Can Someone Explain This?
Summary: grann-4629 shared an issue where a purchase had unexpected shipping charges despite initially showing free shipping. Participants discussed various reasons for the discrepancy, including incorrect country selection in shipping details. It was clarified that free shipping applied only within the US, and grann-4629 had selected the United States instead of Canada. The misunderstanding was concluded with acknowledgments of the error and thanks for the assistance.
Tried a BIN due to good price and free shipping. On checkout, a sudden charge for shipping was added making the purchase idea not so good. Should this be reported?
16 comments
grann-4629
OP2 weeks agoI have my answer ... thanks everyone for pointing out my error in missing the United States in the shipping box. I have asked the mods to close the thread with thanks (can't find best answer button we had on the old forum).
The bizarre thing is, they have declined to close the thread I started!
mudshark61369
·2 weeks ago@grann-4629 ,
Haven't you noticed yet that in the U.S. our ZIP CODES do not have letters in them? Since you seem to buy fairly often from U.S. sellers it would behoove you to check out our Postal Service's international shipping options. Media Mail is not one of them.
I used to buy items from Canada fairly often and looked up Canada Posts, international shipping options so I'd at least know how long it would take on average a package to reach Windsor which is the nearest border city to the Detroit area where I live. Items I've bought from Vancouver B.C. based sellers are sent to Windsor before crossing the border.
Had you changed the Country/region box to Canada and then put in your Postal Code, you would have seen that Free Shipping disappeared.
grann-4629
OP2 weeks agoI don't buy 'fairly often' from US sellers ... maybe 3 times out of 50+ buys. It's going to be even less now with the upcoming USPS price increase and the already ridiculous eIS charges to move an item across an invisible border 😞
lacemaker3
·2 weeks ago · Edited@grann-4629 ,
You didn't change the ship-to country, in your screen shot it still says United States. Even though you put your postal code in, it is still showing the shipping price for the USA, not your location in Canada.
If you had changed the country as well, then you should have seen the correct shipping cost.
grann-4629
OP2 weeks agoThank you!
Would somebody please explain to that eBay AI thing that the United States does not use Postal Codes?
lacemaker3
·2 weeks agoSorry, but we are talking about computers here.
The age-old rule still applies: Garbage in, garbage out
lady_madonna
·2 weeks ago@grann-4629
Things cannot be "explained" to "that eBay AI thing".
AI has nothing to do with the shipping details on listings.
You mistakenly entered "United States" as the country destination. Not AI's fault.
grann-4629
OP2 weeks agoI didn't mistakenly enter anything ... I just didn't notice the default Country, only the Postal Code.
lady_madonna
·2 weeks ago@grann-4629 Sorry 'bout that! I misspoke, should have said you mistakenly did not change the country shipping destination.
gone.c-33
·2 weeks agoWhen it comes to international shipping, it’s calculated by country of destination, not postal code of destination.
You HAVE to select a different country for the shipping calculator to switch from domestic to international.
shire123
·2 weeks agoNote sure free delivery would apply for items from the US to Canada.
chapeau-noir
·2 weeks agoFree shipping applies to any destination if the seller desires it, but did this have free shipping only to the US?
grann-4629
OP2 weeks agoNo. I did a refresh on the shipping page and it stated Free Shipping to my Postal Code in Canada. Seller apparently wasn't aware of this eIS cluster**** and apologized for the confusion.
lacemaker3
·2 weeks ago · EditedI'm sorry, but technically, it stated free shipping to your Postal Code in the United States, not in Canada.
It is free shipping to anywhere in the US, so it would have been free if your Postal Code had been in the US.
It probably just ignored that data point. Computers are excessively logical, but they don't have any common sense. They will stick with the programmed logic, even if it doesn't make any sense.
kensgiftshop
·2 weeks agoYou should change the country to Canada,
grann-4629
OP2 weeks agoApparently it doesn't as verified by the seller thru eBay messaging. The shipping costs shown on these listings is as clear as mud. Rather than state free shipping in the listing, the seller should add:
Shipping to eBay Hub = Free
eIS Shipping Graft to Buyer = $12.00