Combined Postage

rerd

Hi

I am always willing to combine postage and often do, however last Thursday someone won a number of items from me and paid for them all within a couple of minutes of the end of the auction.

That person has now emailed to ask for a postage refund, for what they call excessive postage, with a hint that I should do so before they leave feedback.

I probably should have posted them separately and then wouldn't have had this problem, but didn't think about it at the time.

Thanks for any advice.

Ruth

RFW

You've got two choices, refund the difference (or what you feel is an adequate amount) or don't.
The only opinions that really count are your's and the buyer's. The buyer can leave low DSRs and negative feedback if they like, would you have a problem with that?

alx2010

if they paid via paypal just send them a refund with a little message along the lines that you are sorry about the additional postage - they had paid before you could adjust the invoice.

soolin

Did they pay in one transaction, then it is easy to just refund the excess postage.

If they paid seperately then it is another matter as you have incurred more paypal fees than if one payment had been made. However, as you sent all the items together I think it would be unreasonable not to make a goodwill gesture to the buyer.

rerd

I'm sure I will refund, it's the implied threat about feedback and the complaint about postage that I just find annoying, when all they had to do was either wait or ask before paying.

soolin

rerd wrote: »

I'm sure I will refund, it's the implied threat about feedback and the complaint about postage that I just find annoying, when all they had to do was either wait or ask before paying.

They were probably surprised you didn't do it automatically.

rerd

soolin wrote: »

They were probably surprised you didn't do it automatically.

I would have done so, but for the fact that the person had paid within 2 minutes of the end of the auction and I had around 60 or so that ended within a short time.

mobile48

Did you send 2nd class?

Maybe just a day or two delay is the real reason behind buyers request though impossible to know.

terra_ferma

rerd wrote: »

I would have done so, but for the fact that the person had paid within 2 minutes of the end of the auction and I had around 60 or so that ended within a short time.

I'm afraid they will think that's not their problem.
If 60 auctions is too much for you to handle you perhaps could space them out a bit more.

I will have to side with the buyer this time, they should not have to ask. They are not entitled to it, but a buyer would expect to be rewarded for multiple purchases rather than punished.
Sometimes even a few pence are enough, if they have paid separately and the difference is minimal, but at least the will know you have been honest.

rerd

terra_ferma wrote: »

I'm afraid they will think that's not their problem.
If 60 auctions is too much for you to handle you perhaps could space them out a bit more.

I will have to side with the buyer this time, they should not have to ask. They are not entitled to it, but a buyer would expect to be rewarded for multiple purchases rather than punished.
Sometimes even a few pence are enough, if they have paid separately and the difference is minimal, but at least the will know you have been honest.

Well I originally asked this to solicit opinions on what the thoughts were on people asking for postage refunds with the implied threat of Ebay feedback, but wasn't expecting my honesty to be called into question.

The buyer wasn't punished for purchasing multiple items, they got multiple items, 5 other people who bought multiple items that day all had postage combined, three of them asked and 2 I did as payment had not been received.

As you say they are not entitled to it and I was always taught it was polite to ask, rather than expect

60 auctions isn't too much they were all dealt with and posted the day after the auction completed, however it would have been practially impossible for me to have invoiced the ammended amount given the less than 2 minutes between the end and the payment being received.

soolin

It is possible though to refund part of a payment received if someone pays in full without waiting for a combined invoice.