posted on June 5, 2004 12:47:34 PM new
I recently saw an auction for an item that didn't list the shipping. So I e-mailed the seller and asked what it would be. He replied back that it would be a flat rate of $12.00. I thought it was quite high, but against my better judgement I bid anyways. I figured maybe it would be sent UPS or *something* to justify the high price. Considering I've been dealing on Ebay since 1998 and have never had a problem with a seller.
I receive the item today. It's the size of say a pocket book. It was shipped in a used box and shipped for $1.98!!!
So is it my own fault that I didn't trust my gut and bid on it knowing the price sounded ridiculously high? What kind of feedback should I give this seller? Should I email him and tell him that I am disappointed that he charged so much?! Should I just chalk this up as a bad deal and move on even if I am ticked off about it?
edited to add: Forgot to mention that since 1998 and I've had no problems, this isn't the only concern. I bid on a book and won back on May 12th and paid the same day. I've yet to receive it. When I emailed the seller TWICE, I've gotten no reply. I'm about ready to give up bidding on Ebay at this rate.
[ edited by ThriftStoreQueen on Jun 5, 2004 12:49 PM ]
posted on June 5, 2004 01:02:19 PM new
Hi! Sorry, but you bid and when you did that you agreed to the terms. But, yup, that seller is a cheat! And a bum!
I would avoid leaving any feedback because he may retaliate and he's not worth the grief.
Sorry for your bad experience but don't let that stop you...there are so many NICE people on ebay...don't let the bad get you down!
posted on June 5, 2004 01:04:55 PM new
You knew the shipping amount and, hopefully, took it into account when you bid. The seller was honest with you about the amount, which you had a suspicion was high. Tacky s/h, possibly fee avoidance, but disclosed up front. If you received the item as described the seller did his job honorably (to you), completely, and satisfactorily. This deserves a positive feedback.
Maybe: 'Great transaction, S/H high, bid anyway.' This tells anybody bothering to look at FB to ask first.
Question seller on second item, you have a deadline coming up. Sent media mail should still only be 1 to 2 weeks. Paypal is a joke, and eBay ineffective. Can you do a credit card chargeback if necessary?
posted on June 5, 2004 01:05:03 PM new
He's already left me positive feedback for paying quickly. He has 40 feedbacks, no negatives. I guess he hasn't cheated others or they were too afraid to give a neg if he has.
parklane: Hubby pretty much said to say the same thing about mentioning the feedback being high. As for the second auction, it was for less than $5.00. Not worth the hassle of a chargeback. I was just looking forward to the book. I *know* it should be here by now. I've bid, won and received other books sent media mail since I've won that auction. I'll try to send them another email although I don't expect an answer.
Thanks for your help.
[ edited by ThriftStoreQueen on Jun 5, 2004 01:07 PM ]
posted on June 5, 2004 01:10:48 PM new
Hi Thriftstorequeen.
well, it is a bitter pill to swallow; to be your own victim. [[having said that, i caused a 3 page post on this subject matter some time ago.]] when seller advised you it was $12, your gut[as you put it] told you to leave it alone. maybe you should have.
------------
if you feel so strongly wronged, then email seller, 'voice' your feelings and ask for at least, a partial refund.
who knows, it might reap results.
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no one forces feedback-well, almost no one...it seems that he should post positive for you; but being the seller,he wont move first[MHO].. BUT, again MHO;; you can not not fault him thru negative feedback...even tho you view the fee exorbitant, you agreed to his 'greed'
------------------------
myopinionofcourse,
myoldtoy
posted on June 5, 2004 01:48:01 PM new
It comes down to a very simple question. Did you pay the price you expected to pay and did you get what you expected to get? Sounds like you like the item, and you knnow what you were going to pay ahead of time, you just think i could have been cheaper.
The fact is that is a number of catagories on ebay the only way for a seller to actually make a profit is to work it into the shipping charges. It's not fee avoidance, it's survival. People will bid $1 even with $12 shipping but they won't pay $12 for something with $1 shipping. Ebay bidders are the ultimate bargins hunters and sellers have had to retool their module to attract them.
Your seller does not deserve a neg and as for your book, depending on where it is coming from via media mail, it can take 3-4 weeks - you paid for bargain basement shipping, you get bargain basement service.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on June 5, 2004 01:57:58 PM new
Thanks for all your help.
I have no plans on leaving a negative feedback. I *may* mention that the S/H was high in a positive feedback but I bid and received the item quickly. The item appears to be in good working condition as well.
