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Original poster

Seller charged double what they paid for postage - where do I go from here?

36 replies

picklesauce · 03/12/2013 18:13

Hello,

I'm not that good at eBay so any help would be appreciated!

I bought some items from someone on eBay and asked them to combine shipping as I wanted more than one of their things. I won both auctions for £0.99 each

postage originally was £3.50 per item so I assumed it would be combined for both - I was then charged on the invoice £5 postage after id won, which I paid because I presumed they would be aware of what it would cost to send much more than I was as I didn't have the items to see...

I have just received the item and it cost £2.60 for them to send - I know it seems petty but the principle of it is just a bit of a piss take proportionally?

They also somehow have made it 'free p&p' on the feedback form when on the invoice it states £5.00 so I can't even leave negative feedback about the cost of postage which has annoyed me in itself because it makes it seem a bit calculated/cheeky.

I always refund the difference (bar 20p packaging costs) if I have charged too much postage when I send out, and would just pay it and get on with it had I chosen to bid on an item with the p&p stated even if I knew it was too high, it's more the way it's been done.

Is there anything I can do?

Apart from get a grip etc. I am hormonal and pregnant so perhaps being a bit ott here!

Thanks in advance!

OP posts:
Original poster
picklesauce · 03/12/2013 18:15

Also for reference I wouldn't have paid the 2 x £3.50 postage for 99p items - hence asking to combine.

OP posts:
LilRedWG · 03/12/2013 18:18

I'm afraid you've just got to suck it up. The P&P stands for packaging and postage, so envelope/packaging and time taken.

Original poster
picklesauce · 03/12/2013 18:23

Ok thank you!

Its just irked me I couldn't even leave positive feedback with low star for p&p costs - should I just leave positive feedback with all the others as full 5 stars as it is as described etc? I'm really being petty aren't i haha

OP posts:
namechange74 · 03/12/2013 18:26

What are the items that you paid £0.99 for? I imagine on balance they are probably worth more than £0.99 and that you got a reasonable deal?
Also agree with lilRed by the time they've parcelled the items up properly and driven/walked to the post office etc...

CockBollocks · 03/12/2013 18:31

I wouldn't have paid until the postage was agreed with the seller. You cannot just assume that they will combine the post for you.

Original poster
picklesauce · 03/12/2013 18:33

It was just in a little plastic postage bag and I had heard you weren't meant to charge for time / petrol etc. I am perhaps taking it too literally and being too cautious when I send items out!

As I said before, had it been stated as £5 before I bid I wouldn't even question it as that's my choice to bid but because i had checked it was combined i assumed it would be perhaps more of a fair indication of what it would cost, that is my fault for not asking a price I suppose prior to bidding and making assumptions!

You're right though, I did get a good deal and on balance it worked out well, although I suppose that they won't sell for much is the risk you take when putting items on eBay!

Thanks all the same - I am a grump lately clearly!

Smile
OP posts:
Original poster
picklesauce · 03/12/2013 18:37

I did check they would combine but I didn't agree a price which I should have done I suppose looking back! Just assumed they would have priced it more accurately and didn't think to argue the cost as thought they'd have more of an inkling of cost than me as I didn't have the items to hand/didn't know how they would be packaged - happy to suck it up and know to check in future!

OP posts:
Original poster
picklesauce · 03/12/2013 18:38

Sorry didn't make it clear in the op - I checked they would combine prior to bidding Smile

OP posts:
SandyDilbert · 03/12/2013 19:13

when you leave feedback are you saying you can't leave p&p stars as they are greyed out? That means the seller added p&p which they shouldn't have done. I would ask for a refund of the overpayment and if they refuse leave 2 negs, 8 days apart so they count as 2 and not 1.

SandyDilbert · 03/12/2013 19:14

and no you are not being unreasonable and you are right to be cross at being charged nearly double.

Original poster
picklesauce · 03/12/2013 21:39

Thanks sandy, yes they are greyed out - that's what's irritated me the most really! Thanks for the advice it is invaluable!

