Reader 246

(seller backing out on offer made)

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Dear FT,

23/7 - I found a nice shirt on 50% discount (after discount RM18) from Store S and emailed the blogshop owner to find out if it's still available. It is.

29/7 - Blogshop owner emailed me asking if I still want the shirt. I said yes but i'll need more time to find more stuff from her site

30/7 - Blogshop owner was happy and informed me "Basically, I'm doing a Free Postage (Registered Post) now for all normal priced item. Juz bundle the sales item in also entitled for Free Postage ;). Another benefit I offer to customer is upgrade of free postage to PosLaju for juz RM4. It's a worthy for bulk buyers cuz you save a lot on postage." The free postage offer is also plastered all over the blog.

1/8 - I spent a few hours looking for something else to buy, preferably a normal-priced item so I could get the free postage. Not finding anything to my taste, I resorted to a white tube which costs RM5 at normal price. I happily emailed the blogshop owner with my order.

2/8 - She replied my email with the final price of RM23 (exclude postage) and a choice of postage..registered post, pos laju, or pos ekspress. Puzzled, I emailed her to clarify on the free postage.

Her reply "Its for "normal" price item. And if you bundle the sales item with the normal price item also available for free postage." Puzzled again, I clarified whether the tube is normal priced item and bundled with the shirt on sale, it should entitle me to the free postage. I even apologised for not understanding.

She replied "RM5 item how to give free postage le...the tube is juz an extra service offered. Tats why its rm5. Others are selling at rm15, Postage will be around rm3. My cost for the tube is more than rm3. So sorry. Thx for your interest. Hope u can find the shirt u wan. Thx."

Here's where it gets juicy...

I replied:
"Hello,
That's not very nice.
Irregardless of the price, i think u're not sticking to your end of the bargain when you post (If you bundle with Sales item also we'll give you Free Postage!!)
There is no t&c stating that "the sales item + normal-priced item must be above RMxxx to get free postage and will be at seller's discretion". Or something along those lines to avoid such misunderstanding situations. Then us shoppers get called names like "backout buyer" and get blacklisted bcos we cancel our order due to disagreements.

I only ordered the white tube to enjoy the free postage, otherwise I would not have bothered to look further. It is not my business to ensure you make profit from each sale. As shopper, we are always looking for bargains and how to get the most bang for our buck. So happens that there is a loop hole in your sales offer that you do not get to profit from this sale, too bad but I am sure you have profited from a lot of previous successful sales, albeit it may not be much.

Although RM3 isn't much for postage, on principle-wise I will not buy the items since you are not upholding your offer. Better luck with other buyers."

She replied:
"Dont you think you're being unreasonable & unfair here? You purposely bought a RM5 item juz to have the free postage! Do you know WHY I didnt put up a sales for the tube???? Cuz its juz an RM5 item! How to discount on tat????? You think about this!

Anyway, I dont like arguing with ppl. Pls go ahead with all the cursing & scolding as you want."

Now, I wonder who is being unfair/unreasonable and doing all the cursing and scolding as I do not see any !! or ?? in my email to her but she was furious in her reply to me. I feel I merely explained in a civilised manner of the loophole in her offer, hoping she would appreciate and honour the offer. In her last reply where she explained why she did not put the RM5 item on sale indicates that the item is legitimately a normal-priced item, which qualifies me for the free postage offer. Even if I chose to only buy the RM5 item without the sale item, I should be entitled to free postage, don't you think?

Yes, obviously it is a non-profit or even losing sale but it is her fault for the oversight and she should honour it, not punish buyers for her mistake. I stand by my principle and what I said in my email to her. I will not pay a single sen more than what I should simply because I am not supposed to..consumer's rights. I am attaching screenshots of the offer, sale item, normal price item, and our email exchanges as proof, I'll even fwd you the whole email if you want. I understand that it is FT's policy not to expose blogshop owners (u can always blur out the names) and I respect that but I really hope you will post this story to educate other buyers and sellers. Seriously, read the t&c before ordering/paying to avoid regrets.

Thanks, FT..for being our ears.