Am I being unreasonable with this buyer? advice/ opinions greatly appreciated!

[BarbieLovesKen]

Hi all,

(me again!). In one of my listing recently I sold a catimini white dress for a 8 year old. I stupidly listed all my items, thinking I was clever with no reserve at all. I had stated in the description (didnt type out, just under the postage option when listing) that I would post to Ireland, the UK and France only.

A guy from Korea bid at the last minute and won my item for 0.01cent (no other bidders). Had this been a winner from any of the above countries I would have, of course, had no problem posting etc.. as the low price was irrelevant and the risk you take with ebay (also own stupidity - this happened with loads of my items!! learned my lesson!!).

Im really annoyed. He didnt contact be before and enquire about postage or anything and won regardless. I would have been so much happier if it hadnt have sold (which it wouldnt have had he not bid!!) and I could have relisted at a more sensible price.

I also stung myself with postage (own fault again) for loads, out of pocket actually, to the UK etc.. which is fine but this could have made me even more annoyed with this poor guy.

He is new to ebay and has no feedback.

He won last Sunday, I sent an invoice in a rage with ?35 for postage - explaining to him that I had stated I would only post to certain countries, his not included and since he bidded despite this and won regardless I would have to over charge on postage for the complete inconvenience (and fact that I couldnt just relist to a buyer from where I was willing to send!!)was this really terrible of me??? I feel really bad and anxious and upset. I dont want to be nasty or unfair.

Anyway, no payment received, today I sent a really friendly email apologising for bothering him, stating that he may have forgot he won this and if he could please forward payment at his earliest convenience as I was anxious to post it to him so he didnt have to wait too long.

Ive just got an email back saying he will pay no problem but could I check the invoice as he thinks I've made a mistake that it must be 3.50 not 35.00

Im not feeling really upset and worried Im going to get bad feedback (new to ebay, used to buy on DH's account but wanted to built up my own rep), I have a tendancy to be irrational at times - please tell me if Im just being horrible to him??

Im livid. Am I over reacting?

I'm not sure I'm reading this right, sorry. Did he bid despite the fact that you said you wouldn't post to countries outwith the UK, France and Ireland? If that was the case you were within your rights to email him and tell him you couldn't let him have the item.

That's by the by now (if I've read correctly) - you've invoiced him for E35, and now he's querying it, which is probably justified. How much would it cost to send the item to Korea?

FWIW, I feel your pain - I recently sold a pair of riding boots for a tiny amount, because I didn't set a reserve. I think you have to chalk this one up to (bitter) experience, frustrating though it may be

Just email him back and say 'no mistake, that is the price I am charge to post to korea, although I do not usually send to Korea'.

When this has happened to me, I have emailed the person back saying that I am afraid I will have to cancel the purchase as I only post to Europe. And if they have paid immediately, I refund them the money at the same time. Not ever had any problems so far with that.

As long as it is clear you only post to the countries specified, then its no problem to do that.

Oh thank you both so much, I feel so much better, was ridiculously worrying about this (I am having anxiety problems at the minute though - not just a complete drama queen!!)

Maisie - yep your definately reading it right (sorry, know very rambling post).

I feel awful charging him that amount and would just rather relist now if Im honest. I didnt know that I was well within my rights to do so and feel better. Now im just worried he wont understand, being so "new" and leave me negative feedback.

Thanks a million

Oh and maisie - sorry to hear about your boots!! I really feel your pain - tis a hard lesson to learn!!!

It is indeed!!

Another lesson I learned the (very) hard way was always to send things recorded delivery.

How much is it actually going to cost you to send it to him? 35.00 seems a bit steep tbh.

Its completely unreasonable! I know that myself, I think I did it out of pure annoyance that his bid potentially made me loose out on selling to someone else.

I dont have a clue how much it will cost, the anpost.ie website is rubbish - I had calculated stuff last week to the UK that said 2.50 which ended up costing me 8.00 (then 1.00 for packaging) but I know its going to cost. Its just if he hadnt bid it could have saved the hassle of all this.

If you are only selling clothes it is worthwhile buying some of those blue plastic bags from ebay to use as packaging.

They are very light and often kids t-shirts can go as a large letter stamp. Much cheaper than wrapping in bubble wrap and brown paper or padded envelopes.

Oh I didnt know about that!!! have been using padded envelopes. Thanks for that

I saw your other thread and can't remember if I replied or not! I only start listing at 99p if I am willing to let them go at that price, and always set postage for £1-£2 over what I expect to pay at the post office. You have to remember paypal and ebay take a cut of your profits so you will make a loss quite easily, ebay charge at the end of the month so you might get stung again!

Agree with Captain about not using padded envelopes. I don't even bother with buying special bags. I get lots of brochures through the post - I just keep the clear plastic bags, recycle them to wrap the clothes in, pop into an envelope, or if too big wrap it in brown Kraft paper like a present.

Looks nice and tidy.

Agree with others you are entitled to decline to sell.

I had a recent experience of a Romanian buyer bidding on my UK only items. I queried her location and reminded her my postage was only quoted for UK.. She ignored me and just paid the UK postage - Romanian address. I asked her for a UK address and then she finally said, oh, can you quote me postage to Romania. Cheeky cow. Still thinking what feedback to leave her ...

oh no CaptainKirksNipples!!!!!! end of month? great! aaarrrghh am so stupid!.

Blueshoes, that is reeeeeeeallly hard faced. God, some people are unreal. In fairness, in this case, I really think as a new ebayer this guy has made an honest mistake.

I have another buyer that has really fecked me off too. God, is it worth it??

Barbie, as an occasional seller, I do think selling on eBay is a labour of love. Far more effort than it is worth.

But occasionally you have the high value item to sell and you earn it all back. That is why I keep my eBay selling skills up-to-date by selling small value items (mostly children's clothes) from time to time and take the aggro that comes with it.

A month ago, I sold my dcs' beloved wooden push bike on eBay for £82 . Went to a good home too.