I think I was overcharged for shipping on recent purchase
Summary: casey-86 expressed concerns about potentially being overcharged for shipping on a purchase. They recreated the label on the USPS website showing a significant price difference compared to what was paid. christworks and others explained various factors that could affect shipping costs, including package dimensions, shipping method, and potential seller practices. The discussion highlighted different opinions on whether sellers can profit from shipping and emphasized that questions about costs should be addressed before purchase. casey-86 was advised that there might not be recourse after purchase if the seller doesn't respond.
I'm not sure what to do for this situation. I think I was overcharged for shipping on a recent purchase. It was for an item shipped in a package that was 23x5x20 and weighed 9 pounds. The total shipping paid was $91.46 for it to ship within the US using USPS Ground Advantage. When I got the package I decided to recreate the label on USPS website to see what it would cost and the price that came up for me was $29.90 retail or $22.91 Click-N-Ship which I assume is the online discount amount. Before making the purchase the seller did reply to my messages about the item and was very nice about everything. After I received the package and messaged them about the shipping label cost I have not received a reply back in almost 3 days now. I can't return the item because it was a purchase for my mom and she wants to keep it even though she paid for it. I'm just trying to look out for her and make sure she didn't pay more than she should have. If the seller doesn't reply back to me what can I do if anything? I still have the label from the package also. Is there a way for me to know if the amount paid for shipping was the price of the shipping label the seller purchased to ship it? Thank you.
ryry-jj
·1 week agoThe package is shipping dimensional weight at about 17# and the 23" also adds a surcharge. We are missing so much for this other than you are just looking out for your mom
mkaczorsee
·1 week agoIt’s simple.
Shipping costs are ALWAYS displayed when you buy.
If you disagree with them, don't buy.
You were shown the total price including shipping when you purchased.
Seller did nothing wrong.
Always ask before you purchase if you have questions. There are no refunds after you purchase.
kensgiftshop
·1 week agoIf you paid what was shown in the listing, you were not over charged.
You knew the shipping charge and was fine with it before making the purchase.
If the seller doesn't reply, there's nothing to do.
elymbmx
·1 week agojust tell the seller to use FedEx or UPS it is much cheaper to ship via FedEx or UPS now. FedEx is $10 for flat rate. even a bag!!!
I paid $10 for a 5 lbs medium box. I refuse to use USPS for shipping.
roccotacodad54
·1 week ago"I refuse to use USPS for shipping."
The other side of that coin...I refuse to buy from sellers that use FedEx about 95% of the time. Only if the item is something like a rock or chunk of something else pretty much indestructable. Even then having to open a filthy package outside that I won't bring into the house is something I don't look foreward to in inclement weather.............................
elymbmx
·1 week agoI only buy from the sellers that use FedEx or UPS. USPS is WORST HERE. my FedEx driver been very great. no issues here. I know everyone have different experiences with FedEx.
fm2000
·1 week ago · EditedIn terms of damage, it really depends on the seller. FedEx hasn't damaged one of my packages in 20 years, I just sent out a few FedEx and they were packed to survive almost anything. They might try... barring running over it with a truck or lighting it on fire, they won't damage the items inside.
shire123
·1 week agoHonestly that higher shipping cost sounds,about right. As we don't know the zip codes involved we can't make firm calculations. But with that being said I ship lots of items that approach the dimensions and weight you state. Unless the package is just going 1 state away USPS GA shipping is almost always well over $75
My guess at this time is that there was something wrong in the,way you did your estimates
casey-86
OP1 week agoI mentioned that I recreated the same label on USPS website and posted the cost different in my original post. Its about a $70 difference and that doesn't sit well with me.
stephenmorgan
·1 week agoUse the eBay Shipping Calculator it is more likely the rate that was used. Go here.
https://www.ebay.com/shp/calc/rates
Was the package exactly 23x5x20 and weighed 9 pounds? If it was even the slightest over then all shippers require that the measurements round up to the nearest inch. It is possible the package could have been measured at 24 X 6 X 21.
eoma689485
·1 week agoQuestions should be asked before you bid or buy an item, not after. Once you do bid or buy you are obligated to pay the cost of shipping shown in the listing. I would suggest that in the future, if you are curious about the shipping cost that you contact the seller and inquire, if you do not receive a satisfactory or timely response, then find another seller.
christworks
·1 week ago · Edited@casey-86 Hi. I appreciate you looking out for your mom. Thats very good of you.
Regarding the amount of shipping that was charged, it is doubtful there was a mistake. Sellers often build other costs into the shipping. There are supply costs plus fees we pay to eBay. Some legacy sellers still charge a very low price for the item but very high shipping.
If the seller uses flat rate shipping, every buyer pays the same amount regardless of where they live. A seller must take into account the highest it could cost them for a label so they don't take a loss.
If they use calculated shipping, they may not have known the exact size and weight of the box they would use to ship the item, so they input a weight and measurements that were more then sufficient so they wouldn't take a loss.
There have been 8 or so changes to shipping costs over the summer. We are in uncertain waters when it comes to our shipping costs. The seller may have been just making sure so they didn't have to keep adjusting their price. Sometimes we don't know of a change until we go buy the label.
I'm tossing out possibilities because we don't know all the details.
Regardless of all of that, I'm unclear who made the purchase you or your mom, whomever did would have seen the shipping cost and the time to question that is before you buy, not after.
My guess is if you totaled what you paid for shipping and the cost of the item, it would come out to the going market cost for that item. If an item is worth $20 on eBay, it doesn't matter if i charge you $10 for the item and $10 for shipping, $5 for the item and $15 for shipping, or $20 for the item and free shipping. It's $20 no matter what.
