Getting a bit sick of this over charged postage.

[gogetafix]

The last few months I've been buying from ebay quite frequenty. On some small items I've bought the postage has been set on the listing at £3.20 (Second Class Small Parcel). When the items arrive they have been sent as a Large Letter for £0.96p. I do know that postage includes packing as well. The latest parcel that I had arrive was just a very cheap jiffy bag. No extra bubble wrap or anything. So not a lot of cost with the packing. 20p at most.
Knowing these boards I know some my cry "Well you were happy to pay the postage price" and yes this is true I was happy to pay the postage price because I presumed it would be sent as a small parcel. The items I buy aren't that flat so I presume they would be over 2.5cms in depth. Perhaps the sellers thinks the item will have to sent as a small parcel hence the £3.20 Second Class postage price. 
When these sellers post their parcels and find out it can be sent as a Large Letter and pay for that service they pocket that difference in cost and don't bother sending their buyer a message and say it was sent as a Large Letter and not a Small Parcel so here's a small refund. These people must think their buyers are stupid. 
I also know these sellers have fees to pay but keeping the cost of postage that wasn't paid is all a bit of a con in my opinion. If it were me I'd partially refund the buyer. 

[*help_no_brakes*]

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@da.jujda.k70nxdy wrote:

Not unreasonable but ebay don't care. I have had sellers have me over, found out happened to previous buyers but when I take time (lots of time) to speak to ebay, they don't care. They get the fees, end of. With snail mail currently, even the 30 day max report time is getting cut fine as 2 weeks is now often considered standard.

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Um "the 30 day max report time" as you put it starts from the day the item is delivered.

[kath3735_wxmjn]

I have just bought an item which was meant to have come through RM but has been sent Yodel,  Luckily it was Yodel because they actually do deliver to us but if it had been EVRI their courier does not.  I bought it because it was RM delivery, no other options and the seller obviously decided that they wanted to send it cheaper.  I would not be bothered about what they charged if they sent it by the correct means!   As it is the tracking number put in is coming up as not recognised, this may be a glitch by YODEL but it does me make wonder if i will ever see it!   The estimated del time is now friday as well rather than the tracked 48 hour RM.    If sellers stuck to what they say then i would have no problems with paying whatever postage they requested (if at least fairly reasonable).

[wara_rat]

I use the ebay App as i dont have a PC, it tends to override what you want and put in its best guess on postage. There's the need to keep an eye on things and edit your listing after the event. Tbh I've always found the RM tha worst of the bunch for tracking.

[fmil6108]

You should ask the seller why they have sent it yodel when it was supposed to be RM

[vintique*violet]

I have had this many many times...It it lack of care or thought of the item being delivered safely, not just making an extra couple of pounds. 

I simply do not buy from them again. 

Ebay postal labels , and this is my opinion only... I think some sellers use to their advantage, show the posting cost for small parcel, and then when printing off their label alter the " tick box" to a smaller size it i.e. parcel to large letter ( if they know that item fits in one)... hope explaining what I mean correctly. 

I only use Royal Mail,   mainly Tracked 48 direct with the Post office, and everything is posted in a box so it is protected & insured up to £150.00 if needed. 

No additional costs for packing materials etc just flat rate. Small parcel @ £3.95 

That way the buyer knows what they are getting for their money. 

If I then used an " envelope" I am not adhering to my sale conditions and would expect buyers to be " annoyed"  and probably express that in feedback. 

Years back people were charging extortionate amounts for postage - eBay stepped in and charged a percentage fee to curb this - it still goes on and genuine fair sellers were penalised ... There are always types of people in the world who will do anything for a " fast buck"  -  so I think some seller  have found a way in the system,  to add to their revenue. ( Not implying this is the same for everyone )

Is it fair - No. 

Is there something you can do about it - not once its posted, you could  raise the issue with  the seller, and eBay but with everything going on with the platform ,particularly lately, I don't think they would be interested?  

Enjoy your figure, if it is not damaged, you have what you wanted albeit you actually have paid for a service which was not "as described"......

[miccla_181981]

Exactly!

I'm finding more and more that I get quoted a price for postage, then when
the item turns up it's plainly not cost the amount I've paid.

A recent one was quoted as 24 hours delivery. It turned up having been sent
Royal Mail 2nd Class.

I know it's often only a small difference but this all adds up.

[miccla_181981]

Spot on. I'm getting it more and more. The seller quotes price for postage. Item turns up often showing the amount it's actually cost and it rarely matches what I've paid.

Latest one was postage quoted for 24 hours delivery.

Turns up a week later having been sent by Royal Mail 2nd Class!

I know the difference is often small but this all builds up for seller in terms of more money.

And I'm losing a fair amount over time.

This is very underhand practice by eBay sellers. If that was me I'd feel pretty guilty about it.

[pillarboxred]

Ebay is doing this to me as a seller. It is very stressful. I go to the Post Office and a package is refused because the QR code is for a large letter.

If sellers can make a living by scalping buyers in this way, more power to their elbows. It isn't something I would be comfortable doing but I can't make money on eBay nowadays so who knows? 

