Informing a Buyer that their offer was less than Postage - DEFAMATION ?.

[punkwroc77]

I recently received an offer on a listed item which was less than the cost of postage. I counter offered with a price which was less than £1 above postage cost. The item was listed at £5 ,it was less than 1 year old and had cost £80.

When the buyer declined the offer I simply sent a message saying that their offer had been less than the cost of posting then put the postage costs. I said that they would not get any private seller to sell for less than the postage costs.

I have now received a notice from EBAY that I have breached their defamation policy !!. WHAT ?.

Over the decades I have received many offers which were less than postage like the person 2 weeks ago who wanted me to send a 1kg item to Spain for £1 with free postage and have frequently sent a messages letting the buyers know the postage costs and never had this.

It's a common issue for private sellers with Ebay's advertising free postage and buyers do not understand that free postage for them is not free postage for the seller.

Views on this ?.

[eastern-lights]

Sometimes it is better not to engage, not to explain. 

Personally, I do not invite offers. I think it says, "You see this price? I don't expect to receive it."

I do still receive offers sometimes via messages. I ignore the silly ones completely; they are never going to buy.

Don't forget to block your defamed "buyer".

[sml192]

Might be better to just not offer 'Free postage' on low value items so that the buyer can see the postage cost at the outset. 

[jonat_broad]

Take it as a learning exercise and don’t send unnecessary messages in future?