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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

EBAY am i being unreasonable?

20 replies

Mum2OliverJames · 14/11/2008 14:56

Ok i am not sure if i am being silly, please tell me what you think.

when i need to buy several things off ebay i often buy from the same person so i can combine p+p and get things cheaper and it usually works out for both, the seller sells more and i get it cheaper

the other day i bought three things off a guy in hongkong and sent an email to ask him to combine P+P.

the guy said that he doesnt combine P+P because he makes the cost of item low and makes up cost in P+P so he doesnt have to pay ebay fees

this means if anything was to happen also the P+P fee doesnt get refunded!

so surely if he wants to use ebay he should pay the going rate?

should i report him to ebay, he is obviously no complying with the terms and conditions and could well be scamming people!

Am i over reacting

we have agreed to cancel the order so its not as though i would be having to pay for it, but should i forget about it or infrom ebay?

had posted in chat but thought it would be more suitable here

OP posts:
HeinzSight · 14/11/2008 14:58

tis naughty of him IMO

Original poster
Mum2OliverJames · 14/11/2008 14:59

thats what i though, surely if you dont want to pay, then dont use it!!!

do you think i should let ebay know?

OP posts:
hanaflower · 14/11/2008 15:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BigBadMouse · 14/11/2008 15:04

Did his listing say he combines postage for multiple purchases? I'm pretty sure you aren't obliged to under eBay rules. So if you are expecting him to combine postage and his listing does not state he does YABU.

However, his excessive postage charges to make up for his low sale prices are against ebay policy and if you felt the need you could send a copy of his response to ebay.

tbh I have seen loads of items like this - I never bid if I'm not happy with the postage charge and I always ask about combined postage if I want to buy more than one item from a seller and they don't mention it in their listing.

feedthegoat · 14/11/2008 15:04

I agree it's wrong to use p&p to make up cost but I also think you shouldn't presume someone will change postage details/rates without asking first. Whenever i've wanted to do anything like that i've messaged the seller before placing a bid. I'd mark it down to experience and ask first next time.

TrillianA · 14/11/2008 15:05

Not sure which thread I should post to now.

Is he charging more than the going rate for postage? Most people charge more than the cost of the stamp and envelope, and call it charging for their time in going to the post office etc. If he's charging much more than anyone else than you could accuse him of avoiding eBay fees (especially if you have kept the email) but otherwise he's nto really doing anything unusual (except foolishly telling you that he doesn't want to pay so much to eBay).

And of course next time check before you buy if you'll get a reduced P+P for multiple items. They don't have to do it, and if you win an auction you're legally obliged to buy the item so you're lucky this time that he let you back out of the sale.

pop1973 · 14/11/2008 15:06

You are able to report sellers on ebay now, they don't like that idea that people are making up on postage to avoid ebay fees.

Send the email comments about this to ebay and get them to sort out.

Original poster
Mum2OliverJames · 14/11/2008 15:08

argh! i have to go out, please leave your responses and ill loook when i get back in.

TIA

OP posts:
kettlechip · 14/11/2008 15:11

Report him to ebay. Don't use him again. So much of what goes on ebay is dodgy.

I recently reported a seller of fake Uggs who is conning thousands of people into spending a fair amount on replica boots, but they're still trading on there with excellent feedback. Presumably ebay is making enough commission from them that they don't care that buyers are being ripped off. On that basis I wouldn't lose sleep about ebay losing out on a bit of postage commission.

upnorth · 14/11/2008 16:47

It is against ebay policy but alot of chinese sellers do this. Best to just avoid them. You could be caught out by customs as well making it even more expensive because on top of customs charges you pay another delivery charge of £8 to Royal Mail

monkeymonkeymonkey · 14/11/2008 16:56

I would forward the email to ebay and let them deal with it. Lots of people do this, but it leaves you unprotected if you need to get a refund.
I remeber seeing some curtains on ebay that were starting at £1, but postage was over £100 I asked if I could collect them instead, and received an email like yours, saying they were trying to avoid fees. I did report it, but as far as I know ebay did nothing about it.

pingping · 14/11/2008 17:04

You have to watch the ones from Hong kong they usually sell expensive things really cheap and the postage is very high to cover the loss

lemonstartree · 14/11/2008 17:12

I usualy cahrge the cost of the postaeg plus 50-60p for the packaging/sellotape/ brown paper etc. My time is free surely ? and will always combine postage on more than one item. I have a sellers rating of 4.9 for P&P. Personally I avoid like the plague the sellers with items for £2.50 and £10 P&P

YANBU

JerricaBenton · 14/11/2008 17:21

Always ask before you bid! I hate buyers who ask questions afterwards, I tend to block them from bidding on any more of my items.

The seller does not have to combine postage, and in fact shouldnt combine postage if they are sending the items tracked, as this can null a paypal claim.

MadMarg · 14/11/2008 17:48

He has no obligation to combine postage and unless he says he will on his listings, you cannot make him.

He's a bit of a muppet though, admitting that he did it to avoid fees. A lot fo people do it, but dont' admit it.

It is wrong to do it, but then Ebay have got a real racket going, and charge like mad for their service. I can't blame people for trying to make a bit of money that way. Frankly, I don't use ebay anymore to sell things - complete rip off merchants.

lalalonglegs · 14/11/2008 17:58

I always contact seller first to see if they combine and I specifically avoid people with high p&p as I think it is cheeky. So, imo, YABU as you could have checked with him first. Just leave it - he isn't playing strictly by the rules but I don't think there is any real harm being done.

alicet · 14/11/2008 19:53

I think YABU AND YANBU.

YABU becuase yoiu should ask before bidding about stuff like this and if you don't you cannot presume postage can be combined. Sometimes (esp with large items) it is more expensive if a parcel exceeds a specific size than to send individually.

However YANBU because sellers are not allowed to charge more for postage and packing than the actual costs although a small amount for time would not be quibbled with. Send the email where he categorically says he is overcharging postage to eaby.

alicet · 14/11/2008 19:53

I think YABU AND YANBU.

YABU becuase yoiu should ask before bidding about stuff like this and if you don't you cannot presume postage can be combined. Sometimes (esp with large items) it is more expensive if a parcel exceeds a specific size than to send individually.

However YANBU because sellers are not allowed to charge more for postage and packing than the actual costs although a small amount for time would not be quibbled with. Send the email where he categorically says he is overcharging postage to eaby.

twoluvlykids · 14/11/2008 19:57

I never buy from Hong Kong sellers.

Troutpout · 14/11/2008 20:04

yabu...just don't bid

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