eBay purchase advice please

[Hausfrau Monica]

This week I bid on and won a shirt for my son's garb on eBay.  The seller is in Quebec and I am in Ontario.  The winning notice cam up with  the purchase price of the shirt at $10 and $19.95 for shipping (by regular mail).  I believe that to be an excessive rate for shipping between provinces and sent an e-mail (translated into French by my mother-in-law) requesting that the shipping charge be changed to regular postage rate.  No reply to that message other than an invoice still showing the shipping charge of $19.95.  So we sent another e-mail suggesting that she mail the package to mother-in-law's sister in Quebec who will be coming here in two weeks for a visit and could bring me the package.  My reply this morning, if I am translating correctly, is that they won't adjust the shipping charge unless I purchase two or more items from them.

Can an eBay seller please advise me if this is a known practice?  Should I have seen a message about this practice on the item listing?  Can the seller change the shipping type to adjust the shipping cost?  I am almost sure that sending it by courier would be cheaper.  I am willing to pay these kind of rates if I need the item by courier from the States but, come on, $20 shipping for a $10 shirt is a bit much.

Am I bound to continue the transaction? 

[Auryn]

Hi
Unfortunately you don't have much of a choice.
Please understand I'm not trying to be snotty, but you should have checked the shipping charges before bidding on the item.
Unfortunately its pretty common practice for people to put excessive shipping charges when they sell items for a lower price than normal.
Its one of those things that unfortunately falls on the buyer to be leery of and make sure they check before buying.

its DEFINITELY something that should have been on the ebay listing though, there is a shipping cost section that should have the cost clearly listed.

its up to the seller on wether or not they want to accommodate a different shipping method.
If I were you I would contact the seller and see if they are willing to completely cancel the transaction and then buy it from someone else.

Sorry

[Hausfrau Monica]

Thank you Auryn,

That was my thinking....sour grapes.... that the seller didn't get a bigger sale so she is going to get something from the shipping price.  The buy another item thing doesn't work for me because she only has four other items for sale and I am not interested in any of them.  UGGGGGGGHHH.... frustrating.  The listing was in French so I didn't read it very thoroughly (with mother-in-law's help). 

I have purchased other items from sellers before with requests to adjust the shipping since I didn't need the items to be couriered and they have changed the price and shipped by regular mail.

We are also purchasing a skirt for approx. $24 and the shipping from the States is only $21....a big difference in weight and a different country so I understand the cost.  This is within Canada though and I am only asking that she send it regular mail, not priority anything.

I guess that I will get to have my say on the customer feedback vote.

Thanks for letting me rant and vent.  I still want the shirt since it will complete my son's garb wonderfully and even with the shipping costs, I probably can't find another one any cheaper.

[Auryn]

I'm sorry, that royally sucks.
the language barrier doesnt help any.
I would try again to explain that you just want slower shipping. See if maybe they have a different email address that you can send it to and maybe get a different person.

[Taffy Saltwater]

I've been eBaying for several years and unfortunately excessive postal rates is something you really have to watch out for.  They have recently implemented a policy about excessive postage & you might want to look in the Help section or forums.   But, unfortunately, I think you may have to bite the bullet on this one and use it as a pricey lesson in your eBay education.  I've made 100's of purchases from eBay and only been really burned once, so it can be a valuable tool.

[Hausfrau Monica]

It doesn't take a genius to be able to read a stamp label to know how much the thing actually cost to mail.  So, you can easily see the difference that someone takes on the shipping.  Oh well, lesson learned and we move on.  The vast majority of my purchases from eBay have been very good and it is truly a case of "ask beforehand or else".

My little spending spree to get the basics for garb for our first dressed faire is now over.  Two faires to finish the season off with and then I can spend the winter making whatever else we need.  The guys will be off to the western wear store this week to get boots and I have a hoop skirt to find yet (but I think I will try to rent one from the local wedding dress store for the two faires left).  The other accessories we will purchase from vendors at faire to support them.

It is so much fun putting garb together.  My son catches me in stores all of the time now thinking of how something I see would work as garb.  The hunt is half of the fun and the days at faire are the other half.  I can't wait.

[Lady von Groper]

I have a hoop skirt to find yet (but I think I will try to rent one from the local wedding dress store for the two faires left). 

Haus Frau:

Have you looked on ebay for a hoop skirt?  I would assume you're looking for a farthingale, correct?  I got mine from an online store for an incredibly cheap price, and this thing came in an 10" x 17" envelope (it was all wound up real small),  so the shipping should not be that expensive.