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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Ebay seller asking for more money to despatch item. Is this usual?

31 replies

MadMumx1 · 19/12/2018 18:04

Bought an item specifically with a delivered by date so I will get it on or before Monday. There was an extra postage charge.

Got an email from seller earlier saying if I wanted guaranteed delivery by the date on the listing, I would have to pay the same amount for postage again! She said she was in the post office and needed the extra immediately which I should pay as a 'gift'.

I refused and am now concerned I may not get the item.

I'm aware the postal service is slower at this time of year but why would the item be listed with a date to receive it before if it couldn't be guaranteed?

Is this normal?

Seller sent me a very sarky email saying I shouldn't quibble as she was doing me a favour to make sure I got it in time.

OP posts:
AnchorDownDeepBreath · 19/12/2018 18:05

Unless you're going to drip feed that you live in Timbuctoo; no.

BadgerWithSprouts · 19/12/2018 18:05

No. This isn’t normal. If you need the parcel wait til it arrives, then let ebay know what she is doing

Original poster
MadMumx1 · 19/12/2018 18:06

No, about 30 miles from seller!

OP posts:
abbsisspartacus · 19/12/2018 18:07

Talk to eBay this is against there guidelines

Fatasfook · 19/12/2018 18:09

She’s at it. Report her to eBay

Lettermethis · 19/12/2018 18:32

God no! You should report it to Ebay. Sounds like a scam:

You buy item, they say they need extra postage and ask you to gift it via Paypal (as impossible to get a refund).
They never send the item. After a week or two you'll get a full refund as it never turned up, but they keep the 'gifted' money.

Was it a popular electrical item like a phone or camera? How much extra did they want?

WilburforceRaven · 19/12/2018 18:35

I wouldn't hesitate to report her to Ebay. She's breaking the rules.

Holidayshopping · 19/12/2018 18:39

Report to EBay.

Has she sold something for much less than she wanted for it and is trying to get you to cancel the sale?

Donnasaurus · 19/12/2018 18:44

What was it and what has she charged? I bet she's charged you for second class postage and the cut of was yesterday so she's trying to get the extra from you to upgrade to first class

brighteyeowl17 · 19/12/2018 18:45

Scammer! Wants to pocket the cash. Report to eBay and get a refund if possible.

OhNoes · 19/12/2018 18:46

Ebay sets the estimated delivery dates according what Royal Mail says they should be, which we all know isn't always the case. If you wanted a guaranteed date, especially at this time of year you would need to pay for Special Delivery. She probably thought she was doing you a favour to ask.

DaysOfCurlySpencer · 19/12/2018 18:46

It depends on whether she is a new seller or not, and has good feedback for selling.

If her feedback has been consistently good it is possible that she has just found that the deadline for 2nd class mail was yesterday and is worried about it not arriving on time. First class is tomorrow. She may intend to send it by Special Delivery to ensure arrival on time.

If her feedback is bad, yes it may be a scam. You really need to check before you jump into reporting or anything like that because she might also be stressed with Christmas and panicking that it won't arrive in time.

People are very quick to attack sellers and sometimes they can't win either way. Send for the original price and get flamed if it is late, ask for extra because the PO staff say it won't arrive and she has no money to send it, still get flamed. She might need the money to pay the postage and is worried about her Ebay account which you are probably going to trash anyway.

IHopeThisIsAGoodIdea · 19/12/2018 18:49

I've been an avid eBayer for almost 18 years and that is not on. Contact eBay's terrible customer service.

Original poster
MadMumx1 · 19/12/2018 18:56

Oh no Letter! It's a used Wii U that I wanted just so DS could use it to play a game that he's wanted for years. When the game came out, we already had Xboxes and PlayStations so I refused to buy another console but you could only play the game on a Wii U (Kirby and the Magic Paintbrush).

I've been at a total loss at what to get him this year and he couldn't think of anything to put on his Christmas list but he said to me yesterday, remember that game you never got me, I really only want that! He's bee having a bad time at school so I really wanted to surprise him.

Spent all this morning trawling for a Wii U and the game that could be delivered in time. I'm not going to get it now am I.

Console price was comparable to others on there. The postage was £10. She said she needed another £18!

Game was a different seller so I'll probably get that but he won't be able to play it.

Just started to get into the Christmas spirit thinking about seeing his face when he opened it Sad.

Fuck.

OP posts:
Torsz · 19/12/2018 19:01

Can you go collect it and save on postage entirely?

Holidayshopping · 19/12/2018 19:01

What is the seller’s feedback like?

lifecouldbeadream · 19/12/2018 19:11

Ask seller for emailed proof of postage/ tracking. You should then know it’s been sent. If not, Then get on local Facebook selling group and ask about Wii U- guarantee someone will want to get rid. Or try CEX?

WinterfellWench · 19/12/2018 19:12

Not cool. Report to ebay.

grandmistressflashette · 19/12/2018 19:16

So has it now been sent by the cheaper service? Have you seen proof of postage? If she sent it, it might well still turn up before Christmas, but I know the uncertainty isn't great. If she didn't post it I'd go and collect in person if at all possible.

It might well be a scam, but for a heavy-ish item (not sure how bulky a Wii U is) Royal Mail Special Delivery would be pricey and it would of course be fair for the seller to ask you to cover it. I'd have wanted her to refund the original transaction and resend an invoice with the updated postage details, which I think is easy enough to do.

Walkerbean16 · 19/12/2018 19:22

If you are in or near York you can have mine Xmas Grin never gets used anymore since DS discovered fortnite Xmas Envy

staffiegirl · 19/12/2018 19:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PeonyRose80 · 19/12/2018 19:30

£80 free postage here for Fri?
rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F123551502207

grandmistressflashette · 19/12/2018 19:39

It looks like Royal Mail Special Delivery for a package weighing >2kg would cost £26.60, if I've done that correctly. Again, no idea how much a Wii U weighs, but it is expensive to send heavy items Special Delivery.

Original poster
MadMumx1 · 19/12/2018 19:50

Thank you so much Walker but we are too far South Flowers.

Thanks. I looked at that one Peony but seller confirmed it has no controllers with it. Back to looking for some that can delivered in time.

Ebay said it may turn up. Have to leave it til Friday. Don't really want to end up with two defunct consoles!

OP posts:
RangerLady · 19/12/2018 19:52

Try Facebook marketplace we sold a Wii on there and there were quite few locally too