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eBay

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

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Original poster

What feedback would you give for this?

23 replies

lotsofcheese · 18/04/2015 18:03

I bought a pair of boots at auction, paid around Â£30 with postage being quoted as Â£5.50.

When the boots arrived, the packaging had the postage cost stamped on as Â£2.80

I emailed the seller & politely pointed out the discrepancy, asking if they would consider refunding the difference.

I got a reply, stating that she "does not give refunds, postage costs were estimated at time of selling &by entering the
bidding

Iprocess I had agreed to that; also that sellers generally over-charged on postage costs to cover packaging etc.

OP posts:

Poolbirthx2 · 18/04/2015 18:08

I agree with the seller, you knew the cost of postage before bidding, and also ebay now take 10% of postage cost and seller would have had to buy packaging and cost of petrol to post office etc. I have bid and bought things from ebay even though i have not agreed with the post but wouldn't leave negative feedback as i knew the cost when i bid. If boots are as described i would leave positive feedback.

Excitedforxmas · 18/04/2015 18:08

You knew the price when you bid! But it does seem steep so maybe mark stars down for postage

Original poster

lotsofcheese · 18/04/2015 18:08

Sorry, phone went a bit funny there!

I'm basically not happy with her reply; I do not agree with much of what she has said but I don't want to get into a debate with her & believe it is courtesy & good seller practice to refund excess postage charges. She is a fairly experienced e-Bayer with good feedback.

Should I leave (a) negative or (b) neutral feedback, or (c) positive with low stars for postage & a comment about over-charging on postage?

OP posts:

AJNH · 18/04/2015 18:10

The difference between the amounts sounds a bit steep however you knew the p+p cost before you entered your bid and she has got packaging costs to cover and who knows she may live 5 miles away from a post office so there's petrol costs too.

For the sake of a few quid I'd move on...

EhricLovesTheBhrothers · 18/04/2015 18:10

If the item is good and you are happy with the total price then give positive but mark low for postage on the stars.

EhricLovesTheBhrothers · 18/04/2015 18:11

You can't give a negative for that, it would be really petty.

AJNH · 18/04/2015 18:12

Don't think there's a need for negative feedback.

Original poster

lotsofcheese · 18/04/2015 18:15

Ehric, thanks, that's what I'll do.

I appreciate that sellers factor in packaging costs - these were posted in a recycled Amazon box sellotaped together, so I can't see how that cost anything.

And I do realise eBay takes a cut of the postage costs, but I thought sellers could not factor in petrol etc?

OP posts:

EhricLovesTheBhrothers · 18/04/2015 18:18

Sellers do all sorts - they used to bump up postage costs to save eBay fees but now you pay fees on postage so it's pointless. Buyer factors in postage in the total cost, that's all that really matters. Whether you had paid £2 more for the boots and £2 less for the postage you were still happy with the price.

Original poster

lotsofcheese · 18/04/2015 18:21

I think it was more the snippy tone of her email that got my back up!

I thought I'd been polite & reasonable but hey-ho, not worth getting my knickers in a twist about.

I'll leave positive feedback & mark low stars for postage costs. I can't be arsed emailing her back.

OP posts:

CaptainAnkles · 18/04/2015 18:23

I think it's out of order for sellers to include anything in the p&p that isn't postage and packaging. They've chosen to sell the item, how far away they live from the post office and what they spend on petrol is irrelevant. They should factor that into the starting price instead of the postage. Then you can choose whether to bid from that price instead of being ripped off for costs that aren't your fault. If I sold something and overestimated the postage, I'd refund it.

Greengardenpixie · 19/04/2015 09:22

My question is, how on earth did she manage postage so cheaply for boots!!. RM charge 4.40 for a small parcel. Its a small amount of money. I do think you should move on from it.

ragged · 19/04/2015 09:34

Ebay tells sellers estimated postage value, fills it in for them unless you over-ride. Probably both caught out by that.

Seems to me that OP got what they wanted for price they agreed, with delivery. No reason for complaint.

millymae · 19/04/2015 09:36

At the moment Royal Mail is charging £2.80 for small parcels weighing up to 2Kg - it was an offer they started roundabout Christmas time presumably to compete with Hermes and they have carried on with it.

It only provides you with proof of posting though and if the parcel gets lost in the post insurance is provided up to £20.00

glammanana · 19/04/2015 10:26

I think you will always find people overcharging on postage you just have to be careful with what you buy really and if you really want the item be prepared to pay the cost of stated postage even if it does cost more,when I first started selling I was unsure re costings and used e-bays guide lines which where way out, after a couple of months I got used to the size and weight of items and most of my items now range between £1.90 and £2.80 including shoes and boots,its the way they are packed that helps with the price something I learned from my PostMaster,I would say that the amount OP was charged was OTT and point this out on feedback.

Cherryapple1 · 19/04/2015 15:18

I agree with you OP- the tosh about you knew the price when you bid is totally unfair and unethical. You don't know how much an item weighs or the calibre of the packing. If you want to neg and leave low stars then you can do - it is your opinion and if you want to neg then you can. Them making 100% profit on postage is just pure greed. And her rude reply just adds insult to injury I think.

Cherryapple1 · 19/04/2015 15:19

And no private sellers can't charge for petrol, parking, time etc.

Original poster

lotsofcheese · 19/04/2015 16:29

Yes cherry, it was the rude response more than anything. No apology, or offer to refund the difference. Just a load of illogical snash!

I use eBay a lot & never over-charge for postage. If I overcharged accidentally I would refund. I certainly wouldn't send an obnoxious response to a polite request.

OP posts:

Cherryapple1 · 19/04/2015 18:00

Yep I would refund if I overcharged too - is the right way to behave I think. The response you got speaks volumes about the type of person your seller is I think.

TheDietStartsTomorrow · 19/04/2015 18:12

The way I see it is that the seller charges for "postage and packaging". So that includes the cost of postage, the materials used to pack it and if he/she wants to include a bit more for the time and effort, then as long as it's reasonable, I don't see the issue.

I recently sold a package that I estimated would cost me a tenner in postage costs. When I actually took it to the post office, they quoted me over £12. So I took it back home and asked my DS to look for an alternative online. He finally found a courier that cost £8.58.
I wouldn't have refunded the extra amount if asked just as I would not have asked for the buyer to cough up the extra £2+. I believe it was my (or DS's, to be fair) efforts that saved that amount so I can't see why the buyer should get a refund of the difference.

confusedaboutparenting · 19/04/2015 18:22

for postage and packing i normally charge £3.99 for hermes so it covers that cost, the cost of a 20p bag and ebay postage fees so im not out of pocket. sometimes more if i need more packing material

wobblebobblehat · 23/04/2015 08:08

Posting things has got a lot harder in the last few years as you have to calculate not only the weight but the size of the item (i.e. small, medium, large parcel). I've miscalculated quite a few times when selling and have taken the hit. I now guesstimate and offer free postage now.

If you are happy with the boots let it go. By the time fees are added into the equation the difference is less than £2. If she'd packed it slightly differently the postage would probably have been more. I think you're being a bit silly about it personally.

Dudess · 12/05/2015 15:17

I often overestimate postage so that I don't have to pay more if item won't go into large letter etc... but I always refund some of the postage back if it's around.£1.00 over.....when Ivee been charged too much postage I don't leave a review, rather than leave poor feedback.

"If you can't say 'owt nice, don't say 'owt at all"

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