Postage question

[Mummalish]

What is the story with postage on ebay.

I assume postage covers the actual postage as well as packaging? So is the price quoted for postage valid even if it cost less to actually send?

Just wanting to know as I quoted someone a price for postage and packaging, but it was about £4 cheaper to send. Do I refund that £4?

The buyer left some nasty feedback, which wasn't very nice, as she never complained directly to me. She is threatening to open a case.

Don't want any trouble, so am happy to refund her, but just would like to know the situation with regards to postage prices.

I feel quite angry with her for the nasty feedback. Which was unneccessary.

I n my defense, when I posted the item, I posted so many other items at the same time, so didn't notice individual postage prices.

Just wish she wouldn't have been so nasty about it, considering she got an unbelievable bargain in the things she bought.

Any advice appreciated

I think someone agrees to pay it if they bid. eBay has vague rules regarding packaging & posting expenses which can be added on the actual postal costs but I'm not sure how strict they are

I always refund if I overcharge and people do seem to like that - even if it's 50p. However - given that she has already posted negative feedback I would be disinclined to refund her anything at all unless she agree to revise the feedback.

ebay state that a seller charges a 'reasonable' P&P amount. Reasonable would be stamp price plus a few pence for packing materials. Obviously £4 is not reasonable and a buyer would be right to ask the seller about this. The arguemnt of 'well the buyer knew the cost before they bid" doesn't wash with me as the buyer places their trust in the seller, the seller afterall is the one who knows the size/weight/actual cost etc, the buyer doesn't know until he receives the item.
The buyer should not have left nasty feedback, she should have contacted you first. Buyers should realise that mistakes can be made and should offer the seller a chance to rectify.
The buyer could possibly open a case although I am unsure how succesful she would be. In ebays eyes the only thing I think would bother them is fee avoidance, but whether they would slap your wrist is debatable.
I would probably refund the £4 and reply to the feedback along the lines of. "difference was refunded immediately once I was made aware of this error"

Thanks for your replies.

I have absolutely no problem in refunding the £4, as it's hardly going to break the bank. It's just the unbelievable hostility in which the buyer is presenting. So rude, and not entirely necessary. She must have been having a bad day and wanting a fight with someone.

I would ordinarily not bat an eyelid and just refund her, but somehow feels she needs to realise that the hostility and negative feedback was just ridiculous.

you could...possibly... send a message, apologising and understanding etc etc and say how shocked you were that she didn't contact you prior to leaving the neg. say you are sure this reaction was a mistake and would she care to consider ammending the feedback. or you could send a message telling her what you think of her :)

Weigh your items then use this to work out the correct postage price.