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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To tell her to pay the full amount

71 replies

zippyswife · 06/04/2017 21:21

I normally stay clear of AIBU but really can't tell if I'm in the wrong here. So here goes.

I've just sold something (an item of clothing- not heavy) on eBay. As soon as it sold I received a message from the buyer saying that the postage is too much and I can post it in a large envelope and amend the invoice.

As far as I'm concerned it's not that steep £3.95 and this was on the original listing. So it's not like I haven't been transparent.

So AIBU to tell her to forget about it then if she's unwilling to pay the stated price and just relist it.

I don't sell much on eBay for fear that it's more trouble than it's worth!

OP posts:
bananarama75 · 06/04/2017 22:16

I wonder if your buyer would ask this of a big online retailer? YANBU. If she won't pay it let her ask you to cancel the sale so that you don't get any black marks with ebay.

Original poster
zippyswife · 06/04/2017 22:17

Thanks for tip banana I have 100% positive feedback. I buy quite a bit. This is the first time I've ever come across a problem.

OP posts:
LoopiusMaximus · 06/04/2017 22:21

If she refuses to pay, report to eBay and open a case against her!!

Original poster
zippyswife · 06/04/2017 22:22

What do I gain out of open a case against her? Is it stressful?

OP posts:
Puzzledandpissedoff · 06/04/2017 22:23

Trust me, the buyer will have known exactly what she's doing and has no doubt done the same before ... she'll be trying it on in the hope you'll be so worried about feedback that you'll give in

Given the utterly unbalanced preference which ebay now give to buyers this kind of thing was always going to happen; it's also why so many "small sellers" have stopped using the site, leaving it to the big traders whose volume can soak up the occasional negative (and who, of course, provide ebay with the most income)

Since she'll make you pay no matter what you do, you might as well refuse a reduction, report her and then sell elsewhere in future

SmokedSalmonAndFizz · 06/04/2017 22:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Benedikte2 · 06/04/2017 22:32

Surely buyers look at the P&P costs when deciding whether to buy? It's often the deciding factor when I'm looking to buy

FairytalesAreBullshit · 06/04/2017 22:45

It's like if you sell on other sites, they set the P&P so nothing you can do. In all fairness ok to post by whatever maybe £2, but you've got to pay for the packaging, so enveloped, boxes, brown paper, brown tape, reinforced envelopes. Then you've got travel to the Post Office, then delivery costs. So £4 is reasonable. It is called postage and package, so there's your time on top of everything else, preparing the item to post and getting it there.

In future add a disclaimer onto the advert saying:

Postage and Package covers the costs to wrap the item appropriately to negate damage to the purchased item, plus travel costs to the Post Office and then postage fees. This is none negotiable, unless you arrange your own courier or collect in person.

ForTheSakeOfFuck · 06/04/2017 22:51

Ugh, I had almost exactly this but for multiple items that ended up going to the same buyer. Fucking winning bidder instantly pings me with "I'm sending the amount for both items minus the £5 P&P for one. Combine everything into one parcel please." I immediately replied with an outright refusal and sent her a screenshot from eBay's own P&P page of how much it would be if I combined them into one larger box - £11, so slightly more than double, and insisted that she could either pay each £5 P&P separately as originally priced, or she could pay the £11 combined price, but I wasn't shipping anything till she sent the right amount. She very snottily told me to post them separately and I expected her to leave me shit feedback but in the end she merely abstained.

Anyway, not much use to you, OP, but you can spell out to her clearly in a message what others have said about the price being pre-set and that your P&P involves all the time, materials, and costs involved, not just the stamp.

HarryPottersMagicWand · 06/04/2017 22:51

I'd state no, she knew what it was when she bid. The price of postage is what has put me off selling and buying on ebay, it's soo expensive now. I have posted stuff before where I ended up out of pocket because I didn't charge enough, and that is without covering the actual packaging and my time to the post office.

Twofurrycats · 06/04/2017 22:55

I respond saying the postage is as advertised. Then leave it. If she hasn't paid it should default to an unpaid item case. Most sellers, i think, set buyer requirements so that too many unpaid item strikes means you can't buy from them. And if you send it as a first class letter would it have tracking?

CelticPromise · 06/04/2017 22:57

Well it depends. I bought something recently advertised 2nd class £3.30. I bid because I'm happy with that knowing that a parcel costs £2.85 or whatever. When it arrived it had been posted large letter in a recycled envelope - I think that's cheeky and if I was the seller I would do a partial refund if postage was cheaper than expected. So if it can go large letter, YABU to charge £3.95, but if you have to pay parcel costs YANBU.

HeavenlyEyes · 06/04/2017 22:59

you can't charge for petrol and parking if you are a private seller. Please do send it tracked though - try hermes or collect plus.

SmokedSalmonAndFizz · 06/04/2017 23:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Deadsouls · 06/04/2017 23:03

No YANBU. The postage is clearly stated and buyer knew that when they bid on the item. You were transparent. If they don't want to pay, then relist.

Emily7708 · 06/04/2017 23:07

I post everything using myhermes, only £2.79 for up to 2kg and I can just drop it off at my local supermarket or have it collected from home for slightly more.

LinaBo · 06/04/2017 23:14

YANBU. I sold a few items this week and my postage is £3.90 for 2nd class signed for or £4.40 1st class - because that's what the post office charges me. I would not send anything without using signed for personally, so if the buyer is not willing to pay the stated charges, I'd relist.

HolaWeenie · 06/04/2017 23:14

Yanbu. I always factor the postage cost into the amount I'm willing to pay when I bid for an item.

There are some real nincompoops on eBay.

Notso · 06/04/2017 23:16

I am always careful not to buy from buyers who charge extra for petrol, parking, tape etc. Same as I avoid Facebook sellers who include PayPal fees.

LapdanceShoeshine · 06/04/2017 23:26

DS2 posted a not-very-big thing sold on ebay this week (box about 6" x 3" x 2") & 2nd class signed-for was £3.80.

Dunno what it weighed, was certainly heavier than eg a T shirt, but knowing what PO postage bands are like your buyer is BVU, OP Smile

LapdanceShoeshine · 06/04/2017 23:27

sorry, £3.90 (as LinaBo said) - I bought some stamps at the same time & total was £7.80

MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig · 06/04/2017 23:29

I buy and sell a lot of stuff on Facebook pages of specialist groups I belong to and everybody allows charges for PayPal.

owenjonesismyhero · 06/04/2017 23:34

Seller beware - she might take the hump and deny she ever received it now so send recorded!!!

HeavenlyEyes · 06/04/2017 23:40

selling on FB pages - taking paypal for collected items? I hope not. Leaving yourself wide open to be scammed.

19lottie82 · 06/04/2017 23:40

I think what the buyer is trying to say is that a small parcel is usually £3.95 (second class recorded), but if the package is under 25mm then its less than half that, so how you package it could make the difference is that possible with your item?

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