Pay for Priority mail but item ships First Class Mail.

[inhawaii]

Years ago i filed a complaint to ebay as a buyer against a seller who charged me for Priority Mail but sent my item First Class Mail.  My argument was that i paid Lexus (Priority Mail) but received a Kia (First Class Mail). How can that be acceptable?  If i paid for a iPhone 10 and received a iPhone 9 that would totally NOT be acceptable. All i wanted was the difference between First Class Mail and Priority Mail. I lost the case.  I was told that as long as i received my item within the required time frame, there was nothing ebay would do. 

This was several years ago.  Does anyone know if this is still the case?

[partial*eclipse]

Yes, there was a discussion just iwthin the past week or two in which eBay staff reiterated this policy.  In response to your Lexus/Kia analogy, they'd just point out that both cars get there at the same time.

[penguins_dont_fly]

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@partial*eclipse wrote:

Yes, there was a discussion just within the past week or two in which eBay staff reiterated this policy.  In response to your Lexus/Kia analogy, they'd just point out that both cars get there at the same time.

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But for "inhawaii" ... If the OP's name is literal truth ... this might  not be the case 😉

[the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth]

You could maybe try filing a SNAD through Paypal. They have a selection for postage although I have never done it personally.

[a_c_green]

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@penguins_dont_fly wrote:

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@partial*eclipse wrote:

Yes, there was a discussion just within the past week or two in which eBay staff reiterated this policy.  In response to your Lexus/Kia analogy, they'd just point out that both cars get there at the same time.

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But for "inhawaii" ... If the OP's name is literal truth ... this might  not be the case 😉

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No, First Class goes to Hawaii by air, same as Priority Mail.

As for that exchange with eBay about whether the buyer had a right to expect the service level that he paid for, their response started out logically and then went sideways. 

The initial topic was whether the seller could change carriers (e.g. from USPS to UPS) without consulting the buyer first. Several people pointed out that there might be delivery issues with UPS in the buyer's location (or at their address) that USPS might deal with better (and again, the buyer had paid for USPS, not UPS). This then wandered into another topic of whether the seller could go to a higher service if that would be necessary to meet their estimated delivery date.

Someone (I think Trinton) added that changing the carrier service was not considered a violation (or defect, or whatever you want to call it) as long as the estimated delivery date was met; the deadline was basically more important than the method. However, some folks took that to mean that in general, the seller could downgrade the service as long as the delivery deadline was met. Not speaking for Trinton here, but I don't think that was an accurate conclusion to draw.

If I pay extra for Priority shipping, there is no way that I would accept First Class or Parcel used instead (without a subsequent refund for the difference). If the item had Free Shipping, I would still expect to receive the item via whatever carrier and method is stated in the listing (if a specific method is given). 

[missjen831]

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@a_c_green wrote:

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@penguins_dont_fly wrote:

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@partial*eclipse wrote:

Yes, there was a discussion just within the past week or two in which eBay staff reiterated this policy.  In response to your Lexus/Kia analogy, they'd just point out that both cars get there at the same time.

---

But for "inhawaii" ... If the OP's name is literal truth ... this might  not be the case 😉

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No, First Class goes to Hawaii by air, same as Priority Mail.

As for that exchange with eBay about whether the buyer had a right to expect the service level that he paid for, their response started out logically and then went sideways. 

The initial topic was whether the seller could change carriers (e.g. from USPS to UPS) without consulting the buyer first. Several people pointed out that there might be delivery issues with UPS in the buyer's location (or at their address) that USPS might deal with better (and again, the buyer had paid for USPS, not UPS). This then wandered into another topic of whether the seller could go to a higher service if that would be necessary to meet their estimated delivery date.

Someone (I think Trinton) added that changing the carrier service was not considered a violation (or defect, or whatever you want to call it) as long as the estimated delivery date was met; the deadline was basically more important than the method. However, some folks took that to mean that in general, the seller could downgrade the service as long as the delivery deadline was met. Not speaking for Trinton here, but I don't think that was an accurate conclusion to draw.

