Buyer requested Refund on shipping

[namauri90]

I sold a statue a statue that would cost 40 dollars to ship usually with 50 dollars for shipping. And the buyer was at a Military address. So when I went to ship the statue and the postage cost me 17.60. Even though I had it listed with flat rate shipping am I required to refund the difference?

[duchess-at-speakeasy]

There are few differences between a military the regular domestic address. Did you use a flat rate box? If so, the FRB took precedence, regardless of the destination.

I would definitely refund!

~~C~~

[lintbrush*]

No you aren't required to refund the difference...

but you charged $50 and you paid $17.90

I see quite a few of the solds with shipping prices in the $15-$25 range

That seems like a lot of excess.

Did you insure?

How much did you spend on packing materials?

Since it was an auction, most bidders take into consideration the cost of shipping while placing their bids.  Had you put $25 in shipping would the bids have gone higher?  Seems like you got a fair price for the auction regardless of the shipping.

Remember that you are charged final value fees on your shipping charges too.

The buyer already left you positive feedback.

They probably left low stars for shipping & handling charges

Taking the military angle out of it, and what seems right?  How would you wanted to be treated if the shoe was on the other foot?

You wanted a $10 handling fee (on what you thought would cost $40 dollars)

You could refund the difference for what you paid + $10  (about $30) from the $50 you charged.

[stuff4divas]

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@namauri90wrote:

I sold a statue a statue that would cost 40 dollars to ship usually with 50 dollars for shipping. And the buyer was at a Military address. So when I went to ship the statue and the postage cost me 17.60. Even though I had it listed with flat rate shipping am I required to refund the difference?

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How was the buyer's attitude in the email? I would refund minus the actual shipping cost and handling/packing/shipping materials cost that you feel you should be paid. It does sound like you put a lot into the packing process. Also, consider what you can live with, whether it is refunding or not. 

[fern*wood]

Unless I missed it, I don't see where the buyer has contacted them or complained.

I would definitely not guess when shipping an item like this.  I would enter the correct information (weight/box dimensions) so the calculator can charge the appropriate amount based on destination.

[fern*wood]

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@fern*wood wrote:

Unless I missed it, I don't see where the buyer has contacted them or complained.

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I see it now---in the thread title no less.

[monster-deals]

Why would you give up your discount willingly?

[dyande-0]

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@namauri90wrote:

I always ship Priority. However all Military Mail is basically Priority with extra steps and forms to fill out and a flat rate apparently.

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No it's not

[garmentvarmint2004]

NAMA..

No,  you are not REQUIRED to give the buyer any  refund.  But I  think  you should give him lat least $20 back.  You badly miscalulated the real cost of shipping that item.   Plus you added $10 to  your own   incorrect estimate of $40!    And this person is in the Military. 

[missjen831]

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@garmentvarmint2004wrote:

NAMA..

No,  you are not REQUIRED to give the buyer any  refund.  But I  think  you should give him lat least $20 back.  You badly miscalulated the real cost of shipping that item.   Plus you added $10 to  your own   incorrect estimate of $40!    And this person is in the Military. 

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The person has a military address. That doesn’t mean they are in the military. Can be a spouse or civilian employee. 

[buyselljack2016]

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@missjen831wrote:

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@garmentvarmint2004wrote:

NAMA..

No,  you are not REQUIRED to give the buyer any  refund.  But I  think  you should give him lat least $20 back.  You badly miscalulated the real cost of shipping that item.   Plus you added $10 to  your own   incorrect estimate of $40!    And this person is in the Military. 

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The person has a military address. That doesn’t mean they are in the military. Can be a spouse or civilian employee. 

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May not have raised the hand, and sworn/averred to an oath, but spouse is military too

[flyerfandan999]

You are not required to refund the difference.

Some have suggested that since the Buyer had a military address, the Buyer may be a servicemember or dependent, and if so, may "deserve" to be reimbursed.

If you are not sure of whether the person "deserves" to be reimbursed, just keep in mind that all servicemembers are paid.  The lowest basic pay (not including any allowances or any benefits) on the military pay scale is $19,165.20/yr.  The highest is $189,601.20/yr.

[mr_lincoln]

@namauri90  My goal is to have shipping be a break even portion of the transaction and Profit is built in to the item's selling price.  If you looked at it that way and refunded a portion of the shipping cost that would cover the FVF on the higher shipping rate would you still make your profit on the item sale price?  To me its an easy answer ... AND in doing that you may find yourself on that Buyer's favorites list ... hard to see the forrest with all the trees, huh?

[mam98031]

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@missjen831wrote:

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@garmentvarmint2004wrote:

NAMA..

No,  you are not REQUIRED to give the buyer any  refund.  But I  think  you should give him lat least $20 back.  You badly miscalulated the real cost of shipping that item.   Plus you added $10 to  your own   incorrect estimate of $40!    And this person is in the Military. 

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The person has a military address. That doesn’t mean they are in the military. Can be a spouse or civilian employee. 

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That really isn't the point.  Besides, even if it was a spouse, you don't think they serve our country too????  Have you ever had your spouse in the military?  Have you ever experienced the extra work and worry a deployment causes those that love the person in the military?  Why do you feel they are less important than the person actually doing active duty for our country?

As for a civilian employee, I personally would not mind extending a little extra consideration to them either.  They are there performing some function, whether big or small, in support of our active duty military members.

[missjen831]

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@mam98031wrote:

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@missjen831wrote:

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@garmentvarmint2004wrote:

NAMA..

No,  you are not REQUIRED to give the buyer any  refund.  But I  think  you should give him lat least $20 back.  You badly miscalulated the real cost of shipping that item.   Plus you added $10 to  your own   incorrect estimate of $40!    And this person is in the Military. 

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The person has a military address. That doesn’t mean they are in the military. Can be a spouse or civilian employee. 

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That really isn't the point.  Besides, even if it was a spouse, you don't think they serve our country too????  Have you ever had your spouse in the military?  Have you ever experienced the extra work and worry a deployment causes those that love the person in the military?  Why do you feel they are less important than the person actually doing active duty for our country?

As for a civilian employee, I personally would not mind extending a little extra consideration to them either.  They are there performing some function, whether big or small, in support of our active duty military members.

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Yeah nice try but that’s not what I said at all. Don’t come for me like this, OK? 

[missjen831]

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@buyselljack2016wrote:

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@missjen831wrote:

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@garmentvarmint2004wrote:

NAMA..

No,  you are not REQUIRED to give the buyer any  refund.  But I  think  you should give him lat least $20 back.  You badly miscalulated the real cost of shipping that item.   Plus you added $10 to  your own   incorrect estimate of $40!    And this person is in the Military. 

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The person has a military address. That doesn’t mean they are in the military. Can be a spouse or civilian employee. 

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May not have raised the hand, and sworn/averred to an oath, but spouse is military too

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 Clearly what I said has been misunderstood. I wasn’t saying that the spouse isn’t in the military, my comment was in response to the implication that a military address =member of the armed services should get a discount. That is all.