Unscrupulous ebay traders

[Cyberus]

Here's the deal

I bid on a trade magazine.
I won the auction.
The guy wanted to charge 2.95 for postage and 40p for PayPal fees. I wasn't happy about the paypal fees at all, but when I asked if he could send the mag by 2nd class post, he said he'd knock off 50p.
So I kind didn't fell so bad about the deal, seeing as I would have to drive to the Post Office to get a stamp, and by the time I'd done that, it would've costed more than 40p to send him a cheque.

Now, the mag drops through my door today, with 71p's worth of postage. He charged me 2.45 for postage (this envelope can't have cost nearly two quid!) and a 40p PayPal fee, and the c**t suggested I left him feedback!

What can I do, as I don't want 'revenge feedback' tarnishing my spotless feedback, cos I'm sure he'd make up something, when I've gone to great lenghts in the past to make sure I deal with buyers and sellers fairly and professionally. I take great pains to weigh out my items when I sell, and in the past I've refunded the difference when the post quote has been over (once)

I know its only a couple of quid, but I don't think piss-takers like this should be able to get away with it!

Any thoughts?

[FastRobPlus]

If fees are given as flat fees in the auction, then charging any price for shipping and handling is appropriate.  After all, you can elect not to bid on the item.  I sometimes give a flat fee based on what I think it will cost, and don't refund the difference if it turns out to be cheaper.  This is because it's a better experience for the bidder to be able to bid on an item knowing the full costs up front, and being able to pay immediately and get thier item sent out quick.

If they don't specify fees in the auction, then I feel this implies actual cost of shipping will be calculated upon auciton close, which should be within 25% plus or minus of the actual real cost that the post office charges.

[TheMagicM]

Its against ebay policy to charge for paypal fees.  I'd report him.

[Cyberus]

FastRobPlus wrote:
If fees are given as flat fees in the auction, then charging any price for shipping and handling is appropriate.  After all, you can elect not to bid on the item.  I sometimes give a flat fee based on what I think it will cost, and don't refund the difference if it turns out to be cheaper.  This is because it's a better experience for the bidder to be able to bid on an item knowing the full costs up front, and being able to pay immediately and get thier item sent out quick.

If they don't specify fees in the auction, then I feel this implies actual cost of shipping will be calculated upon auciton close, which should be within 25% plus or minus of the actual real cost that the post office charges.

I see your point, and I fear that it will ring true with ebay too. However, I assumed it was a heavy magazine (you know what some mags are like, like phone directories), and I wasn't to know the postage was overcharged.

[FastRobPlus]

You have a good point Cyberus.  If it looks heavy and expensive, but turns out to be light, or qualify for some kind if cost-reduced shipping (like Media mail in the US), you can't be expected to know if you are being overcharged even when the quote is a flat fee.

Oddly enough, I did refund somebody $6 in shipping because I had badly misjuged the cost of shipping.

If I ever get more in to ebay selling, I'll invest in a scale, and some shipping self-study.  As it is, I just read what other are charging in thier simiilar auctions, and quoting the same.

[Cyberus]

TheMagicM wrote:
Its against ebay policy to charge for paypal fees.  I'd report him.

How do I do that?
I find these particular parts of ebay (complaints etc) difficult to find. [Hmm, wonder if that's deliberate..]

[Cyberus]

I've written him a polite letter expressing my displeasure :lol:

Hopefully, as he only has a feedback of 10, he might try and keep me happy so I don't make him have 90% instead of 100%

[redrumloa]

2 points.

1) Sellers charging PayPal fees to buyers is against eBay policy.

2) Sellers are permitted to charge a packaging and handling fee within reason. If fees were stated upfront then the postage paid is irrelevant.

So the seller seems wrong in one aspect, but right in the other. I wouldn't recomend leaving negative feedback for him, though you may want to report to ebay for the PayPal fee abuse.

-edit-

Just a quick note. Even if it was mailed in a cheap paper bag, sellers are permitetd to still charge a handling fee. Most companies outside do this anyhow, and most don't blink an eye. Ebay is just a little more intimate.

