Postage costs double what was quoted?

confusedinsuburbia

I bought a coat from a seller, paid immediately, informed they had dispatched it & received positive feedback from them.

I received it today, and noticed that the postage was double what I'd paid (I paid £4.50 - they paid £8)

If the postage was quoted as that high, then I probably wouldn't have bid, and the postage cost more than I paid altogether.

I don't know what the etiquette is in cases like this?

nonnatus

The seller hasn't contacted you I take it?

So leave glowing feedback and move on. The poor seller will have sucked up the increased cost and blamed themselves for getting it wrong, which is a refreshing attitude these days!! Mostly we hear about sellers who immediately contact buyers and threaten all sorts to get the extra amount paid back to them.

Your seller sounds lovely

ballisticbrian

Either they 1. Screwed up and have learnt a lesson and moved on.
2. Knew they were selling at a loss but wanted to recycle the coat and get it back into use.
3. If it was an auction, they hoped it would bid up, but took the risks of losses along with wins on other items.
4. They calculated it correct but then was stupid enough to be "sold up" in the PO to a service they didn't need.

theonlywayisup

confusedinsuburbia wrote: »

I bought a coat from a seller, paid immediately, informed they had dispatched it & received positive feedback from them.

I received it today, and noticed that the postage was double what I'd paid (I paid £4.50 - they paid £8)

If the postage was quoted as that high, then I probably wouldn't have bid, and the postage cost more than I paid altogether.

I don't know what the etiquette is in cases like this?

The postage you paid is the relevant postage to you.

You paid £4.50.

It is immaterial what the ACTUAL postage was unless you want a refund or to pay more?

What etiquette specifically are you referring to?

Flyonthewall

Similar thing recently happened to me. I bought something and the seller would have only made 15p after postage, which isn't even enough to cover their fees.

As nonnatus, the seller will have taken the extra cost and it makes a change for them not to have gone after the buyer for the rest.

Sometimes sellers don't get postage costs quite right, sometimes the PO persuades people to go for a higher service than needed and sometimes sellers just don't realise they've actually lost out.

A good seller will accept the cost and not go after the buyer. Either way, if you have the item at the price you wanted, it's all as described and the seller hasn't said anything then leave positive feedback and forget about it.

Rhymsta

Give them glowing feedback, as already suggested, AND 5 stars for all areas!

cattie

Others here have mentioned how refreshing to find a seller that hasn't tried to get extra out of the buyer.

Well I find it very refreshing indeed to come across such a thoughtful buyer that realises the seller is out of pocket due to postage costs & wonders if there is any etiquette, by which they no doubt mean reimbursing seller part or all of the cost.:T

As a seller who has recently had a handful of occasions where I have under estimated postage costs & just had to absorb the extra charge, generally meaning I actually 'paid' somebody to buy my item :rotfl:, I applaud such thoughtfulness. :A You have made my day, you lovely person.

caroline78

I just posted a mag to France. Quoted the buyer £3.50 but it cost me £4.95. Only sold the mag for 99p so really lost out there, but it was my own fault. I did weigh it but it must have been just on the brink of the next level up and my scales obviously aren't that accurate....lol

earthstorm

I once bid on a SATA cable that was coming from Hong Kong. it was at 1p with 5 hrs to go. these cables are always handy to keep in, so i made a bid of £1. I eventually won this at 5p, so paid and never expected this cable as what would it have cost from HK, but i just lost 5p. I forgot all about this but 5 weeks later i was shocked when this cable arrived..

also most online retailers take postage hits. an example is BHS they charge £3.95 regardless of what you order

Jen_Jen1985

I've won items from Hong Kong for 15p and 20p, money went straight to paypal but the seller still sent the items, I left glowing feedback.

Also had it where I charged £5 postage on an item to Australia, actually cost me £10, never thought to ask the buyer for more and sent the item anyway.

mrcol1000

The question is, if you brought something and then the seller said they had under-estimated the postage cost would you be happy if they asked you to pay more before they would send it?

I think most people would say no.