Can a seller do this? (eBay question)

[Custo]

Back Story:
I HATE UPS. When I buy something from the US I do everything I can to use USPS. Every single time I've used UPS, I get charged ridiculous handling charges on a box no bigger than a shoebox with a value of $150.

With that in mind I won an auction for a Hot Toys New Goblin recently on eBay. The auction clearly states for all international orders, USPS would be used as a shipping method. I also paid $33 for USPS Priority. The seller now emailed me, without consulting me, that he shipped the item using UPS on Tuesday. Wait what? UPS? Why in the world is he/she using UPS when their auction told me USPS and I paid for USPS. Now when this item arrives, I'll be forced to pay whatever handling fee UPS charges me. My question now is: is the seller even allowed to do this without first consulting me? And is it possible they used UPS to save money and pocket the difference? For anyone in the US what would the shipping cost for a Hot Toy approximately be for international? Thanks Freaks!

 

[thenammagazine]

He likely paid more and didn't charge you (UPS is considerably more expensive than USPS). I don't really see faulting him for it.

 

[YoNoSe]

I've personally found UPS to be more expensive than USPS (though not more expensive than USPS Priority International).

It is bad practice to advertise one service and use another. I don't know that it's actually breaking any Ebay rule. The long and short of most Paypal cases (again, in my experience) is "if you're not happy, ship it back for a refund" which in this case doesn't help you at all.

Your best bet is to contact the Seller and explain the situation. If it were me and I shipped with a carrier other than what was specified, I would offer to compensate you since you are now being penalized for my mistake.

You can also call Ebay and ask them if there is any recourse. I've never dealt with this kind of problem but I've always found the best route is to try to work it out with the Seller first, then escalate. But you can always call Ebay ahead of time just to see what their stance is.

Hope it works out.

 

[hehateme23]

Maybe he made a typo? You should contact him and ask him to clarify which shipping method he used.

 

[Q]

Ebay gives the seller an option to use any carrier they want. They mostly want the seller to use USPS because they partnered up and you have the option for Click N Ship. I am a seller and I never use UPS to ship International Packages. I would communicate with him and see what his reason was. Explain to him that you are going to pay extra fees because he decided to ship via UPS.

 

[thenammagazine]

Ebay gives the seller an option to use any carrier they want. They mostly want the seller to use USPS because they partnered up and you have the option for Click N Ship. I am a seller and I never use UPS to ship International Packages. I would communicate with him and see what his reason was. Explain to him that you are going to pay extra fees because he decided to ship via UPS.

This isn't the sellers problem.

 

[YoNoSe]

Maybe he made a typo? You should contact him and ask him to clarify which shipping method he used.

Nice.

 

[Lee in MI]

UPS is often more expensive but, all recent videos to the contrary, they often handle packages better.

That being said, he probably was not aware of the additional charges you would incur and probably thought he was doing you a favor by using a more dependable service.

 

[Custo]

This isn't the sellers problem.

Which is exactly my problem. Its not that hard of a concept. Seller advertised one thing and used another. Now I'm suffering .

 

[YoNoSe]

Did you contact the Seller?

 

[Custo]

Yes, waiting for a response.

 

[thenammagazine]

Which is exactly my problem. Its not that hard of a concept. Seller advertised one thing and used another. Now I'm suffering .

That's your problem, honestly. You're importing it and having to pay taxes. Shipping is entirely irrelevant to the auction so long as you get what you paid for (and he's paying more). PayPal will side with him based on this, and rightfully so. His only obligation is to ship it to you and track it. You wanting to circumvent import fees, etc., is not only illegal, but a violation of your user agreement with both Ebay and Paypal.

 

[Custo]

Seller responded. Said they under valued the item and if I get charged they would argue with UPS. Not sure if arguing would do anything on a legitimate charge from UPS. Guess ill find out Tuesday when it gets delivered.

 

[kaidoy021]

UPS is often more expensive but, all recent videos to the contrary, they often handle packages better.

That being said, he probably was not aware of the additional charges you would incur and probably thought he was doing you a favor by using a more dependable service.

I agree, he probably thought UPS is more realiable and tracking is definitely more dependable. Probably thought he was doing you a favor.