[Cyberus]

I realise I don't have much comeback about the postage fees, its just that I always go to great lengths to ensure my postage is fair, sometimes I've even lost out by underquoting it. I always though it was both the fair thing to do, and sound business sense, to not rip off your buyer....

Also I've bought stuff, I've found that buyers have on the whole been very accomodating. For example recently, I got a piece of software and manual, and then was dissapointed to find the disk wasn't original (the manual, however, was) - the buyer offered to send me something else to compensate. As a result I was happy and left him great feedback.

Well, the world ain't fair....

[Cyberus]

UPDATE: here is a copy of the email I received from the seller

I fully understand why you think the postage charge isn't fair..
EBay sellers can set the postage and package charge to any amount eg to
include time spent packing and posting.
I set the item price to start at 99p and set the p&p to higher than the true
cost. EBay charge charge sellers more for items above 99p both for listing
the item and also on the final bid price. thats why on ebay there are lots
of items at 99p and p&p charges differ between sellers.

You know, I can almost see his point.
But even so, I'm sure most sellers don't do this, do they? But on the other hand, ebay is ripe with shysters (sp?).
Guess its getting worse....? :-(

[Aledt]

sorry, but I can't really see what you are complaining about, the charge is not justa postage charge, you are allowed to charge a reasonable amount for handling. You dont know the guys circumstances, I know personally if i have to send something to someone i have to travel 20 minutes to the nearest post office, and 20 minutes back, with the queue's it might take as much as an hour out of my working day, plus travelling costs etc. i have seen people charge a lot more than that for postage of small items.
Ebay say that you may not charge an excessive amount for handling, but i don't think you could accuse the guy of charging excessively, that rule was brought in to stop the people who list items for very low prices but charge the cost of the item in the p+p fee (thereby avoiding ebay final value fees).
It's not as if he's ripped you off your life savings, just leave the guy positive feedback and be done with it, and in future check the postage charge before you bid.

[Cyberus]

So does this mean that because I find it a pain in the arris wrapping stuff up, and then I have to drive to the Post Office  to post it (I live in the sticks), I should charge more?

Like this guy did, over three times the cost of the postage?

[Acill]

Cyberus wrote:
So does this mean that because I find it a pain in the arris wrapping stuff up, and then I have to drive to the Post Office  to post it (I live in the sticks), I should charge more?

Like this guy did, over three times the cost of the postage?

Yes you can do that and should. I charge a few $ if I have to make a trip to the post office and if i have to buy a box. That all get added in to the shipping fee. Why should you as a seller have to pay for the box? You shouldnt. His fee was more then fair i think.

[redrumloa]

Cyberus wrote:
So does this mean that because I find it a pain in the arris wrapping stuff up, and then I have to drive to the Post Office  to post it (I live in the sticks), I should charge more?

Like this guy did, over three times the cost of the postage?

I'm a bit confused by the currency in question here, but if i understand the amounts correctly it's hardly a ripoff. (USD example)He may normally charge $2 per item for handling fee. If the postage is $0.80, the the total will be 3x the actualy postage, but it is not a ripoff. It is what it is. Seller really should be upfront about shipping costs, beware of sellers who aren't.

He may be an individual, but the time, effort or distance may warrant such an expense. This guy probably isn't, but many eBay sellers are actually running a business and handling fees are a reality to offset manpower.

[BoingBoss]

I personally do not accept PayPal.  PayPal SUCKS !!!!  When I put up my auctions on eBay, I always state the S/H charge and I also state "I only accept cash or a Postal money order, from a US or Canadian Post Office, as payment for this item.  Buyers outside the USA will have to mail cash".  I have never had any problems.

As a buyer I ALWAYS ASK QUESTIONS BEFORE BIDDING.  One of the questions that I ask is how much for shipping?  If a seller does not answer my questions or if the S/H is too high, then I will not bid.  It's that simple.   :roll: