Sellers Modifying Your Order, and Shipping It Without Your Input

Butt Scratcher on 08/03/2018 - 00:13
Last edited 08/03/2018 - 00:36

Just a word of caution, this is a semi-rant about crappy practices with sellers

I'm bound to not be the only person who has experienced this. So, you buy multiple items and pay $XXX amount of shipping fees for those items. Seller realises there is one or more items in your order that is out of stock, after you have placed the order. Seller "notifies you", and ship it anyway without your input. If the shipping is very little or free, no big deal. But sometimes, that's not the case.

As was the case with me recently with this deal

https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/363314

I bought 4 items from Roger David, which meant $40+$10 shipping. It took them a few days to realise an item was out of stock and told me 3 days ago. After being notified, I told them the afternoon a day after to cancel the order (because i didn't feel like it was worth it paying for shipping anymore). But I get a notification 6-8 hrs later that it has been shipped. Fella who notified me still hasn't replied to me yet…

I had a similar experience at Oroton where I ordered a bag and wallet totaling around $250 (shipping was about ~$14-$17). Bag turned out to be out of stock, but they shipped it anyway. My order was now $37 for the wallet, and $15 for shipping… Shipping is 40% of the cost of the item. I told the seller to cancel it straight after the notification, and they were good enough to refund the shipping cost because it had already been sent. It shouldn't have come to that though, in my opinion.

I realise it probably isn't as egregious as what was the case with oroton, but it still highlights the fact that it seems standard for them to modify your order and expect you to go with it anyway.

Anyone else feel the same? Or think I am being unreasonable?

General Discussion

Comments

  • garetz on 08/03/2018 - 00:25

    I bought several items with hallensteins, and a water bottle, they cancelled everything else, but still sent the water bottle, i thought that was very strange, and that they would lose money on that, but what can you do, i just let it go, but wont ever buy from them again thats for sure.

  • Diji1 on 08/03/2018 - 01:08
    +2

    I'm getting sick of eBay sellers "selling" me something (they take my money with a normal ETA) then they message saying "'mistake' happened, we'll ship it in a week, blah blah sorry eat shit seeyas" with no mention of a refund. Which then turns into 4 weeks while they have a free loan.

    Every time one of these (profanity) does this to me know I demand a refund immediately because eBay takes the FVF from them - which is only right, they need to be penalised for delivering shitty service that involves an unofficial loan from the customer.

    • subywagon on 08/03/2018 - 12:15

      It's been happening to me more and more. Sorry the items out of stock will have it in 2 or 3 weeks. Turned into a couple of months with some items. The only reason I waited was because of a 20% or 10% sale on eBay and I didn't want to loose the discount. They shouldn't list if it's out of stock.

  • prkr on 08/03/2018 - 01:28

    Yes. Big W does this a LOT.

  • try2bhelpful on 08/03/2018 - 07:32

    I agree with you. It is bad enough they can’t fulfil your order let alone having to pay jacked up shipping costs for low price items. I would be annoyed too. With Oroton I went to their DFO store and bought the umbrella I wanted directly.

  • mskeggs on 08/03/2018 - 07:43
    +2

    EB Games made this an art form, but if you contact them they will refund shipping.
    My biggest risk is if this happens when you are trying to use a related offer. For example, I bought a $399 iPad and a USB memory stick to get over $400 from Harvey Norman to qualify for a $100 Amex credit. If the USB had been out of stock I would have been in a bother (I actually bought a $5 pair of headphones too, to avoid this risk!).

    • Kail on 08/03/2018 - 11:24

      I had this happen with EB Games too, they refunded the shipping when I contacted them.

      But it must have cost them a packet because I ordered about 5 or so things on top of the big cancelled item, and for some bizarre reason they shipped each one individually, including two packets of Animal Crossing Cards from the same shop, processed 1 minute apart (from the receipt packed with them). They were each put in a GIANT envelope (A3 size) and mailed individually.

      • lestat87 on 10/03/2018 - 13:44

        Wow sounds like the staff member was off in the clouds. I bought 7 games back in Jan 2nd hand sale & they all shipped in the one box.

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