Ebay shipping question?

[autumnblue]

When I have been calculating my shipping cost I have been basing it on parcel post and this is generally how I send them unless there is a very small difference between priority and parcel. I recieved payment today for one of my auctions and the person instructed me to send it Priority to Puerto Rico. The $7.00 shipping fee ( I discounted for multiple items would have been $11.50) is not going to cover Priority mail. Is it inappropriate to request that this person send an additional $2.00 to cover the costs for priority mail?

Thanks

Autumn

 

[ibleedblue]

Can you send parcel post to Puerto Rico? If so, then I'd send the person an email back saying your rates are based on parcel post pricing and to ship priority will be an extra $2. Or, if beside the shipping costs it state "inside the United States" then I think you can ask for the $2 regardless.

I had the same thing happen to one of my auctions, but thankfully the winning bidder told me she was in Puerto Rico, wanted the item shipped priority and told me she knew the shipping I had specified in the auction wouldn't be enough to cover and to let her know how much more she needed to add.

Greg

 

[christinadei]

I have a friend in PR and she always has to pay extra for shipping. Shipping prices state inside US, which, I know PR is a US territory, but it's not considered in the US. I think he was trying to pull one over on you. I would send him an e-mail letting him know that it's extra for shipping to PR and for Priority, it's only $2.00, or if he'd like, you'll send it Parcel Post for what he's already paid. He should've known to check with you on shipping before he paid.

 

[autumnblue]

When I went to the USPS website and put in the postal code I was given the option of parcel post, priority and overnight so I'm assuming I can send it parcel post. I've just lost so much money on shipping in past that I don't want to take another loss over someone's preference.

Thanks

 

[JKanownik]

In the future I would strongly suggest that you add text to the bottom of your item on Ebay indicating the shipping method (i.e. Parcel Post) and stating that the cost is only for the continental US. That should prevent your problem from reoccuring.

In this particular case if you did not provide shipping specifics it comes down to a customer service issue. Seeing as to how you already agreed to combine shipping (which you did not have to do), I would see no problem with notifying the buyer that their items will ship Parcel Post unless they provide the difference to cover Priority Mail. If the buyer wanted priority mail it was their responsibility to ask you about it before they placed their bid.


-DH

 

[christinadei]

I read your post wrong, I assumed you specified parcel post. No, if you didn't state a shipping method, you can ship it whatever method you'd like. If they request a specific shipping method, they are to cover the cost. I always say ______ shipping for Priority Mail (or parcel post or whatver). If you would prefer parcel post or ups, I will ship for the exact shipping price. Please e-mail me for a quote. Or something along those lines, just so they know how you are shipping it. I would also start adding something like, I'm happy to ship outside of the US, please contact me for a shippign quote. Something like that will let them know that they have to pay extra. They should be able to figure it out on their own but.............

 

[autumnblue]

Thanks for the help. The buyer never responded so I shipped it this morning parcel post. I fugured if they needed it in a hurry they could have paid on Saturday when the auction ended rather than waiting until Wednesday.

Autumn