seller saying postage wrong

carolwat

I have just won an auction on ebay and I did thought the postage was on the low side but though ok maybe they are going to use a courier or something. I have now received an email saying the following:

You have just won my sons golf set on ebay , Only problem is he has totally put the wrong cost of postage to yourself for this item,
He is only 12years old and had no idea how much this would cost to post to you, We are in Scotland and as you are aware this would
cost alot more than £4.95.

Look forward to hearing from you

---

What should I do?

soolin

You can either argue that you want to pay the amount as stated, or call their bluff and be slightly obtuse and just say something along the lines of 'I'm sorry there was a mistake in the listing, if you are now unable to sell me this item please let me know so that I can buy elsewhere'.

They might then decide to accept the amount charged rather than lose the sale completely. If they do decide not to sell then don't forget that you should not accept a mutual agreement with regard to reclaiming fees as there was nothing mutual about this failed transaction.

soolin

Oh and I forgot, you might want to express surprise that they admit to the user being underage as you are 'sure' they realise that ebay require you to be 18.

Rikki

There are people on here that will be better able to advise you. You don't have to answer them straight away. If you won't to wait for advice from here. I have done that before.

but I thought I had. You can use payperdrop an eBay bought courier service that is £5.99.

soolin

Rikki wrote: »

There are people on here that will be better able to advise you. You don't have to answer them straight away. If you won't to wait for advice from here. I have done that before.

but I thought I had. You can use payperdrop an eBay bought courier service that is £5.99.

The seller though might not want to use a courier, although it is always worth asking.

Rikki

soolin wrote: »

The seller though might not want to use a courier, although it is always worth asking.

I was just trying to think of a cheap compromise.

funkyfunkymonkey

Rikki wrote: »

I was just trying to think of a cheap compromise.

PPD state:

Offer applies to UK Mainland only.
Excludes Northern Ireland, Scottish Highlands & Islands,
Channel Islands, other Offshore Islands,
Isle of Wight & Isle of Man.

So that would rule out the seller - they said they were in Scotland.

Also, would a package containing golf clubs be too long for most courier services - they say a maximum length of 1.2m.

FFM

RFW

funkyfunkymonkey wrote: »

PPD state:

Offer applies to UK Mainland only.
Excludes Northern Ireland, Scottish Highlands & Islands,
Channel Islands, other Offshore Islands,
Isle of Wight & Isle of Man.

So that would rule out the seller - they said they were in Scotland.

Also, would a package containing golf clubs be too long for most courier services - they say a maximum length of 1.2m.

FFM

Depends which part of Scotland, its Highlands and Islands only that are restricted. The weight and size would be a factor though. They don't have to send it or sell it (they'd be breaking some rules, and open to negative feedback, but if it will cost them too much they won't really care).

Ask them what their charges would be and take it from there. If they ask too much more, then you have the other options, it does sound like a genuine mistake/error.

benedictadams

carolwat wrote: »

I have just won an auction on ebay and I did thought the postage was on the low side but though ok maybe they are going to use a courier or something. I have now received an email saying the following:

You have just won my sons golf set on ebay , Only problem is he has totally put the wrong cost of postage to yourself for this item,
He is only 12years old and had no idea how much this would cost to post to you, We are in Scotland and as you are aware this would
cost alot more than £4.95.

Look forward to hearing from you

---

What should I do?

Depends what sort of mood you are in:p

As another person has pointed out they have broken the terms and conditions of ebay by allowing a minor to sell on their ebay account (i have not idea how strict ebay are in enforcing this), which you should point out

The 12 year old son might be the same as the "selling for a friend" and is just an excuse for their mistake.

If someone was selling on my account and noticed the low postage i would query it with the friend, relative, in which means that as the parent doesn't notice what their child is doing on ebay which could mean that they were selling stuff they weren't meant to be, which i would also point out to the "parent"

If i was in your position I would go back and say that any increase in postal charges must be agreed between the two parties and as you bid upto the maximum amount you were willing to pay you cannot agree to any increase in postal charges.

You would almost certainly not get a non-paying strike as the seller has tried change the costs after the auction has ended

newbie71_2

You have just won my sons golf set on ebay , Only problem is he has totally put the wrong cost of postage to yourself for this item,
He is only 12years old and had no idea how much this would cost to post to you, We are in Scotland and as you are aware this would
cost alot more than £4.95.

Look forward to hearing from you

grrrrr the message from the seller alone would be enough to get my back up! No apology, no grovelling, no nothing! Just a curt little message which throws the ball back in your court. Personally - and I'm not usually so harsh (!) but this message would make me see red and I'd think tough!

The 'only problem' as they so flippantly put it is their mistake completely so they should foot the bill and learn next time their son wants to sell something that perhaps a bit of parental supervision online wouldn't go amiss! I know full of the milk of human kindness aren't I?!

Let us know what you decide to do and good luck!

soolin

Newbie71 you make a good point.

Whenever I've made a mistake on a listing I've been worried sick and grovel to my buyer and try to make sure I don't penalise them at all for my mistake , I certainly wouldn't send such a curt email expecting the buyer to know what they are supposed to do.

I'd reply with my own curt email.