Amending Invoice - Can I?

smcicr

Hi,

Just sold a book to a bidder in Australia. I have sent an invoice with 'International Signed For' airmail postage costs on it and received a mail back from the bidder asking for it to be sent the cheapest way possible via airmail as they are a student.

Now it works out about £3 or so less just to do airmail small packets (and the postage is still twice what the item cost!). I opted for the signed for method to try and cover myself against problems but looking at the small print on the RM site it says items are only tracked till they leave the UK...hmmm

So:

1. If I want to can I send another invoice with the reduced postage without causing the system problems with two invoices floating around?
2. If I send via a not signed for method and get a COP am I just as secure (effectively) against problems?
3. The next highest bidder in the auction was in the uk and only 20p less - I believe I am entitled to stick with the postage charge I have initially requested (it's not overly inflated, it covers postage, envelope and packing material plus about 50p) but is there a way to offer the bidder the option to pull out and then use the second chance offer to sell the item?

Many thanks.

soolin

If the buyer is using paypal then be careful. Surface mail can take weeks and weeks and many buyers will put in a protective chargeback on day 45 in case the item doesn't arrive and you could lose your book and the money.

Protect yourself and don't change the auction terms you are comfortable with.

Soo

masonic

I think peoples experience here is that claims using a COP for international items are painfully slow and difficult, so I don't think you would want to go down that route. Also, your postage costs would not be refunded, so I think you should stick to your original option.

If you stick to your guns and the buyer still doesn't want to proceed, you can open a dispute and close it by mutually agreeing not to proceed with the sale; that way the buyer doesn't get a strike on their account and you are free to make a second chance offer. You might want to ask them to cover your listing costs as part of the bargain.

soolin

masonic wrote:

I you stick to your guns and the buyer still doesn't want to proceed, you can open a dispute and close it by mutually agreeing not to proceed with the sale; that way the buyer doesn't get a strike on their account and you are free to make a second chance offer. You might want to ask them to cover your listing costs as part of the bargain.

masonic, I'm still a bit nervous about mutual NPB claims, all the buyer has to do in this case is refute the claim on the basis that he wants the item (buyer gets a set of 4 or 5 options to tick when asked for his side of the story) if he doesn't tick the right box the seller loses the FVF refund and the claim cannot be reopened.

Soo

smcicr

Well i've gone back to the buyer advising them of my reasons for shipping via that method, noting that it would only save £3 (£13 original postage, winning bid was £4.19! - book is around a kilo packed) to not have it signed for and that i'm not comfortable sending it any other way. I have also offered the mutual withdrawal option and explained that it will not affect either of us negatively (if done properly...) so i'll see what they say. Thanks to all for responses so far.

masonic

soolin wrote:

masonic, I'm still a bit nervous about mutual NPB claims, all the buyer has to do in this case is refute the claim on the basis that he wants the item (buyer gets a set of 4 or 5 options to tick when asked for his side of the story) if he doesn't tick the right box the seller loses the FVF refund and the claim cannot be reopened.

I suppose you have a point there. I imagine where this happens, it must be mainly through confusion - the buyer has nothing to gain by not proceeding as agreed, so to do anything else deliberately would be very malicious. In these situations I think you have to a) establish that the buyer is a reasonable person and b) make sure they know what to do.