay will remove it. Mainly due to the act that you accepted the postage costs before you placed your bid

Well that depends on how they send it. If they send them all separately, then yes, OP did accept to pay the reasonable postage cost per item. If they send it as one item and eg charge four times the amount it cost to post, then no, OP did not accept that because the postage quoted in the listing is per item. OP would be well within their rights to leave eg four negs stating ‘Postage cost GBP4.00 but seller charged GBP16.00’. eBay won’t remove that as it is factual.

[Corundum]

Oh yes, they may send them all separately .

[ScreamingValenta]

You could mark down the star rating for postage costs if you feel they are excessive.

[19lottie82]

“‘Postage cost GBP4.00 but seller charged GBP16.00’. eBay won’t remove that as it is factual.“

They will.

[Corundum]

Well we're coming up to day five day now. A careful, polite reminder message to the seller was sent, but no response, so it looks like they're ignoring me. How rude! I'm going to have to have to cough up aren't I, then proceed from there.

Would I be better, as they haven't combined postage, to pay for them individually? That's the way I'm thinking at the moment.