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"Free" shipping
I bought a used leg stand for a TV from a reputable seller. The listing said free shipping, but I had to pay the post office $30.22 when it arrived because the seller sent it by "media mail" and the item was too big for that. If I would have known about this hidden charge, I would not have bought it from this seller because I also needed to purchase the screws elsewhere. I could have bought the stand, with screws and shipping, from another seller for less than I paid this seller. The post office said it was a way for seller to lessen their shipping costs. I messaged them and they did not write back until I said I was hoping for a response before I did a review. They said they apologized for the "unforeseen cost" (yes, unforeseen by me!!!), but offered no solution and did not seem surprised in the least. Does this sound right or fair?
wooden_flower
Mentor2 years ago@bly-2479
We have seen a number of posts lately about sellers either misusing medial mail, or making other types of errors that result in a package arriving postage due.
eBay can’t force the seller to reimburse you. If it happens again, do not pay the postage due until you have contacted the seller. You can refuse a package for postage due, so you message the seller and let him know you will refuse it and open a not received claim unless he sends you the money to pay the amount due. If you refuse the delivery, he will have to pay the amount due to get his PO to deliver it to him, and his PO will also know to inspect his media mail packages.
The only thing you can do now is leave factual negative feedback for the seller, like ‘seller sent TV stand using media mail. I had to pay $30 postage due. Seller will not reimburse me.’
If the seller offers to reimburse you if you will change the feedback, answer carefully so it can not be seen as extortion. Something like ‘I will not trade feedback for reimbursement, but if the feedback was no longer true, I would want to change it.’
bly-2479
OP2 years agoI appreciate your response.
I am aghast at the idea that my request for a private dialog before posting a negative or neutral review might be construed as extortion. I suppose I expected the person to offer some form of compensation or, at least, pretend they did not know they were in the wrong. I will consider your recommendation and appreciate your counsel.
wooden_flower
Mentor2 years ago@bly-2479
It isn't the conversation - it is what is said. Obviously you would never say 'send me $30 and I'll change the feedback', but what you want to avoid is anything that could sound like that.
Some sellers are clueless, some think it is a game to win. 😞
rfmtm
Mentor2 years agoObviously this item does not qualify for media mail. Regardless, never pay for underpaid postage unless seller forwards the amount in advance. If seller doesn't send you the funds the best you can do it take it up with the payment processor. If you used PayPal you can select not as described and scroll down to postage due and enter the amount.
bly-2479
OP2 years agoThank you for your response. I wanted the stand and it is exactly what I needed. I did not want to return it or refuse it. My issue is the accountability of this seller. How many others have allowed them to do this and not made issue of it? One negative review will not affect them and they seem pretty confident that a novice ebay buyer will not impact their business model.
rfmtm
Mentor2 years agoNever mention feedback, but you can remind seller that they will be paying all the shipping again to receive their item back if USPS returns it for postage due.