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Can a seller offer free shipping and then add a surprise shipping charge at checkout?
Summary: In the discussion, participants inquire about the practice of a seller offering free shipping initially but then adding a surprise shipping charge during checkout. bnelle started the conversation, leading to responses from disneyshopper and comics-scifi-collectibles, who also participated in clarifying or questioning this action. The inquiry seems focused on understanding whether this practice is legitimate or could be considered deceptive.
I won three auctions from a seller in China, each of the three offers free shipping with "eBay SpeedPAK Standard" but at checkout, a shipping fee of $14.99 has been added. When I questioned the seller, they told me "Hello, we usually use free economy shipping, but eBay mandates the use of faster commercial shipping."
Is this true? The shipping costs are way more than the value than the items and I would not have purchased the items if I had known there would be shipping charges.
comics-scifi-collectibles
Mentor4 months ago@bnelle. Tell the seller that they are violating eBay policy. Sellers are not allowed to charge more for shipping than stated on the listing.
They need to cancel the sale. If they don't and you pay you could file a eBay Money Back Guarantee refund request when the item arrives. The seller would be required to pay return shipping and refund you 100%.
The shipping cost on the listing is part of the description so you'd file a refund request with the reason doesn't match description.
bnelle
OP4 months agoThank you so much, that is extremely helpful information.
disneyshopper
Mentor4 months agoSellers cannot charge you more than what is displayed on the listing. Refuse to pay the extra $14.99
bnelle
OP4 months agoNo answers on this yet, so I wanted to add that the item details also say free shipping, with no mention of a possible shipping charge.
Are sellers allowed to offer free basic shipping and then charge for that basic shipping? Does Ebay "mandate the use of faster commercial shipping?" If so, how are sellers allowed to list items with "free shipping?"