 

[Predator1221]

Back Story:
I HATE UPS. When I buy something from the US I do everything I can to use USPS. Every single time I've used UPS, I get charged ridiculous handling charges on a box no bigger than a shoebox with a value of $150.

With that in mind I won an auction for a Hot Toys New Goblin recently on eBay. The auction clearly states for all international orders, USPS would be used as a shipping method. I also paid $33 for USPS Priority. The seller now emailed me, without consulting me, that he shipped the item using UPS on Tuesday. Wait what? UPS? Why in the world is he/she using UPS when their auction told me USPS and I paid for USPS. Now when this item arrives, I'll be forced to pay whatever handling fee UPS charges me. My question now is: is the seller even allowed to do this without first consulting me? And is it possible they used UPS to save money and pocket the difference? For anyone in the US what would the shipping cost for a Hot Toy approximately be for international? Thanks Freaks!

like everyone else has said on here, UPS is always more expensive in my experience. I can see how you would be upset, and you wouldn't be in the wrong to ask for him to pay those fees. Personally though if it were me I would just let it slide. Hope you enjoy your new goblin I've heard he's a sleeper.

 

[Custo]

That's your problem, honestly. You're importing it and having to pay taxes. Shipping is entirely irrelevant to the auction so long as you get what you paid for (and he's paying more). PayPal will side with him based on this, and rightfully so. His only obligation is to ship it to you and track it. You wanting to circumvent import fees, etc., is not only illegal, but a violation of your user agreement with both Ebay and Paypal.

I'm not talking about the tax that I'm paying for the item. I pay that on anything I receive. I'm talking about the handling charges UPS charges. How is this my fault? Seller clearly stated USPS in his auction description. Had he used USPS, the only charge I would have to pay is the 5% tax that my province charges. Instead, ill potentially pay more since he used UPS. Avoiding import fees has nothing to do with my argument. The fact is, the seller has his rules. I held up my part of the deal by paying, shouldn't he?

 

[The Mike]

Undervaluing the item is a tricky game. A friend of mine sold a Thor PF for $700 but they wanted him to under value it to save on import fees, handling charges and something else I don't remember what, he did and then it went missing. The buyer despite telling him to undervalue it, wanted the full amount he paid back and FedEx shrugged their shoulders to him and said it's only worth what you claimed it was.

Personally I would never do that as a buyer or a seller.

 

[Custo]

Undervaluing the item is a tricky game. A friend of mine sold a Thor PF for $700 but they wanted him to under value it to save on import fees, he did and then it went missing. The buyer despite telling him to undervalue it, wanted the full amount he paid back and FedEx shrugged their shoulders to him and said it's only worth what you claimed it was.

Personally I would never do that as a buyer or a seller.

I know. I never request a seller do that. I've already been burnt once by that. Package was $500. Seller declared it as half. Package got lost. Seller would only refund what insurance would reimburse which was half.

 

[gagaliya]

The seller is just inexperienced, UPS cost considerably more to canada on top of taxes, i seriously doubt he's trying to save some money..

I wouldnt be too hard on him, on the flip side you should contact sellers and let them know to ship USPS only. I know i sometime ship ups/fedex when i listed as usps depends on where the item is etc.. but for canada usps only.

Back Story:
I HATE UPS. When I buy something from the US I do everything I can to use USPS. Every single time I've used UPS, I get charged ridiculous handling charges on a box no bigger than a shoebox with a value of $150.

With that in mind I won an auction for a Hot Toys New Goblin recently on eBay. The auction clearly states for all international orders, USPS would be used as a shipping method. I also paid $33 for USPS Priority. The seller now emailed me, without consulting me, that he shipped the item using UPS on Tuesday. Wait what? UPS? Why in the world is he/she using UPS when their auction told me USPS and I paid for USPS. Now when this item arrives, I'll be forced to pay whatever handling fee UPS charges me. My question now is: is the seller even allowed to do this without first consulting me? And is it possible they used UPS to save money and pocket the difference? For anyone in the US what would the shipping cost for a Hot Toy approximately be for international? Thanks Freaks!

 

[thenammagazine]

I wouldnt be too hard on him, on the flip side you should contact sellers and let them know to ship USPS only. I know i sometime ship ups/fedex when i listed as usps depends on where the item is etc.. but for canada usps only.