[vintique*violet]

Sellers who try to profit with  postage ( I imagine) would not have a guilty conscience otherwise they would not  do it. 

Sometimes mistakes can happen whereby postal fees can be  misquoted - I have done this myself particularly when selling something I am unsure of ( size, weight  etc) so put a " guesstimate" and explain that  if the postage is less ( over a pound not a couple of  pence) then I would refund and if it costs more then no extra charge and I take the hit.  

I have had only one purchase whereby the seller misquoted and messaged me to say she had to post using a different service as the postage cost originally quoted did not cover.  I did not mind, and appreciated her letting me know,  but would have happily paid more for the original tracked service if she had let me know prior to actually posting.  But , like I said prior, I have had many many items posted whereby their cost was pennies or under £2  and I have paid over £4.00  sometimes more. I have also received an empty parcel - I won the case as sent photographs to eBay ( and seller) to show that the weight on the parcel did not match what the weight of the item would have been - it was so low it was laughable. Mind you in 17 years, that is good going 😉 

Unfortunately " scams" are everywhere whether small or on a greater scale and I do think that the misuse of postage fees is " scamming."  in a more blatant way. 

[vintique*violet]

Sorry to hear of this - I do not use eBay postal labels , QR codes etc - I use the Post office directly and only Royal Mail Service to support them. 

I usually know what the flat rate is ie small parcel Royal Mail Tracked 48 @£3.95 and this is shown on the parcel too so the buyer knows that is what has been paid. 

Interesting you say that the package is refused as the QR code is incorrect... that may explain why I have had a couple of items not delivered until I pay the extra postal fee.. .I get a card stating unable to  deliver until pay the excess or  sender didn't pay correct postage or something like that ( cant recall exact wording) but just this past week I have had two. Unsure,  as I am not proficient with the eBay postage labels. 

[pillarboxred]

It can be an underhand ploy and used to be but now it is the automated system making unwarranted choices and displaying wrong information to buyers and sellers. Everyone is getting angry.

[7640paula]

Welcome to my world 😉

[wara_rat]

The real point was that it was a feather weight small item weighing virtually nothing that had a bunch of bubble wrap because they can't be trusted not to break your item. If I had given it some thought I would have squeezed it together before handing it over, I just never expected to be hit for the same as a 2kg parcel for what was a memory stick with some bubble wrap.

[warnjuli]

There is the sellers time too, plus they don't always have time to check if LL or parcel, so err on the side of caution.  There is the cost of packaging, bags, sellotape, parcel tape fragile tape, petrol to post office, queing time time to wrap, electricity if at night, possible printing and paper ...shoe leather...... etc.  

[warnjuli]

if you go with simple there will be no £1.55 or £1.90... cheapest is over £2.00 , like on vinted. So if you buy a postcard it will cost best partof £3.00... and see my other re

[warnjuli]

Nowadays once paid for the seller can't change or combine postage, so not all their fault although if it happened as your said, RUDE!! You could have cancelled and rebought with amended shipping, or she could have done free on all but one. There are ways around most things.

[jckl1957]

I don't think private sellers can really justify charging for their time, electricity and shoe leather!

Just my opinion, obviously not yours.

However, I hope the £17 postage for this item is an error!

M&S Blue Harbour Mens Shirt Blue Long sleeve small Check Cotton XL 48" BNWOT

[vintique*violet]

Most private sellers just pay for these as required for posting and include in the service... I have always charged flat rate post and not inflate postal charges - If I had made a mistake and the parcel weighed more than anticipated or required a necessary bigger box I just took the hit of the extra fees, along with many times having to have assistance and perhaps buying that person  a gift or money for their time etc. 

There was a huge issue particularly in the early days of eBay of sellers inflating postage and calling it post and packing. Time, tissue paper, fuel, bubble wrap etc which resulting in eBay introducing a percentage fee on postage, this was unfair to those who only charged flat rate as it then meant the postage fee paid by the buyer did not cover the actual postage cost paid by the seller. 

In one of your listings your postage fee is £58.00 ( it is a  vacuum cleaner,  so understand it can be costly)  and it is explained at the bottom of your listing description as;-

High postage is to minimise buyers fee, so if collecting I'd have to some of it back on.

To the £125 or agreed price.

How are you "calculating"  this to  " minimise buyers fee?"   ( BPF) 

I am assuming the latter of your " description" is saying that your buyers price is actually £125.00 ( or a mutually  agreed price) but BIN price is £78.72 and so are wanting to adjust what is paid  if collecting in person by adding to the advertised price? Do you not think that is misleading?  If I have mistaken that please correct me. 

Are you comfortable that this is following fair practice and eBays polices? 

@warnjuli 

[vintique*violet]

I think it is to circumvent the BPF? 

Shirt is at £1.76 with £17.00 postage charge. 

I think I am experiencing " deja vue " when previously there were sellers with very high postage cost and very low Auction or Buy it now,  resulting in the introduction of  a  " fee"  percentage placed by eBay on postage.

@jckl1957 

[moldosgifts]

It being hand delivered by some lovely ladies or lads who will also wash your car and clean your windows whilst they are there. Cheap that that £17 when you consider.

Of course it a fee avoidance ignore my whimsy .