Shipping time and price frustration

[PitterPatter]

Hi all,

I have an issue with some shipping for a couple of things I bought and want to send the seller a message saying I am dissatisfied, but I just wanted to check some opinions first  really.

I bought two FIM variant covers on UK ebay from a comic shop seller. They were buy it now, and I bought them, and paid shipping on each at £2.99 - nothing combined, £5.98 shipping in total - for 1st class recorded.

Now this was on a Friday, I know it is possible to ship things on a Saturday as some post offices are open, but I didn't expect him too so I assumed Monday would be the shipping date. I was fine with that.
So on Monday Ebay updates and says the package has been dispatched on the 18/03/13/ So Great, I'm expecting it to get her on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Well it doesn't. Nor Thursday, nor Friday.

However it does turn up today! On Saturday.

Now here is the bit I'm annoyed about. Obviously he and I have no control over the Royal Mail system. However depending on how you got your postage stamp you can often clearly see the date on it. Well, the stamp sticker that was printed off at the PO is dated for the 20th! It was not sent on Monday at all, but on Wednesday. The seller has mis-informed about the shipping time.
Then I see all it was cost to ship is £2.55. Less than the quoted cost of one comic alone! Now I appreciate the cost for bagging and boarding. But I bought a pack of 100 bags which works out at around 6 pence a bag, and I can't imagine the boards are too expensive either.

I feel really cheated . I know it's not much, but I would never say something is shipped unless it has been. Nor would I get so much in shipping if it wasn't true. I feel bad charging people for bubble mailers/boxes!

I want to complain to him, and really I want the cost of shipping back for one comic. Am I just being pedantic here? or is this genuinely unfair?

Thanks

[ponylady]

Is your seller Top-Rated? I ask because, I am not sure exactly what Ebay UK's policies are as they do differ from US Ebay. But here we have to upload a tracking number within 24 hours if it is for Domestic shipping to keep a Top Rated Seller status(weekends excluded). If he is then it maybe why you received a notification from Ebay on Monday.  Although it is not right that he cheated the system there a bit and actually didn't ship till Wensday it could be why you were informed it was shipped on Monday.

If I was you I would send a polite message to your seller. I would maybe say that you are overall happy with your purchase but noticed that you were slightly overcharged and the item was not dispatched on Monday like what was stated in a prior email from ebay.  He will either try and make it right with you or you can always leave it in your feedback and DSR ratings on your overall experience.

I am sorry you feel cheated though. I think we have all been there at one time or another. 

[lovesbabysquirmy]

*pony hugs*  Good advice from ponylady!

[PitterPatter]

Is your seller Top-Rated? I ask because, I am not sure exactly what Ebay UK's policies are as they do differ from US Ebay. But here we have to upload a tracking number within 24 hours if it is for Domestic shipping to keep a Top Rated Seller status(weekends excluded). If he is then it maybe why you received a notification from Ebay on Monday.  Although it is not right that he cheated the system there a bit and actually didn't ship till Wensday it could be why you were informed it was shipped on Monday.

If I was you I would send a polite message to your seller. I would maybe say that you are overall happy with your purchase but noticed that you were slightly overcharged and the item was not dispatched on Monday like what was stated in a prior email from ebay.  He will either try and make it right with you or you can always leave it in your feedback and DSR ratings on your overall experience.

I am sorry you feel cheated though. I think we have all been there at one time or another. 

There was no tracking number uploaded. It was sent recorded delivery, so it was signed for on arrival.

I've sent him a polite email questioning the things I'm not happy about so I'll see what he says.

I'll update with a response when it comes ^_^

[ClosetAvalanche]

What was the stated handling time?

[PitterPatter]

Well I got a reply word to this effect:

Shipping price at £5.98 - Should not have been that, should have been £3.24 for the two combined, then a detailed explanation of the cost breakdown for this.

Shipping date issue - Indeed, it was not sent on the 18th as ebay said. Instead that is when he "printed the details" from ebay. This allows him to save time on having to go back and later update the system to say something is shipped. and an explanation that he has a job etc etc.

conclusion - after readying, please let him know what I think about this.

Well, I started to compose my message indicating that I would like a refund for my shipping over charge. However I had a niggle at the back of my mind, so I checked my email and sure enough he had refunded the difference. So all good there ^_^.

In terms on the shipping dates thingy. I pointed out to him that in doing that I, as a customer, do not read it and go "oh, something has been printed", instead I go "oh, my item has been dispatched". Given that I spent £30+, seeing it as being shipped and then not arriving causes a little flitter of worry. I don't want anything in the way of compensation or anything, I'm happy with the explanation, but did point out that perhaps clarity would be "items go to the post office within x days of shipping date on ebay" or something...

I'm satisfied with the response and result. It was all I wanted, nothing more. And I did tell him that I would use his service again as packaging was good, communication was good, as was the particular price of the items.

Thanks for the comments all ^_^

[ponylady]

Well that was a fair enough explanation Pitter.  I am glad that it ended in a positive way and he didn't give you a line of excuses.  Yippee for honest sellers!

[lovesbabysquirmy]

Glad that you are satisfied!

[blonde2themax]

I'm glad this worked out for you. 

[Ringlets]

Good to hear it all worked out well in the end