petty but annoyed! What should I do?

[NicMac]

Okay, I think I am hormonal as this has made me corss. I won a bra on eBay yesterday. Admitedly it is slightly padded but not very heavy I imagine. I live in france so I asked the seller to quote me the postage to France she wanted 5 pounds which is excessive. I know it would not cost more than 1.50 plus packaging. I think 3 pounds would have been reasonable. Anyway, I requested it be sent to my parents UK address for me to pick up when I next over - Postage to the UK being 1.50. However, now she has opened a dispute to have the item closed by mutual consent. What would you do? I am not even bothered about the sodding bra but cross because I feel she was trying to rip me off with the postage.

See, I must be annoyed - I meant cross!

I don't know if this is what you want to hear but, I have sold things in the past, the buyer seems friendly and then asks if it can be sent somewhere other than the registered address, I did in good faith, and then the shit hit the fan, I have always stated in any auctions since that I will only post to the registered address with eBay.

From what you've said you don't sound like a 'scammer' to me, but she may well just think she is covering her own back by withdrawing it?

If I were you, I'd send an email explaining what you have just said here, then if she still want's to withdraw let her, if not, then it's all fine.

HTH

Was uk postage quoted as £1.50?
I would have thought under the ebay terms and conditions she should have to post to a uk address for the price quoted.
If not she is a non performing seller and you could open a dispute with her.

The only problem for her might be if you were to pay by paypal as the postal address wouldn't be your address and might cause a problem if you were to open a item not received dispute.

Thanks for this advice it hadn't occured to me at all about the address as I have had lots sent to my parents and then just picked them up. Yes, the postage was quoted at 1.50

Actually, £1.50 would barely cover the postage on some bras. I was shocked myself when I sold one last year, had totally underestimated the cost. Its not the weight, its the awkward shape of them that sometimes they have to be classed as a package because they wont fit through the sizer.

I dont know about postage to france, but £1.50 would be very low indeed.

Am thinking also if your address in France is your registered ebay address then you should have checked on postage to France before you won the item..I dont think seller is in the wrong, probably just being cautious, after all she doesn't know you

Any bra could be packaged so it could be posted as a large letter. It would have to be enormous to have to go as a packet!

UK postage I am referring to.

Bluefox - I am only a 32B - which I did have enormous boobies! Scruffyteddy, you are right, I just have not had a problem before so was a bit peeved. What happens if you send things to another address as a gift? I have done this loads of times.

Nicmac - similar here - my bras could probably be posted at minimum rate!

Nicmac - similar here - my bras could probably be posted at minimum rate!

seller will only have protection if she sends to the paypal address. Also she may be sending it signed for (or whatever the airmail equivalent is) so the price she quoted will be about right.
tbh I'd do as she has done and open a dispute for mutual withdrawal. Questions should be asked prior to bidding not after. And changing mind about where you want it posted would be more trouble than its worth for a seller.

No it wasn't signed for- it doesn't exist internationally. The postage is way over the odds as my mum sends me loads of things and it is about a third more than the UK rate. TBH she could have at least emailed me to say she wanted to withdraw. I will close the dispute and learn my lesson to check postage beforehand

a seller only has paypal protection if there is proof of delivery is recorded or special delivery but many private sellers do not realise this.

Nicmac - signed for does exist internationally - it is called International Recorded.

Yes, but they don't actually get you to sign once it reaches France - I know as MIL work works for La Poste - the French post office. It is meaningless to send recorded to France at least as there is no trace once it hits these shores. It might be different to other countries. You have to send courier to have a trace from the UK to destination.

from royal mail
International Signed For? costs just £3.50 plus the Airmail or Surface Mail postage price. The exact price will depend on where the item is going (the geographic postal zone) and the type of mail item you?re sending (letters, small packets or printed papers).

so it looks like at a fiver she would be out of pocket

She wrote back and said that she had double checked and postage would be 3.15 in total. This seems much fairer so all sorted in the end. Thanks for all your advice

I charge a minimum of £6 for international postage (more if the item is heavy) as I always send things International Signed For. I also include the cost of a Jiffybag in my postage charges, especially as a lot of the items I sell only go for about £1 - if I didn;t charge for packing I would be selling at a loss.