buyer wants me to lower the shipping cost

[askewis55]

I sold an item in an auction. Five minutes after it ended the buyer sent me a message asking for an invoice with Media mail shipping. I always ship priority flat rate, and that was the price in the listing. I was given some sob story about needing money for medical bills. Is there anything I can do? Or do I have to figure out a different shipping method.

[buyselljack2016]

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[rktoyandhobby]

Got to love people so poor/cheap that a few dollars shipping makes or breaks them so they tell a phony sob story about "medical" bills.  I had someone pull that on me once and I looked at his recent purchase history and that idiot was spending hundreds of dollars on toys.  If they haven't paid yet, cancel the sale and block them.  If they have, I would flip a coin whether to do the same.

[siayan]

Usually when the start off bad they end up worse.

I would ship media and get rid of him. It really isn't no harm to you. Quote $5.00 media and you can make more then shipping priority. 

of course if it is the $5 media item.

[emerald40]

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Tell them no.  Offer to cancel the listing for them if they wish.



@askewis55 wrote:

I sold an item in an auction. Five minutes after it ended the buyer sent me a message asking for an invoice with Media mail shipping. I always ship priority flat rate, and that was the price in the listing. I was given some sob story about needing money for medical bills. Is there anything I can do? Or do I have to figure out a different shipping method.

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[dirk12955]

Tell the "Buyer" you'll ship it to him Media mail and the cost is $7.10

[nobody*s_perfect]

Your choices are:

1. Agree to ship the item via Media Mail; send a revised invoice

2. Refuse to change the shipping; then if the buyer doesn't pay, file an unpaid item claim

3. Tell the buyer that you are very sorry to hear about his medical bills and the perspective that they put on a role-playing game book from 1987, and that you will gladly cancel the transaction at his request.

[wonderdogdawn]

If the item can legitimately ship Media, then you are potentially missing out on a lot of sales by shipping Priority Flat Rate which will always be much more expensive than Media.

If the item does not qualify for Media, then you are free to tell the buyer to pound sand.  Buyer really should have asked before bidding/buying.  If this item is a good sale for you and can ship Media, then I would suggest doing so to preserve the sale.

[jason_incognito]

If the item can ship media mail, I wonder how many buyers you lost by not offering it.

[duggmills]

Don't change your terms and conditions.  

Buyers don't get to request anything after the fact. 

Buyers must make arrangements before the fact.

Too many buyers don't actually understand media mail anyway. 

Tell the buyer to pay as listed when they bid or tell them to cancel the sale.

Don't let buyers run your business.

[castlemagicmemories]

Buyer is asking for something not in the listing, and you are not required to accomodate that request~you don't have to change your shipping cost or method.

You can cancel with problem with buyer's address, no defect, and block.

Or you can message them, I'm sorry but I am unable to accomodate your request.  If  you would like to cancel, please let me know and I will be happy to do so.  Thank you.

Then cancel and block.

Your call.  I think either will work.  Hopefully others will weigh in on this, too.

[dougsue123b]

I recently had the same thing happen. Just tell them no then offer to cancel. 

[ed8108]

Agree, buyer and the seller should both accept & adhere to the shipping method that appears in the listing.

buyers may make a purchase decision based on total cost, some sellers list shipping as priority mail with the appropriate cost but then will substitute media or parcel post & pocket the cost difference.

[7606dennis]

Since the listing has ended the buyer has not legitimate right to ask you to change anything in the transaction.

One question that begs an answer is whether or not the item qualifies to be sent via media mail.  However, since the shipping method in the listing was or should have been known to the buyer before making the purchase, I would decline their request.  If it mattered that much to them, they should have asked about it prior to committing to the purchase.

Personally, I don't offer MM shipping even if the item does qualify mainly because of the potential for longer transit times.  Alas!  Today's eBay buyers are of the instant gratification sort, in most cases.  

[futuretomorrow]

@askewis55

Dear Buyersnamehere,

We're truly sorry to hear of the recent development that has left you with a medical emergency and in need of extra cash. Since we truly believe health comes first and foremost and know that the few dollars saved on shipping won't do much with todays extremely high medical costs we'd like to help you out by canceling the order in it's entirety. Let us know within the next few hours because eBay mandates we ship out all orders within a 24hr window and X hours has already past.

Yours Sincerely,

The seller

Don't pander to extortion on shipping after the fact. You'd also be pandering to a few other things I don't want to discuss here but find unacceptable.