posted on January 10, 2001 04:53:35 PM
Ok, I have stopped banging my head against my desk...
I just won an auction that states "Buyer pays actual shipping cost" for a video. So, I thought that was clear enough. Actual shipping cost to me is postage cost+cost of packaging.
So, I was quite surprised to get hit for £2.90 to have a video sent to me... Let's see... one on my shelf, in a large case weighs about 12oz, or about 300g. To be generous, I estimate 500g (1 lb?) including packaging. This costs all of £2.21 for first class, with recorded delivery. So what is the
extra 70p (or more?) for?
I email, and query the postage, and the seller says it is the cost of "postage, packing and labour".
So, just how are we as buyers supposed to know the cost of our seller's labour??? or that that we have to pay the seller to pack the thing up AS WELL AS pay for the item? I know.. I know.. ASK before you bid. I don't think I can be bothered anymore!
ARRRRGH!
I have asked for a weight of the video, so that we can agree a price for sending it. I don't mind paying a bit over the odds for packaging, etc... but to just about double the postage cost??? I was considering bidding on some other stuff from this seller, but not now!
posted on January 10, 2001 04:56:48 PM
In my opinion they changed the rules midstream on that sale! If they say on their auction "actual shipping" that would imply (atleast in the auctions that I use that phrase in & the ones I have bid on) that they mean they will ONLY charge you what it actually costs to ship the package.
posted on January 10, 2001 04:56:54 PM
The seller should have listed that as fixed shipping since there was a "labour" charge included, IMHO.
The last time I bought an item that was listed with "actual shipping" I paid actual shipping... plus a $1.80 handling fee! At least they listed the handling charge separately, although it wasn't noted in the listing. But I got a good price on the widget because the title was misspelled and they used a crappy picture so I didn't complain.
posted on January 10, 2001 05:00:54 PM
I agree, actual shipping to me means what's on the postage stamp. I always have s/h/i in all my listings. I would never think to ask a seller what he means by that.
