I got THIRTY dollars of extra fees on an eBay item. Help!?

Question

I set a maximum bid price of $10 on this item and won with $6.50.

It said that shipping and handling was free, but when I looked back at the seller's feedback, I saw a lot of things about "extra fees" that the seller had added to the cost.

I won the bid, and the total came out to $6.50, but when I go to the check out, it says that I must pay $36.50 for this item!

I even contacted the seller BEFORE HAND to ask about the "additional fees" that they had charged other buyers, and their answer was vague and only said that "shipping and handling is free!" and I would only pay for what the winning bid was.

Now, only AFTER i'm being charged $36.50 for this item, does the seller mention that I must pay for packaging costs!

They tell me this AFTER I won the bid!

I refuse to pay $36.50 for an item that only totalled to $6.50 with NO shipping and handling.

Please tell me what I can do.

Answer 1

Well, if they did not include the extra fees in the item description, and stated that S&H were free, then I would refuse to pay and would file a complaint with eBay.  Reference that they have done this to other buyers as well.

If it had the fees described anywhere within the item description, you are obligated to pay or risk a negative feedback for not following through with your contract.

I would have been wary after reading the feedback, and would not have bid unless the seller was VERY specific in his reply to your questions.

I hope this helps!

Answer 2

Notify ebay that there is a dispute.  Do not pay.  Ebay should be able to remove any non-payment marks that the seller makes against you.

Answer 3

Read the auction listing VERY closely...even the very small print.  If nowhere on the auction it lists anything about these fees...or contacting the seller about additional fees...you will be able to dispute the non-paying status he reports you as.  If it is listed somewhere on the auction..and you just  missed it..then you have nothing to dispute the claim with.  What is the link to this listing?  I would really like to see it.  I do a lot of business on ebay and I hate sellers like this.  They give many of us a very bad reputation.  What kind of feedback does this seller have?  If his number is low then you now know that you should have avoided him to begin with.