International Ebay Sale Extortion

What do you think?
Hi Seller,

I understand very well how eBay operates and all about shipping as I am a seller as well and have been on eBay for over 10 years. While I can sympathize with you, you cannot justify it to me, this is simply hiding the extra charge in the shipping which is bad seller ettiquete as well as against eBay rules. You cannot use higher shipping cost to cover eBay/paypal fees, this has to be built into the price of the item you list.

This in my opinion is a dishonest practice to say the least. If you are doing this all the time, this should be declared on every one of your listings so buyers will know. But I doubt you'll do that. Unfortunately, I will be forced to leave Feedback becoming of this practice. Sellers fleecing buyers deserves Negative Feedback and Comments as well.

I will ask you to reconsider as I rarely, if ever leave a Neg FB for sellers but this is something I consider for this transaction. I expect your prompt response.

Best regards, Buyer
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Reply

Your previous message
Thankyou for getting in contact with me with your concerns,
I understand that the postage cost may seem high but the cost of the stamp is not the only expense, the cost includes handling and an insurance cost that is spread over all my international packages. Further more ebay and paypal take a cut of the fee paid which I also have to take into account. All my international listings come with standard postage unless otherwise requested and invoiced. The starting cost point for international expedited postage (9 business days) from here to Canada is $24 and express (4 business days) starts at $41 as you will be able to verify on Australia post website postage calculator.
Unfortunately international shipping is expensive but I work hard to keep cost down and offer prices that make it worth buying with the higher postage cost.
Kind regards
seller
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buyers name removed
Hi, received my coin today after 2 weeks. I paid 4 times what it cost you to ship it. I understand that there is time involved shipping it but 4 times the actual shipping cost ? So besically I paid for expidited shipping but you sent regular post. I'm thinking I'm due to get back half of what it cost to ship and you'll still make a bit for yourself. Buyer

Seems kinda gray. On the hand, 4X the shipping cost is a bit steep, and understandably would anger a customer. On the other hand, if the shipping cost was clear to the buyer at the outset, then they agreed to pay it. His emails to you are mostly respectful, but somewhat entitled. I don't know if eBay would side with you if you claimed feedback extortion in this case.
Sorry, this is no fun when it happens.

except it wasn't 4x the shipping cost, it didn't include the cost of insurance , postage material and time I have to spend filling out the paperwork.
trust me when I say his latest responses are a lot less respectful and forceful
he also raised a case for item not as described, which is blatantly false but would see me responsible for the postage cost something that he gleefully points out later
"You can take back your coin, and pay for the return shipping which will be top notch and tracked with signature. You can incure the costs for this as you are Responsible 100% for your listing as a Seller as per eBay's seller guidlines. I want either an acceptible partial refund for the shipping costs or a total refund for the coin when shipped back to you including original shipping cost. "
he knows he holds all the power and is using it to extort money from me. I wish he hadn't purchased the coin in the 1st place, just a bad customer who is intent on causing damage to the person who stood up to his attempt to extort a further discount once he had what he wanted

I understand carl,
but ebay can be a great place to deal with ethical people, of the thousand of transactions I have handled this is the 1st negative I have had and like usual it just takes 1 bad apple to spoil the experience of trading on ebay
I have purchased coins form several overseas sellers who have charged extremely high postage exceeding what I think is the right expense. but I accept that is the cost of the item and chose to purchase the items anyway. I didn't get the item then complain about the postage cost and try to extort money from the seller using feedback and return policy abuse as a tool to do so

I have, I only wish I had know of him before he had purchased the item and been able to avoid all this

Do not even have a conversation with these people. The second they threaten you just contact eBay.

Please let us know the outcome whether eBay side in your favor or not?

I agree with Bobby, just contact eBay the second something like this happened.