You live you learn!

OP posts:
BoulevardOfBrokenSleep · 03/12/2013 22:01

Did it say free postage on the listing? Usually you can only grey out those stars if you have free P&P

Original poster
picklesauce · 04/12/2013 03:05

It was originally £3.50 postage on each item but when I bought she sent an invoice through eBay where it is laid out like the following

Item one: 0.99
Item two: 0.99
Subtotal: 1.98

Postage and packaging: 5.00

Total: 6.98

It's an official eBay invoice etc where it's been modified and sent directly via eBay etc it seems

In my purchases section each item says 0.99 then free for p&p so when I go to do feedback the stars aren't an option at all?!

All a bit odd!

OP posts:
HerlockSholmes · 04/12/2013 05:38

i think yabu. they combined potage like you asked, the actual post cost £2.60 but that's not to say what the packaging might have cost. a jiffy bag at my local P.O. costs amything up to a fiver depending on size.

SandyDilbert · 04/12/2013 07:05

but they didn't use a jiffy bag worth a fiver, they used a mailing sack which probably cost 10p at most!

pickle I would ask ebay why you can't leave p&p stars before you do leave feedback, it seems odd that you are unable to. Try live chat maybe?

tory79 · 04/12/2013 07:17

When you combine postage then the postage gets attrIbuted to one item and the other item comes up as free postage so I don't think it's anything sinister.

CloserLook · 04/12/2013 07:25

The P+P was probably added to the invoice under 'seller discounts and charges' rather than postage and the actual postage put down as free. I had to query this from a seller the other day. They sent an combined invoice. The postage was down as free collection in person and the £3 postage added on underneath as a charge. I asked for it to be changed before I paid as there was no way I wanted to end up having to collect even though they obviously meant to post it. I guess if it had stayed as it was I wouldn't have been able to leave stars for postage as it was 'free' with a charge added on?

I wouldn't be overly happy with their combined postage. They did agree to combine so they should have combined properly. Not much you can do except ask for a refund on the excess. Then leave appropriate feedback.

Original poster
picklesauce · 04/12/2013 14:40

Thanks everyone - will try some of the suggestions and see how it goes! I will know for the future though so that's positive and i suppose in reality it was a small amount, it's more the way it was done!

Thank you!

OP posts:
isitsnowingyet · 04/12/2013 14:47

sandydilbert please tell me your id on Ebay as I don't want you as a customer and picklesauce perhaps relax, it doesn't sound like the rip off of the century. Sellers are extremely busy this time of year. I could have a jolly good moan about customers who buy things and then don't pay - so that the items are sitting on the system for 10 days before I get my Ebay fees back before re-listing ARRGGGGhh

alemci · 04/12/2013 14:52

I don't think it is that unreasonable. you have only paid £1.50 extra for postage of both items.

IComeFromALandDownUnder · 04/12/2013 15:02

So glad I don't sell on eBay anymore. The items were 99p each fgs! It is impossible to make any money on it and god forbid you overcharge postage by 10 pence!

IComeFromALandDownUnder · 04/12/2013 15:02

So glad I don't sell on eBay anymore. The items were 99p each fgs! It is impossible to make any money on it and god forbid you overcharge postage by 10 pence!

SandyDilbert · 04/12/2013 15:04

you can get your fees back after 6 days now if you have a non paying bidder, not 10 isitsnowingyet. And I hope I never buy anything from you if you think ripping someone off is acceptable :)

alemci · 04/12/2013 15:19

do ebay now charge 10% on a postage cost, I now charge £3.20 on postage assuming ebay take 32p?

you did get items for 99p. I won't sell anything for that starting price as it is not worthwhile.

SandyDilbert · 04/12/2013 15:26

yes they do - I agree, I never sell at 99p, just not worth it. Start on free listing weekends at a higher price and charge reasonable postage. Everyone is happy then.

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