Your thoughts requested...

Bungleau · 11-19-2005, 10:23 PM

I just bought something on ebay two nights ago. Got the notice to pay, and I noticed something in the shipping instructions:

Quote:

Payment details: Please make www.paypal.com payment within 5 days of auction end. ** Money Orders are accepted and must be recieved within 10 days, please message me if your sending a money order so i can tell you the details. ** SHIPPING IS FREE FOR THIS AUCTION ONLY!! PLEASE ADD $2.00 FOR INSURANCE Thanks for looking and good luck!

I asked the seller to clarify, and he said that the free shipping thing was in there by accident from another auction. I just went back to check the item, and there's nothing that makes me think it's accidentally from another auction. The insurance amount is exactly the same in the regular shipping info.

So, my question... should I pay the shipping, since it was a mistake? Should I hold the seller to the wording in the auction, since that's the offer that was presented? Should I offer to let eBay resolve it however they determine is appropriate? Or should I offer to meet the seller halfway and split shipping, recognizing the difference between what the auction said by mistake and what the seller wanted?

What do you think? I'll be making my mind up by tomorrow.

johnny · 11-19-2005, 10:26 PM

Dude, don't start a fuss over two lousy bucks. As long as the product is fine, i'd play along.

Chewbacca · 11-19-2005, 10:31 PM

Hey,
If it was written in the auction description than a seller has to honor it.

Tell me, did you get the item at a really low bid? If so, the seller could be playing a shell game to avoid taking a loss and that is not your problem.

Ultimately if you complain through Ebay it may take a week or longer to resolve and Ebay expects sellers and buyers to try an work things out on their own before making a case.

If it were me, I would not pay the shipping and would hold the seller to their auction terms. If they failed to proofread the auction it's not your problem.

I sell on Ebay, about 50 auctions a month, and I would never make one of my customers pay for one of my mistakes.

Bungleau · 11-19-2005, 11:23 PM

The item is a ST:TNG season 1 DVD collection. And the shipping is not $2; that's the insurance (and I have no problem paying that). Shipping is $13 on a $63 item... not quite cheap, but not expensive either.

From a quick review of his auctions, he's made this "mistake" six other times on 121 auctions. He has had several auctions (around 5 or so) that were free shipping auctions... the shipping price listed for those auctions was $0.01, and the details said that shipping was free.

The remaining 100* auctions all had shipping terms on them.

So... more ammunition for me to discuss, and more fuel for the fire. I'm not rushed to get the DVDs (Christmas gift for my father-in-law), so taking a week or so to resolve it is no big deal.

Bahamut · 11-19-2005, 11:54 PM

Yes I do see both points but I agree with johnny. You are giving yourself unnecessary stress and headaches I suppose.

But you said so yourself that you have the time to actually discuss with the the terms in question. So if it is not that much of a hassle then inquiring more about it will shed some light over the matter. If the seller's really an arse then don't pay up.

Ziroc · 11-20-2005, 01:52 AM

$13??? Rip off. it would cost MAYBE $7 tops for it. It weights less than 5 lbs.

Brayf · 11-20-2005, 08:56 AM

I guess you're technically entitled to not pay, but assuming the free shipping thing really is an honest mistake and not a ploy on the seller's part to get more money out of you, I'd just be a nice guy and pay!

Winter Wolf · 11-20-2005, 11:39 AM

Stupidity is no excuse. If he made a mistake on his auction item, he eats it. My wife sometimes makes mistakes quoting prices on her stuff, but she owns up to it and takes the loss.

But let's make this easier. If you were the one who made a mistake on an auction item, would you expect the other party to pay for your mistake, or just own up to your own lack of proofreading? If you'd eat the loss, make them eat the loss. If you'd expect to be paid, pay the man.

Bungleau · 11-20-2005, 05:15 PM

I decided to pay the shipping. Free shipping wasn't the reason I bid on it; I bid because I wanted it. I went back through his auctions and found a couple of other cases where he's made this mistake, but it's not a rampant trend. He's also got auctions where he does free shipping, but they're also different -- the shipping amount is listed as a penny, and as free in the details.

So I figure it was an honest mistake, and since free shipping wasn't part of the reason I bought, I'm not worrying about it. I did let him know about the other auctions where he's made this mistake so he can address it.

I'm not out to take advantage or be taken advantage of. I don't even think that the shipping is exhorbitant since it's coming from Canada (eh?). 'Course, I could just be disillusioned and ignorant, too...

Thanks for your thoughts, everyone.

