UPS Shipping charge scam

[wendyolson]

I'm a new seller.  A buyer selected to ship via UPS and they paid a shipping cost of $25.02.  When I went to print the shipping label, the eBay page said they will charge me $29.95.  This means I'm paying $4.93 more for shipping than the buyer paid.  eBay chat offers no decent solution, other than to contact the buyer and ask them to send me more money via pay pal - that is not a viable solution.  I would never do that to a buyer, and I can't imagine the person would trust me if I made such a request.  

The unhelpful customer service chat person says there is absolutely nothing they can do because the UPS estimate can be different than the actual price.  I can't be the first person this has happened to.  What the actual crazy business practice is going on here?

I listed my item for $25.  If I'm paying $4.93 in extra shipping costs out of pocket, shouldn't eBay consider that I sold this for $20.07, and shouldn't they calculate THEIR fee on $20.07 instead of $25?  But eBay is refusing to do that.   They will charge a fee of $7.21 on the sale price of $25.

I am finding it hard to believe an established business like eBay can operate with these practices. 

[rfmtm]

What is the weight and dimensions of the package, and the to/from Zip Codes?

What is the Item Number?

[wendyolson]

The item number is 296027012212.  The to zip is 73162-4400 and the from zip is 06033.  But all of those details were in place when the buyer bought it at 2:13 pm today, and eBay charged the buyer $25.02 in shipping at that time.  When I clicked on the seller link to print the shipping label less than 45 minutes later, eBay changed the shipping cost to $29.95.  There is no reason the shipping cost should increase between the time of purchase and the time I went to print the shipping label.   A customer service rep tried to tell me the cost of fuel might have changed, but how could that possibly happen in less than an hour?  

The weight and dimensions didn't change from the time the customer bought it and I went to print the shipping label.  The size is 20 by 20 by 9 and the weight is 7 lbs 12 ounces.  Again, these specifics did not change. 

[rfmtm]

The correct rate is $29.95, from that information, and yes ebay is showing the buyer $25.02.  The only reason this might be from your end is if your Origination Zip Code (ship from Zip Code) is different from your Item Location or Return Address Zip Code. 

Unless you have a copy of the label or can reprint it, you can check this by selecting to print another label and clicking on edit below your Return address at the upper right, just don't actually buy another label.  If this is not the problem you will have to hammer on ebay for a credit.

These types of problems are just one reason not to use ebay UPS, but use your own account or for better discounts and options a free Pirate Ship account.

[wendyolson]

Thanks, but I just looked on pirateship.com and they have the same  29.95 rate for UPS.  The flaw was in the rate ebay charged the buyer, and I don't think there's any way to change that.

All of my addresses are the same. 

[rfmtm]

The $29.95 is the correct charge and is what should have be charged to the buyer by ebay.  Even if your addresses are the same, it is only the Origination Zip Code that could cause this on your end.  Did you check that?   If that is correct then ebay, as it many times does, had a glitch and charged the buyer the wrong amount.  You will have to take that up with ebay to have fixed.

If you are getting nowhere calling ebay then send  a private message with all the details here:

facebook.com/eBay/
or
twitter.com/askebay