So, I made a purchase…

[Indy Picker]

I’ve been a top rated seller for years (or whatever they’re calling us now), so I’m kind of finicky about how other sellers conduct themselves. I bought some dance shoes for my daughter that she needed by yesterday. I paid for Priority shipping, but the seller shipped 1st Class and they arrived today. Too late for her class yesterday.

How would you proceed?

I don’t really need the couple dollars difference between Priority and FC, I got the item and it’s in good condition, so I feel opening a case would be petty.

She has stellar feedback, so I feel bad leaving a neutral (I wouldn’t give her negative feedback).

I messaged her yesterday but didn’t hear back. (I also messaged her when I made the purchase stating it was time sensitive.)

So what would you guys do?

[Mark S]

Indy Picker,

When my wife buys things on Amazon and they don’t come in the right time sensitive timeframe, she sends them back for a full refund. I think that would be appropriate here.

I would call ebay and see what they say, but there is no way they should have sent them FC. I try to always check that, because sometimes I just ship the cheapest and forget to look at what they bought. So, could have been an honest mistake. But if I make an honest mistake, I have to pay for it.

So, call ebay. I think you should be covered.

Mark

[ebaymom]

If it were me.. I would be irritated.

Considering the fact that you paid for priority AND messaged her that it was time sensitive… AND messaged her again… she at the very least owes you a sincere apology, which she should have given to you. You don’t have to leave her a negative or neutral (although it is not unwarranted) – I would probably open a case (honestly, probably a not-as-described) and return for full refund, all shipping on her. You didn’t get what you needed on time, and you didn’t get what you ordered – which was a priority mailed shipment.

From a seller’s perspective, I have often listed clothing items to ship in a padded flat rate $6.90 and then find later that they can ship with a first class package 15 or 16 oz. In this case, I have sent the item first class and then I’ll refund the shipping difference of $2.00 or so (sometimes I’ll split the difference) and shoot an email – “Good news – I was able to fit this in first class and am refunding the difference, have a great day!”

To avoid this scenario going forward, I created a “Clothing Shipping policy” with “Standard Shipping” Charging $7.95 – which covers my padded flat rate cost + eBay shipping fees + a nominal handling fee. If I get lucky and can manage it first class, I will send it first class and then I do not refund the difference, as my clothing policy is for “Standard Shipping”. If a customer ever emails and says “please send asap” or “I need right away…” I will throw it in a priority padded flat rate and my costs are covered.

[Indy Picker]

@ebaymom I love your clothing shipping policy! I might steal the idea.

Thanks for all your input. You guys are the best!

[sonia]

I wouldn’t worry about leaving neutral or negative feedback, just b/c they have a stellar record. That’s what feedback is for, to provide an honest assessment of the seller’s performance. And shipping via a lower class of service than you paid for, particularly when you had communicated the need for fast shipping, is not acceptable.

If you ended up having to purchase another pair for your daughter’s class, then I would ship them back for a full refund. But if your daughter can get use of them, keep them and leave appropriate feedback. If it were me, I would leave negative feedback.

[T-Satt]

If they have ghosted you on two messages, and aren’t willing to contact you to make it right, negative feedback at least. If you don’t need the shoes, open a return case. I would also contact eBay to have other options discussed.

I try to have a heart (maybe they are gone on vacation?), but it only goes so far.

We ordered some toner on the $119 discount day before eBay Open. Printed the label same day…didn’t take to the post office until Monday. I contact him and he got back saying it was a mistake.

All it takes is good communication

[Ryanne]

this happened to me this week too. i bought something that could be shipped Media Mail. i asked the seller to ship Media for a cheaper price, they said no they have to ship Expedited (as shown on the listing). Then i get the box yesterday and it has a media mail label! But what can be done? you can’t open a case about shipping time/services right?

[T-Satt]

Ryanne: You could mention this to the seller and see what happened to the extra money (since you know the difference). See if they make it right. If not, leave negative or neutral feedback on the issue.

[Ryanne]

so he actually got back to me and showed me the receipt (though it did not show where he got the services, like mailboxes etc or where ever), he was charged $14.50 for media mail (it should have been about 8.50) and $5 for a box to send it to me. so he did spend $20 on shipping, it just wasn’t expedited like he said it would be, which is weird. so, shrug? and chalk it up to an amateur seller?

[T-Satt]

Ryanne: Yeah, I guess. At least he showed how he got there.

Tell him that there is this website out there with a great forum that he could learn from, called Scavenger Life… 🙂

[Author]

Posts