Advice please - combined postage

jamtart6

Hi ALL,

My items usually sell for very low prices, and in the rare case after paypal, etc I've actually been out of pocket on a few occasions (my own fault i know).

I've got lots of items on at the moment, which for once will probably go for a really decent price and each one will probably cost £1.60ish to post and my postage is £2.40 with 99p starts. This is to cover packing, petrol etc.

One buyer has place a bid on 7 items...THEN e-mailed to ask if I'll combine postage. I specifically don't offer combined postage because I don't want to, but a few other people interested in these items have asked and I generously said I'd knock 10% off just as a sort of good will gesture (yes Im being sarcastic by saying generously!)

However, the buyer who has already bidded on 7 items, now things my postage costs are unreasonable - which I kind of appreciate they are when they're all going to the same address but until I get to the post office, I have no idea how much they will cost, but I do hazard a guess at £1.60 per item due to shape and weight (poss slightly more).

She says that other sellers offer discounts, and my postage on these items is now unreasonable. I feel like its quite an unfair of her to be moaning about it now that she has bid on these items. I am NOT OTHER e-bay sellers, and I think that if she had wanted lower/combined postage to either ask first and find out my overly generous 10% policy (!) or to use one of these other sellers.

So now I'm stuck! I think I wouldnt be so naffed off if she'd asked before she bidded, but the fact she assumed, and is now attacking my postage costs is really unfair!

So do I back down to the rather irate and over the top e-mail and be bullied into reducing the cost or just stick to my guns and say she should have asked first and stick to the good old 10%??

what do you guys do about combined postage ?


I would appreciate constructive comments and feedback (rather than a personal attack!!) as I really dont know what to do, and am usually quite reasonable about these things !

thanks in advance! :T

frivolous_fay

I personally don't give a % as it's not that clear cut for me. It really is as crude for me as bundling the multiple items together, weighing, working out postage, adding a bit for packaging, and giving them a rounded price.

If you wanted to be tough about it - cancel her bids and block her. The reduced bids might not be appreciateed, but you can certainly save yourself some hassle later! I'd give the reason as something like 'Prefer to sell to someone who doesn't whine about postage before they've even won'

But then I'm like that

You don't HAVE to give a discount - and you don't have to be bullied into discounting. Look at it this way - the people who asked nicely were offered a 10% discount. All she's done it get your back up... and she hasn't even won!

shelly

Why on earth bid on 7 items then moan about p+p costs?
I'd politely mail her back and say that you don't offer combined postage and if other sellers do offer this then she should cancel her bids and buy from them. Also she might like to bear in mind for next time that its best to ask about combined postage before bidding.


Then block her!!!

jamtart6

Her point was - she would bid higher if the postage was lower...?? surely you bid with the postage cost in mind and dont go past the threshold of BID+Postage. I dont think "Oh I want to get this item for £5" then bid £5 for it, I'll bid £3.50 + £1.50 p+p

So Im not being so unreasonable??

shelly

jamtart6 wrote: »

Her point was - she would bid higher if the postage was lower...??

Oh dear god!! What a numpty! What difference does it make how the final price is made up? Tell her to take the p+p into account and bid lower.

tomstickland

What are the items, what's the total bid and what's the total postage?

jamtart6

total p+p for 7 items = £16
total bid up to now (shes winning all) - £11 for all 7 items (im expecting them to go for a darned site more!)

frivolous_fay

jamtart6 wrote: »

she would bid higher if the postage was lower...??

The obvious answer to that would be... 'Why would I want you to bid higher? It costs me more less in fees this way!' but I wouldn't recommend saying that to her

But think it

jamtart6

frivolous_fay wrote: »

The obvious answer to that would be... 'Why would I want you to bid higher? It costs me more less in fees this way!' but I wouldn't recommend saying that to her

But think it

I thought it Fay, I thought it! her feedback suggests she has never been a seller, and i think until you become a seller, you do expect the earth from people.

soolin

I would politely explain that you are hapy to give a 10% discount and if that was not good enough for her then suggest she removes her bids ASAP. Then say that if her bids remain you will assume she is happy with the charges and assuming she wins the auction you will expect her payment in full within 7 days.

Other than that do as the others have said and just remove her bids as an unwelcome bidder and block her.

custardy

or you could take another view and use on of the couriers on ebay? of course that depends on whether your happy to sit in and wait on collection?
just an idea,otherwise tell her your lucky you are offering anything given there was no discount offered before she placed bids