ebay seller wanting more money for post

Flyonthewall

cattie wrote: »

I've been caught out on 2 or 3 occasions when the post office has decided something I've sent out costs more than I'd worked out, especially now it has all of these new sizings etc. that can be open to interpretation, depending on who is serving at the p.o. It has grated a bit, especially if the item went for a low price.

Usually I've messaged buyer to say item was on it's way & that post cost more than I'd estimated, stating that I'm not asking them to pay extra, it being my mistake & added that it's a mistake I'll try to avoid in future.

I'll admit I've always hoped that the buyer will offer to pay extra if they are very pleased with the item. One buyer offered to pay half of the extra, one happily sent me the whole of the extra & one didn't even acknowledge my message.

If I felt a private seller ended up paying quite a bit more for an item I was happy with, I would be very happy to send them the extra, as I know it's an easy mistake to make & for all I know, that person could be on a very tight budget indeed. I find it difficult to have the attitude of tough luck mate.

Fair enough to message saying it's on the way but why bother telling the buyer it costs more if you're not expecting extra? Why would the buyer care, it makes no difference to them.

If I received that message I'd think you were trying to hint at me paying extra and/or making out you did something really good that should get you glowing feedback just because you paid the extra postage you should have paid as it was your mistake.

I'd consider myself a good buyer but I wouldn't offer to pay you more postage because of that and if anything that message would slightly annoy me for the reason I just stated. You did what you should and paid the extra, next time you'll be sure postage is right. I don't see that that deserves anything more.

Sure people make mistakes but the options are there for people to measure, weigh and check prices beforehand so it should be a one off mistake that they learn from.

If they're on that tight of a budget they really should be more careful to list correctly.

Poppie68

It's the sellers loss, they should of done their homework better. Not only did your seller downgrade to 2nd class after finding out the price of 1st class but then and the cheek to ask you for another £2. Remember to leave appropriate feedback and tick the stars accordingly.
A few months ago i puchased something small from Ebay and recieved a message from the seller the day after i recieved the item..she was letting me know she had refunded me £2.60 as she had miscaluculated the postage and was really sorry she had charged me too much, not a newbie either just a very nice seller... to be honest i never check what someone has paid, if someone has made a few pennies from the postage i don't mind as i had already agreed the price when i pressed that blue button.

iammumtoone

cattie wrote: »

that person could be on a very tight budget indeed.

I am also on a very tight budget I do however appreciate that the seller has been truthful they could have easily not sent it and claimed it 'got lost in the post!" I hate it when sellers do that, yes some items do genuinely go missing but I suspect ebay deliveries have more than your average 'lost parcel' rate.

[Deleted User]

soolin wrote: »

Personally I think the seller has a cheek for asking, but I suppose nothing ventured nothing gained.

I wouldn't be paying more though.

^^^

What soolin says.

Sounds like an ebayer who is still wet behind the ears, and doesn't realise what effect such actions could have on their feedback.

Oh well, they could always start again with a new ID.

PDC

Its happened to me a few times as a seller, I've just sent the item at my loss, was my mistake after all. Does seem a bit of a cheek for a seller to ask for more when they've stated a price previously.

Though as said at least they sent the item so it depends on yourself and what you are happy with.

trollopscarletwoman

MisterBaxter wrote: »

In my opinion they have stated a price and you have paid it, they should have weighed the item and checked on the Royal Mail website before listing the item. It's not your fault they got it wrong and would your decision to buy have been different if the total cost including P&P been higher.

When selling if I found that I had understimated the postage cost then I would just take the additional cost. My mistake.

On the other side of it to ask for a postage reduction after winning an auction is a cheek in my opinion. You know the cost because its listed-or should be.

I suppose during the auction you could politely query the postage cost if you think its excessive.

OscarCharlie

I have often undercharged on postage in the past but I would never ask a buyer for more money, I feel it is very cheeky. I have also overcharged in the past and if it is a lot I refund the difference back to the buyer. Although this is my past, now I have a decent pair of scales and weigh and measure everything.

DominoW

I've been in both situations as a seller, I've both underestimated and overestimated.

The one I overestimated I had set to donate a certain % of the sale to charity, I messaged the buyer to ask if they wanted the extra postage back or if they'd like me to donate it to the charity the listing was helping. They told me to donate it to the charity, Positive feedback for both of us, both happy, and a little extra money for the charity, even if it was only a few quid.

The one where I underestimated didn't bother me too much, the sale had went for more than I thought it would (digital camera), I'd agreed to post it first class, got to post office, it was going to be about a pound more than I thought, but when I asked it was also only slightly more for special delivery, so I upgraded the postage, took the slight hit on my sale price, but got great feedback.

If a seller underestimates the postage, then they should take responsibility for it, as you say, you may not have bidded if the postage was higher, the postage costs have a huge impact on whether someone bids, especially on sites like ebay.

theonlywayisup

OscarCharlie wrote: »

I have often undercharged on postage

You shouldn't be doing it any more than once, there really is no excuse for postage errors.

skitler

theonlywayisup wrote: »

there really is no excuse for postage errors.

I bet you don't work for the post office then.:rotfl: