Ebay Seller Nightmare (So Far)

I recently bid on and won a small stamp packet for 3.95. I did not notice the shipping charge. In honesty, I did not notice the shipping charge. Well, the shipping charge is $195.00. That's right one hundred ninety five dollars. I have tried with no success to contact the seller. I have tried phoning him. Answering machine. I have called ebay. I hold out no hope ebay will do anything.

Any advice? I do know, that regardless of the consequences, I am not going to pay $195 in shipping charges.

I really feel that the 195 is the result of a misplaced decimal and should be 1.95. The sellers other items do not have the overlarge charge.

What's the seller's feedback rating?

Worst case scenario is that you don't pay - sellers cannot now leave buyers negative feedback, so at worst you get neutral or no feedback, and if the former you can always leave a comment in response, I think, as to why you didn't pay.

It's exceedingly unlikely that you'd be sued outside of ebay for failing to fulfil your side of the transaction, as you'd be able to argue, particularly if the seller was a business seller (was it through an ebay Store?), that the postage charges were unfair and therefore unenforceable.

That said, it'll almost certainly be a misplaced decimal. Probably.

(Edited to remove a question that your original post answered!)

Seller's feedback is 100%

dont worry rohumpy if he doesnt fix it dont pay there are no consequences. its not like ebay will ban you just a strike at most

I feel for your situation it is just so wrong rohumpy! Surely you can beat this issue. I would exhaust all avenues and hold off paying as long as possible. Surely this person credibility means something to them. Maybe the person is just not available today and tomorrow you will get an answer. I just would not pay. I hate rip-offs in our industry it genuinely up sets me. KGV

I would still connect ebay and report it as excessive shipping fees if you haven't already - you have a reason not to pay by ebay's own written policy. Go into live help chat with an ebay representative if needed. While the seller cannot leave negative feedback, the seller can leave an unpaid item strike which can prevent you from bidding on many other sellers' auctions. Other option, send a payment with a self-adjusted shipment value of $1.95 if you think the seller just made a mistake.
Will

When you say you emailed him does that mean you asked a question or actually asked for an invoice?

I would just ask for an invoice, including a note saying that the shipping is slightly wrong.

Just keep it nice and see how he responds. 9 chances out of 10 he will be busy, sick, distracted, etc and have made a mistake as you suggest it looks like he did form his other listings.

Once you ask for an invoice it is up to him to send that invoice (with reasonable shipping) and there are ebay policies now also against over stating shipping. He will get a slap if he doesn't fix his mistake, not you.

Easy. Just be patient. You have all the rules on your side now.

As battlestamps says it is possible to report a seller but I would wait until he has invoiced you AFTER you have asked for an adjusted shipping invoice. ebay will ask if you have done that anyway. Perhaps.

I actually made such a mistake one year when I was sick and was glad and happy that the buyer asked me to fix the invoice before going to the lengths of reporting me. I was embarrassed of course.

Battlestamps, How do I send an adjusted payment? I do not have the senders e mail address and even if I did, don't know if I could send a paypal payment to the seller through his e mail address.

When I go to the page where I would normally pay, the 195 charge for shipping is there and is in the total. I do not see how to change that.

I have talked live with an ebay representative, but little satisfaction there---surprise!

Rohump, Who is the seller?

I would send him 1.95 for shipping and see what his reply (if any) would be....

rohumpy: I guess you can't see that anymore like the "old" days of ebay. You use to be able to request an address and phone number too, but I doubt you can do that. ebay really likes to place itself as a massive wedge between buyers and sellers.
Will

O frabjous day, Finally a revised invoice and yes, the shipping was indeed 1.95. What a load off my mind.

Good that a revised invoice came through.

When rohumpy tried to adjust the shipping amount like Moodbird suggested the seller had probably blocked users from changing the shipping amount. Or ebay had blocked it.

I have had problems like that as a seller when ebay themselves blocked users from changing shipping amounts and ebay told me that they did that because too many (?) sellers were complaining that buyers were changing shipping amounts without asking or good reason. (supposedly).

I found (so far) that most people are very nice and will not adjust things without asking or me asking them to. But now seemingly the buyers can not do that and I know as a buyer also it adds to the frustration (at times) of getting the purchase finished and over with. However I can see the security for the seller is there also so they don't get short changed.

Puzzler............."Moonbird" was not part of this discussion.