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Original poster

Postage cock up - WWYD?

17 replies

ProfYaffle · 04/03/2008 11:07

I've agreed to send an item to France, quoted £15 postage as per Royal Mail website. Got to PO this morning and it's actually £25! I checked the website again today and it's their error, not mine which is rather annoying.

I've spent the morning trying to find a courier but the cheapest is still about £23.

Is there anything I can do? I'm still new to selling on Ebay and not sure whether I can cancel the transaction, do a refund and a second chance offer or is that not allowed in these circumstances?

Even with the higher postage I'm still making £15 on the transaction but obviously I'd rather be making £25 and even if I do a 2nd chance offer I've still got all the fees etc to consider so I'm half tempted to say feck it and just send it.

wwyd?

OP posts:
Bky · 04/03/2008 11:20

This happened to me at the weekend when I sent something to South Africa, although postage on Royal Mail website was only just over a pound different to what they said in post office so I just paid the difference.

Not sure i'd be as happy paying an extra tenner though.

Original poster
ProfYaffle · 04/03/2008 11:30

It's really annoying. I'm not sure whether I can cancel the transaction either.

OP posts:
bubblagirl · 04/03/2008 11:44

you cannot cancel the transaction as you have quoted a price and they have bought item fair and square

you could e mail them and ask them what they would like to do as postage is in fact £25 and you cannot afford to pay the difference

and they may choose to leave it or pay yopu the difference you cannot sell on a second chance offer as you have to sell with prices already indicated as this is why they were bidding

if they do not want it then cancel transaction and relist with correct postage costs

bubblagirl · 04/03/2008 11:47

i would also explain the mess up on royal mail website incase they think you are trying to pull fast one

i think maybe you should send and let this be a learning curve as its not there fault that postage costs are wrong ive had things sent to me about 10 pound more than they quoted

but if you really dont want to do that then you will have to e mail and see what they want to do about item but just make sure you apologise for the inconvenience

puppydavies · 04/03/2008 11:57

whenever i quote postage i honour that quote, no matter how much the difference. depends what your feedback's worth to you i guess - backing out at this stage would deserve a neutral at very least. if you're still up on the transaction i'd count myself lucky and move on if i were you.

sixlostmonkeys · 04/03/2008 12:10

Did you discuss this with the PO? Did they say why it was so out? Would it be worth trying another PO?

blueshoes · 04/03/2008 13:08

I'd explain the situation to the buyer and see if they will understand and pick up/subsidise the difference. If not, I will take it on the chin and honour the transaction/postage anyway.

If you cancel without their agreement, I think the buyer is justified in leaving negative feedback. From their point of view, they might not have wanted to purchase anyway or bid as high if they knew about the correct postage.

Bramshott · 04/03/2008 13:10

Can you do print your own postage? If so, would that go through at the quoted rate?

Youcannotbeserious · 04/03/2008 13:12

If you agreed postage with the buyer BEFORE they bid, I'd be tempted to just pay the extra cost.

However, if they bid with the understanding that postage was to be sorted afterwards, I'd just e-mail them and ask for the extra cash.

I buy lots off E-bay and stuff from the US can be difficult to price. sometimes I get a refund and sometimes I get another bill!!!

Aimsmum · 04/03/2008 13:13

Message withdrawn

helenhismadwife · 04/03/2008 13:36

depending on what you are sending there is a courier I have used a lot to send stuff to france they charge £19 for up to 30kg and it takes 2-3 days here

Original poster
ProfYaffle · 04/03/2008 14:19

Thanks for all the replies, I had a feeling I probably wouldn't be able to cancel tbh I'd feel bad doing that anyway as it's not the buyer's fault, at least I'm not losing any money on it.

Hey ho, UK only from now on I think - thanks for the link, will check that out now.

OP posts:
Original poster
ProfYaffle · 04/03/2008 14:43

Great link btw - have booked a delivery for tomorrow Thanks.

OP posts:
Pannacotta · 04/03/2008 14:47

helenhismadwife where do you find all this info about couriers from? You are a courier pro!

helenhismadwife · 04/03/2008 15:54

Panacotta I use couriers a lot and so does dh so if i dont know he does, that one and save the trees and senditeasy are ones that I have used a lot and found really good

Pannacotta · 04/03/2008 16:16

hhmw I got in touch with one you suggested (think it was save the trees) and they were v professional (didn't need to use them in the end but have bookmarked them), so thanks for that

helenhismadwife · 04/03/2008 16:44

they are lovely there Nikki is great although I sometimes have problems understanding her accent lol

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