General Forum

Josh, I'm in a similar situation from you but from the other side. I made a purchase from a seller with 1 feedback, and the items arrived quickly...however they charged me $44 for shipping when it cost them $15. Even adjusting fit the cost of the box and packaging material, that's... excessive. I don't know what to do. They got it to me quickly and packed it well, but I still feel  ripped off. It was something I've been looking for for years in bulk and finally found a lot of 11 of them so I didn't even look at the shipping, I wanted to pay quickly so I didn't miss out. 

It is now one month later and I have not left feedback, because I don't know what's appropriate. Do I give them the positive because I didn't take the time to look at the shipping costs, or do I not because they knowingly ripped me off on shipping?

If the shipping cost was listed, and you failed to read or discover it, then you were not "knowingly ripped off".

Leave a neutral and explain the positives (quick timing, etc) - then make other potential buyers aware of possible high shipping costs.

Whenever I buy cards on ebay, I always leave feedback. 

The fact that quite a few people don't puzzles me. 

In some situations, it is perfectly ok to not leave feedback, but most of the time you should go by this:

If you're satisfied with the card, leave positive feedback.

If you're not, leave negative feedback

If you kinda have mixed feelings, just leave neutral feedback and explain why. 

It's literally that simple. 

It is the kind and helpful thing to do to take time out of your day to communicte and compilment the seller if they did good, and tell them what they could learn from their mistakes if they did not do so well. 

Is that really so much to ask? 

I should say they set it up in a way where shipping wasn't combined...yet they came in the same box. That's not all on me, that's a way for them to pocket a significant amount of money above and beyond the sale. If they had done it honestly it would have cost me around 70-75 dollars, but I paid around 120. 

Ahh, so you purchased cards from different auction lots and they literally charged you the shipping price listed for each lot even though they sent one package.

Yes, that's knowingly shady and yes, deserves a negative.

Billy, did you contact the seller after it arrived and try to resolve your complaint?  I think that is a fair first step that could resolve the issue in a positive manner.  If that doesn't work, then negative or neutral feedback is certainly an available option. 

Not unless they actually said they would combine shipping on multiple lot purchases.  Though I know it is a standard practice that buyers come to expect and a good thing to offer for sellers, if it is not stated in the ad, then one should ask before buyiing.

For eBay, I will leave feedback for a buyer when I send the item, without fail. Though I may take my time, I will leave feedback for sellers who leave me feedback.

However, if I'm the buyer and the seller does not first leave me feedback, I will not leave feedback for them. As long as feedback is a two-way street on eBay, I will continue this practice.

Whether the seller stated there would be combined shipping or not - if they spent $15 to ship a package in which they charged $44 for, the honorable thing to do would be contact the buyer afterwards admitting the (huge) discrepancy and either refund a portion of the cost or give some sort of discount (or free shipping) on the next purchase.

This will not only encourage future business, but then positive word is spread about the seller. It's all about good business practices.

I have at this time 697 completed trades  with a 490 feedback.   so about 5 out of 7   but some of those are  PIFs where I needed a address and used that way to get it.  BUT most thanked me in a message to me directly or a PIF forum post as it really wasn't a trade. Some have even left feedback too.  

I do realize that some will not leave feedback if they recently had a prior trade not to far back.