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If you buy or sell items on eBay, you will find tips and advice on this forum.

Seller refusing to combine postage.

33 replies

numlet · 07/08/2014 09:55

I won two auction items, very light items (console games) from the same seller. I've requested total twice via ebay and I've received no reply. I then sent a message to ask, but that has also been ignored.

Postage is almost £6.00. It wouldn't cost half that to post one of the items, and I'm now receiving ebay reminders to pay.

Is there anything I can do or will I just have to stump up?

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numlet · 07/08/2014 09:57

I know they haven't actually refused verbally. But their activity would suggest they are around and ignoring (just over four days since auction close)

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doradoo · 07/08/2014 10:08

I had a similar thing - the seller never responded to my requests so I ended up paying the two lots - then it was posted as one parcel so I paid way over the odds - all I could do was leave low stars on postage.

Floralnomad · 07/08/2014 10:16

You have to pay because you bid on the items knowing what the p&p was , although I agree that its bad form on the part of the seller so leave crap feedback for them . I always check before bidding whether people will combine p&p and if I don't get a response I don't bid. ( I buy stamps for DH so very light!)

numlet · 07/08/2014 10:27

Thank you both
I know the sums involved seem small. I suppose, as an occasional seller myself, I don't think it's fair to make profit on postage (two nintendo ds games, which are tiny). I honestly thought they would combine postage. I've never known a seller (in over 10 years) who hasn't done this.

Yes, looks like I'll have to pay. I'll give them the rest of the day (and overnight) to respond to my message then I'll pay by the morning at the latest. Then will see how they post the items, and if together, and how much it cost them. Then will make necessary complaints and leave neg feedback (more about being ignored than trying to profit on postage)

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MostWicked · 07/08/2014 11:22

I hate it when sellers do that. I know they are not obliged to combine P&P, but I think they should unless it specifically says on their listing that they don't.
I would pay in full and leave appropriate feedback.

numlet · 07/08/2014 13:00

I've just received a game I bought from another (unrelated) seller. It cost £1.17 to post one game first class and that's with the case included!

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SistersOfPercy · 07/08/2014 17:13

TBH I'd pay and wait and see how they arrive. If they arrive together, i.e. combined, I'd be asking for a refund in some of my postage, however, if he posts them separately, which is what you have paid for I'd move on.

In future though it's always best to ask about combining postage before bidding.

butterflybuttons · 07/08/2014 17:43

no don't pay - what if they don't return the difference?

You can leave a neg for each item 8 days apart though

butterflybuttons · 07/08/2014 17:46

or pay the item price and tell the seller you will send your own courier. How heavy is the parcel? You could get it delivered for £2.98 with Hermes if under 1kg.

And the utter nonsense that you knew the amount when you bid doesn't wash with me - sorry. This is pure greed on behalf of the seller. P&P is just that, not profit, petrol, fees or anything else.

SocksRock · 07/08/2014 17:53

I don't c

SistersOfPercy · 07/08/2014 18:17

Please DO pay. You won the item. If you don't pay you will face a strike and under the new defects rules thats damaging.

They aren't obliged to return the difference. OP bid and won knowing the price of the P+P. By all means argue over it when the items have arrived but they are under no obligation to refund anything sadly.

butterflybuttons · 07/08/2014 18:42

ok - if the seller refuses to combine then pay for each item separately - and tell the seller that as you have paid this way she must send each item in a separate parcel as per eBay rules.

Tastemysad · 07/08/2014 18:50

Did you get the games really cheaply though? I find it slightly annoying when people pay next to nothing for an item then get cross about the postage. I sell occasionally - because it's not worth it anymore but buy loads. I just pay whatever postage is set; I take that into account when bidding. Sometimes it's the only way the seller makes any kind of profit and therefore a slight incentive for them to keep putting up nice items at bargain prices.

However if you paid a fair price for the games then yes, excessive postage isn't right.

Sorry bit convoluted but hope you see what I mean!

millymae · 07/08/2014 20:08

I think your seller is just being greedy but I suppose you can take some comfort from the fact that he/she will be paying more fees on £6.00 than on whatever it actually costs to send.

numlet · 07/08/2014 21:12

Still no reply from the seller!
Oh yes, I'm definitely going to pay, and see how they're going to post them. I won't expect them to refund the difference, though. But to be honest to ignore two 'request total' ebay created messages and one personal message is nothing short of rude.
Yes, I saw the postage costs before bidding, but, as I said earlier, nobody has ever not combined postage, even if they've been cheeky and only knocked off a tiny amount at least it's been something.

I bought the items for, what seems to be, the going rate. But even if I bought them for 10 pence or some other nominal amount, then that's the chance you take with auctions, you shouldn't try to make up the shortfall with the postage. At least that's how I see it.

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RainbowB7 · 07/08/2014 21:15

I think yabu.

Postage is always a bit higher than what it actually costs and like it or not the sellers need to make their money somewhere. You knew the postage costs when you bid so it shouldn't come as a surprise to you.

numlet · 07/08/2014 21:26

Well, like I said, I shall wait and see how they're posting them. When I sell I don't make a profit on postage, not a penny (I buy postage via Paypal) and I have partially refunded when eager buyers have paid without requesting, or waiting for, a combined invoice, as it's the right thing to do I think.

I've never known a seller not combine postage, even if it's pence. That has been a surprise to me. And they certainly shouldn't be ignoring me. That's just rude

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butterflybuttons · 07/08/2014 21:29

make sure you pay for each one separately - 2 lots of paypal fees then. And remind seller they have to send in 2 packages.

numlet · 07/08/2014 21:36

I'll do that, butterfly Grin

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numlet · 07/08/2014 22:24

Seller has just sent a 'combined' invoice in response to the 'request total' they haven't reduced postage by so much as one penny! I'm feeling paranoid they're on this thread now, but how unlikely would that be. I shall be leaving them negative feedback, I think, more because they've been so rude.

Sorry, this is not the most exciting of topics or updates Grin

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numlet · 07/08/2014 22:25

Oh, and to top it all off, they're sending them second class too Shock

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numlet · 07/08/2014 22:28

So I've just paid but wasn't able to pay separately as they sent a combined invoice.

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butterflybuttons · 07/08/2014 22:57

did you tell them to send in 2 packages? If you want both negs to count leave them 8 days apart, or they will only count as 1

numlet · 07/08/2014 22:57

Eek! After making payment seller is now saying they're not going to send the items if I decide to make a complaint to ebay, and that I should have asked before the auction ended, not after, if I wanted combined postage.

I've told them they have to send or cancel the transaction now that I've paid! Dear oh dear.

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butterflybuttons · 07/08/2014 22:58

well they need to refund you - and you can refuse a cancellation if you want, and you can still leave 2 neg feedbacks too.