If I pay extra for Priority shipping, there is no way that I would accept First Class or Parcel used instead (without a subsequent refund for the difference). If the item had Free Shipping, I would still expect to receive the item via whatever carrier and method is stated in the listing (if a specific method is given). 

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I think Trinton did mean to draw that conclusion because there is a thread on this very board where a seller downgraded from priority to first class and Heidi stated that the seller isn’t required to ship using the method on the listing and can ship using whatever method they think is appropriate. And she also threw in the tidbit about the delivery estimate being met. 

[lightlily_arts]

I don’t know if there is a specific policy but I had a similar experience last year where I paid for Priority Mail and the seller shipped economy.  The package was a week late arriving as well.  This was a small parcel of salt and pepper shakers.  I messaged the seller as I wasn’t happy that she charged me double what the shipping expense should have been as it wasn’t even 8 ounces.  She did refund me $4.00 after an unpleasant exchange.  I think the only recourse you may have is through Paypal, but your seller may expect you to return the item and it would be on your dime. If this is a recent issue what would you like your seller to do?  You can always comment about this in their feedback.

[7606dennis]

I'm of the opinion that the shipping method advertised should be the one used by the seller.  However, I suppose one would have to return the item in order to receive a full refund.  I don't believe eBay can force a partial refund.

[pjcdn2005]

I seem to remember reading posts in the past about Paypal allowing a claim for situations like this. 

[divwido]

I completely agree with you.  If I pay $ 10 to have something shipped, I expect certain things-like Priority mail, a box and a reasonable use of that money.

I don't buy a lot on here anymore because I"ve had such horrible shipments.

[ed8108]

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@lightlily_arts wrote:

I don’t know if there is a specific policy but I had a similar experience last year where I paid for Priority Mail and the seller shipped economy.  The package was a week late arriving as well.  This was a small parcel of salt and pepper shakers.  I messaged the seller as I wasn’t happy that she charged me double what the shipping expense should have been as it wasn’t even 8 ounces.  She did refund me $4.00 after an unpleasant exchange.  I think the only recourse you may have is through Paypal, but your seller may expect you to return the item and it would be on your dime. If this is a recent issue what would you like your seller to do?  You can always comment about this in their feedback.

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Sellers and Buyers should be held accountable for performance error.

[kattinsanity]

I NEVER buy anything that states shipping is going to be by UPS or FedEx in the winter months as they won't deliver to my house once it snows.  I buy my bubble wrap from a seller who uses FedEx Smartpost and that works great as it goes to my P.O. Box.

If a seller changed their shipping method after I purchased causing me a over 100 mile round trip to get my item I'd be pretty upset.  Some sellers change shipping methods not knowing the situation it may put the buyer in.  I buy from a seller because of their shipping method~~to change it after the purchase is an absolute NO-NO.

[missjen831]

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@7606dennis wrote:

I'm of the opinion that the shipping method advertised should be the one used by the seller.  However, I suppose one would have to return the item in order to receive a full refund.  I don't believe eBay can force a partial refund.

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They won’t enforce a partial refund and the only part of the situation that would be considered SNAD by eBay is the late delivery.

[casey768]

as a long time buyer and seller,I see seller profit margin erodes to the point some make money on shipping and not item,some just rely on their 20% TRS discount ,and now it is 10%/

so if you think you have your item in good condition at a good price and it was shipped promptly,let it go,unless the diff between priority and first class is a mile wide.

how much would it cost you to buy locally with sales tax if you have not found it on ebay?

talk to the seller,some may give you a partial refund,you never know,no need to go to Ebay or Paypal.

Seller is also allowed to charge shipping AND HANDLING,I always allow seller to pad actual shipping $1-$4 ,depending on the item and how well he packs.

Give your poor seller a break,let him have a cup of coffee and a donut on the way back from the post office,he earns it 

[flyerfandan999]

What makes you think that First Class is a downgrade from Priority?  The Post Office does not think it is.

Source:

https://pe.usps.com/BusinessMail101/Index?ViewName=PriorityMail

TIPS

• First-Class Mail items weighing more than 13 ounces is called Priority Mail.