item sent back to sender - charge? (usa)

[Gaspode]

Hello

While my parents were in the USA I had several items from eBay posted to them. about 8 parcels got their fine. the last two the postman decided their holiday home was "vacant" and didn't deliver but just returned to senders. I'm pretty annoyed about the postman decision but can't do much from here in UK.

I've asked the senders to post on to a friend in the USA and offered to pay the additional post as my parents are on their way home.

one seller says I don't need to pay extra which is very kind.

the other seller says she was charged to receive the parcel back....is this normal? so she wants an additional 8$ to cover this charge plus sending on.

Any thoughts appreciated. I understand she shouldn't be out of pocket but it will have cost over 13$ to post one g4 to me (plus obvs I will be paying my friend to send that and others on to the UK later in year)

[banditpony]

I could see it as a possibility if it was third party issue where the package was dropped shipped and/or something with a restocking fee.

Another possibility is something that didn't have enough postage to begin with.

[bright rabbit 1]

Another possibility is something that didn't have enough postage to begin with.

Same thing happened to me with a USA seller here on the arena, they didn’t put enough postage on. And they expected me to pay extra money to receive it at my local post office. And it is still there.

[Noasar]

Hmm I’ve never heard of that before - which postal carrier in the US is it?

[lovesbabysquirmy]

Hmm I’ve never heard of that before - which postal carrier in the US is it?

That would be USPS.  Sometimes if the seller puts on postage instead of mailing it directly at the post office counter, it will be a few cents short.  USPS still delivers it, but they collect upon delivery.   Prior to the postal service being established in the USA, the tradition was that your courier/mail person could hold your mail until you gave them the amount of money they wanted.  Yes they really did bribe you for your mail! 

[kitkatvintage]

Another possibility is something that didn't have enough postage to begin with.

Postage rates from USPS increased January 27th as they do almost every year in mid-to-late January. If the package was in transit around the time of the increase, it may have had an extra fee tacked on upon it's return.

[Taffeta]

Another possibility is something that didn't have enough postage to begin with.

Postage rates from USPS increased January 27th as they do almost every year in mid-to-late January. If the package was in transit around the time of the increase, it may have had an extra fee tacked on upon it's return.

If so, that would be a really sneaky tactic and I would be making formal complaints. It's their fault if it's delayed past that date.

[banditpony]

Another possibility is something that didn't have enough postage to begin with.

Postage rates from USPS increased January 27th as they do almost every year in mid-to-late January. If the package was in transit around the time of the increase, it may have had an extra fee tacked on upon it's return.

If so, that would be a really sneaky tactic and I would be making formal complaints. It's their fault if it's delayed past that date.

I can't imagine they'd increase the rate during transit because it should be based on the initial stamp.

So I went digging more.
And there is a return shipping charge for packages sent Parcel Post and Media Mail (/USPS Retail Ground).

So it's possible it was sent Parcel Post? ~$8 seems on par with that.

[Ringlets]

Ugh  some posties.. they don't even bother to knock the door and find out    That's very kind of your first seller to not charge to ship again.
Thanks for the extra research done banditpony    Yes it seem that the second seller probably did send by parcel post and so it is sounds genuine that they had to pay to receive the parcel back 

[Gaspode]

Thanks all. She'd made a mistake and wasn't charged to receive it back so she refunded me. It has yet to arrive at my friend in OK but hopefully soon!!

[Ringlets]

Glad it seems to have worked out hun, hopefully your pony arrives soon