Feedback on eBay

I've done a transaction on eBay that I'm not very happy with. I got a Shick Injector. Here's the payment detail for it:

Vintage Schick Injector Razor: US $5.99
Shipping and handling via USPS Airmail Parcel Post: US $23.05
Shipping insurance (required): US $0
Seller discounts (-) or charges (+): US $10.00
Total: US $39.04

As you can see, I ended up with $33 shipping and handling for a $6 item. On the item page the seller says: "We also offer International shipping but charge an additional $10.00 for International Documentation & Customs/Declaration Forms." So I was expecting a slightly steep shipping, but I was in no way prepared for $33.

Since I didn't know it was possible to retract a bid when this went down, I ended up getting the seller to send the item to a friend of mine in the US. Now I ended up with:

Razor: US $5.95
Shipping and handling via USPS Global Priority Mail: US $8.70
Shipping insurance (required): US $1.35
Total: US $16.04

Shipping and handling is still _very_ expensive, but I was tired of the entire transaction and I didn't feel like making an issue.

I believe that this seller is making money by dealing with high shipping charges, but I can't prove it. I feel tempted to leave negative feedback, but I'm quite sure he would then return the neg feedback. I'm also unsure whether that would be abuse of the feedback system from my side.

So, if the more experienced ebayers could give me some advice I'd be very happy.

--
Alf

Well I didn't see the disclosure of the auction so I cant say for sure. If it was clearly stated how much shipping would be then its your fault. I personally will not buy anything until I know what the shipping charges are. I have seen some sellers list items for a really cheap buy it now (Like a $100 item for $5 or some real low price) and then charge $90 shipping. This gets people that just click and buy it now, and it avoids the ebay fees since they do not collect any $$ on shipping charges. What every you do my advise is read every auction twice to make sure you are not missing anything. If it is too good to be true it probably is.

As to your transaction the seller will probably return the negative feedback. I left a positive with a comment of slow shipping, it took like two weeks which is slow. He then left a positive with a comment that I was slow to pay. I paid within 24hrs of winning the auction. He was just a jerk who couldn't take the truth.

As to advice, check over the listing again, if the high shipping fees are disclosed then leave a positive it was your fault. If it does not state, then I would say it is also your fault for not checking into it, leave a positive. If it is kind of shady and misleading a neutral may be inorder. Its not set up right. A seller should leave you a positive as soon as you pay promptly period. I have never had one do this though, they always wait to see what you are going to list.

Also consider how much feedback you have. If they have 2,000 and you have 10 a negative will affect you greatly but not harm there overall score.

Good luck.

Alf,
While the shipping l;ooks high it is not that crazy. I just did a quick check on a 1 pound package going to Norway. $17.50 via Airmail Parcel Post. if the seller was usingf an estimated weight, say 1 1/2 pounds he could easily come up with a $23.05 charge.

I always use Airmail parcel Post on valuable items as it can be insured but a $5.95 razor could have gone Global Priority to Norway for less than $10

It always pays to ask before bidding and in my auctions I make it clear that International shipping can often be surprisingly high depending on what country one is shipping to.

I have a strop headed to Norway today and it is going to run $23 or so, actual cost.

Tony

So, in conclusion I learned to check shipping costs before I bid. Hopefully this lesson is worth more than it cost me. :D

And as usual I was lucky. For some reason the razor showed up in my mailbox (in Norway) today. So it seems that even though I asked to have it shipped to my friend in the US, it was sent to my home but to the price of sending it to my friend in the US (mentioned above).

I don't know if it's because the paypal-invoice said to ship it to my home or if it's because the seller decided to be friendly. Either way I put in positive feedback. :)