I will swallow the bitter pill and follow my gut next time.
posted on June 5, 2004 01:58:34 PM new
He was way too high but you knew it before you bid.
I would not leave FB at all - unless he leaves it for you and then I would leave positive - but state shipping was inflated!!
posted on June 5, 2004 02:13:22 PM new
i have bidders who ask for a refund on shipping when they found out actual shipping is a lot less than what they paid for.
My mistake ,so i refunded.
it never hurt to ask for a partial refund.
the worst is that he will say no .
-sig file -------we eat to live,not live to eat.
Benjamin Franklin
posted on June 5, 2004 02:47:06 PM new
Even though you KNEW the shipping price before you bid, I'd still mention the high shipping in feedback. If he doesn't normally post a shipping price, maybe your comment will encourage others to ask first, and if it seems high to them, perhaps they will question him/her about it.
I have done the same thing. I ask before bidding, and ASSuME that the high shipping means faster shipping. That's not always the case. Now I ask how much is S/H, and how do you ship. It only takes once to learn an expensive lesson.
*Teresa*
posted on June 5, 2004 03:07:06 PM new
If the seller had waited a month then shipped it by overnight air and paid $15 would you say you got a better deal?
Also, what if the seller doesn't have a car and had to pay the $12.50 pickup fee?
posted on June 5, 2004 03:17:32 PM new
This is what makes eBay shopping so fun and efficient. You now feel like you have to be a contract lawyer to read the description and terms, and even then, you have to give the seller the "third degree" via email.
Me, if I paid 12.00 shipping, I would assume (rightly or wrongly) that it would have some relationship to the expense, but we have gone around this many times here with no resolution. In this case, post a neutral with comment about shipping. It was certainly NOT a positive service experience, and the neutral might flag potential customers of this clown.
posted on June 5, 2004 03:27:55 PM new
if it were Spiegel or Neiman Marcus which charged 12.00 shipping,would anyone complain??
(if 12 for shipping is stated on the order form and confirmed by the sales clerk who took the order)
Because the seller is an individual working from home,we figure he should work as cheap as possible.
-sig file -------we eat to live,not live to eat.
Benjamin Franklin
posted on June 5, 2004 03:46:33 PM new
I would just consider it a learning experience. Give the guy a positive feedback without mentioning the shipping and move on. Although it was not a positive experience, the seller was honest about the shipping expense and by bidding and paying his price you agreed.
posted on June 5, 2004 03:46:49 PM new
used box??
what is wrong with used box??
ebay bidders cant get enough of used ,old and dirty stuff ,they call them collectibles!!
-sig file -------we eat to live,not live to eat.
Benjamin Franklin
posted on June 5, 2004 04:32:56 PM new
1. $12 was too much!
2. You knew it would be $12.
3. $12 is still too much!
I don't have much respect for sellers who have to make their profit on shipping rather than on their product.
If I were faced with that decision, I'd either find another kind of product to sell or get out of the Ebay selling business and get another job.
___________________________________
As I've matured, I've learned . .
#2. . . that the people you care most about in life are taken from you too soon and all the less important ones just never go away. And the real pains in the butt are permanent.
posted on June 5, 2004 04:52:39 PM new
********GOOD NEWS UPDATE!**********
I took the advice of some of ya all here and I decided to write the seller about the shipping. I told him that I appreciated the fast shipment but that I was disappointed that the shipping charge was $12.00 when it only cost $1.98 to send. I again thanked him for the fast shipment because it did arrive quickly and the item worked out perfectly. I actually didn't expect to hear back from him but he did write, he apologized and he has offered to refund me back the $10.
So to those of you who suggested I write and ask to see what would happen, great advice! I am so glad I did.
posted on June 5, 2004 05:02:51 PM new
When I read what stopwhining suggested - I thought "Why didn't I think of that"
Glad to hear it worked and he's ok after all.
posted on June 5, 2004 08:45:46 PM newI don't have much respect for sellers who have to make their profit on shipping rather than on their product.
Yet somehow we manage to hold our heads up in polite society.
But someday, if I am very very good, work hard and post lots of inanity to the eBay Outlook, perhaps I will earn the approval of a hobby seller like yourself. For now, I can only dream.
posted on June 6, 2004 09:56:22 AM new
Your right mcjane - I must have missed myoldtoy post somehow. I love all the good advise we get and read here - that's why I come so often.
