posted on February 11, 2001 01:51:36 PM
I recently bid on an auction that said "Fixed shipping fee of $8.50". Once I received notice from eBay that I was the high bidder, I emailed the seller to double check the total amount due including my shipping address in the email. After receiving the total amount, I paid using PayPal. After my payment was received by the seller, they emailed me back saying they just checked shipping the item to my zip code and found that shipping costs would be $10.50. They requested I pay the additional $2.00 by PayPal. The seller did mention that they could package the item with less packaging material, but then "who knows"? I had purchased insurance for the item but felt the seller was telling me that if I didn't pay the additonal $$, they would not package the item well enough to keep it from getting broken.
As a seller, in the past I had also miscalculated shipping costs. However, not once did I request additional funds from the buyer. I felt this seller should have honored the stated shipping price in the auction's description.
This transaction is complete. The question I'd like to propose to the board is:
As a seller, what do you do in this situation?
Probably not important, but I forgot to mention that I did pay the additonal $2.00.
[ edited by copzsweetheart on Feb 11, 2001 01:53 PM ]
posted on February 11, 2001 01:57:48 PM
As a seller,
Sometimes you have to eat the shipping costs. I gave a guy a quote of $18.15 for shipping because I went to usps.com to get a shipping estimate. I went to the post office and had to pay about $19.50. I did not worry about the extra dollar.
A seller should always pack the item the best that he can. He should not say, "If you don't pay me $2.00, I will not pack it as good."
He should also stick to what he had in his TOS. I know, I had one auction end below my cost with free shipping. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. That is the way ebay is.
posted on February 11, 2001 02:01:05 PM
As a seller I have NEVER gone back to a buyer for more money if I underestimated the shipping (in fact once I underestimated so badly I ate about $7 and lost money on that auction).
I'm not sure what I would have done in your situation. I think it would depend on how badly I wanted the item. If it was something I absolutely had to have, I'd probably pay the extra $2. I would also probably make mention of this "extortion" in my feedback to the seller.
If it was something I could live without I'd ask the seller for a refund. If they refused I would file a complaint with eBay and with Paypal, and do whatever else I could do to get my money back.
posted on February 11, 2001 02:18:57 PM
Unless the TOA say something like, postage will be determined at end of auction OR exact postage paid by high bidder, you are responsible for the postage quoted in the auction, nothing more.
Once, I majorly underestimated the shipping on a heavy item by 7.00 and the item itself only sold for 5.00, so I had the privelege of paying someone $2.00 to take this item.
But, it was my screw-up and I certainly would never go to the bidder and ask for more money, I would not even have the gaul to mention it at all. This is called the cost of doing business.
After the guy received his item and noticed the postage he Paypaled me $7.00, I sent it back, because, like I said, it was my screw up, not his. (This was prior to all of paypal's fees for receiving cash). In exchange for my small loss, I have a return customer.
This guy should eat the difference in postage. My bet is you won't make another purchase from this guy, which is too bad for him, because those who pay for their auction in a timely manner are getting harder to come by.
The seller did mention that they could package the item with less packaging material, but then "who knows"? I had purchased insurance for the item but felt the seller was telling me that if I didn't pay the additonal $$, they would not package the item well enough to keep it from getting broken. What an A-hole!
posted on February 11, 2001 03:06:25 PM
As a seller, if I underestimate the shipping price that I have quoted, then it is my problem and I do not trouble my buyer with it. And, they still get my award-winning packing service. To do otherwise is dishonorable. I wouldn't trust such a person.
As a buyer, one week I received 2 packages that had postage of about $2 in excess of what I paid the sellers. Neither seller asked for more money....both packed beautifully...both gave great follow-up service and glowing positive feedback. I promptly sent both the extra money. I also check their auctions weekly to see if they are selling anything else I can't live without. The trust issue has been settled in my mind.
Moral of the story: if I trust you as a seller, I will buy more.
posted on February 11, 2001 03:10:37 PM
Perhaps you might want to invite the seller here to this thread. Not with the reasoning to post their auction or user name, but just so they can see the other side of things.
posted on February 11, 2001 05:05:34 PM
I will not buy from this seller again. Although I wanted to email them and tell them what I was really thinking and ask for my $$ back, I chose not to. Why? Mostly because I felt that if I requested a refund that I would receive negative feedback from the seller. I was upset that they were making such a big deal about $2 and thought that if I requested a refund, then in turn, I would be making a big deal about $2. I don't have a problem paying the total amount for shipping costs, because as a buyer, it's my responsibility. However, the seller had my zip code prior to sending me the total amount due and should have checked it before I paid, rather than after.
I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one that thinks this sellers actions were inappropriate. Inviting them to the thread is a good idea. However, since I didn't confront them with my opinion of their actions when it occurred, I think it would be unfair to address the issue now.
posted on February 11, 2001 05:13:26 PM
I whole-heartedly agree with the previous responses. If I quote a price for shipping, which I usually do, I would definately eat the extra shipping cost, which does happen occasionally. You can bet that this seller would not refund you $2.00 if shipping happened to be $2.00 less than what they thought it would be.
posted on February 11, 2001 05:36:37 PM
I would never consider charging customer's more than stated! What you should do is give him his $2.00 and receive you item with no more trouble.Then after he leaves you feed back,leave his making it known to his sneaky way of doing buss.
posted on February 11, 2001 05:45:55 PM
What this guy is saying is, send me the $2.00 or the item won't be packaged that well and could break while in transit.
Hostage situation: do this or else.
Unless this guy cares nothing about feedback, I would say the ball is in your court.
posted on February 11, 2001 05:49:47 PM
That is not a good way to do business. It sounds like a way to get more money. I wonder if he does this alot. What does his rating look like?
posted on February 11, 2001 06:33:15 PM
Invite the seller so they can see how other sellers deal with this kind of situation. Who knows, perhaps the seller really believes that asking for more money after the fact is okay.
Not someone I would want to deal with though. You are probably not the first one he has done this to. just a guess
posted on February 12, 2001 10:11:44 AM
If I didn't want to eat the shipping cost, I'd ship something slower. No way would I ever ask the customer for more nor suggest I would be shoddy in packaging. Unless you are feeling generous; tell him to follow through on his stated terms with a cc to Safeharbor.
posted on February 12, 2001 12:21:05 PM
As a seller, I agree with everyone else and would eat the difference.
As a buyer, if I couldn't live without the item, I would pay the two bucks. Otherwise I would politely email him and request my money back. If he leaves you a neg, you can respond to it stating he changed the TOS after the auction. If you don't and he sends it insured without proper packaging and it gets broken you will have a bigger mess on your hands. P.O. won't pay if it was packed poorly, and the chances of getting money back from the seller sound questionable.
