posted on May 2, 2001 10:20:00 AM
I bought a VHS video tape that I wanted very much, from a new seller, and I just got it and I'm happy with the deal. I got it pretty cheap with buy it now. He's going to get very good feedback.
He advertised shipping of 1.95 Media (or some low price Media rate shipping) and I asked him beforehand if I could pay 3.50 for Priority instead, explaining he could get a free Priority box from the PO, etc.
He comes back with: he would agree with letting me upgrade to 3.50 First Class shipping. I figured OK, at least I would get it faster than Media rate.
But when I got the tape today, I saw that he sent it in a slightly larger box than necessary and paid 5.15 Priority. He probably took it to the Post Office and discovered it would cost him 5.10 First Class, then decided to pay the extra nickel for Priority. I've made the same mistake before.
How nice would you be? Would you send him the $1.65 or not?
Maybe my grammar will sound slightly less atrocious since I edited.
[ edited by loosecannon on May 2, 2001 01:05 PM ]
posted on May 2, 2001 10:40:16 AM
I sell primarily videos and I ship priority. I used to be able to get the video boxes by the case at the local PO. Now I can only get them if I order them via web site or mail or 800#. The only boxes they carry at my local PO are the small and large shirt boxes. I needed a #7 (12x12x9) the other day and got lucky finding one at my downtown main PO. #7 weighs approx. 12 oz. empty. I think the small shirt box weighs about 8 oz. empty.
My point being, the seller might have shipped in the smallest box available to him but it still should not have cost more than 3.95 priority for one video in either of these boxes. It must have been packed with a lot of heavy packing material.
posted on May 2, 2001 11:09:06 AM
I've done it twice before, coincidentally for two sets of six videos from two different sellers in the same week. Each package came to more than 3 pounds, I believe because of how well the sellers packed because the videos alone were just under 3 pounds. Each seller had quoted me the 2 pound price for Priority Mail. Neither Seller raised the issue with me or asked for more $$. When I saw the postage paid and the extra care they had gone to to protect the tapes, I sent each the extra money.
However, in your case, I can't imagine ONE videotape weighing in at over 3 pounds. If it was due to the Seller using a very heavy box instead of something smaller, I'd have to carefully consider whether this should be his problem or mine. He quoted the price, not you. He would have had to find a box to ship it in if sending it via Media Mail as the post office doesn't provide boxes for that, so that point is moot.
Did he include insurance, or delivery confirmation? If so, did you ask for those or did he decide on his own to obtain them? Actually, that doesn't really add up, so that's probably not the case.
I would ask myself WHY the postage was that high. If it was due to some big goof on the part of the Seller, perhaps this is one of those learning experiences we all have to go through and you should leave it be. If it was an honest mistake in calculating the weight of the package (rather than adding weight by using the wrong box or packing too much), then I'd send him the difference.
edited for spelling. Don't tell my English students!
posted on May 2, 2001 12:02:38 PM
I've sent money to the seller when shipping ended up being more than expected. Course, it is so much easier when I can just 'beam' them the money.
posted on May 2, 2001 01:35:35 PM
Until I purchased scales, I often underestimated shipping when, due to the slightly larger size of the books after packaging, the box ended up being larger than I thought I'd need.
Never did any of my buyers offer to pay the difference, not even if it amounted to several dollars.
Not once.
I have, on the other hand, rebated money several time if I overestimated by a couple of dollars.
posted on May 2, 2001 01:54:27 PM
I purchased an item from a "new" seller. I had already purchased several similiar items and the shipping had been around $10 (no handling fees either). This seller had posted S/H $5.00.
In her EOA she again stated S/H $5.00. I went ahead and sent $10.
I received an email from her (she had not yet received my payment) stating that she had just found out from the PO it was going to cost her close to $10 to mail the item. She didn't ask for more--it was just a "I didn't realize" kind of statement. I replied back, that I thought she had underestimated so I had gone ahead and sent $10. She was very greatful and gave me one of the nicest FB comments I have ever been left.
I think what you are doing is one of the nicest things I've heard here. I've eaten many a postage mistake as a seller & wouldn't dream of asking a customer for more & would probably faint if someone actually volunteered to pay me for the additional amount.
You might also include a "hint" about packing this type of item so it doesn't weigh too much (give the newbie a helping hand).
posted on May 2, 2001 02:16:46 PM
TWO WEEKS AGO I WENT TO THE POST OFFICE W/ A PACKAGE TO GET THE COST OF SHIPPING TO AUSTRALIA--THEY GAVE ME BOTH SURFACE { 11.65 } AND AIR { 25.90 }--THEN I E-MAILED MY BUYER AND HE CHOSE SURFACE.
SO THEN I BROUGHT THE PACKAGE BACK TO THE POST OFFICE YESTERDAY TO SHIP AND THEY TELL ME IT'S 24.70 TO SHIP SURFACE AND SORRY SOMEONE MUST HAVE NOT ZEROED OUT THE SCALE W/ MY 1ST QUOTE. SO NOW I'M OUT $14 ON THIS BECAUSE I DO NOT PLAN ON E-MAILING MY BUYER AND SAYING ER-UH THE POST OFFICE MADE A MISTAKE, COULD YOU E-MAIL ME MORE $. HAS THIS EVER HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE?
posted on May 2, 2001 02:23:33 PM
It's happen to all of us atleast once. The best thing you can do is buy a scale & weigh your own packages, then use the USPS website to determine your shipping costs.
posted on May 2, 2001 03:25:18 PM
The vast majority of time, sellers overcharge rather than undercharge for shipping. I'm not making a global statement here, but I've bought several hundred items from ebay, and although often the seller is right on, often they are not. Although "professional" sellers may know exactly what the charge will be, have a scale at home, etc. ebay is still mainly populated by the smaller individual, who simply makes a guess. I have been charged $5 to ship a pamphlet that I knew could be sent well protected for less than $2, but paid it, because it was spelled out in the TOS. For the same reason, I would NOT send extra money in the rare circumstance where the seller underestimated the expense. Give me your estimate in the TOS, and that's what I'll pay. I always bid with the shipping charge FIGURED INTO THE BID, so am not about to poney up extra money.
posted on May 2, 2001 04:01:51 PM
I recently purchased an item for $3.50 the seller said shipping was $3.50. A few days later I got the item and it was exactly as described. I couldn't help but notice $7.50 in postage on the box. I emailed the buyer an extra $3.00 to pay her for the shipping, she didn't ask for it and she was very appreciative that I did.
Why did I do that? Because I'd like to be treated the same way in similar conditions.
