[WWI] ot: Ebay shipping costs

[Scottrik]

If it says "postage" or "shipping", you may have a point that such cost has
been mis-represented and you may be getting "pyrite for gold", though I
think that may well be overstating the case unless the seller DID specify a
higher level of service than provided. I'd also argue you agreed to the
price up-front, but that's why they play the ballgame, right?

If it says "postage and handling", "postage and packing", "P&P" or any such,
they're in the clear because at this point by bidding you are merely
agreeing to compensate them handsomely for whatever effort and materials
(minimal though they may be) they spent "handling" or "packing" your order.
My observation is that most sellers playing this game are careful to use one
of the latter strategies.

The simple fact is YOU are in undeniable, absolute, 100%, incontrovertible
control over whether you bid or not in such an auction. If you don't like
the shipping terms your choice is very simple...don't bid. You could contact
the seller AHEAD OF TIME and ask for a reduced/more realistic rate and get
committment to same, etc and then bid. I just choose not to do business with
them.





-----Original Message-----
From: wwi-bounces at wwi-models.org [mailto:wwi-bounces at wwi-models.org]On
Behalf Of Andy Bannister
Sent: Friday, March 02, 2007 11:13 AM
To: 'World War I Modeling Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [WWI] ot: Ebay shipping costs




Scott:
>
> In which case we must agree to disagree.
>
I agree with that. ;-)

> My feeling is that if the seller meets all their obligations
> under the listing to leave "negative" feedback is
> inappropriate and worthy of negative feedback right back at
> you without being "retaliatory".

So if you paid the current price for a gold bar and when you received it you
discovered it was actually iron pyrite you wouldn't feel ripped off?
Similarly, if someone says the shipping cost is 12 pounds and when you
receive the item you find they have deliberately mislead you and the actual
cost of postage is a fraction of what you paid you still wouldn't feel
ripped off? I certainly would. As Ernest says, I'm all for sticking it to
eBay, but their costs to the seller aren't so extortionate to warrant that
kind of profit on postage.

No one was holding a gun to
> ANYONE'S head forcing them to buy. If you (anyone) bought at
> the auction you did so of your own free will and did so
> accepting the terms and conditions as-published. To come back
> after the fact is, to me, being every bit as "dishonest" in
> one's dealing.

You are perfectly justified to complain to the seller about the
misrepresentation of postage costs. If you are completely ignored then you
are also prefectly justified in leaving negative feedback. You're correct,
no one is being forced into buying anything, but   if the listing -
including postage - is misleading then other potential buyers need to be
made aware of it. That's what the feedback system is all about.
>
> My choice...just don't buy from them. If someone else is
> willing to play the game, more power to them.

Then the practice will continue. If nothing is said it will be deemed to be
an exceptable means of selling on eBay, which it isn't.
Andy