Postage from Hong Kong to the UK for a small watch keyring?

[JLCooper]

I recently bought a watch keyring off an ebay seller. On the product listing he had the amount for postage to the USA, but it said if you wanted to know about postage costs to other countries, you must request from the seller. However, I have writted him several messages requesting the total for postage to the UK and he has not replied almost a week later, and I fear he will report me on ebay for failure to pay. So I thought I'd make an estimate of the postage costs myself and just send that to him, only problem is I have no idea what postage costs these days, so please help!

[poltergeist]

well I would say it costs around 50hkd = ~5 pounds.

how much did you send old chap?

[JLCooper]

Well I haven't sent anything yet, the keyring itself cost about �6, and to post to the US is free p&p. So I thought maybe �2 will cover it if he's saying free postage to the US. I thought the only reason he may not be replying to my messages is because, being from Hong Kong he might not speak English.
He has an 100% feedback score so he doesn't strike me as a bad seller.

[Rollo]

I would not estimate the postage.

Request an invoice from the seller. If you don't get the information don't pay.

If the seller cannot even tell you how much to pay how can you trust him to send yout item?

In future, never bid on something until you know how much the postage is. Ask the seller a question before you bid.

[JLCooper]

Just had a quick look through some other items he's got listed. On a couple of his other items he's got the postage listed as �4, and quotes that the postage is the same price worldwide. As this is on a listing for an actual pocket watch which is heavier and also the main price is lower than the keyring, I believe �2-3 should cover the postage for my item.

[heathfield]

Would this site be of any help? (�1.00 = HK$11.22 at today's rate).

[Pigletion]

If you have requested an invoice and not received one, I think you can also contact eBay and ask them to give them a nudge. It's not reporting them, it just highlights the issue. If they sell a lot of things it may have just been overlooked.

[spudqueen]

�2 would only just cover the postage from here to Hong Kong of something weighing 139g or less
http://www.postoffice.co.uk/portal/po/content1 ?catId=19100179&mediaId=19100242
You have to take into account the weight of the item plus the packaging. Also if you want to sign for it then that will also cost more. Also remember that postage in Hong Kong may be more than here!
btw Hong Kong used to be a British Colony and many people who live there (though not all of them) can speak English. And if this seller can communicate with someone in America I'm sure he could communicate with yourself!

[tamborine]

Its an automatic withdrawal from from your paypal account?

[spudqueen]

Oh look - a quick 'google' and I have the postage rates in Hong Kong - you'll have to work out from the exchange rate what it would cost in sterling though.
http://www.hongkongpost.com/eng/postage/overse as/air/index.htm

[Ethel]

If this seller can't be bothered to respond to your emails BEFORE you've paid, what sort of service is he going to give after you've paid?

If I were you I'd keep my money and buy from somebody else. What sort of feedback has he got?

[JLCooper]

"Its an automatic withdrawal from from your paypal account?"

The payment for the item itself is automatic, but for the postage I can enter my own amount, so whatever the seller would ask for.

Anyway, I've taken a few's advice and not paid it, but contacted eBay about the situation and am now awaiting reply from them.

[alavahalf]

A lot of sellers from Hong Kong who sell smaller/cheaper items, make their profit on the postage...
If the seller has 100% feedback ...they will want to keep it that way...so you are in the stronger position.
Dont pay anything until you get your invoice...