Seller Can Now Tack On "Extra Charges' Under Postage

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Sellers can now tack on "Extra Charges' under postage with no explanation in the original listing?

What are seller extra charges for???

Should buyers be told ahead of time of these "Extra Charges" ???

I assume you are talking about ebay? I was not aware of this new change or capability. I guess maybe this would be to include packaging materials, or something else besides the actual postage needed for shipping?

Surely always useful to check shipping costs before buying. If the total shipping cost is repugnant, I will choose another seller, unless it's that "unique" item I really need. I always include the shipping cost in my bid (in other words, add it to the cost of the item to calculate my max bid, similar to the auction percent fee for brick/mortar auctions).

I doubt if ebay actively polices this. I once complained to a seller about the substantial difference between the postage charged and its actual cost. He came up with a string of excuses, including the cost of packaging (some tatty bubble-wrap) and his cost in taking the item to the post office!

I don't get the beef. Shipping has always included handling charges (if any are charged by a shipper) and the buyer always knows what the shipping and handling charge is from the listing ahead of time.

Such additional charges may include shipping materials, ebay fees, labor, fuel, or any other expense the seller desires.

Since the total cost for shipping and handling is given up front - what's the beef?

John

If you are talking about receiving an ebay invoice with extra charges, that is nothing new and the capability has been around for years and years. One use case is if you are buying more items than just what is on the listing. For example, you buy one stamp album then talk to the seller and they have another 2 albums (which are not listed on ebay) which you want to buy also. So there is space in the invoice to put extra charges, since obviously you have to pay for the 2 other albums as well as additional shipping. Now if you went to pay for auction and there was a previously undisclosed charge added (besides item, shipping and taxes) that would be a big problem, or even if you receive an invoice with extra charges which the seller did not work out with your beforehand, that would also be a problem. In that case, I would ask seller to remove, and I would not pay the invoice if they weren't reasonable.

Perhaps the extra charges arise when a buyer asks for an upgraded mode of shipping, for example. Or when a shipment is oversized or overweight from multiple purchases.

Another possibility (and mind you, this is strictly a guess): When the seller created their listing they perhaps grossly underestimated the shipping fees they would incur (either accidentally or by neglect). This would be a way for the seller to make an adjustment (correction) so they don't take a beating in the transaction. If so, this would be one of those unusual instances where ebay is protecting the seller when that protection is appropriate.

If you underestimate domestic postage, you should take the hit. A bespoke price for overseas is a different matter.