Buyer Asking for Enhanced Boxing
Help! I just sold something. Buyer paid and paid for the cost of the shipping I had calculated for shipment to Oregon. Buyer has now contacted me asking me to repackage everything because the box will, ultimately, be shipped to Japan via person in Oregon. That means the shipping cost will be different (box will be heavier with extra packing and double boxing). Not sure what to do with this request?
Any pointers would be greatly appreciated. I'm not a business; just an individual selling some old stuff that belonged to a family member.
16 comments
merriewb
OP3 years agoThank you ALL for your expertise! I have reached out to the buyer and will invoice the difference in shipping. I appreciate your well-thought out responses and I learned a bit!
Have a great night!
kensgiftshop
·3 years agoI sold an item a few months ago that was going to China through a freight forwarder.
She contacted me and said to pack it well because it was going to China.
I told her it will be packed well enough to make it to the address provided and what happens to it after that is on her and the freight forwarder.
She messaged me back and said OK and never heard any more, so I guess it made it OK.
albertabrightalberta
·3 years agoIf you're comfortable in your packing that the item would arrive to Oregon intact, I think I'd write something along the lines of the following:
"Dear buyer,
Your request after the purchase of my item would end up costing considerably more than I charged in the listing. Had you asked prior to purchase, I could have adjusted and revised the shipping price.
I pack my items safely and securely to ensure that they arrive intact but if you'd like to cancel this order, I'll be happy to do so.
Sincerely,
Seller"
Asking for additional packaging that wasn't included in the listing is a policy violation and can be reported. (It's not clear if she's willing to pay for the additional cost you'd incur.)
merriewb
OP3 years agoThank you so much! I think this is my best course of action. I will pursue this. â¤ï¸
mtgraves7984
·3 years ago@albertabrightalberta
I like your style. That might just be the way the OP should go. 🤞
@merriewb
I was thinking that I'd take an OOS strike. I'd hate it (and eBay frowns on it) and I'd live in fear that I'd have to use my other OOS for the next whole year... but I'd have to consider it for this particular sale.
Then after I took the OOS, I'd repackage this stuff... bubble wrap inside and outside each cup, the creamer and the teapot (and their lids); bubble wrap each plate and saucer; use a few cardboard boxes (for plates and saucer 'stacks') inside a sturdier cardboard box... well, you get the idea. No way would I use the 50-year-old box it came out of (not that you said you would) and would never use newspaper at all.
Then after I packaged, weighed and properly priced shipping cost... I'd relist it. Your low selling price and your unimaginable shipping difference (in my mind) makes this sale a big ol' accident/total loss waiting to happen. Grandmother's china gone forever... that's just not worth it to me.
You are (of course) free to move forward with any option available to you. Go into it with eyes wide open...
P.S. Shipping is one of the toughest beasts to tame here, and many of us have found ourselves in the same pickle... well, that one time , that is. We empathize. Shipping's a big learning curve, but can be mastered. I wish you good luck.
merriewb
OP3 years agoI have no idea what an OOS strike is. Seriously, this is so frustrating.
mtgraves7984
·3 years ago@merriewb
Out of Stock. Sorry... when I first came to these boards, I had to keep a window open just for acronyms so that I could follow the conversation. 😂
I am so glad that you were able to get this worked out! Good luck moving forward!
pickermall
·3 years agoYIKES! Must be the luncheon set. What could POSSIBLY go wrong? Even domestically?!?!?
Pack it REALLY WELL! I have a feeling you underestimated the weight and dimensions of the package already. $20.00 to ship to me in Ohio is pretty cheap. I hope this goes well for you, but I would prepare for the worst in any event.
merriewb
OP3 years agoI packed the box, weighed the box, and went through the eBay shipping choices.
mtgraves7984
·3 years agoYou're on the line for quality, safe shipment to the address on the order. If the "person in Oregon" wants to repackage... that's not on you.
If you're shipping to a freight forwarder who will move it on to Japan... you're on the line for quality, safe shipment, too. One of my pet peeves is that a buyer dictate my shipping method. I offer quality, safe shipments already.
merriewb
OP3 years agoThank you. I can certainly repackage/add another box, but not sure how to bill the buyer for the extra cost(s)? What they paid for already is the shipping that was calculated based on the listing. Any idea how to go about getting the new balance?
mtgraves7984
·3 years ago@merriewb
Since you had a shipping cost for USA shipments (as per your method) in your listing... I think that's all you can charge. Assuming you were already going to double box and bubble wrap, there should be no extra cost, right?
merriewb
OP3 years agoThe items are packaged with bubble wrap and newspaper. In one box. That packaging and weight is what I quoted the shipping price on. This request screams scam to me. The product was $15. I am not going to spend extra money after the fact to box something up (buyer wants EVERY ITEM INSIDE THE BOX to have its own box). This just does not seem right, unless there's a way for me to charge the extra shipping fee + supplies.
mtgraves7984
·3 years agoThe items are packaged with bubble wrap and newspaper. In one box.
@merriewb
Oh, my. I'd have never thought to ship it that way. And for what it's worth... I don't think that would make it safely from you in Texas to me here in Nashville. Much less to Oregon. And no way from Oregon all the way to Japan. Oh, my. 😟
yuzuha
·3 years agoNo, no, no, no, no. Do NOT ship them like that, even domestically. They WILL break. Each individual piece needs its own box, and then those boxes need to be put into a larger box full of packing peanuts.
The buyer is 100% correct in this case-- every item needs its own box, even just for domestic shipping.
mtgraves7984
·3 years ago@merriewb
Afterthought: If your buyer is willing to pay for whatever it is that they are asking you to do above and beyond what you were going to do... maybe they'll offer to pay more. Heck, I don't know... maybe you can even suggest it to this person. You can exchange PayPal info (since there's a sale) and the buyer could pay you that way...