11-19-2005, 10:26 PM	#2
johnny 40th Level Warrior Join Date: April 15, 2002 Location: Utrecht The Netherlands Age: 59 Posts: 16,981	Dude, don't start a fuss over two lousy bucks. As long as the product is fine, i'd play along. __________________

11-19-2005, 10:31 PM	#3
Chewbacca Zartan Join Date: July 18, 2001 Location: America, On The Beautiful Earth Age: 52 Posts: 5,373	Hey, If it was written in the auction description than a seller has to honor it. Tell me, did you get the item at a really low bid? If so, the seller could be playing a shell game to avoid taking a loss and that is not your problem. Ultimately if you complain through Ebay it may take a week or longer to resolve and Ebay expects sellers and buyers to try an work things out on their own before making a case. If it were me, I would not pay the shipping and would hold the seller to their auction terms. If they failed to proofread the auction it's not your problem. I sell on Ebay, about 50 auctions a month, and I would never make one of my customers pay for one of my mistakes. __________________ Support Local Music and Record Stores! Got Liberty?

11-19-2005, 11:23 PM	#4
Bungleau 40th Level Warrior Join Date: October 29, 2001 Location: Western Wilds of Michigan Posts: 11,752	The item is a ST:TNG season 1 DVD collection. And the shipping is not $2; that's the insurance (and I have no problem paying that). Shipping is $13 on a $63 item... not quite cheap, but not expensive either. From a quick review of his auctions, he's made this "mistake" six other times on 121 auctions. He has had several auctions (around 5 or so) that were free shipping auctions... the shipping price listed for those auctions was $0.01, and the details said that shipping was free. The remaining 100* auctions all had shipping terms on them. So... more ammunition for me to discuss, and more fuel for the fire. I'm not rushed to get the DVDs (Christmas gift for my father-in-law), so taking a week or so to resolve it is no big deal. __________________ B Save Early, Save Often Save Before, Save After Two-Star General, Spelling Soldiers -+-+-+ Give 'em a hug one more time. It might be the last.

11-19-2005, 11:54 PM	#5
Bahamut Iron Throne Cult Join Date: March 12, 2001 Location: Manila, Philippines Age: 40 Posts: 4,864	Yes I do see both points but I agree with johnny. You are giving yourself unnecessary stress and headaches I suppose. But you said so yourself that you have the time to actually discuss with the the terms in question. So if it is not that much of a hassle then inquiring more about it will shed some light over the matter. If the seller's really an arse then don't pay up. __________________ http://makeallthedifference.blogspot.com http://www.bratgirlcentral.com/cgi-b.../ikonboard.cgi

11-20-2005, 01:52 AM	#6
Ziroc Ironworks Webmaster *Bow to the Meow* Join Date: January 4, 2001 Location: Lakeland, Florida Age: 52 Posts: 11,737	$13??? Rip off. it would cost MAYBE $7 tops for it. It weights less than 5 lbs. __________________ Ironworks Gaming's Official Youtube Gaming Channel

11-20-2005, 08:56 AM	#7
Brayf Zhentarim Guard Join Date: February 21, 2005 Location: Candlekeep Age: 38 Posts: 372	I guess you're technically entitled to not pay, but assuming the free shipping thing really is an honest mistake and not a ploy on the seller's part to get more money out of you, I'd just be a nice guy and pay!

11-20-2005, 11:39 AM	#8
Winter Wolf Manshoon Join Date: November 4, 2004 Location: Shanghai, China Posts: 226	Stupidity is no excuse. If he made a mistake on his auction item, he eats it. My wife sometimes makes mistakes quoting prices on her stuff, but she owns up to it and takes the loss. But let's make this easier. If you were the one who made a mistake on an auction item, would you expect the other party to pay for your mistake, or just own up to your own lack of proofreading? If you'd eat the loss, make them eat the loss. If you'd expect to be paid, pay the man. __________________ Calling a person a dog is just about the worst insult I can think of. Dogs deserve better than that.

11-20-2005, 05:15 PM	#9
Bungleau 40th Level Warrior Join Date: October 29, 2001 Location: Western Wilds of Michigan Posts: 11,752	I decided to pay the shipping. Free shipping wasn't the reason I bid on it; I bid because I wanted it. I went back through his auctions and found a couple of other cases where he's made this mistake, but it's not a rampant trend. He's also got auctions where he does free shipping, but they're also different -- the shipping amount is listed as a penny, and as free in the details. So I figure it was an honest mistake, and since free shipping wasn't part of the reason I bought, I'm not worrying about it. I did let him know about the other auctions where he's made this mistake so he can address it. I'm not out to take advantage or be taken advantage of. I don't even think that the shipping is exhorbitant since it's coming from Canada (eh?). 'Course, I could just be disillusioned and ignorant, too... Thanks for your thoughts, everyone. __________________ B Save Early, Save Often Save Before, Save After Two-Star General, Spelling Soldiers -+-+-+ Give 'em a hug one more time. It might be the last.

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