buyer not understanding postage costs

soolin

I've had this before and no doubt I'll have it again- buyers who don't understand postage costs.

I have a widget- let's say a mug in a box that's approx 4 x 4 x 4 inches and I'm charging UK 2nd class post of £2.95. Buyer messages to say they are about to buy but want me to adjust the cost as they can't believe it costs anything like £2.95 as the item isn't that heavy.

I respond saying that due to dimensions it is a small parcel and I am unable to reduce the postage costs at all.

Buyer responds, at some length saying it's sellers like me that give ebay a bad name by charging stupid amounts. She's looked online and up to 250g is only £1.26 and why I am charging parcel rate for just a mug. She goes on to say she has already bought 3 similar items in a set from another seller and only paid £3.90 for that package so she would expect to pay 2 thirds less as she's only buying one from me and what am I going to do about it.

Obviously she's blocked but she's no newbie to ebay - 40+ feedback already . I do notice though that she has some children's thick padded coats listed where she is showing postage of £1.50 but with a comment in the description saying if they end up weighing over 250g then buyer will have to pay more! I fear she may have a shock.

[Deleted User]

Yeah she seems to be going off the weight only and not factoring in the size, she will have a shock.

Ms_Chocaholic

I'd love to buy a coat from her, how much are they?

soolin

Ms_Chocaholic wrote: »

I'd love to buy a coat from her, how much are they?

They all ended at less than £4, i do hope she has understanding buyers , but at least she may learn that size is also a factor in calculating postage costs.

Considering pricing in proportion has been around now for years I'm surprised it still catches some people out.

Ms_Chocaholic

Shame I missed out
She'll live and learn haha.

FluffityBunny

I had a person like that last year, kept telling me how childrens pyjamas aren't that big so how can it cost me £2.95 to post them, she kept messaging me with silly postage prices she was willing to pay, she soon got blocked. I do try so hard to get my ebay packaging to the best size possible to get the cheapest price for postage but there's always someone wanting to argue that they're right and you're wrong.

forgotmyname

I would have replied back...

Other seller charged £3.90, Tell them to buy more and you can charge them £3.90 also?


"what are you going to do?"

A1. Block you because your obviously stupid?

A2. Smash the item into pieces so that it fits through the letter slot at the post office. (Glue is extra, do you require glue?)

A3. With your own listings not complying with ebays terms and conditions your likely to br banned before the items arrive anyway?


You can pretend you sent a similar message, it may make you feel better.

oh A4. Tell them your butlers wages cost more than the item and postage combined so your already losing money, ask them if they know much fuel the Bentley uses on the post office run. They wont know that your Butlers doesnt get paid, or the fact he has to walk 30 miles across muddy fields in bare feet

soolin

Forgotmyname, I often compose angry or sarcastic messages in my head, I never send them but it makes me feel better.

forgotmyname

Its the thought that counts All those things you want to put..

Do it myself sometimes, i type pages and pages and then think cannot be bothered proof reading it and delete it.

WLM21

A few years ago I saw a wooden bagatelle game listed with a very low postage.

My parents had a bagatelle game, which I enjoyed playing as a kid ... that set still remains in my house.

Anyway, this was being sold as an auction, with a starting price of 99p and postage £1.50 (or thereabouts).

I won and paid my £2.49 knowing very well I had got a bargain, coupled with a very low postage. the item had been listed as a collector's item in very good condition.

Perfect ! was my thought

Within about 5 minutes of paying I receive a mesasge from the seller stating that the item was damaged and the order could not be sent. I was too new to Ebay to know any better.

I was pretty miffed ... to say the least so gave the seller my one and only ever negative feedback.

I too have sold items too cheaply, or underestimated the postal rate, but I always learnt from any mistakes and would never ask a buyer to pay more

ebayer2018

A buyer like that would be an instant block from me. I wouldn't even give them the courtesy of a reply.