ebay

[bednobs]

done my first few sales on ebay. I have discovered that i rather overestimated on the cost of postage. Am i able to refund part of the cost to the buyer thru paypal?

[evedawn]

Bednobs that's kind and honest of u but the way I see it is the buyer bought it already knowing the cost of postage so there's no need.

[dotty.]

if you don't refund them your feedback may suffer. it is easily done via paypal, just click on the refund tab next to their name on paypal and you can refund any part of their payment, it is always a good thing to do as i have found as the buyer will give you very good feedback and not mark you down on postage costs.

[237SJ]

Yes, you can. I got an estimate of postage on something I sent to Australia and then found out it was cheaper. I refunded the difference through paypal. I probably wouldn`t bother if it was just a quid or so but mine was about £10 or £12 if I remember rightly. The buyer gave me good feedback about it but I did it as a matter of principle really.

[JonnyBoy12]

You are able to keep the cost of postage in the name of business and call it a profit. The buyer knew what they were paying and a deal is a deal.

[mrs_overall]

I don't like ripping people off so if I have over estimated the postage I will usually stick a postage stamp or two in with the goods

[boxtops]

Yes, you can - I do it often, it helps with feedback for you. I often don't know the actual price until I get to the PO to as long as they have paid with PayPal, you can go into the PayPal transaction and click the link for "refund" - make sure you only make a partial refund though, not the whole lot! I usually then send a message saying that the thing is in the post, and if there is a refund, I say "it cost less to post than I'd estimated, so I have refunded you 50p by PayPal" etc. Don't forget to allow for the cost of packaging though, and getting the stuff to the PO etc, so a gesture of refund is usually enough.

[boxtops]

... and JB, most of us aren't business sellers on eBay, that's a whole different ball game, we're just selling things we don't want any more :-)

[bednobs]

i actually overestimated by double!

[boxtops]

Have you got scales, bednobs? I've got a little kitchen scale on my desk, weigh the thing, add the weight of box/packing, then round it up to allow for - well, rounding up - then call that your P&P price. Do you use the Royal Mail on-line postage by weight chart? That's my eBay bible!

[bednobs]

yep i weighed it and it was just on the cusp of 1000g i thought with packaging it would take it over but it hasn't, so it doesn't go up to the next weight catagory

[mrs_overall]

I weigh stuff on my kitchen scales and have an up to date price leaflet from the PO

[rsvp]

bednobs - you are a brilliantly honest person with a conscience - the amount you overcharged cannot be the national debt of a small country but it is obviously worrying you - so contact the buyer and offer a refund - I'll buy from you any day!

[NOX]

Bednobs the cost of 'postage' isn't just the literal cost of the stamp, you take into account your time in wrapping it and taking it to the post office, your packaging and tape etc which over the course of a year amounts to a surprising amount. I trade on Ebay a lot and usually add at least 50% to small packages if not more. As long as you are clear about your postage prices few people will quibble.

[bednobs]

i just wonder how i'd feel if i'd paid say £10 for postage then it came and the stamp was for say £2.50?

[dotty.]

miffed , it's wise to refund to be reasonable,

[ganesh]

It doesn't usually say the acyual postage amount on it does it? Mine usually just has Large Letter or Small Packet Ist or 2nd class.I wouldn't bother refunding unless it is a huge amount.Don't forget paypal charges on payments or receipts,forget which but either way,you should add a little for your time and packaging anyway.The buyers knew the postage amount so they obviously thought it was worth it and no doubt they have a bargain in the item itself anyway.

[ELVIS68]

If a buyer was unhappy with the postage they wouldn't buy the item in the first place.

I doubt very much someone would buy something then leave bad feedback because the postage was too expensive

[mrs.chappie]

If I find I've overcharged on postage, I do the same as Mrs.O - stick a stamp or two in the package with a note explaining what I've done.

[tinkerbell23]

Someone asked me before as id overestimated... By about £1 or 2! And i refunded it via paypal xx

[tinkerbell23]

Ps nowaways ive noticed folk charging for petrol/parking and packaging a bit on their postage x