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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to be annoyed with this buyer?

84 replies

thatfeeling · 17/02/2017 14:17

I was selling an item on ebay. It's worth £160, the item is discontinued and I was selling it for £110. Brand new and with the box. Large item and very heavy. P&P was stated at £10.

The listing came to an end with no bidders. Within the hour I had a message from a guy asking to buy the item as he really wanted it. Also, could I knock some money off? He asked me to relist the item with a Buy Now option with preferably money off my original starting bid.

I explained that I paid £110 for the item so I couldn't go any lower other wise I would be out of pocket and that I was selling it without a profit. I also pointed out that it's a discontinued item with already a substantial amount off the retail price so it was already a really good bargain.

He said fine so I listed it for £110 and he purchased it right away. He then emailed me again asking that seeing as how he'd paid so quickly, would it be possible for me to go to the post office that afternoon and post it.

The item was listed for 2nd class post with 2 day dispatch time. However, as a gesture of good will, I agreed and went straight to the post office.

Now, the postage came up lower than expected, so I opted for 1st class not 2nd class as advertised. It came to £6.

He then emailed me the next morning thanking me for the item and that he was really pleased and it, however, as the postage came to £6, please could I refund him the £4. He said me sending him the £4 via PayPal would be sufficient.

I feel I've already bent backwards for this buyer and abided by his slightly demanding requests as it is. The postage was clearly stated and by purchasing the item he accepted a contract to agree to pay.

To add to insult the ebay fees/paypal have come to almost £20 so I'm actually really out of pocket after the sale

AIBU to feel pissed off at this comeback?

OP posts:

NinonDeLanclos · 17/02/2017 15:29

You're within your rights to keep the money as it was the stated postage.

But personally in those circumstances I refund money via Paypal without being asked. It's good PR. In the end 100% positive feedback is worth £4 because it makes buyers much happier to trust you & they'll bid higher if they think you're reliable.

Niloufes · 17/02/2017 15:29

Pretty silly listing it for a price that would mean you were out of pocket after all the ebay and paypal fees tbh. I wouldn't refund him.

angiekk · 17/02/2017 15:33

SheldonsSpot , why would you only include the costs if you are a business seller? Op would still of had to pay them. Does ebay terms state this?

andaluchia · 17/02/2017 15:34

Some idiot left me a negative once as postage was £2 less than the postage fee. Bearing in mind I had to buy bubble wrap, cello tape, postage box, and drive down to post office.

So, moving forward, I buy packaging first, add the cost to Royal Mail postage fees (available online) then add the sum to my sale price and list as buy it now with free p&p. May take longer but it'll sell some day.

I don't take offers or change postage service It's those that often ask for favours or send offers that become problematic after paying.

SheldonsSpot · 17/02/2017 15:36

angie yes they do.

diddl · 17/02/2017 15:37

So you listed it for what you paid for it & the postage he paid was almost double what you charged him?

I think I can see why he's pissed off.

How is it worth £160-to whom?

Unless you are a business trying to make a profit I would say that ebay is just a way of clawing a bit back from stuff you don't want anymore.

SheldonsSpot · 17/02/2017 15:38

And for future reference OP there is an eBay fees calculator which you can use before listing your item to see what you'll be paying out if/when it sells.

flamingoshoes · 17/02/2017 15:43

Please if you send anything that expensive again make sure you use a postal service that covers the items value. If it hadn't been delivered (also a popular scam on ebay to say it hasn't been received when it has) you have no come back and with just basic first or second class you are able to claim £20 back from the post office while the buyer can get a full refund from ebay by saying the item is not received.

FlyWaxSleepRepeat · 17/02/2017 15:50

You "strive to get an accurate cost" on P&P and do that by looking at an item and guessing how much P&P will be, giving yourself a nearly 100 percent profit on postage.

Haha nice try OP

NinonDeLanclos · 17/02/2017 15:57

Good point flamingo

I use first and second class recorded depending on the value of the item, and also parcel2go couriers where it is cheaper. Those are all tracked.

Original poster

thatfeeling · 17/02/2017 16:20

Nice try? Yea, whatever love.

OP posts:

MunchMunch · 17/02/2017 17:55

Has anyone actually grasped the fact that it's postage and package (p&p)? It cost £6 to post without the cost of packaging

Trollspoopglitter · 17/02/2017 18:11

Yup, we "grasped" it. You buy a lot of £4 envelopes, do you?

restofthetimes · 17/02/2017 18:14

I'd refund him that tbh, just to make it go away.

KitKat1985 · 17/02/2017 18:16

The thing is though Ebay take 10% of the P&P costs too, so OP would only ever have received £9. So after spending £6 on postage, depending on what the packaging is it's perfectly feasible to spend £3-ish on a box / bubble wrap / brown paper etc.

BonnyScotland · 17/02/2017 18:28

tell him to shove his demands ... he agreed to the price and paid it... then end .. the thing about Feedback is that it works both ways .. he damages yours.. you damage HIS x

kaitlinktm · 17/02/2017 18:54

I thought you couldn't leave negative feedback for a buyer as long as they had paid.

BonnyScotland · 17/02/2017 19:03

Oooh maybe you can't I've never sold anything on ebay lol doesn't sound very fair mind x

Olympiathequeen · 17/02/2017 19:11

Always factor in PayPal and eBay fees in your pricing in future. I think eBay take a very dim view of people if they leave poor feedback despite a good service. £10 covers postage as well as packaging g and your trip to the post office. Say you live 5 miles from the post office!

annielouise · 17/02/2017 19:11

Sorry but adding so much on for p&p annoys me. I recently wanted to buy something and the seller said she'd post for £10 normal post. It cost something like £3.65 for a recorded service! I didn't buy with her but phoned another place and asked them if they'd send it using the recorded service, which they agreed to. As the item was worth over £100 I didn't want it going normal post and not for £10 either. I wanted something tracked. Always good to get your p&p accurate as buyers will just think you're trying to skim a bit off the top even if you aren't.

Cherrysoup · 17/02/2017 19:27

You can dispute it if he whinges. Very politely tell him how much the fees were and that you did everything he asked. He agreed to the postage, he can't whinge. How does he know how much it was, anyway? Whenever I send anything, I just get the big 1st or 2nd class sticker, not the exact amount. If I really want something, I'll suck up over priced postage.

monkeyfacegrace · 17/02/2017 19:31

Why the fuck are mumsnet linking every ebay word to eBay? Have they got some new sponsorship or something? It's fucking annoying.

Chloe84 · 17/02/2017 19:38

Don't worry about feedback, it will go back to 100% positive after a few months.

DJBaggySmalls · 17/02/2017 19:44

He said me sending him the £4 via PayPal would be sufficient
That breaks Ebays T&C's. He's a knob, let him leave whatever feedback he likes. No one needs 100% positive feedback.

MunchMunch · 17/02/2017 19:48

Trollspoopglitter What about a roll of bubble wrap and parcel paper or bag or box? That could easily cost £3-£4. Op didn't say it was an envelope unless I missed the post.

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