Received item - damaged packaging despite very costly postage!

[EagleRay]

I bought something on ebay recently (a fairly delicate item of clothing) and paid a fairly decent price for it. It arrived today wrapped in just brown paper which was torn in 3 different places, with the fabric exposed. Thankfully it wasn't damaged but that was more by luck than anything else.

Thing is, postage charge was £5.65 but it cost the seller just £2.80 to post! I've contacted the seller and sent a photo of the damage to the packaging and she's apologised but that's it. I have also mentioned that I thought the postage charge was very steep given how flimsily it was packaged.

So what now? Reasonable to leave a neg rating? I've never done this before but gobsmacked at the cheek tbh

I imagine she's pretty gobsmacked too, tbh. Irrespective of her adding a couple of quid to the postage-often sellers do, unfortunately, you can't really moan about the packaging being damaged unless what's inside is!

I think you'd be within your rights to leave negative feedback about poor packing and postage charges.

If I was your seller I'd find it hard to disagree with you - sending a parcel just wrapped in brown paper is not the most sensible thing to do and charging £2.85 over and above the postage cost to cover this is excessive.

A lot of sellers do this, and they will say you knew the postage cost when you bid. Ask them for a partial refund, and if not, give them lower stars or poor feedback for packing.

since posting, I've just double checked the listing again and first class post was stated, yet it was sent second class!

I've messaged seller again to ask for an explanation.

I know the costs were stated upfront but I would be mortified to blatantly make a 100% profit on postage. The item as an evening dress so would reasonably have expected it to be packaged with care, not wrapped up in a wee bit of flimsy paper. And when I think about it, virtually every Ebay parcel I've had that's been wrapped in paper only has been torn.

Gah - I'm normally so forgiving of shoddy items, expensive postage etc (and there's been a few!) but for some reason this item today has annoyed me so much

FFS - reply from seller regarding first vs second class postage:

She always posts second class, so if it says first class then that is a mistake on her part.

That's just not bloody good enough is it?

No. ASK for a refund. Escalate to ebay if not.

What should the refund be? The difference between first and second class postage? Or more for the excess postage charge?

I would say she should refund you the difference. Personally if I was your seller (I'm not honestly ) I would refund you all the postage as a goodwill gesture

I would message to say " Thanks for the item which I am satisfied with but I thought I would let you know that I am disappointed with the packing (which was torn and the item exposed) and the cost of postage which was sent 2nd rather than 1st as stated and was £2.85 over the actual postage cost. It is only fair to give you a chance to respond to my concerns. I would feel a fair resolution to this would be a small refund for postage difference. Thanks in advance I look forward to settling this amicably".

This way if you get no response or a poor one you can feel totally justified in leaving fb that reflects poor service - stars of 3 or lower result in defects for a seller. Without seeming to threaten low fb you are giving ample warning to seller to do the right thing. Seller would be silly to be anything other than civil and refund you at least the £2.85. I do not charge for packing or ask for excessive postage and if I had made a mistake like that by accident I would be refunding ALL p&p asap with an apology.

Very bad of seller to make money this way,yes we all know the postage costs when we read the ad but to be overcharged by this amount is not on at all,the seller should refund you the postage as a gesture of good will I think.Am I right in thinking ebay do not get involved with P&P disputes or have the rules changed along with everything else.

Thanks everyone, and thank you Nickstmoritz for the suggested message. I've covered most of these issues with the seller already, apart from explicitly refunding some postage, which I will do now.

I had a look at the seller's other items, and the postage is considerably cheaper in each case - I really don't understand it! Also noticed quite a few items with first class post stated, yet the seller has said they always post second class....

Chancer! Hate people who do this. Don't give up on it, make her pay, it's a hassle but s moral victory.