Honesty Didn't Pay

[mrs_overall]

I've been selling a few bits on Ebay and yesterday I parceled up a t shirt. I realised I had over estimated the cost of postage so I put a note in and as a refund,attached a first class stamp, cut from a book of 12 I had in my purse.
This morning I received a snotty email from the buyer informing me that it is illegal to re-use stamps and how dare I send her a used stamp. She then said she was making a complaint about me to Ebay!
Does honest and kindness pay? Obviously not!

[tonyav]

LOL, miserable git ( not you ) was the stamp still attached to the backing paper.

[Zacs-Master]

You still cut out your stamps?

[mrs_overall]

The stamp was cut out from the book of 12...still on the backing paper.

I have mentally composed a reply to her email but being the nice person I am, I know I will never send it. Anyway, I am sure Ebay have a swear filter....

[tonyav]

Send it anyway, you know you want to.

[Svejk]

Them Victorian stamps are worth a lot of money now, MrsO. X

[Retrochic]

Ebay is getting very snotty. If I really over estimated with postage I used to refund through Paypal even if it was just a couple of pounds -never got a thank you though, so I've stopped doing it. They accept the postage costs when they buy, and its not just postage its packing as well remember.

[jno]

can you tell the backing paper from an old envelope, though?

Just tell her it's new and point to the sticky back.

[askyourgran]

I would e-mail her back and put her right, or else I would be fuming about it forever.

[Mojo-Jo-Jo]

With respect, if you realised the customer had paid too much postage, you should have refunded their postage, not sent them a potentially useless stamp.
Your intention might have been good but it makes you a poor seller. Sorry.

[Peter Pedant]

she completely misunderstood a straightforward thing which with a little thought .....

she's not a member of AB is she ?

[boxtops]

I too refund postage, but I do it by PayPal after I have mailed the item and got the proof of postage. I wouldn't send a refund in the package. There is no proof you've done it, that way - particularly as she's misunderstood completely!

[mrs_overall]

Lesson learned - if I accidentally overcharge in the future I won't refund a penny. If they bid, then they are obviously happy with the postage costs listed

[vulcan42]

If they accept a price and postage I don't see why you should refund the difference mrs o especially if that's the response you get, there are some people in this world you just couldn't please.

[Pete65]

Quite right, Mrs_Overall.
When the potential buyer bids, they know the cost of post and packing.
Fair play to you for doing the decent thing, in spite of the less than graceful response.

[baza]

You did the decent thing, now write an email telling them to naff off.

[mikey4444]

Just send an email back, pointing out her error. Be careful she doesn't leave bad feedback, but if she does, raise a dispute.

Mojo-jo-jo...there is nothing whatsoever "potentially useless" about a new stamp. This woman has made a mistake. And Mrs O is not a poor seller...far from it. She is honest and had her heart in the right place. Don't be so judgemental !

[mikey4444]

Mrs O....there is no way anybody can really tell if you have overcharged on P+P. The postage costs may be clear but how does anyone tell if the second P is correct or not. All this over a 1st class stamp...60p isn't it ?

[Mojo-Jo-Jo]

Mike I said her heart was in the right place, but you're right, it doesn't make her a bad seller and I shouldn't have said that.
It doesn't make me judgmental though. Strange use of the term.

[mikey4444]

MJJ...it seemed to me that you were being judgemental but I apologise if that was too strong a word to use ! Mrs O has been landed with a daft customer here and I am sure we all have some sympathy for her.

Sometimes it seems that we can be TOO honest !

I hope that clears up any misunderstanding !