Seller does pay enough shipping

[momof3tinks]

Has anyone else had a issue with sellers not paying enough shipping costs to deliver an item? I think of this as something that should be unheard of, but I've experienced it twice now! WTH!

Are people that concerned with their bottom line that the buyer now gets screwed over? Is it okay to skimp on the costs for something like 75 cents so the buyer has to go pick it up and pay more to get their item?

In this busy work, most people work during post office hours. Sellers, please don't make this a regular practice. Sure you could try to get feedback removed, but that helps us buyers know who's a headache & who will live up to their end of the bargain!

[tat_gifts]

As a seller, I agree that should be unheard of.  I've made mistakes before and I've paid the difference at the post office out of my pocket.  For me, what I've found that works best is calculated shipping or free shipping. Calculated take a little more time up front but it's ready to go when you receive payment. 

As a buyer, I've never experienced it and pretty sure I would be very upset if it happened.

[momof3tinks]

I could understand a mistake, but the seller BLATANLY was not interested in making amends. Pretty much blowing me off like it was no big deal.

I emailed them saying that I received a notice saying I owed shipping and had to pick it up at the post office. I even sent them a picture and asked if they could email me back to resolve this issue.

I received NO APOLOGY, NO offer to reimburse me, NOTHING! That's the biggest insult! Like I have all the time in the world to oh to the PO & pick up a package when I have 5 kids, a house to care for and a full time job in surgery. I don't care how much I owe.

Thanks for letting me vent! Thanks for being part of what's right in the world 🙂

[kristeinjoy]

As a seller, what has happened with me is that my scales doesn't exactly match the post office scales.  Our postal workers are very picky and if it is even one-tenth of an ounce over, they don't send it out like that.  Usually they will add the postage and put a note in my box that I owe them whatever it cost extra. (small town post office).   If one does happen to slip through and make it to the buyer I appreciate the buyer letting me know about it and give them a refund through paypal.  What I don't like is for the buyer to leave less than positive feedback without ever letting me know there was a problem.  I could be that the scales in one post office don't weigh a package the same as another.

[momof3tinks]

I could see that- **bleep** happens, but one should apologize and make amends, which this seller didn't do.

[pennywise-4]

I would be upset as a buyer if that happened.

As a seller, I always make sure to have adequate postage even if that means charging a little more for shipping (or if I've underestimated the weight in my listing, I make the difference up myself).  I do a dry run of weight when I list and if a package is right on the verge of the next weight/cost cut off, I bump it up.  I'd rather know that if a PO scale is slightly different than mine, the package won't be returned to me or arrive at the buyer with a postage due notice because of a 1/16th of a lb difference in weight calculation. It's not much more to go up to the next weight level and I prefer the peace of mind knowing that the package will arrive without issue. I've also issued refunds to buyers if I find I have overestimated shipping charges and can safely ship for the next lowest level price.

[momof3tinks]

Good for you! 🙂
Too bad I will get screwed because eBay won't back me up.

[kristeinjoy]

Absolutely!  The seller should apologize and immediately refund what the buyer had to pay for postage due.  It is just good business.

[momof3tinks]

Apparently I'm a "child" & should "just get over it".

[usa-fashion-store]

Agree with kristeinjoy.

It happened to me as the seller. I apologize and refund buyer right away. I learnt my lesson and always put 1-2 oz more on my package to make sure it won't happen again. 

However, I make mistake once in a while and I apologize plus refund to buyer as soon as I can. 

[reallynicestamps]

It was probably a mistake on the seller's part. After all, is 75 cents enough to make it worthwhile risking negative feedback?

I will assume that the 75 cents was not the actual problem (does USPS double the amount due? Even $1.50 won't buy you a latte.) but the trip to the Post Office can be a problem if you are juggling children and a dayjob.

The seller was stupid not to apologize and refund the money you had to pay out. That would be an acceptable compromise. providing that your complaint was made politely and you left either no feedback or neutral feedback.

As things stand, you can leave appropriate feedback. The most effective feedback is calm and factual. Remember that future members will read the feeback you leave and judge you on it.

At the same time you can leave Detailed Seller Ratings. The normal Rating is five stars. Any seller who drops below 4.3 will find her ability to list and to sell restricted.

You can also leave a Response to any feedback left by you or by the seller, indefinitely. Again the most effective Responses are calm and factual.

Finally, here in Ontario Canada, the minimum wage is 17.3 cents a minute. On that basis, how much time have you spent on this?

[momof3tinks]

They under paid by weight. The seller paid for 3 oz but the package weighed 5 oz.
I always take packages to the post office to make sure the postage is correct.