Weird eBay Seller

[unemployed_husky]

Anyone know what is going on with this eBay seller?  I won an old newspaper and he's claiming it costs a lot more than $3 to send it and that you have to pay for tracking. Is he just B-S'ing me and not wanting to sell it or what?

[cashmeredelight]

If he is sending via first class package nothing is $3 anymore.

[alcoforever]

I would agree that it would take more than $3 to ship a newspaper if it were a large urban paper.  It cannot be shipped Media Mail so that leaves Priority or First Class.

Still, that seller appears to want you to pay for his mistake in pricing the shipping.  If you have already paid, open an INR case after the last estimated delivery date.   If you haven't paid, ask seller to cancel.

[tdumonde2014]

Did the listing indicate how much shipping would be?

[nobody*s_perfect]

No, he is not bsing you.  Don't try to tell the seller how to do his job.  Pay whatever shipping cost was shown in the listing.

eBay sellers are strongly encouraged to use shipping methods that include tracking. If the package is over 3/4 inch thick, then package shipping is the only option.  So the very minimum cost to ship a lightweight item a short distance starts at  $3.31.  If the item weighs more than a few ounces and/or is going to the opposite cost, the cost can be over $5.

[unemployed_husky]

Pretty much all sellers have them set at $3-$5 shipping for whole newspapers, folded. The vast majority are $5 with free shipping.

[unemployed_husky]

Yes. $3.82 at Media Mail.

[unemployed_husky]

Nobody was telling anyone to do anything.  He emailed me saying that it would be costing more than the specified price of $3.82 shipping + $0.99 item bid. Then saying about paying extra for tracking.

[friskya]

If you've already paid what eBay has said you need to pay, that's the end of the conversation on your end. You've done what you're supposed to do and the seller can't ask for more. Wait until one day after the estimated delivery and then open an INR case.

If you haven't paid, I suggest you do so right away, because it gets a lot trickier if you haven't paid. Especially if the seller manages to string you along for more than 4 days... eBay will cancel the transaction and you'll get dinged with an unpaid item strike. One is pretty much harmless, but get a second one in the next 12 months and you'll be unable to buy from a lot of sellers.

I guess what I'm suggesting is, make sure that the ball is in his court. He can ship, or cancel, but you can't be harmed by whichever he does. 

[justafemster]

Seller lost money on the sale and is now trying to get you to pay more. 

Don't do it.  Pay for it.  If/when he cancels, report him.  

And if you do happen to get the paper.  Leave factual feedback.  

[maxine*j]

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@unemployed_husky wrote:

Yes. $3.82 at Media Mail.

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You cannot ship a newspaper Media Mail.  That's against USPS regulations, and they're getting pretty fierce about enforcing those regulations.

Perhaps your seller now realizes that and has just figured out what the cost is going to be to ship it properly.

=

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@unemployed_husky wrote:

Yes. $3.82 at Media Mail.

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Newspapers aren't eligible for Media Mail.

[unemployed_husky]

Paid for item.

[friskya]

Ball's in his court, now.

While you're waiting to see how he responds, I suggest familiarizing yourself with the Money Back Guarantee. Lots of good info there.

I also recommend ignoring any future messages you might receive from him. You're not required to respond to seller messages, any more than sellers are required to respond to buyer messages. Let the system work.

Now that you've paid, you're in the clear as far as eBay is concerned. You've met your obligations. (be ready, though - from what you've said, the seller is likely to cancel the sale, citing a problem with your address or something equally bogus)

@unemployed_husky 

[rlg1291]

You seem to be assuming buyer didn't pay for the item and was contesting the observed shipping charger after winning the auction or whatever. The implication I got was that buyer won an auction for a certain amount (say $1 paper + $4 shipping), then seller realized he/she boo booed and was trying to get the buyer to pay like $10 for shipping. That's less "telling the seller how to do his job" and more "trying to make the buyer pay for seller's miscalculation".