In my opinion (and with this issue it really is a matter of opinion!) if a seller doesn't estimate the cost correctly that's their fault. It's the seller's responsibility to determine how much shipping will be, so if they estimate wrong, technically it's their mistake, not the buyer's. This is true whether the estimate is lower or higher. So, if I give a quote that is too high, I refund the difference. If I give a quote too low, I eat the cost, because either way it was my fault for not getting an accurate price.
I'm not sure if you read the whole entry but in this case I asked the seller to let me know if shipping was more than she thought, and I would be happy to send more. She never let me know, but I saw on the postage label it cost more and sent extra anyway. Obviously most buyers don't do that.
I have heard the "you agreed to the cost!" argument before, but the issue is I agreed to pay that for SHIPPING not as a tip for the artist. In the case I mentioned in the entry I wrote, since the item sold for so little, I'm pretty sure that the reason the seller charged so much and was so reluctant to refund is she was upset about the low price and wanted more. Not because she didn't get an accurate estimate. That might account for a $5 overcharge, not for a $23 overcharge.
As a seller I've never refunded for, say, $5, and as a buyer I've never asked a seller for a refund for that little. The case I described was a $23 overcharge.
As I've said in other comments, the shipping overcharge on the mermaid I bought in 2009 isn't really my issue with this seller. I brought it up to illustrate her lack of communication which is the problem I'm having now.
I've discussed the shipping overcharge vs. materials issue on other forums too, and my opinion hasn't changed. I hate when sellers try to make a profit off shipping costs. Anything more than $5, UNLESS it's very elaborately packed, I will ask for it back. If someone overcharged me $23 and gave me the reply you did about symmetry and usps's online calculator, and refused to refund me... uh, honestly I'd probably leave them poor feedback. Don't get me wrong, for small amounts what you're saying is true. And I'm not some crazy buyer who expects sellers to cater to me constantly or anything either, but it's up to me whether I choose to leave a tip.
BUT I'm not trying to be argumentative or anything, everyone has their own opinion. And as I've said the shipping overcharge isn't even the real issue in this transaction at all.
no subject
I'm not sure if you read the whole entry but in this case I asked the seller to let me know if shipping was more than she thought, and I would be happy to send more. She never let me know, but I saw on the postage label it cost more and sent extra anyway. Obviously most buyers don't do that.
I have heard the "you agreed to the cost!" argument before, but the issue is I agreed to pay that for SHIPPING not as a tip for the artist. In the case I mentioned in the entry I wrote, since the item sold for so little, I'm pretty sure that the reason the seller charged so much and was so reluctant to refund is she was upset about the low price and wanted more. Not because she didn't get an accurate estimate. That might account for a $5 overcharge, not for a $23 overcharge.
As a seller I've never refunded for, say, $5, and as a buyer I've never asked a seller for a refund for that little. The case I described was a $23 overcharge.
As I've said in other comments, the shipping overcharge on the mermaid I bought in 2009 isn't really my issue with this seller. I brought it up to illustrate her lack of communication which is the problem I'm having now.
I've discussed the shipping overcharge vs. materials issue on other forums too, and my opinion hasn't changed. I hate when sellers try to make a profit off shipping costs. Anything more than $5, UNLESS it's very elaborately packed, I will ask for it back. If someone overcharged me $23 and gave me the reply you did about symmetry and usps's online calculator, and refused to refund me... uh, honestly I'd probably leave them poor feedback. Don't get me wrong, for small amounts what you're saying is true. And I'm not some crazy buyer who expects sellers to cater to me constantly or anything either, but it's up to me whether I choose to leave a tip.
BUT I'm not trying to be argumentative or anything, everyone has their own opinion. And as I've said the shipping overcharge isn't even the real issue in this transaction at all.