Seller changed shipping before I tried to check out?

[bluerose9978]

I was bidding on an auction on eBay and shipping was set to expedited shipping at $10.25. So I win the auction and I go to check out this morning and shipping is $15. Needless to say I didn't go ahead and check out and instead sent the seller a message questioning the shipping price.

Does anyone know the rules on this?

[ponylady]

The short answer is no, they cannot do that. It against eBay policy.

It is basically changing the terms and conditons after the auction has ended, which is what he is doing to you here.

Just a quick thought though that I can see perhaps happened and he raised the price could be because he used eBay's estimated shipping calculator and it was wrong. It is just a thought,  I guess you will have to wait to hear back from them to know for sure. Keep us posted!   

[bluerose9978]

Thanks, ponylady. When I wrote him I told him I believed it against eBay's policy to change shipping after the auction unless he was combining shipping for more items. His only response was he resent the invoice. It was correct this time. So all is OK.

I just wonder how many sellers try to do this and buyers don't realize this when they check out.

[ponylady]

I have often wondered that myself on shipping. 

I am so glad he realized his error and resent your invoice. It's not like it was a dollar or two more....it was almost $5 

[Galactica]

Shipping rates went up drastically this week with no real warning so my guess is that the seller tried to pass the increase on to you. 

[bluerose9978]

Ebay had the increase in rates warning up on the seller page since last month so it wasn't exactly "no warning." I had been preparing for it.

[Galactica]

Ebay had the increase in rates warning up on the seller page since last month so it wasn't exactly "no warning." I had been preparing for it.

Well, truthfully I didn't notice it.  I had even given a shipping estimate to someone on last Friday, and Monday it was WAY wrong. Thank goodness I only had a couple of ebay auctions up, and they all used calculated shipping rates.  Otherwise I'd have been screwed too.

I would have thought the USPS site would have some kind of message letting you know that rates were changing, but if they did, it was not immediately apparent unless you went looking for it.

Not saying what the seller did was right, they can't change the shipping rate.  But I don't think it is a common thing that always happens, I think that it was because of the horrendous increase this week.   I am so bummed that there is no longer a shipping discount for printing labels online.

[bluerose9978]

Not saying what the seller did was right, they can't change the shipping rate.  But I don't think it is a common thing that always happens, I think that it was because of the horrendous increase this week.   I am so bummed that there is no longer a shipping discount for printing labels online.

There still is a discount but only for certain weights in first class and priority.

[dragonfly]

Ugh. I got a surprise yesterday when I mailed out  a priority flat rate box expecting $5.25 and it was $6.80. Glad he corrected the invoice for you.

[bluerose9978]

I do wish eBay would place the announcements higher on the seller page or highlight them so they stand out but I try to read them at least once a week to see if anything effects me because it does seem as if USPS rates go up quite a bit or eBay is changing something.

[lunar_scythe]

If you bid on it before the shipping rate increase and the seller had it set to calculate, it would have changed when the increase took effect automatically.

[rosierjay]

i always have it set to calculate, so i hope none of my current auctions are effected.

do you think these shipping increases are just going to keep happening or will it eventually even out, or even go down?

[bluerose9978]

If you bid on it before the shipping rate increase and the seller had it set to calculate, it would have changed when the increase took effect automatically.

I bid on it 5 seconds before the auction ended on Jan. 27. The rates went up on the 17th. And by the way, the auction was only a 7-day auction, so it was started on Jan. 20, 3 days AFTER the new rates went into effect.

[Galactica]

If you bid on it before the shipping rate increase and the seller had it set to calculate, it would have changed when the increase took effect automatically.

Oh I think we can be assured the increases will keep happening.  Everytime UPS raises its rates, USPS is not far behind, and then UPS raises again...

The cost of shipping is high now but likely to get higher...  (at least in the US).  Shipping is still really cheap for people shipping FROM China, but I think that is because they get some kind of incredible subsidized rates since they make half the world's "stuff."

[ladygodiva]

It does not seem right.
In my case once I passed a package of weight because I thought it would be within weighed 500 grams and 505 grams packing ... and I had to pay double (24 euros) as the sections go 500 in 500 grams.
So I had to bear the cost and scramble the next time, buyers have no guilt .In my case, I took the difference, paying out of my pocket.