I Am Having A Disagreement With A Ebay Seller And Would Appreciate Some Input.

I made an offer on an item which was less than the BIN price. The lot said "Free Shipping" in two separate places. When I get the invoices, a few dollars in shipping has been tacked on.

I mention this to the seller who tells me that according to ebay rules, because I did not purchase the item at the BIN price, he can charge me shipping on a free shipping lot.

Does this make sense to you? What recourse might I have?

Sounds like Sellers remorse. I'm not aware the seller has the ability to charge for shipping if the listing indicated shipping was free. You might give ebay a call and just ask them. I'd be surprised if the seller can do that.

Best of luck!

I disagree with the seller.

When you submit your offer....
It states what you are offering.....totally.
When he accepted it....it was a deal.

Please post the item #....

A seller that is not afraid of a neg feedback?

The seller has changed the terms of the listing after your purchase, which is against ebay policy. If the seller doesn't honor the shipping price in the listing, I would inform the seller that you are "cancelling" the transaction.

I understand the principal of the matter...but surely your time is worth more than the few extra dollars....let it go!...and enjoy your purchase.

Item http://www.ebay.com/itm/272043515272

If you look at his feedback, you aren't the first one he seems to have pulled that on. And apparently feedback doesn't matter to him either. Try calling ebay and see what their take is. Otherwise if you want the item and don't want to wait for the next one to come along, take it at his price and leave him something other than positive feedback.

If he thinks that's allowed, he seems to be using a very creative interpretation of ebay's guidance:




So yes, technically, the Best Offer only includes the item price. But this is because the shipping is already specified in the listing. If he's altering the shipping after the fact, this is likely a violation of eBays rules.

Graphis said it all...
it's the principal. Seller's "ad" reads, "Free Shipping."
It does not read, "Free Shipping only at full BIN price".
Unless you must have this item at your agreed purchase price, I would cancel based on the unfair seller's
charge for shipping. But that's me!

Since it's the rule that whatever shipping charge is included before for paid shipping, then the free shipping should also apply in the same way too.

It is "principle", guys, not "principal".

Rhett, what if the seller is head of a school?

One of the lessons learned here is to specify "shipping included" in any future offers.

KGB, I suppose the sale price could also be considered the principal of the transaction and the shipping cost in question could be considered the interest - lol. However, I think these gentlemen were intending to refer to the principle of the matter at hand, not the principal.

From my viewpoint, if the original BIN price stated free shipping, I would expect free shipping if I made a lower counter-offer. However, if the seller accepted the counter and added shipping, I would probably grumble about it, but consider it still a good buy. Life is too short to sweat the small stuff.