Buyer complaining about postage WDID?

[Gravitygirl]

Just need a bit of advice as worried about the dreaded negative feedback.
A buyer bought 3 items off me so I estimated £5 p&P taking into account the packaging, trip to post office and actual postage. I thought it was ok?
They have emailed today saying the actual postage was £2.98 so my postage costs were too high... but thats not including the packaging etc..

What do I say to them if anything, do I refund a £1? as a buyer I take into conideration the sellers packaging costs etc is this wrong?

What do I do?

[Firawla]

how much did the packaging materials cost? im sure it could have come up to nearly £2 anyway so the postage seems fair to me. tell them the price of the materials and see if they accept that?

[Twinsmommy]

I shop a lot on E-bay and whereas I would generally think postage was a bit steep, wouldn't think it excessive, what with paying for packaging and actually getting to the Post Office.

I would e-mail back to say the postage cost includes packaging and petrol and that if they were unhappy with the price quoted in the auction they were well within their rights not to accept it and thus, not to bid. Their bidding on an item means they accept the postage costs. End of.

[Knickers0nmahead]

That seems a fair amount to charge.

Not like some on ebay who are charging £6 just to post a top

[ILoveStripeySocks]

She knew what the postage was before she bid/paid. Thats when she should have decided your p+p costs were too high, not afterwards! Id remind her of this, and not refund her anything.

[sixlostmonkeys]

when combining p&p it's best to charge the actual stamp price plus 50p for packaging. I think perhaps a refund would be best here.

[HecatesTwopenceworth]

How much did your packaging cost? and how much did it cost you to get to the post office?

Perhaps break it down like that for her?

[SoupDragon]

I'd probably refund £1 as a goodwill gesture.

[Gravitygirl]

Thanks for the help, I have just returned an email breaking down my costs and I just have to pray they dont give me bad feedback.....

I dont think they were unreasonable costs, and I dont really want to refund £1 ( is that terrible)

[Bucharest]

I only charge postage at cost tbh, and nothin for jiffy bags or PO time.....so, whilst I personally do think your postage was excessive, it is also true that the buyer saw that before bidding.....so YANBU, but I would refund £1 at least for goodwill and to avoid the dreaded f/b....

[PVish]

yes i DO think charging for " time " is stupid
how else would it be done?
i onyl charge psotage

[ILoveStripeySocks]

so you are happy to lose money on packaging?

[seeker]

That postage is entirely reasonable - 2 pounds for packaging is fine. Don't be bullied!

Oh, and Bucharest, you should charge for your jiffy bags!

[seeker]

It actually says somewhere on Ebay that you're not supposed to charge for your time or parking or anything like that, though.

[ConFuschias]

Sellers who sell DVDs/CDs/Computer games etc are not allowed to charge any P&P.

So putting any mark up for materials/time etc could very well be deemed out of order by some buyers.

Agree with PVish that charging for time is particularly outrageous. It's not a job that you are doing. it's selling your crap unwanted goods in your free time to make a bit of (untaxed) cash.

[IsThisNameTaken]

I think it's reasonable, but some people do forget that it is p&p - not just p.
I once charged £2.75 postage and got a complaint that the parcel only cost £2.14 to post and they wanted me to refund the difference!

[piscesmoon]

I don't see a problem. The postage is stated and it is up to people whether they bid or not. I don't see how they can complain afterwards. They tend to just look at the postal rate-packaging is expensive too.

I am very cross with ebay at the moment. They will only let me charge £2.75 to post a book that will cost me £5 to post. I have just sold something where they wouldn't let me charge anything for post and packing! It is ridiculous and they get more money. I had tried to start it at 99p but had to then start it at £3-to cover the postage.

[Bucharest]

The whole book thing is ridiculous- loads of books are going to be heavier than the £2.75 ceiling they've put on them....

Might start adding a bit for Jiffy bags- though I always buy hooooooooge job lots from the £ shop....

[HecatesTwopenceworth]

I don't think it is unreasonable to factor in something for posting it - maybe parking isn't free, maybe the post office is 10 miles from your home!

These are all legitimate costs.

[sixlostmonkeys]

In a discussion some time back, i said that while sellers insist on charging for their time, bus fares, petrol, parking etc, buyers will get more and more annoyed and eventually ebay will do something about it.
From next month all media has to be FREE p&p. (I sell books so cheers Before too long all categories will be the same. So, unfortunately I was proved right.

[ConFuschias]

Ebay will definitely move towards free P&P for all small goods soon.

[piscesmoon]

It just gets ebay more money. I generally start at 99p, so everytime I sell a book I will now have to allow for the postage and charge higher. I really don't see a problem with ridiculous postage-people don't have to bid!

[Gravitygirl]

Just logged onto Ebay and the buyer has put negative feedback , not only about p&p but about quality of item bought. I am so upset, there was no forewarning of this, I didnt even know there was a problem..... Im gutted
What can I do , if anything. I rely on ebay to top up my sahm ness im stuck if I cant do that anymore from neg feedback...

[HollyBunda]

there is nothing you can do about it.
you should have offered a £1 refund.

[sixlostmonkeys]

for the sake of £1 it's always best to refund and keep the buyer sweet - especially if you rely on your ebay account.

there is nothing you can do now apart from maybe respond to the neg with an apology in the hope it makes you look good to future potential buyers.

[Mybox]

They agreed to the postage so you don't need to give a refund.