Buyer Asking for Reduced Shipping Cost, Refund on Difference After Paying

[delanelun_0]

Hi there, 

I don't use ebay very often, so I don't know if this is normal. A buyer purchased an item and paid, but sent me a message today asking if I could send using media mail instead which should be cheaper, and then give them a refund for the difference in shipping either through PayPal or by putting the cash in the cover. Is this normal/should I do this?

[rixstuff]

No and you may not send anything that does not qualify as media mail using medial mail postage.  Yes its cheaper but hardly anything qualifies.  If you ship the wrong item with media mail, the PO will deliver it postage due.  You listed the amount and method of shipping in your listing and the buyer bought it with those terms.  Tough snot.

Ive had buyers ask me to use Flat Rate shipping "It's only $7!" yes...and the size of a VCR tape so this COAT isn't gonna fit in there.  There's what they want and what is realistic.

[corvettestainless]

Since you are selling a book, you can use Media Mail. Print the label using Media Mail from the ebay site, and then refund the difference using paypal. 

[mtgraves7984]

You can  do it.

I've always feared that this might cause a SNAD... shipping via a different method than listed. Seems to me that eBay looks at the listing, not at the messages. And Media Mail is ridiculously slow right now, another worry.

[joshua24fan]

I would wait until item is delivered. Media Mail is running so slow I would hate to refund partial shipping costs only to have to totally refund the whole order because item not received.