Regards,
Simply-the-best-for-you Volunteer Community Mentor
Sending a partial refund for a Shipping discount was done on one page up until yesterday on my account. Now the process is complicated by making it a multi-page process.
Page 1: This page is only for the Refund amount, the Buyer is their ID, NOT their full name like the old refund page. On this page you enter the amount and then click the Next button at the bottom that turns blue once a value is in the refund field.
Page 2: On this page you select the reason and type a message in the field provided BUT the Buyer on this page on the right is again just their ID, NOT their real name.
Page 3: Here is where you review your Refund ... and oh, the Buyer on the right is again their ID, NOT full name.
Page 4: Your refund is now complete and FINALLY, the Buyer's real name is shown on the right along with their ID (green arrow).
So this was my first time through this new process. It is now a 4 page process instead of two, I will have to remember the Buyer's name BEFORE starting a refund since eBay hides that info now until the end opposed to the old one page process where the Buyer's name was displayed for use in the typing field for a more personalized note. Since none of the pages seem to have a back button I could not go back and correct or change anything.
I am at a loss to explain why the programming department's changes typically mean more steps for simple tasks. The other one that comes to mind is the Feedback flow. We used to be able to get to the full feedback history by simply clicking the FB count number, now that too is a multi-step process.
I just fail to see this (or the Feedback page access) as being any kind of improvement. This is 2024 and making things easier seems to be a lost art for the venue's programmers.
@mcdougle4248 wrote:
@broto_64 wrote:Maybe ebay doesn't want sellers to manually issue shipping discounts, personally I would feel annoyed at a seller for doing things in such an outdated way... Sellers can institute automatic multi-order discounts under business shipping policies, then sellers don't even have to click once, it just gives it to the buyer before they even pay.
What I run into, even with using business policies with a combined flat rate rule and offering a promotional free shipping offer, buyers do not always use the shopping cart. So, when a buyer buys multiple items, each with a separate transaction, they end up overpaying for shipping. I combine their orders on the bulk label page and refund the overpayment of shipping charges after I print the label.
I have never had any indication that the buyers in these situations were annoyed with the refund process that I used. I often receive positive feedback regarding the transactions.
I get comments of thanks for shipping discounts in FB too at times or in an eBay Message. It is simply good business and works towards having repeat customers.
@mr_lincoln wrote:
@mcdougle4248 wrote:
@broto_64 wrote:Maybe ebay doesn't want sellers to manually issue shipping discounts, personally I would feel annoyed at a seller for doing things in such an outdated way... Sellers can institute automatic multi-order discounts under business shipping policies, then sellers don't even have to click once, it just gives it to the buyer before they even pay.
What I run into, even with using business policies with a combined flat rate rule and offering a promotional free shipping offer, buyers do not always use the shopping cart. So, when a buyer buys multiple items, each with a separate transaction, they end up overpaying for shipping. I combine their orders on the bulk label page and refund the overpayment of shipping charges after I print the label.
I have never had any indication that the buyers in these situations were annoyed with the refund process that I used. I often receive positive feedback regarding the transactions.
I get comments of thanks for shipping discounts in FB too at times or in an eBay Message. It is simply good business and works towards having repeat customers.
I 100% agree.
When the new version of the refund process rolls out on my account I may find myself back here asking
questions, however, I plan to continue using the refund process when the need arises.
@mcdougle4248 wrote:
@mr_lincoln wrote:
@mcdougle4248 wrote:
@broto_64 wrote:Maybe ebay doesn't want sellers to manually issue shipping discounts, personally I would feel annoyed at a seller for doing things in such an outdated way... Sellers can institute automatic multi-order discounts under business shipping policies, then sellers don't even have to click once, it just gives it to the buyer before they even pay.
What I run into, even with using business policies with a combined flat rate rule and offering a promotional free shipping offer, buyers do not always use the shopping cart. So, when a buyer buys multiple items, each with a separate transaction, they end up overpaying for shipping. I combine their orders on the bulk label page and refund the overpayment of shipping charges after I print the label.
I have never had any indication that the buyers in these situations were annoyed with the refund process that I used. I often receive positive feedback regarding the transactions.
I get comments of thanks for shipping discounts in FB too at times or in an eBay Message. It is simply good business and works towards having repeat customers.
I 100% agree.
When the new version of the refund process rolls out on my account I may find myself back here asking
questions, however, I plan to continue using the refund process when the need arises.
@mcdougle4248 I will be looking for the Tell us what you think link the next time I process one ... hope they didn't take that away from us too ...
Exactly what @mcdougle4248 said, it's how I do most of my combined shipping b/c the vast majority of my buyers are not tech-savvy & don't use the Shopping Cart or use it as a holding place for everything they're interested in, so it won't function the way it was intended. Never once have I had a customer be annoyed, quite the opposite, they tend to be very appreciative.
@broto_64 wrote:That is true, perhaps in light of that it is fair to say ebay's buyer experience doesn't lend itself to certain sales methods such as multi-item purchases. Every venue has its pros and cons, we can chose to work with those or we can try and apply band-aids and try to use work-arounds but ultimately the venue will decide what they will and will not allow.
Don't get me wrong, I am not a fan of ebay's upgrades and enhancements either.
I started Selling 9 years ago ... it became apparent early on that the venue was good at juggling one ball. Not much has changed in that regard over the years. Sure some things have improved but to release any kind of control from the venue to Sellers seems to be something that there is no interest in doing. To me it smacks as a lack of trust. So yes, every venue has its pros and cons and yes, many Sellers try to work within those constraints.
In looking at features that add additional delivery time two come to mind, the Authenticity program and EIS ... yep, BOTH of those features mean an item is shipped to a center that unpacks, inspects, repacks and ships again. Are the forums here being overrun with customers complaining about long deliveries for those features? No, not overrun but yes to some complaining.
So to one of my earlier points, giving Sellers & Buyers the ability to work out combined shipping costs as a separate step after a multiple item purchase is only going to add a little more time for delivery, nothing more.
The issue though is that the Seller would be in control of that and not eBay and therein lies the problem.
@ihave2manycars wrote:I am convinced that the only reason this has been implemented is to benefit ebay. Not quite sure how, but the only time they make enhancements is to benefit themselves, not the sellers. I think it has to do with the taxes. As one can see from the screenshots, there is no mention of a sales tax refund. eBay is assuming that our collective refunds are for shipping only.
The programming M.O. has been to add steps to simple processes ... the partial refund flow is just another victim of that process. I liken it to being given "busy work" ... which I don't need.
"Tell us what you think?" ... I use that on a regular basis, hope others will as well. It may or may not make a difference.
