Buyer Complaint about paying a fee for picking item up at post office

[gollygee63]

Hi All,

I recently sold a football helmet for $300, purchased a USPS Ground Advantage shipping label for $5 and the maximum weight for the package was 70lbs.  I was notified that the item arrived at the buyer’s post office. I received a message from the buyer that they needed to pay $23 to pick up the item at the post office. In the tracking it says item arrived at the post office and then a few days later it states Reminder to schedule for Redelivery.

I am trying to figure out how to proceed here and appreciate any advice. Thanks!

[toysaver]

There's no way a football helmet will ship for $5 unless it's for a Barbie doll.

It wasn't a football helmet, it was a landline phone shaped like a regulation sized helmet.  You're lucky the charge was only $23.  Similar items listed ship for about $60.

[kensgiftshop]

Have the buyer show you a copy of the receipt, then send them the funds to cover the postage.
There's no way it would ship for $5.

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@gollygee63 wrote: ... purchased a USPS Ground Advantage shipping label for $5 and the maximum weight for the package was 70lbs. .... I received a message from the buyer that they needed to pay $23 to pick up the item at the post office....

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Postage prices for Ground Advantage are based on package weight and dimensions, and on distance. It is not a flat rate of $5.  When you purchase a postage label through eBay, you must be sure that the label preparation page has accurate values for the package weight and dimensions.  If you paid just $5 for your label, then the postage for your package was severely underpaid.

USPS has special equipment at their sorting centers which is supposed to catch underpaid postage, and charge it to the account of the package sender. Apparently this system didn't catch your package, but your buyer's Post Office did.  Ask the buyer to provide proof of the amount of Postage Due, and then issue them a partial refund for that amount so they can ransom their package.

[xadexane]

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@nobody*s_perfect wrote:

Ask the buyer to provide proof of the amount of Postage Due, and then issue them a partial refund for that amount so they can ransom their package.

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This ^^ is the best devious solution brightlightbookseller duffy4444 a_c_green titipeo (kudoers) to have the buyer pay @gollygee63 for your $23 postage due.

Plus if they return the helmet the most you can refund is $300 minus the $23 you already refunded, less than they paid.

[mybigsale]

@gollygee63 

purchased a USPS Ground Advantage shipping label for $5 and the maximum weight for the package was 70lbs.

70lbs is the maximum weight accepted for a ground advantage package. Not the maximum weight of the actual package you sent.

Go to your order and choose print another label (don't actually purchase the label).

Enter all the correct package weights and dimensions for the item you sent (dimensions are important as eBay/USPS will use those to determine the price). Is ground advantage still showing $5? 

(Best option does appear to be just refund your buyer the $23)

[monroe67]

"I received a message from the buyer that they needed to pay $23 to pick up the item at the post office. . . .

I am trying to figure out how to proceed here and appreciate any advice. Thanks!"

How to proceed ???  As others have advised, send $23.00 to your buyer. 
You can do this through eBay, as a refund to your buyer.  
My selling ID would probably refund $25.00 to that buyer, or more, to atone for my outrageous under-estimate of the USPS Ground Advantage cost.  

[pickapaper]

@toysaver said "It wasn't a football helmet, it was a landline phone shaped like a regulation sized helmet.  You're lucky the charge was only $23.  Similar items listed ship for about $60."

I hope the buyer read the description and realizes he bought a phone and not an actual helmet.   

[wastingtime101]

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@gollygee63 wrote:

purchased a USPS Ground Advantage shipping label for $5 and the maximum weight for the package was 70lbs.

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You misunderstood maximum weight @gollygee63 . While it's true the service Ground Advantage (and USPS in general) has a maximum weight limit of 70 lbs, that does not mean the label you purchased was valid for any item up to 70 lbs.

The label you purchased is only valid for items meeting the weight and dimensions you entered before purchasing the label. As there's no way to ship a football helmet for $5 with Ground Adv, all signs point to you entering incorrect weight/dimensions so you should pay the buyer the postage due. Ask for a photo of the postage due notice, then send the buyer the exact amount.

As long as the buyer is not going to return the item it's fine to send a partial refund through eBay. But if the buyer later files a return request, you'll be refunding them through eBay less that $23 already refunded which means you should make arrangements to send that $23 through an outside source such as PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, etc.

[aproudparent2010]

It is absolutely impossible that helmet phone shipped for $5.

What were the dimensions and weight for that package?


You need to refund your buyer the $23


70 lbs is the maximum weigh for Ground Advantage but what was the actual weight  and dimensions for your package

[bonanza125]

If you want to be on the buyers good side I would say refund them the $23 which should have been paid upon creating the label. That's your responsibility. Something was done wrong when you created the label. Wrong measurements maybe. I am unsure how a 70 lb package can get a $5 label created. 5 ounces is under $5 through Ebay labels. 

[gloryglorygifts]

Your only options are to either have the customer pay the $23 and have them send you a copy of their receipt, then refund them the amount. Or, they can leave it there and the p.o. will return it to you and you can give them a full refund of the purchase price. Sorry, but it's on you for not using the correct size and weight of the package and pricing it accordingly. I would go with the first option. Option 2, you will get a notice from the p.o. asking for payment of that $23. You do owe it to them.

The buyer could open an INR case and prevail and you could expect negative feedback too so I would take care of it asap and keep in touch with the customer. 

Good luck.