Paid for Priority Shipping - Shipped First Class - Unresponsive Seller

[gpraceman]

I paid for an item which listed the shipping method as USPS Priority Mail, but seller shipped via First Class Mail.  Seller does not respond to messages.  The shipping amount was rather excessive ($15.99) for an item that could easily have shipped in a Small Priority Flat Rate box for about $8 with a bit of bubble wrap to protect the item.  Then to have it shipped via First Class Mail has me feeling ripped off.  I should be due a partial refund.

Other than giving this seller negative feedback, is this an issue that I can report the seller for?

[wastingtime101]

You can ask the seller to refund the difference. They are not required to refund.

The only recourse you have through eBay aside from leaving feedback is to file an item not as described claim which means you need to be prepared to return the item. 

There's no report option for what happened.

[gpraceman]

I do see this in the eBay policies.

"Sellers must not:

• Use a slower shipping service than the one selected by the buyer"

[wastingtime101]

Yep, and if a seller violates the policy a buyer's recourse is to file a not received claim and return the item.

[mtgraves7984]

At face value, you have a NAD Return. But... if you're happy with the item (and were happy with the overall price), only you can decide if it's worth returning the item for a full refund.

It would be nice if your seller hadn't duped you, and even nicer if they refunded you a partial amount for shipping, though... even though they aren't required  to.

If you leave bad feedback, remain calm and factual. And keep the item you bought, since you wanted it. Good luck.

[1786davycrockett]

@gpraceman 

"Yep, and if a seller violates the policy a buyer's recourse is to file a not received claim and return the item."

Do NOT open an "item not received" claim!  Your seller needs only to prove that the item was delivered to cancel that type of claim, which eBay will automatically find in the seller's favor..

Instead you should file a "Not as described" claim, since the item was described as including USPS Priority shipping, and your seller cheated you by only shipping at the lower USPS First Class rate.

When you receive the item, give the seller an opportunity first to refund you the excess shipping charges.  If the seller refuses, then open up a "Not as described" claim -- but do NOT tell the seller that you are planning to open up a NAD claim, since the seller can claim to eBay that you are trying to blackmail them. 

If the seller refuses your refund request, or ignores you entirely, go ahead with the NAD claim, which will necessitate that you also return the item, after the seller sends you a free shipping label.

Good luck!

[wastingtime101]

Whoops, typo -  should have said "not as described." Thanks for catching that, man. Had it right in my first post.