I recently bid on and won 2 cards from the same seller. The cards were poorly described in the title and description, and the one card was listed with a 99 cent opening bid with a $20.00 BIN. The shipping was $3.50 per item. There was no other description or mention of combined shipping or anything, and with the time remaining in the auction, I did not have time to contact him.
Now, most sellers would combine shipping, but this guy decides to charge me the full $7.00 shipping for the two items. I send him a message, basically saying "Since you are not combining shipping charges, I expect the two cards to be sent in two separate packages". I can tell this guy is clearly pi**ed about not having his cards sell for the price he wanted. He then replies to me "Your attitude is coming across as demanding, pay the auction, don't complain, and see what comes". This whole time I've not threatened him with negative feedback or anything, because I know I'd lose any future case.
I then reply back to him "If I'm paying full separate shipping charges, it only makes sense that they be sent in separate packages. Otherwise you are charging excessive shipping to make up for your lost sales." I then state to him that if he is unhappy with what he got for his auctions, that perhaps he should list a higher starting bid and provide much better descriptions to his auctions.
So then he replies back "Keep your opinions to yourself and if you don't like my auctions then don't bid", to which I replied to him that I like his auctions but not how I'm being treated as a customer.
So, I get my cards today, and of course they would be in the same package together, the shipping price is clearly stated on the package of $2.21, and so I send him one more note today asking if he is planning on giving me any sort of refund for shipping, since he clearly spent nowhere near $7.00 for shipping.
He replies "No, quit harassing me and don't ever bid on any of my items again. I don't owe you anything, it's a flat rate".
Now, I know any replies I get from this post will be mixed, since I know there have been posts about this in the past. Those who side with the seller will tell me basically I'm agreeing to pay the shipping costs and since he has nothing posted about any sort of combined shipping policies, that I should just have to deal with it since I chose to bid without contacting the seller.
On the other hand, I feel the shipping charges should relatively match the shipping service provided. If I had bought these two items two days apart then I would have gotten them in two separate packages and I would have been satisfied. Even though I agreed to pay the shipping charges doesn't mean I agree with the shipping charges. I feel this seller has the ability to charge what he wants for combined shipping depending on what his auctions go for. I have no problem giving a reduced shipping cost or even offer FREE shipping for multiple auctions won or for a higher-priced item won, but this same idea should not go in the complete opposite way.
I had another seller a few weeks ago who was begging me to ask for a refund for the items because his items went for minimum bid at the last minute again and he was charging an exorbitant rate of shipping, once again because he had no policies listed. There was evidence that the shipping label was printed, but there was never any sign of it going to a post office. I have a feeling he kept them, then waited until I told him I never got them so he could issue the refund, then he could get his shipping refunded as well. I still keep a close eye on his auctions to make sure mine never "resurface". It's possible that he sent them, but I have my doubts.
Sorry for the long read, I had to rant. Do I have a justified reason as to leaving him negative or neutral feedback? Or should I just learn my lesson and let shady a***oles like this continue to practice questionable business practices on Ebay? I tried resolving things before I paid, after I paid, and when I received the items. I never threatened to leave non-positive feedback, yet he feels I am harassing him. Also, as long as I have paid, can he leave retaliatory negative feedback for me leaving it too?
Thanks, John
Now, most sellers would combine shipping, but this guy decides to charge me the full $7.00 shipping for the two items. I send him a message, basically saying "Since you are not combining shipping charges, I expect the two cards to be sent in two separate packages". I can tell this guy is clearly pi**ed about not having his cards sell for the price he wanted. He then replies to me "Your attitude is coming across as demanding, pay the auction, don't complain, and see what comes". This whole time I've not threatened him with negative feedback or anything, because I know I'd lose any future case.
I then reply back to him "If I'm paying full separate shipping charges, it only makes sense that they be sent in separate packages. Otherwise you are charging excessive shipping to make up for your lost sales." I then state to him that if he is unhappy with what he got for his auctions, that perhaps he should list a higher starting bid and provide much better descriptions to his auctions.
So then he replies back "Keep your opinions to yourself and if you don't like my auctions then don't bid", to which I replied to him that I like his auctions but not how I'm being treated as a customer.
So, I get my cards today, and of course they would be in the same package together, the shipping price is clearly stated on the package of $2.21, and so I send him one more note today asking if he is planning on giving me any sort of refund for shipping, since he clearly spent nowhere near $7.00 for shipping.
He replies "No, quit harassing me and don't ever bid on any of my items again. I don't owe you anything, it's a flat rate".
Now, I know any replies I get from this post will be mixed, since I know there have been posts about this in the past. Those who side with the seller will tell me basically I'm agreeing to pay the shipping costs and since he has nothing posted about any sort of combined shipping policies, that I should just have to deal with it since I chose to bid without contacting the seller.
On the other hand, I feel the shipping charges should relatively match the shipping service provided. If I had bought these two items two days apart then I would have gotten them in two separate packages and I would have been satisfied. Even though I agreed to pay the shipping charges doesn't mean I agree with the shipping charges. I feel this seller has the ability to charge what he wants for combined shipping depending on what his auctions go for. I have no problem giving a reduced shipping cost or even offer FREE shipping for multiple auctions won or for a higher-priced item won, but this same idea should not go in the complete opposite way.
I had another seller a few weeks ago who was begging me to ask for a refund for the items because his items went for minimum bid at the last minute again and he was charging an exorbitant rate of shipping, once again because he had no policies listed. There was evidence that the shipping label was printed, but there was never any sign of it going to a post office. I have a feeling he kept them, then waited until I told him I never got them so he could issue the refund, then he could get his shipping refunded as well. I still keep a close eye on his auctions to make sure mine never "resurface". It's possible that he sent them, but I have my doubts.
Sorry for the long read, I had to rant. Do I have a justified reason as to leaving him negative or neutral feedback? Or should I just learn my lesson and let shady a***oles like this continue to practice questionable business practices on Ebay? I tried resolving things before I paid, after I paid, and when I received the items. I never threatened to leave non-positive feedback, yet he feels I am harassing him. Also, as long as I have paid, can he leave retaliatory negative feedback for me leaving it too?
Thanks, John