Overcharged for p&p, can i get refund?

terra_ferma

People here don't like to hear buyers moan, but if you don't hear them here you will hear them in your feedback.
Let's not turn this forum into a sellers thread and make buyers feel unwelcome, what they have to say is useful to some of us who want to listen.
And, I will say again, MSE is a consumers forum after all, not a sellers' board.

macfly

This OP has got a valid complaint. What they expect a forum to solve, I don't know. But it is a blatant overcharge. However, many of these posts are about a quid or so. And they always end up lecturing sellers on how to treat customers. Usually by people who don't run businesses.

terra_ferma

macfly wrote: »

This OP has got a valid complaint. What they expect a forum to solve, I don't know. But it is a blatant overcharge. However, many of these posts are about a quid or so. And they always end up lecturing sellers on how to treat customers. Usually by people who don't run businesses.

That's what people do on MSE, it's for consumers to share experiences and ask for advice.
And that's why many companies have representatives here, to keep their finger on the pulse (and good PR as well).

And in a way it's our buyers who run our business, they dictate what we sell, at what price, even at what time we list our items, simply by deciding what and when they buy.

StaffsSW

terra_ferma wrote: »

And in a way it's our buyers who run our business, they dictate what we sell, at what price, even at what time we list our items, simply by deciding what and when they buy.

I do understand your sentiment on this, but I never let the tail wag the dog - I'm running a business, and not a charity after all! If what I want to do doesn't fit with expectation, then I see if I can adapt but if not, I move on to something else.

I used to be one of the cheapest business DVD sellers on ebay, but when I worked out my overall profits and returns for time invested, I was nothing more than a busy fool. Yes, I had 25,000+ satisfied customers, but it made me comparitvely very little money, so what was the point? On an hourly rate, I would have been better off washing windscreens at traffic lights!

Understanding customer wants and needs is one thing, but taking it to the next level means upping the game to creating demand rather than just reacting to it.

WhyIsSavingSoHard

I sell on E-Bay and today sold 2 items to the same buyer and they paid instantly by PayPal before I could issue a new invoice. I made one parcel using a re-cycled jiffy bag so the cost was lower. BUT, before you all shout, once I got home, I refunded some of the P&P the buyer had paid. Win win situation. I got rid of 2 items and the buyer got a partial refund.

One last note, if you buy on there, register and go through Quidco to get cash back.

Pestus

I'm going to light the touch paper here, but this has to be said.

I am both a private buyer and a private seller on e-bay (low volumes), so I am coming at this from both sides, and have no preference to either.

The question I have is why people are moaning about postage costs AFTER they have bid for an item.

Ultimately, when you bid for something, you are entering into a legal contract to buy the item in question at the costs displayed.

All costs are CLEARLY marked in the item profile on e-bay, so you know the costs up front before you bid. As a result, why would you wait until you have won the item/s to start negotiating ?

If know you are bidding for multiple items from the same seller, and you think there is a chance that you might win several of the items - negotiate BEFOREHAND - that is what the 'contact seller' option is for.

If the seller doesn't agree, then walk away. It is not fair on the seller to bid on items knowing what the postage costs are, and then try negotiating afterwards, and if they won't budge, then give them bad feedback - that is actually blackmail, and not fair.

You wouldn't walk into a shop, agree a price on something, and then when they hand you the item and a receipt, say, actually, I know the price was clearly displayed, but I now want a discount...

Just my opinion...

Sparks33

soolin wrote: »

It only takes a few buyers though to leave poor stars and sellers soon drop by the wayside.

That's all very well, but what if Ebay remove your feedback at the request of the seller?
I left negative feedback for a seller (this is the first time i have ever done this, after many years using Ebay) but the seller somehow got it removed. It was fair and honest feedback but Ebay seem more interested in protecting their 'power sellers' than upholding a fair system. I'm left out of pocket because I was sold a faulty and possibly illegal item yet there's nothing i can do about it. Very frustrating :mad:

terra_ferma

Sparks33 wrote: »

That's all very well, but what if Ebay remove your feedback at the request of the seller?
I left negative feedback for a seller (this is the first time i have ever done this, after many years using Ebay) but the seller somehow got it removed. It was fair and honest feedback but Ebay seem more interested in protecting their 'power sellers' than upholding a fair system. I'm left out of pocket because I was sold a faulty and possibly illegal item yet there's nothing i can do about it. Very frustrating :mad:

Couldn't you return it? Normally ebay/paypal will find in the buyer's favour if item is returned, so there is something that could be done through ebay dispute system.

I don't believe they would delete your starts as well (unless someone else who knows more has different information?), and they can hurt a seller much more than any neg fb.

Sparks33

After going through the dispute system, I did eventually get a refund for the item but not for the cost of sending it back to them. As far as I'm aware, 'the sale of goods act '79' states that the seller is responsible for the postage costs if an item is returned as faulty or not fit for purpose.
Unfortunately, Ebay (maybe because they're an American company?) do not enforce the Uk rules.
Consumer Direct agree, but tell me my only course of action is through the small claims court. I'm not sure I have the time or energy to pursue it.
Ebay are at fault for allowing UK sellers to operate in this way.

pinkshoes

Pestus wrote: »

The question I have is why people are moaning about postage costs AFTER they have bid for an item.

Because it's ANNOYING.

I rarely sell, so have NO IDEA how much things cost to post, thus am relying totally on the honesty of the seller to accurately price their postage.

When something arrives in a bin liner with the address cellotaped on, and cost £3 to post, yet I was charged £10, then I find that rather irritating!

(If they'd sent it in a box, and it was heavy enough to genuinely cost near the £10 mark to post, then fair enough!).

It's all about getting good value for money, and overcharging so excessively on postage will no doubt get your poor star ratings. If that doesn't bother you as a seller, then so be it! Postage should not be about profit.