Buyer charged me $4 for USPS select ground but then sent it in a plain envelope for .55

[gretschwhtfalcon]

I guess there's nothing untoward about it, but I was rather shocked. It's a very small item that cost $5.99 and so easily fit in a plain postcard-sized envelope, but sort of disappointing that I paid the $4.00 for USPS select ground and then discovered that he only spent .55 (and the cost of the envelope) to send it out! Guess I should consider the extra $3.46 as being the seller's handling charges?!?  The enclosed invoice refers to "shipping and handling" (USPS Parcel Select Ground) as being a total of $4.01. I probably would have put something like this is the smallest possible bubble or cushion mailer, and surely would not have felt right about doing it the way he did. 

[philly_greek]

all you can really do is give him a bad rating or be more careful next time. 

[fab_finds4u]

The seller upgraded the shipping from Economy  2-8 days Parcel Select to Standard 2÷3 days First Class.  The shipping & handling cost isn't always only actual postage although it can be if the seller wants it to be.  The seller can add the cost of bubble mailers and shipping supplies and add a small fee for handling. They don't have to break it down. What would be wrong is to downgrade the shipping to a slower method.  

[froggyjump]

so you want his profit included in the price? I would only complain if the shipping wasn't up to par such  as if it was late or something.

[buyselljack2016]

There is no Parcel Select Ground that ships for $4.

Parcel Select for the weight of the item shipped would cost from $6.92-$8.12

Seller used a poor choice of the offered services. Possibly left from a previous listing that was copied rather than starting from scratch.

Seller chose a "flat rate" amount (shipping & handling), and shipped your item in a more expedited manner than listed for the amount paid.

[gretschwhtfalcon]

He told me that when he charges $5 or less for shipping the item is typically small enough to put in a regular envelope. $6 or more for shipping will go with a tracking number. Thanks for replies. I do so little with charging for any shipping in my own sales so as to not be all that well versed in it. 

[lja440]

The seller won't be around long. They are going to have a lot of peeved off  buyers  that I'm sure a number will be vindictive enough to file false INR's which he has no tracking for so the buyers  will win every case.

I only ship coupons first class letter. And frankly I have nothing but the stamp in the deal so it wouldn't stress me if someone did claim an INR on occasion.

[lamber9347]

I can understand that you feel deceived because pretty much that seller wrote this incorrectly. However as has been pointed out already, seller actually upgraded your item from parcel select to first class. They should have listed it as first class to begin with, then when you received the regular envelope you wouldn't feel cheated as they did ship it as advertised. 

I've been noticing more and more sellers charging higher than normal amounts for shipping, but all of them are also advertising as first class so I understand they are up charging for supplies/handling/time spent. This is how it should be written because then I can decide if I want to pay the additional shipping charges or go somewhere else. There is no deceit in that.... 

[cleaning.the.attic]

If an item cost $9.99 with free shipping, would you be disappointed when the item shows up and you see that the seller actually had to pay for shipping? Would you get on here to ask if you should send them more money?

My point is, try not to get hung up on shipping price--pay attention to the total price. If the item is worth the total price to you, and the seller ships it safely, timely, and doesn't DOWNgrade shipping, why worry about how they split up item/shipping price in their listing?

As a buyer, I know the total price ahead of time, and can either buy, or not. 

If you got your item on time, in good condition...I would hope you wouldn't leave any negative feedback or reviews. 

[gretschwhtfalcon]

Thanks for all the replies. Not a big deal, but, as was said, I would have listed it first class to begin with, nor would I take the chance on sending a small (1/2" long) screw in a regular letter envelope for fear that it might fall out or get ripped open somehow. I would have used the smallest available padded envelope. 

[gretschwhtfalcon]

cleaning the attic....of course not. I sell nearly all my items "free shipping" but obviously I pay to mail them. Any buyer who doesn't realize that doesn't even belong on eBay.  I don't plan on leaving any sort of bad feedback, but seller certainly could have handled his listing better as was indicated in a few replies.