Yet another ebay qn - charging postage for e-documents

[Yael]

Hi,


I recently won at auction that was for some documents i was after. It did state at the top at $10- postage fee, but in the item description said "Once you have made your payment e-mail me with details of how payment was made & whether you would like to receive your purchase by e-mail or mailed through Australia Post on a CD"


I went to pay via paypal, and was quite happy to have them emailed to me, cos for $10 i will put in on a CD myself, but i couldn't remove the shipping cost. I emailed the seller about this, saying i just wanted it via email and hence no shipping fee, and got this reply:


"Hi, Yes you still have to pay for P&H. These costs help to cover my expenses"


I think this is ridculous.. There are no expenses for sending an email, so how can she justify charging postage when she isn't sending anything? It seems a way of avoiding fees and bumping up the price.


Is there anything i can do? I do have to take some responsibility, i assumed that if i didn't want to get it shipped i didn't have to pay to $10 (or i wouldn't have bid, cos this is an extra 25% and just wasn't worth it), but at the same time, i think its really wrong?


Are the breaching any rules? I will go through with the sale if i don't have to pay the $10, but would prefer to cancel it if i do have to, but don't want it to show up on my record or fb, as for $10 its not worth it.


I wrote it on the ebay community forum - this was the reply i got:

Yes you have to go through with this. By bidding you accept the sellers terms and any questions should have been asked prior to placing your bid.


The seller is technically avoiding eBay fees by doing what they are doing, but this can only be reported pre-bidding not once you have bid/bought.


By the way, if you reply to the seller again you may like to remind them that their fees and expenses are supposed to be built into the item price not made up by charging excessive postage.

Does anyone have any idea what i should write back to this person, telling them what they are doing in wrong?? I don't want to end up with neg fb over this, as i have like 88 positives and no negs, but i don't think i'm doing the wrong thing.


Also, i remember once using this online help thing and talking to somebody from ebay itself. Is this just for listing items, or can i direct my query to them? I couldn't find it anywhere on myebay, but i could just be having a stupid day (severe headache atm..)


Thanks guys

[Pandora]

Hi Yael,

I don't think there is much you can do about it other than chalk it up it experience

I do agree that its wrong though, and it might be worth emailing Ebay about it.

I think that by wording it this way, i.e.

Once you have made your payment e-mail me with details of how payment was made & whether you would like to receive your purchase by e-mail or mailed through Australia Post on a CD

they've trid to cover themselves, cos if the payment was only if you wanted it sent on CD, it would have said to email when you've won the auction but before payment.

I wouldn't bother emailing the seller about it at all, if you want to sdo something i'd report them to ebay.

[Yael]

Yeh, but i'm going to mail her me a CD, so she ends up with less money

And i will email eBay about it, to see if it is fee avoidance.

[Mother Goose]

Yael - you can chat to someone direct via livechat or something on Ebay. I can't recall how I came across the link to it when I used it but maybe try entering it as a search?

Sorry I can't offer any advice on what to actually do about the seller - although I do agree it is dodgy of them!

[Violet Star]

Ebay community help is busy at the moment! Must be too busy with loads of issues ROFL

Do you have an item number Yael? How was it worded? If the seller said no postage costs unless you want to have it on CD which Ive seen a lot of, there is no way you should have to be paying for it.

ETA
Dont forgot anyone can write on the forums and they arnt always right!

[CatherineL]

Yep - i agree with Caro.. once you bid you are accepting the terms of sale and it stated there was a $10 P&H fee.

[spunkymonkies]

I have had a postage issue recently. I got a similar reply from Ebay administrators. There is not much you can do after you win the item they take no responsibility for any issues. My problem is we were told by the seller that the postage was $35 and this was stated on the item so I paid for the item & postage. He emailed me 2 days later and said postage was $100 than what was listed on the item so he needed more money. What a joke I told him he wasn't getting anymore money. I have organised my own courier to collect the item and its only going to cost $30. The item will get here today I hope.

[ShootingStar]

Ive been caught out before also but as it states P&H (postage and HANDLING) .. handling can be the person's process in getting the item to you.. in such, ebay fees, internet fees, paypal fees or even employee fees if they are employing someone to "handle" your transaction.

Unfortunaly you maybe stuck with it this time, it is a very sly way for them to do it though. Just make sure you mension something in the feedback you leave so that others in the future may not get caught out too.

[ShootingStar]

Whatever, im not going to argue.. its just a suggestion.. no one is gonna know but the seller what they use it for.

[Violet Star]

ROFL at the livehelp comment!

You definately cant add , well write that you are charging fees for the above things as Caro has mentioned but do agree Kell that people still do it. There are ones which stick out, you know , item is 99cents but postage is $353526136. Others who do it more discreetly. I know ive charged more for express post as I have to travel in order to post it in the express post network. Probably not within the guidelines! ;P

I know you want to keep your 100% feedback but at the end of the day its only one neg. feedback and you can always respond to the feedback in your profile as well. I know personally, I was devastated by my first negative but there are so really nasty people out there unforuntately and many rip off people.

[Jodie259]

If I had to pay the $10 postage charge - then I would demand that I get the hard copy & CD as well - just to pi*s them off and make them work for their $10

[Baby~amore`]

they should at very least deduct the actual postage cost and cost of CD then ....tell them you are going to report them and have proof in the email if they don't.

I saw a guy tonight say the t shirt was listed at 99cents and postage was 7.90 or something because the tshirt was worth a minimum of $8.79 or similar but he was trying to be fair and keep his prices low...

I saw items like a model helicopter or something listed at $ .99c but postage $35 so I think it is a rort.

If they say postage but don't mention handling - is listing $10 when it was only $7.50 or should be $6.70 if in same postal zone etc etc allowed ?

just curious I know they are all there to make money

[Yael]

Thanks for all your replies, sorry i haven't replied earlier - sick husband & baby and mummy has exams - great combo!

Anyhoo, so i paid the $10 (and she took like 5 days past payment to send the documents), and she has left me feedback, so now i feel like i have the upper hand again

I want to send her an email saying i've been advised that her auction breaches ebay rules, and can she please refund my $10 as it wasn't allowed to be charged. I don't want to come across in a threatening way YET (i.e. do it or i'll report and neg you), or do you think i should?

What do you think i should write to her?