Buyer wanting refund on postage!

Molly321_2

Hello,

I hope someone can help!

I sold an item and offered 2nd class recorded. I combined postage for the buyer and offered £4 knocking £3 off. The buyer at first didn't even realise it would be recorded as was asking me to reduce the postage.

However the Post office sent the item as standard 2nd Class instead and I didn't realise until the seller contacted me today requesting a refund of postage. The actual cost for posting the items was £2.20. I am willing to refund approx £0.80 as the amount included my time and packaging.

Is this unreasonable according to eBay rules? I'm new to selling and just getting the hang of it.

Thank you.

starrybee

You don't technically have to refund anything at all, but it depends how much you value your feedback.

Personally I would refund more than 80p from a £1.80 overcharge, packaging shouldn't really be costing you that much, and if you start telling buyers they are paying for 'your time' you are likely to get their back up.

techspec

I normally tell people where to go when they ask for a postage refund - but you advertised recorded - and thats what they paid for.

Considering recorded is now 95p, so thats the minimum you shoud return anyway - but i've got a feeling they will expect more.

TBH 50p is about the max over cost i would go (i normally only risk about 15p now).

Crowqueen

However the Post office sent the item as standard 2nd Class instead

Then you should refund the recorded element of it at least.

as the amount included my time

If you are paying yourself a wage that is taxable. So - don't overload the postage with this rubbish, buyers don't like it, and your stars will be trashed.

Your buyers are what keep you afloat - so it makes more sense to tack to what they want rather than what you feel is necessary. You can't afford to annoy people who pay you for something (just like you wouldn't overcharge a client at work or mess about on your boss's time) and the more you augment postage the more you become uncompetitive and lose sales in general.

If it cost 2.20, then refund all but about 2.40 or 2.35.

Goldiegirl

As recorded was advertised but it was sent second class, then definately the 95p for the cost of recorded delivery should be refunded, plus a bit more for goodwill as a mistake was made.

Buyers really don't like being charged what they perceive as excessive postage.

For a 2nd class item costing £2.20, I charge my customers £2.30, with only 10p towards the cost of packaging. My rating for postage & packing as at the end of November is 4.95. So even though I only charge a small additional amount, I've still got buyers who aren't totally happy. If I increased my packing amount my stars would dip, for sure.

macfly

Molly321 wrote: »

Hello,


However the Post office sent the item as standard 2nd Class instead and I didn't realise
.

Did they make you stand outside until they had finished?

macfly

Crowqueen wrote: »

as the amount included my time

If you are paying yourself a wage that is taxable

Do us a favour and stop posting daft stuff like this. The rest of your post is spot on, but that bit is just crackers.

Obviously_the_best

You don't have to refund any of it. The recorded element is none of their business, and doesn't affect their delivery time.

I hate eBay buyers who think they only have to pay for the exact cost of postage. If they got charged £4.99 delivery on any other website they wouldn't demand a refund of the extra pound the company charged.

It's total nonsense, that only ever happens on eBay.

techspec

Obviously_the_best wrote: »

You don't have to refund any of it. The recorded element is none of their business, and doesn't affect their delivery time.

I hate eBay buyers who think they only have to pay for the exact cost of postage. If they got charged £4.99 delivery on any other website they wouldn't demand a refund of the extra pound the company charged.

It's total nonsense, that only ever happens on eBay.

Totally agree - but i would be inclined to refund this one.

But i do think all this buying the cheapest item available, and then demanding even more money back, is just the latest ebay scam - possibly started on forums like this.

This person as just asked me to remove my block on bidding.

http://feedback.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback2&userid=c.m.tomo&ftab=FeedbackLeftForOthers

Yeah right, buys item advertised as 2nd class - too tight to pay for one with first class - then damages sellers feedback.

techspec

macfly wrote: »

Did they make you stand outside until they had finished?

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

rockin_plumber

Obviously_the_best wrote: »

The recorded element is none of their business.......

The recorded element makes up 95p of the postage charge.
Is you offer recorded use recorded.
If you dont use recorded its probably best to refund the 95p.

I know its there for the sellers piece of mind.... and the usual blahblahblah you knew the cost when you bid blahblahblah...