Why are we charged as a buyer for shipping

Question

I don't understand why as a seller my checking account was charged by shipping cost or any cost. I sold 2 item for what was supposed to be a profit of $220.00, but all I see in my checking account is a charge of -$117.68. Also the buyer had issues with the shipping label not being correct so it created several shipping labels on one of items (one item, -$288.93) so my earning on something that I sold for $120.00 show the earning as -$123.17 more than what I sold it for and I tried to call ebay,...

mudshark61369 · Answer

@huvin-20 , "I don't understand why as a seller my checking account was charged by shipping cost or any cost". Since these are your first sales, Your payment is being held by ebay. However, if you state a shipping cost in the listing, that amount is available for use to purchase a shipping label through ebay. If you mess up while creating a shipping label or have to print out more because of a buyer's mistake, and print more than one, since you do not have any funds available yet, the cost for the additional labels came out of your checking account. When you cancel the unused labels the funds will be returned to your checking account. That payment and the payment you received after ebay fees may be held a few additional days because this will be the first time you receive a transfer from ebaycommerceinc. They will hold it until the transfer clears. https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/shipping-items/labels-packaging-tips/buying-printing-shipping-labels?id=4157 You are mistaken on when ebay will release the funds they are holding, to you. Open the link below to find out more about the hold. The funds are not released when tracking shows delivered, ebay keeps them on hold in case the buyer files a return dispute. They may be released in less than 30 days if the buyer leaves a positive feedback. https://export.ebay.com/en/fees-regulations-policies/transactions/payment-holds/ FYI. Your no returns policy is trumped by ebay's Money Back Guarantee (MBG) policy, if a buyer files a not as described dispute. You should read about the policy in the link below. https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy?id=4210

huvin-20 · Answer

I told the buyer the exact weight, and dimensions. 33lbs. 24" x 12" x 9". To be clear I am the seller. Again as a seller I should not see any charges against my checking account. The title was a typo.

I haven't seen any "earnings" for my sell only negative $117 (and I need someone that speaks clear English to talk to be about making this right)

One item payment has been released the 2nd will be delivered on 1/14, so my "earnings should be available on 1/17.

A buyer messing up on shipping labels should not be charged to sellers and eBay should refund my charges and pay me my earning from my 1st order

huvin-20 · Answer

All of that is done, but a seller should never be charged shipping cost or any issue cost from a buyer trying multiple times to get a correct shipping label. I cancelled all of the incorrect shipping labels or not used shipping labels. I had the weight and dimensions in the description and the label was still not correct. At that point I guess the buyer tried to make it right several times. Regardless we sell to make money, not lose items and money. I will not sell on ebay again, only buy. I have never had an issue buying.

selforfun · Answer

@huvin-20

You are not being charged as a buyer. What you are seeing is how eBay handles shipping labels and corrections, especially on heavy items.

Here is what happened, step by step:

When you buy a shipping label on eBay, the cost is charged directly to your payment method or deducted from available funds.
If a label is created incorrectly and you generate additional labels, each label is charged immediately.
Only labels that are successfully voided within the carrier time window are refunded. Unused or late voids are still charged.
Heavy items like machinery and tires have very high shipping costs, especially if dimensions or weight change even slightly.

Why your bank shows negative amounts:

You created multiple shipping labels on one item due to errors.
Each label charge hits your checking account before the sale payout is released.
If the sale funds are still pending or on hold, shipping charges can temporarily exceed the payout.
This makes it look like you are losing money even though the transaction has not fully settled yet.

About the -$288.93 label charge:

That amount is consistent with multiple heavy freight or oversized labels.
If labels were not voided in time, those charges stand even if the labels were never used.
Once a label is scanned by the carrier, it cannot be voided.

What you need to check immediately:

Go to Shipping labels and review each label status.
https://www.ebay.com/ship/labels/seller-hub
Confirm which labels were used, voided, or missed the void window.
Go to Payments > All transactions and review each charge line by line.
https://www.ebay.com/sh/fin

Important lessons going forward:

Always measure and weigh heavy items before listing.
Double check address, weight, and dimensions before buying a label.
Do not generate multiple labels unless you are certain the previous one was voided.
For very heavy items, consider freight or local pickup instead of standard carriers.

Bottom line:
The charges are shipping label costs, not buyer charges or random fees. The losses came from multiple label purchases on heavy items, not from selling on eBay itself.