E-Bay Question

[NeverlandClub23]

I bid and won a custom made wedding dress on Ebay a couple of days ago. The dress was $116.00 AUD with $20.00AUD for shipping. I paid $136.00AUD about an hour after the auction. The seller sent me an e-mail through ebay asking me about my measurements, color I want, etc. and told me the timeline of making it, sending it, etc. I then check my regular e-mail and I was sent an e-mail outside of Ebay (I think through PayPal) saying that it's $100AUD to ship and that I owe them $90AUD more (which doesn't even make sense as if it was $100AUD I've already paid $20AUD for shipping and would be $80 AUD) and that the dress is really $236. I logged back in to my Ebay account and sent them an e-mail (wanted to have proof in case I needed it and not send messages through outside e-mails). I told them that I paid exactly what the listed price said and that if they wanted more money to feel free to relist the item and return all of my money as that was not what was agreed upon. I have a feeling this situation is going to turn bad so any advice on what I should do now? The seller is located in Australia and has 100% feedback and has sold quite a few items. Thanks for any help!

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Does the auction state $20.00 AUD for within Australia or anything about shipping costs may be higher to send internationally?

If the auction states a flat shipping price regardless of destination, then that is what you should pay. I think eBay would frown on a seller saying one price for shipping in the auction and then asking for more.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

Next to "Shipping Costs" on the auction it states this:

To United States -- AU $20.00
Other Int'l Shipping (see description)
Service to United States

"See description" is highlighted so I clicked on that and it just takes me to the bottom of the page that says this:

Shipping and Handling To Service
AU $20.00 United States Other Int'l Shipping (see description)

And then I searched the page up and down and even went to the seller's store and found no other description of their shipping rates.

I looked at some of the other dresses the seller was selling and most of them had $100 (some lower, some higher) S&H. But another thing I found strange is that my auction was in AUD and some of the other auctions the seller had listed are in GBP and AUD.

This is all they sent me in the e-mail:
Dear friend
The total price of this dress is 226,the shipping is 100AUD,but you only pay 10AUD,please pay another 90AUD for me.When we receive the payment,we will make this item asap.
Best wishes!

Can I post the auction page for viewing or is that against DisBoards policy?

 

[nephthys43]

she has to abide by the terms of her auction. it's not your fault she listed it incorrectly. you bid based on what the auction stated. you did not expect higher shipping fees and you should not have to pay them. if i list an auction with the wrong shipping, i eat the cost and learn my lesson. it's an expensive lesson to learn, but that's why you need to triple check any auction you're listing. http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/seller-non-performance.html

 

[nephthys43]

But another thing I found strange is that my auction was in AUD and some of the other auctions the seller had listed are in GBP and AUD.

some sellers do this when ebay has specials. "all items listed in GBP are only $.10 to list today".

 

[3DisneyKids]

If she has 100% feedback, I think she will honor the listing. Also, FWIW, many of the postings in Australian dollars are actually listed by folks living (and shipping from) Hong Kong, Singapore, etc. and thus there is sometimes more of a communication barrier than you think.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

I just checked my e-mail and was sent another e-mail stating if I did not want to make the extra payment that they would refund my money, just send them my bank information. Can't they just send it back through paypal? I'm not giving them my bank information.

**BTW, thanks for all of the help! I really appreciate it!

 

[briannesmom]

If you want to post a link to the auction I will take a look at it. Do not give them your bank info they should refund directly from PayPal. Something just sounds strange about this.

 

[piglet too]

I would think it would be credited to you from PayPal, or in form of a check/cashiers check/money order. I would NOT give them my bank info.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

Link to the auction:

Link

The attachment they sent me in the e-mail saying they would refund my money:

http://www.wdwinfo.com/photopost/data/500/79612Dress-med.JPG

 

[nephthys43]

tell them to refund via paypal if that's the way you paid. i'd wait a few days for the refund and then file with paypal. did you pay with a credit card or balance transfer? if you paid with a credit card and paypal tells you there's no money in the person's acct to refund to you, then file a chargeback with your card company. but you have to file through paypal first or they may freeze your acct. then file a NPS with ebay.

 

[debbi801]

Silly question, and maybe I missed this. But, have you written to her via ebay and asked if she sent the adjusted shipping email?

 

[briannesmom]

I just looked at the other items for sale by seller and they have over 20 wedding dresses listed with 20 AU shipping
I would send a message through ebay stating that if they cannot honor the shipping price listed in the auction please refund via PayPal.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

Silly question, and maybe I missed this. But, have you written to her via ebay and asked if she sent the adjusted shipping email?

Yes, I keep sending her e-mails through EBay and then he/she sends me an e-mail through paypal or some other e-mail with the message I sent them in Ebay attached. It's very strange.

 

[nephthys43]

Yes, I keep sending her e-mails through EBay and then he/she sends me an e-mail through paypal or some other e-mail with the message I sent them in Ebay attached. It's very strange.

seems she doesn't want ebay to know what she's doing.

 

[briannesmom]

seems she doesn't want ebay to know what she's doing.

I think you're right about that.
When you get your refund I would definately use the link in post #4 and report them as a non-performing seller. Had it been an honest mistake on the sellers part I would just take my refund and let it go but I do not think this was a mistake. I checked sellers completed listings and many of them had 20AU shipping.
If they don't agree to send the dress for the price you paid or refund you through PayPal in the next few days I would start a PayPal dispute. If you do have to file a dispute make sure you do not close it until you have your refund. Once you close the dispute you cannot open another one.

Keep us posted

Amy

 

[NeverlandClub23]

Thanks so much for the help everyone! I will wait a few days and see what happens. I e-mailed the seller back through EBay stating that they could refund my money through PayPal and that the attachment they sent to me is incorrect. I will definitely keep you posted on what happens! Thanks again!

Kimberly

 

[NeverlandClub23]

Last night I was refunded all of the money that I sent through paypal! I was so excited that I didn't have to jump through a bunch of hoops to get my money back.

Now my only other question is should I contact Ebay about this seller or leave it alone? Thanks for all of the help!

 

[nephthys43]

Now my only other question is should I contact Ebay about this seller or leave it alone? Thanks for all of the help!

contact them. ebay needs to know that sellers aren't being honest. think of the newbie who comes along and agrees to pay the extra shipping just because they didn't know any better.

 

[1Prince2Princesses]

Definitely contact eBay. This is probably not the first time they've pulled this little stunt.