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INTERNATIONAL SHIPMENTS combined shipping?
Hello, I just sold two items to the same person overseas (I do not know where yet....). I tried to send an invoice for combined shipping, but the eBay systems says I cannot create an invoice for international customers. Does this mean that I cannot use combined shipping for this international customer? Do I have to ship each item separately to the same customer? Thanks!
7 comments
fdavidm
OP2 years agoHello Everyone,
Well, I managed to get on the phone with eBay support. And for FYI purposes, I would like to tell you what they told me.
The customer for this order is located in the Phillipines. Due to eBay International shipping policy to the PHILLIPINES, I am unable to initially send a combined shipping invoice to this particular customer. However, the ebay support person told me that an invoice from eBay for each item has been sent to the customer and once paid, I can then ship both photographs in one package. I need to input and send the tracking number for both photographs on the shipping confirmation page, which will indicate both photographs were shipped in one package. Once the customer receives the package, ebay will reimburse the customer for one of the shipping charges.
So, at least I have an answer. I thanked the customer support person, but I also told them that the way this was handled was awful. Imagine this: I tried to send a combined invoice to a customer as I have done hundreds of times over the 25+ years since I've been a seller on eBay. all i got was a pop-up that said, "Invoices can't be sent for eBay International Shipping orders." no further explanation, no link to ebay policy regarding phillipine orders, NOTHING. AND, I have a customer in the Phillipines who thinks they're going to have to pay an EXTRAORDINARY amount of money to get two collectible photographs! I wrote an explanation to the customer while on the phone with eBay rep, and I read it to her to ensure all was correct, and I then sent that explanation via eBay messaging to the customer in the Phillipines. So while I am glad I got an explanation, I once again feel that they way this played out on eBay's end is really crappy! How about a link to an explanation page for sending invoice in the PHILLIPINES or SOMETHING that sheds light on the situation? I'm curious to hear your thoughts. thanks for all your help!
gator08041971
Mentor2 years ago@fdavidm
Glad you got an answer. Seems similar to what I was explaining earlier. The buyer can go ahead and pay for the items, and the shipping, you can package them together as I stated earlier, then refund them the difference for the shipping cost.
But that would be the only way to deal with this situation. Sorry if I wasn't clear enough, but more or less I had the same suggestion.
Thanks for the update and good luck! ðŸ˜
fdavidm
OP2 years agoWell, we have a new twist to this entire ordeal. The customer paid this morning for the two items. However, the buyer for this order is not an international customer as eBay stated ( he is not from the Phillipines). This customer was from the good old USA (the Midwest to be exact). So we have here another royal screwup by eBay. Further thoughts??!!??
gator08041971
Mentor2 years ago@fdavidm
I would bundle the items, figure out what your shipping cost is going to be, refund the difference in shipping cost if its a lot, put the tracking number for the shipment into both orders and make sure the customs paperwork includes the info for both orders and all items.
If this is going to the EIS hub method, then ship them separately otherwise the hub may have issues with it.
fdavidm
OP2 years agogator08041971, may I ask, what is EIS hub method?? and how do I bundle the items? I cannot send an invoice-- the eBay system is not allowing me to send an invoice, and that is where I usually input the combined shipping charge.
gator08041971
Mentor2 years ago@fdavidm
EIS is the eBay International Shipping, where they have you ship it to them domestically then they take care of the international part of the process. You have to opt into that in order to use it. You can do that here:
https://www.ebay.com/ship/prf
Has the buyer already paid for the items? If so you won't be able to send them an invoice after the fact. Just package the items, pay for the shipping and offer a refund of the difference.
If they haven't paid, then there may be some other reason its being blocked. Often it could be due to they have paid but its still processing so you don't see it paid yet. Or something with their address, or country.
I have seen this even with domestic shipping, where I tried to send an invoice and it wouldn't let me only for it to then be marked as paid 10 minutes later after it finished processing the transaction.
fdavidm
OP2 years agoThe buyer has not paid for this order. He purchased 2 items, and I want to give him ONE invoice with ONE shipping charge. the eBay system is not letting me do this. I've done it MANY times over the 28 years I've been on ebay. It is a straight forward thing to do; but when i click on SEND INVOICE, the ebay system says, "Invoices can't be sent for eBay International Shipping orders.". I'm sure you know that shipping to europe is very expensive these days, I do not understand why the customer will be forced to pay TWO shipping charges and they might very well cancel the sale! Does anyone know how to contact ebay seller support? I do not seem to be getting anywhere with the online support; they keep asking me idiotic questions that never bring me to the right place. Any help would be greatly appreciated here. THANKS