Postage costs charged higher than actual cost

Betty_Brum

I have recently purchased a CD online (not from eBay) and was charged £3.99 for postage. I did think this was a bit high but thought it may have come recorded delivery etc, and I needed the CD anyway (this was the only place that sold it).

When the CD has arrived, it is in a small envelope and the actual postage is £0.61.

Obviously I have been overcharged for postage and this is another way for the company to make more money. Just wondered whether I had any rights regarding this overcharge?

elsien

The right not to buy it in the first place?
If it's the only place you can get it, it's a sellers market and they can charge what they like. If other places sell it, then look at the overall cost before deciding where to get it from. You must have thought the overall cost was acceptable when you placed the order, so in that respect nothings changed, you've just found the breakdown is different to what you expected.

sheramber

you also have to pay for the envelope and the time for someone to pack it, address the envelope, take it to the post office and queue to buy a stamp.

daytona0

sheramber wrote: »

you also have to pay for the envelope and the time for someone to pack it, address the envelope, take it to the post office and queue to buy a stamp.

Those costs, aside from possibly the envelope, will be covered under the profit margin in selling the item as it is part of the core principle behind the business.

Also, larger sellers may post multiple items at once thus reducing associated costs in posting items. Finally, some smaller businesses may not pay employees to take items down to the post office (one obvious example is when a business owner posts them himself without taking a wage for it)


The biggest issue is whether OP would be entitled to a full refund should something go wrong way down the line, or should he choose to return the item. It is not fair for the seller to profit from a contract cancellation, and if he were to withhold the monies paid in postage (should they have contributed to the companies profit margin) then that would be a bit naughty. That is the only real issue here IMO, the fact that OP got a receipt for considerably less doesn't mean much until he faces problems when exercising high rights to return/cancel contract etc. At this moment in time the OP was quoted a price, and he paid it. That is the contract.

unholyangel

Also to note even large companies do this.

They have a standard charge per order/item - its not necessarily how much your item will actually cost to ship - sometimes its calculated by working out what their average postage costs are per item/order.

But theres nothing actually forcing them to sell at cost price (unless ebay guidelines forbid it - to avoid sellers selling items at 1p and charging £40 postage maybe).

The only way it would be against the law would be if they were charging you for 1st class recorded delivery but provided a lesser service.