What to do when you've been grossly overcharge on postage?

soolin

I always think this is a situation for the star system, a positive experience but low marks for the p and p. However , you see enough sellers with negs and neutrals for excessive postage that perhaps buyers feel more strongly than we think about it.

I do wonder though why any seller risks this strategy anymore, the majority of buyers are unhappy at the assumption that they have actually been overcharged and the risk to stars and feedback is very high. I'm not sure what any seller gains, unless they are like the recent poster on here who had been blissfully unaware that they are not saving any eBay fees.

verybigchris

soolin wrote: »

I always think this is a situation for the star system, a positive experience but low marks for the p and p.

I've just tried to do exactly that, after a seller advertised as using RM (and got the "Fast and Free" designation) and then used Hermes instead, but I can't enter P&P stars (because it was "free") and I can't enter despatch stars ("Meeting or exceeding our P&P requirements automatically gives the seller a 5-star rating.").

Doesn't feel right to hit their stars for item description but that seems to be my only option.

glentoran99

verybigchris wrote: »

I've just tried to do exactly that, after a seller advertised as using RM (and got the "Fast and Free" designation) and then used Hermes instead, but I can't enter P&P stars (because it was "free") and I can't enter despatch stars ("Meeting or exceeding our P&P requirements automatically gives the seller a 5-star rating.").

Doesn't feel right to hit their stars for item description but that seems to be my only option.

If it was free postage how were you overcharged for postage? and as the opening poster if you got the item when you were meant to what is the problem?

verybigchris

glentoran99 wrote: »

If it was free postage how were you overcharged for postage? and as the opening poster if you got the item when you were meant to what is the problem?

My problem was that they chose a delivery service that I didn't want. The item was being delivered to my workplace, and in the past Hermes have either failed to find it, or have turned up when we're shut and just lobbed the parcels over the fence.

And although I never actually complained I was "overcharged", if I was happy with a Hermes delivery then I could have bought the exact same item from several other sellers and paid slightly less for it.

soolin

verybigchris wrote: »

I've just tried to do exactly that, after a seller advertised as using RM (and got the "Fast and Free" designation) and then used Hermes instead, but I can't enter P&P stars (because it was "free") and I can't enter despatch stars ("Meeting or exceeding our P&P requirements automatically gives the seller a 5-star rating.").

Doesn't feel right to hit their stars for item description but that seems to be my only option.

As this is a postage charged issue the stars are still available for the OP to use as he feels fit.

mrcol1000

verybigchris wrote: »

My problem was that they chose a delivery service that I didn't want. The item was being delivered to my workplace, and in the past Hermes have either failed to find it, or have turned up when we're shut and just lobbed the parcels over the fence.

And although I never actually complained I was "overcharged", if I was happy with a Hermes delivery then I could have bought the exact same item from several other sellers and paid slightly less for it.

You can still can leave feedback. It is probably likely to be noticed more than low stars. Did you contact the seller about it, there may be a genuine reason for the change?

RHemmings

pinkshoes wrote: »

I would send a polite message to the seller pointing out their postage was a bit steep given it only cost them £2.85.

This is one of those debates where everyone now chants "but you knew the postage was £7 so why complain now blah blah blah...".

Personally I think it is more of a natural gut reaction to feel a bit peeved when a bargain suddenly appears less of a bargain! It puts a bit of a downer on the purchase.

You do have the feedback option though, as there is a star there for P&P...

Quoted for truth!

P&P should be realistic. It's not the end of the world to be overcharged, but it doesn't make it a great purchase.

I'd follow the advice of previous posters to just mention it politely to the seller that the p&p charge was much more than the stamp price, and see what they say. They may refund a bit, they may not. If the don't, I'd certainly mark down the stars for how reasonable the p&p charges are.

PasturesNew

£4 for the company to provide somebody's time to do the wrapping, the cost of the box, cost of the tape to seal it. Time to order/store/get out the box and tape. Cost of a table to do the wrapping at. Cost of the time to get it into the mail.

If employing people, cost of employer's NI, holiday pay, maternity pay, sick pay, recruitment costs.

Building business rates, electricity bill for the lightbulb so they can see what they're wrapping.

Cost of the PC/system and printer to print out a label.

It's endless

It's £4 for a wrapping/posting service ..... it's not £40.

RHemmings

PasturesNew wrote: »

£4 for the company to provide somebody's time to do the wrapping, the cost of the box, cost of the tape to seal it. Time to order/store/get out the box and tape. Cost of a table to do the wrapping at. Cost of the time to get it into the mail.

If employing people, cost of employer's NI, holiday pay, maternity pay, sick pay, recruitment costs.

Building business rates, electricity bill for the lightbulb so they can see what they're wrapping.

Cost of the PC/system and printer to print out a label.

It's endless

It's £4 for a wrapping/posting service ..... it's not £40.

This may work in terms of fiddling accounts to reduce tax bills. But, people who pay p&p charges expect to be paying for the postage and packaging, not the entire costs of a company.

alykatz

PasturesNew wrote: »

£4 for the company to provide somebody's time to do the wrapping, the cost of the box, cost of the tape to seal it. Time to order/store/get out the box and tape. Cost of a table to do the wrapping at. Cost of the time to get it into the mail.

If employing people, cost of employer's NI, holiday pay, maternity pay, sick pay, recruitment costs.

Building business rates, electricity bill for the lightbulb so they can see what they're wrapping.

Cost of the PC/system and printer to print out a label.

It's endless

It's £4 for a wrapping/posting service ..... it's not £40.

Shouldnt these costs for the most part ,already have been built into the asking price?