Buyer says unreasonable shipping charges

[BigKidsAttic]

Hi all,

I'd like your opinions on a situation, don't worry everybody's opinion counts.

A buyer recently chose 7 items over a course of 3 days, asking if that was ok, which I had no problem with.
Buyer contacts me through my email and not Ebid asking for Invoice for said items,
I send the Invoice with the Shipping Charge for RM's Guaranteed by 1pm service due to the combined value of items.
I then receive another email saying....

"I have received your invoice.
I'm shocked by the £12.50 postage costs TBH.
I was expecting to pay one postage cost.
I run a business selling school shoes and send parcels (free to customer) up to 2kg for £2.85 second class standard so I can't bring myself to pay £12.50 for postage costs.
Can you send my items in one parcel second class signed for please, it's costs £3.95.
Please send me an updated invoice."

I know what I am going to do in this situation, which is let the buyer decide if they want the items and pay the Shipping, or wether they just want to cancel the sales. Even if I had decided to send Signed For, I charge £4.60 for shipping and packaging.

Now, am I being unreasonable as all my listings state that the combined value will dictate the method by which I send items and that they will be charged at that rate. I do this as in the past things have gone missing, and high value items are not covered fully, leaving myself out of pocket.

Also, what bearing does the running of the buyers business have with how I run mine? And as for "(free to customer)", does that mean they do not offer multiple shipping discount as i'm guessing the shipping charges will be included in the price of the item.

Anyway, rant over.
Have a great Xmas everyone, or have a great winter for those that do not celebrate xmas.

Jason

[BigKidsAttic]

Update.

Well it would appear that in the time it took me to write the above post, the buyer has decided to pay the shocking postage cost I charged.

Lets see what happens once they receive the items, which are packed in a cardboard box filled with bubble wrap, each item has a layer of bubble wrap, and there is extra cardboard inside incase something dents the box on it's journey through the postal system.

Jason

[astral276]

As long as your terms are clearly stated (which they seem to be) then the buyer has no grounds to complain. What they assume or expect is not your problem. If postage costs were a possible issue for them they should have asked for a quote before buying. If they fail to complete because of the postage costs then they are the one who has broken the contract and in the wrong.

As you say, how they run their business has no bearing on how you choose to run yours.

There is no such thing as 'Free Shipping' (or if there is I wish someone would let me in on the secret) and shipping costs will be part of the buy price with no reduction for multiple purchases - unless the seller discounts the buy price for multiple purchases.

[sidthelamp]

"A buyer recently chose 7 items over a course of 3 days, asking if that was ok, which I had no problem with.
Buyer contacts me through my email and not Ebid asking for Invoice for said items"

at that point i would of replied via your ASL , any communications with regard to this sale should be addressed through the ASL ON EBID.

and i would put that statement on your about me page and listings.

the buyer should of checked your shipping policy and shipping by the listing , if they had a question they should of addressed it before the sale not after, that is as long as your shipping terms were unambiguous, even so they should still have asked before hand

[johnwash1]

Hi all,

I'd like your opinions on a situation, don't worry everybody's opinion counts.

A buyer recently chose 7 items over a course of 3 days, asking if that was ok, which I had no problem with.
Buyer contacts me through my email and not Ebid asking for Invoice for said items,
...

How did the buyer get your email? I imagined ebid restricts communication to the ASL and you don't even get to know the seller's email.

Incidentally, I agree with others, it's up to the buyer to ask about any discounts before buying. I don't run my business the same way Amazon does, and I don't expect Amazon to run theirs the way I do!

[lofty100e]

From my reading of the situation the buyer purchased the items then wanted a discount, that is the only way they would have got the email address.

[BigKidsAttic]

How did the buyer get your email? I imagined ebid restricts communication to the ASL and you don't even get to know the seller's email.

Incidentally, I agree with others, it's up to the buyer to ask about any discounts before buying. I don't run my business the same way Amazon does, and I don't expect Amazon to run theirs the way I do!

How they got my email in the first place I do not know, but it's not the time i've had a buyer contact me through my own email.

"From my reading of the situation the buyer purchased the items then wanted a discount, that is the only way they would have got the email address."

They sent me a message after I had sent the Invoice. And yes they did receive a shipping discount paying £12.00 instead of £24.50. They just wanted me to send the combined items at the method which does not cover the value of the items and for less (£3.95) that what I would have charged (£4.60 for signed for) for using that method.

Jason

[johnwash1]

From my reading of the situation the buyer purchased the items then wanted a discount, that is the only way they would have got the email address.

Ah thanks. I didn't realise it was revealed even then.