Very boring eBay question - is this a scam?

[cheatingcrackers]

I ordered something on eBay a couple of weeks ago, have waited a week post expected delivery, and asked seller for tracking info.

It says they haven’t paid enough postage so it’s being held at my local delivery office. She’s asked me to pay the postage and she will refund it. Would you do it or just claim a refund? I don’t want to pay double
postage and I also don’t want to pay the extra postage then find out the item is wrong/not as described etc (it’s a main birthday present)

I would pay it, sounds like a genuine mistake, you could still ask for a full refund if the item is not as described, eBay usually side with buyers.

I did it once selling on eBay, my envelope was slightly too thick to be a normal letter so buyer had to pay more, it was a cheap item so I refunded the whole thing for the inconvenience.

Ok, thanks for the info. I don’t use eBay much but found the item much cheaper there than anywhere else.

Personally I would just put in an item not received case and get your money back.

I'd pay it. It's not going to affect anything if you do need to return it.

She wont get that money back if she pays it, not unless the seller forwards the funds first. Ebay can not reclaim that money from the seller if op just goes ahead and pays it.

But for the sake of a few quid she's going to get the main birthday present @ZeroFuchsGiven and she'll be able to see whether the postage she paid for the item matches what the seller spent

If it’s much cheaper than anywhere else then you’ve got to think about things being too good to be true usually are too good to be true.
have you checked the seller’s ratings and feedback?

Rating was good, admittedly I didn’t look at feedback. It’s cheaper but not alarmingly so.
The main problem is getting to the mail office when it’s open!

I am an ebay business seller, have been for over 15 years now, If that is what op wants to do that is her call but I would personally never expect any of my buyers to do that. It is terrible service from the seller. Like I say if op pays the seller can simply refuse to refund, ebay can not claim those funds back from the seller.

Op, ask the seller for the refund amount first if you do this.

@cheatingcrackers I think you can pay online and get the item delivered

@GoodChat I’ve always been able to in the past but it’s not offering me that option for some reason

@ZeroFuchsGiven Are you saying it’s easy to get a refund if you claim for non delivery but not if you pick it up and it’s damaged etc?

In that case, I'm with @ZeroFuchsGiven. Unless the seller sorts it themselves just get a full refund.

The seller can log in and pay the extra postage online. Then the parcel can be released to the buyer.

Thanks

Ask them to send you an invoice for it via PayPal (payment for goods and services) that way you have a little more protection

I'd do this