Seller totally overcharged me on postage - would you leave a negative feedback?

[VoodooKitten]

I bought 4 items of children's clothes from the same seller - she charged me £9 for combined postage.

The items arrived this morning, they smell of ciggie smoke and the postage actually cost her £4.

The smell is no big deal, I would wash the clothes anyway, but I'm pissed off about being overcharged for postage.

Would you leave a neg feedback for this?

Wow a fiver is a bit steep to be making on postage. I would contact and ask for a refund before leaving a neg.

You agreed to pay that postage when you bid. Plus it doesn't just cover the actual postage charge. I would drop her a line but wouldn't leave negative feedback.

That does seeom too much. Maybe ask her if she meant to charge you too much, and if you dont get anywhere report her to ebay for fee avoidance.

I would email the seller and ask for a partial refund for the extortionate postage and the eBay fee avoidance which is not permitted. I would also mention the smoke as that is grim I reckon.

Feedback would then depend on the seller's reply to be honest. If you are going to leave 4 neg feedback leave them a week apart - more impact then all on the same day apparently

I had this recently. Asked for partial refund - she agreed to but never did. Then left me positive negative feedback. I had that removed and left her negative cue abusive messages from her admitting she charges extra for profit.

So she was reported for feedback, fee avoidance and abusive messages.

Surely you looked at the Postage Charges before you bid?

Sometimes it's impossible to tell what charges will be. I didn't know she would send item 2nd class large letter i thought it would be a parcel.

Charging over 4 times the actual cost us out of order and dishonest if done on purpose.

It really bloody annoys me when people bump up the postage to make more money - they should charge for the actual cost postage and packaging instead of adding a few more quid as compensation for having to drag their arse to the post office or charging the buyer for the petrol money to get there.

You do need to factor in the p&p to how much you want to pay. I've been put off bidding on loads of lovely children's clothes because rip off merchants try to claim it'll cost them £3.75 to post a small child's t-shirt 2nd class. As if.

I'm surprised you thought £9 for posting four items of clothing was reasonable to start with really. Definitely send a message pointing out the overcharge before leaving a neg though. Even though they are clearly in the wrong, you need to give them a chance to sort it out first.

If the seller charges more than they advertised, then of course you have a valid claim.

But an ad says "postage - first class £5" (or something)

And if the seller is advertising a discount for multiple items (they don't have to and not all do) the ad also says "additional items 50p each" (or something)

I don't see what you mean about not knowing what the P&P charge would be when you bid.

You can't know the weight of an item and how much it will actually cost from just looking at the auction. Makes me really angry when people say 'you knew when you bid'. The op trusted the seller to not be greedy and charge a fair price for the service provided, not make over 100% profit on postage, which is against the rules anyway. If she had known the postage of £9 was double what it would actually cost I am sure she would have shopped elsewhere.

Op did you email the seller - did you get any response?

Up to a point. As the buyer you need to look at the P&P quoted in the ad, and say to yourself "That item is worth £10 to me, so I'll bid up to (£10 minus the quoted P&P)

you could not know how much it would e if the seller has just put something like "will combine postage"

you don't know until you know how many items you have won what the postage will be.

i would contact the seller first and say that you are disappointed. go on her reaction... if she is nice and offers some money back then take it and leave a positive feedback
if she is very rude then leave negative and mention the smoke and the over-charging.

i don't think it's unfair to let other people know that a sellers items stink of smoke tbh and i def woul mention that in the feedback even if you leave positive,.

i never ever buy from anyone unless they tell me they're a smoke-free house now

i think that is very expensive. i dont sell much but did give person who bought 3 items a discount.

Well I use recycled packaging and charge postage at cost - I wouldn't dream of being so greedy and dishonest to make such a massive mark up. I bet the seller sends a rude reply and talks about cost of petrol and the like. And stinking of smoke is also very grim. It is part of eBay rules that clothes are freshly laundered - I know we all wash stuff before wearing, but that isn't the point is it.

I wouldn't leave negative but would say in the written bit that the postage was OTT.

You paid what was advertised. You have to cause for complaint.

I once bought several items from one seller who said she would combine postage (asked before bidding). She sent the 6 items in two parcels having charged me £12 when total cost was about £7. I asked her about the partial refund and was told she had never said she would combine postage and thar it covered her getting there, packaging etc. Tbh I couldn't be bothered to fight it and just left fewer stars on postage costs as the items themselves were fine but it left a nasty taste in my mouth a bit.

When I ended up overcharging by about a pound (turned out to be large letter rather than parcel) I did partial refund.

i would leave neg feedback
£5 profit is taking piss

I would give neutral I think - if they've combined postage they really should've given more discount. It is quite misleading IMO, to say you'll combine postage and then actually hardly take anything off.

I put on my listings that I will combine postage via refund - ie after I know how much it cost. I have also given a partial refund when I overestimated. Worth it for good feedback IMO.

'You agreed to pay that postage when you bid.'

No, if you've bought several items then to get decent feedback the seller should combine postage - that is stated in ebay advice for sellers.

I would ask for a refund and if she refuses, leave negative feedback - otherwise she is going to keep getting away with this.

Last week I won various items with two sellers and they combined straight away. It is expected of sellers.

Combined postage doesn't always work like that (additional items at XXp) pigletjohn - virtually every time I've bought more than one thing the combined postage is done by invoice after you know you've won, and the seller can basically put what they want. They could take off lots, or only a few pence, you don't know until you've won (and therefore have already committed to buy).

Also, it's not acceptable for sellers to charge for the cost of getting to the post office or fees - I have never and would never do that.

its payment for postagecosts,not pertol bus fares etc
a wee bit error an over calculation, ok
£5 is really just blatant overcharge

The only time I can think of any retailer charging £9 for delivery would be a larger item like furniture.

Sellers are not obliged to combine postage.

And it IS acceptable to make a general postage cost to include getting to the post office and your time.

Yes, £5 is a blatant overcharge. But unless someone is selling something for 99p and stating postage at £10 to skip out on ebay fees, there is nothing you can do. If they stated at the time that the postage was £100 and you paid it (assuming that they are not flouting rules), then you bid knowing all the facts.