Buyers trying to change the shipping price...
By maezee
@maezee (41988)
United States
March 22, 2012 7:48am CST
Here's a weird situation I have encountered twice in the past week! I usually set my shipping prices at about $10 for each item or lot of clothes, sometimes even $15 depending on what it is and how heavy it is. I would rather over-charge than under-charge just because I don't want to end up being the one who gets screwed over, you know?
Anyway, I put one dress as shipping for it $10. It's a heavier dress, but probably would end up being around $7, plus delivery confirmation, which is another $1. I have a buyer on it, who bid on the item, and is now asking me if I could try to fit it in a small-sized flat rate box. Which runs $5.35+ tax and delivery confirmation at the post office. It might not actually fit in the small flat rate box, but I guess I am going to try for the buyer's sake.
But I think what they want is for me to refund the rest of the shipping that I charged them. In this case it would be about $3 back (because if it does fit, I would charge them $6 or 7 and they paid $10 for shipping). I am assuming they were asking for that reason. I find it kind of a huge hassle to transfer money ($3) via PayPal back to them. Because once they pay, there's really no other way to do it.
What would you do in this situation?
Should I give them the difference in shipping if I CAN get this item into a small flat rate box?
4 people like this
6 responses
@NailTech (6874)
• United States
4 Apr 12
Oh I have had that situation happen to me too and others like it, not only on eBay but on another site. Once, a few years ago, they did it so sneaky, on the invoice without even telling me. I had like $5. for the shipping and they thought they would just take that down themselves and pay only $3.00! I noticed it right away and corrected it, sent the money back and sent another invoice with the $5. shipping and she had the nerve to do it again! I had had it with her and then sent her another invoice and told her not to "fix" the price again herself. Plus all kinds of other situations, and you will get all kinds of excuses too like illnesses, school supplies costing them money, and so on as if I didn't have any expenses, as well.
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
31 Mar 12
For them I would because I wouldn't want the rating to go down for you. Now I know you are being more safe then sorry but I would make the shipping price go down one dollar, not much but from what I understand the $10.00 is a cushion for what you suspect even the heaviest thing to cost around $7.00. Going down a dollar or two may prevent this from happening again, especially if the buyer wants to buy from you again.
@melanie652 (2524)
• United States
31 Mar 12
I've never asked a seller to decrease their shipping price. I look at it like that is the fixed shipping amount and if I'm not willing to pay that, then do not bid on the item.
I would not second guess yourself. They bid on the item knowing shipping was $10. I don't think it's fair for them to ask you to decrease. Maybe tell them you're not sure the dress would fit in the smaller box, but are confident it would fit well in the bigger box and be better protected for shipping?
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
22 Mar 12
I've never been in this situation, but I think since you already set the price for shipping that they shouldn't be given a refund, if indeed they are asking for one.
If they aren't asking for a refund, but just want a smaller box then I say go for it, so long as it fits and you aren't going out of your way to get a different box.
Just my opinion.
Happy mylotting!
@Kashmeresmycat (6369)
• United States
23 Mar 12
It is kind of hard to figure on shipping costs for Ebay, especially if you are not sure of the weight.
I've been doing Ebay for years now and quite a while back I invested in a postal scale. It cost about $50.00 but it sure does come in handy and I'm very happy I bought it. It will at least give you a close estimate on what it will cost when you ship. You can add on an extra dollar or two for handling fee's if you choose to do this. This is only worth it if you sell a lot of items that are heavy.
The shipping on Ebay is getting out of control again with sellers over-charging ridiculous amounts of money to ship. I don't and completely refuse to buy from them. I collect old vintage postcards, which costs $.44 cents to actually ship. I don't mind paying up to $2.00 for shipping on these, but when you see someone trying to get $5.00 and up to $10.00 to ship out one postcard, I will report them. Its ridiculous and scamming.
All I can say is, I try my best to keep my shipping as low as possible for people. There are different size flat rate priority mail boxes you can get and shove as much as you want in them for one price.
If you can fit stuff in these boxes, charge a small handling fee on top of it for your time, gas, packaging, etc. This way I would think everyone is happy. Good luck and I hope this helps a little.
