Postage issue - what would you do?

[edd_jedi]

I sold a couple of large items on ebay last week, and 2 of them ended up selling to people in Europe. I had no idea how much it would cost, so just guessed. It ended up costing twice as much as I thought (£40 instead of £20 )

I emailed both sellers asking for them to split the difference with me, as it's not their fault or mine, but both are just ignoring me. What would you do? I've already sent the items, it's not the end of the world if they don't pay but I think it's a bit off just ignoring me, they could at least say "your problem pal!"

What would ebay suggest?

 

[spoons]

you're screwed ed, if you advertise something at a certain postage ebay will make you stick to it.

The sellers should reply to you out of courtesy but if it was me I wouldn't pay any extra. If I bid on something I take into account the postage and that dictates my highest bid

Hope they're feeling generous....

 

[edd_jedi]

Yeah fair enough, just annoying because neither were advertised with intenrational shipping option/prices, and they both just used buy it now. I'm not lugging a 1 metre square box all the way to the post office just to get a price :roll: Still I got decent sale prices so can't moan too much.

So out of interest do you think it's reasonable to expect sellers to know exactly how much postage will cost? I always usually guess and refund any difference if it's less.

 

[Ron]

Edd just tell them that the postage was only for UK bidders

 

[weasel]

I think your gonna have to bite the bullet and this one, and fork out the extra yourself Edd!

As for the postage thing, it all depends what your selling. For most MOC's and loose figures it is pretty straight forward to know the postage costs to most places. For more unusual items it can be a bit hit and miss.
Maybe next time someone asks you what P&P will be tell them the truth, you don't know but you'll guess at "X" and if it's more you will refund the difference, if it is less ask them up front if they will cover half the difference. Your still leaving yourself exposed to people saying "yes" up front and then ignoring you, but at least you have tried.

Or I guess you just play very safe on your postage estimates, knowing that it will be more than what it actually costs you. Then you have the option to refund.

 

[spoons]

So out of interest do you think it's reasonable to expect sellers to know exactly how much postage will cost? I always usually guess and refund any difference if it's less.

I always stick the box on my bathroom scales and check the Royal Mail website, its not as accurate as going to the post office but you get a good idea of a price.

If its over 2kg I dont post abroad

Did they pay the UK postage price or an arbitrary one that you quoted them?

 

[Rudyard]

Thats a good idea Spoons. I have trouble with this too - sold the odd heavy thing abroad over the years and I never know what to say to folk who ask about ostage charges to wheverever.

 

[Darth Wensleydale]

Try http://www.bananadoo.com for anything large or heavy. You can send an Imperial Shuttle to most places in Europe tracked and insured for about £25 :wink:

 

[edd_jedi]

Damn if only I'd posted this on Friday :lol:

 

[theguiltyone]

Try http://www.bananadoo.com for anything large or heavy. You can send an Imperial Shuttle to most places in Europe tracked and insured for about £25 :wink:

FANTASTIC!
One for the bookmarks.

Edd, ive been in the same situation.
Ended up paying for all the extra postage myself, not a word of thanks from the buyers.


marc

 

[Darth Wensleydale]

The good thing about the Bananadoo arrangement is that the couriers will pick up from your front door/workplace so you don't have to cart huge boxes into small post offices

 

[Ron]

I booked mark that 1 as well