My mom is 86 and has dementia. I do her buying for her and she had me spend more than she should have on a couple of items she really wanted. I tried explaining to her that very similar items were a third of the cost but she wouldn't have it. So I got her what she wanted and she is happy. I honestly can't put a price tag on that. If your mom is happy, I wouldn't stress her over this. Maybe use this as a teaching moment if she is the one who made the purchase.
casey-86
OP1 week agoMy concern is not hearing from the seller for 3 days now about this. A $70 dollar difference in shipping costs from what came up for me when I recreated the label is pretty significant. This item was shipped basically in plastic wrapping shaped like a pillow rectangle. I don't see how they were trying to make up any kind of fee difference in the shipping amount with that much money.
shire123
·1 week ago · EditedA package that is not a,box is sometimes considered "irregular" and does cost more the seller may have used irregular shipping charges
christworks
·1 week ago@casey-86 The seller is under no obligation to respond to you or to explain their business model/practicies. With all due respect, that's not your business after a sale has taken place. The time to ask those questions is before you buy.
If I make a purchase for a $100 item from Walmart, I obviously know how much I'm paying at the time I make the purchase. If I have an issue with the cost I'm paying, I need to speak with a Walmart associate before I make the purchase, not after. Of course, if I have bought something and later felt like I overpaid, I've returned it because Walmart allows for remorse returns. I don't know if your seller allows for remorse returns, but if they do you can always return the item. Just be aware they will not have to refund your original shipping.
As others have said, we don't have enough details from you to be able to tell you what the actual shipping cost was. I appreicate you looked it up on USPS, but without you knowing everything that factors in, your numbers cannot be trusted. Though based on what you provided and my look up of a standard packge going to a non-rural zip code in Zone 8 at that weight and size, I do think the seller likely had some money leftover after buying the label. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. They didn't come back and ask for more money. That would violate policy. The amount extra they might have recieved also would not be enough to violate eBay's excessive shipping policy.
casey-86
OP1 week ago · EditedSo after the item has been purchased there is just nothing we can do about this regardless of what happened with the shipping costs? The seller also had the listing set to no returns but I know buyers are still able to return items under certain conditions. My mom doesn't want to return it but now she also thinks the shipping was too much. At the time we weren't sure what the shipping should be considering what the item was but assumed the seller was being honest with us. It wasn't until after I saw the details on the shipping label (which I mentioned in my OP) that I felt like something was very off with this. The package was also only 2 states away from our location from where it shipped from.
Also I always respond to messages even after a package has been delivered. Its strange to me when someone just completely ignores you days after messaging them with a concern about a purchase.
bdmh-enterprises
·1 week agoNothing "happened" to the shipping costs. YOU saw the price and the shipping cost and YOU decided to buy. The seller has done NOTHING dishonest.
You don't seem to get it, but the seller can charge WHATEVER THEY WANT for shipping. It doesn't have to correlate to any actual cost to ship or whatever random buyers think it should be. And they certainly don't have to justify their pricing to anyone. Not only would I ignore such messages but that person would be immediately added to my block list.
casey-86
OP1 week agoI do get it. I personally would not ignore a buyer over any concern and I never have. You may choose to do that, but I personally think its bad manners. Its not asking for much for asking for simple clarity especially if there is something I'm missing in the whole thing. I had a concern and I asked about it. If that bothers you so much you don't have to read or reply to this post.
christworks
·1 week ago@casey-86 If the seller responded and told you that they made an additional $30 off the shipping cost you paid, what are you going to do? How does you knowing the rhyme or reason of the sellers business change anything?
casey-86
OP1 week agoI've only ever charged the exact price of the shipping label when I sell things on eBay. I've even covered extra shipping charges for buyers just when I felt like the package could use more padding when it probably didn't need it. I never add more to the shipping cost for anything outside the price of the label. The packaging, printer ink, paper, tape and handling has always been covered by me because I don't feel like the buyer should have to pay for any of that. Besides that times are hard, shipping isn't getting any cheaper and money isn't a disposable resources for most people out there so anything I can do to help my buyers I am more than happy to do.
christworks
·1 week ago@casey-86
No, there is nothing you can do about the shipping cost. The seller has not done anything wrong. You've been vague on the details and that's fine, but at the same time you are also making a lot of assumptions. The reason why your mom thinks it is too much is because you've now aggravated your mom about this, and that's not good especailly if she is older.
If the seller had no returns on the listing, then you cannot return it unless it isn't as described. Lying about the return reason is a serious eBay policy violation that could get your account, any account associated with it, and any new accounts banned. In addition, the seller could consider it mail fraud and open a case with the carrier.
You are going to have to accept it is what it is. Next time pay closer attention to the shipping and ask the seller before buying.
How you conduct your business is neither right nor wrong. Neither is how the seller conducts their business. I personally would not respond to a question about the shipping cost after a buyer has purchased from me. It's not the buyer's business and I don't have to justify it to nobody. If you feel you should, that's fine, but obviously your seller feels differently and that's okay.
Shipping costs are clearly displayed when you buy. If you disagree with them, don't buy. It's that simple. If an older parent does not understand, then you have to teach them or discourage them from buying without having you look at it first. I did that with my mom before I took full control over her finanical stuff so now she cannot go on a spending spree on a whim. Before that, before she so much as entered a card number, she knew to contact me and let me look at the website she was buying from and to make sure she understand the terms and conditions of the sale.