What a mess...what to do...
I bought 7 ACEO's from a seller, actually won them at auction for .99 each. Seller had 2.35 each for s/h so I of course messaged first to ask if she offered combined shipping. She said yes so I bid on them.
I won them and asked for a request total through the cart. Got the dreaded 'seller does not offer combined shipping'. I messaged seller and asked for a revised invoice. Got a message back that the cards would be shipped together in one envelope. Which they were. Is she being deliberately obtuse? I paid 23.38 for the cards and 6.93 was cards and the rest shipping.
I was reminded by eBay to pay, and it was clear to me that the seller was just messing with me and not going to refund anything so I paid the whole thing. I did make it clear to her that I was not happy. This is her final message to me from a few days ago.
"I know you liked my art, but I think it would be best if you no longer purchase any of it.
You will never be a happy camper. I don't like being put in the position I am in. We are done!"
I soooooooooo wanted to reply with something on the order of..."We are NOT done, I still have feedback to leave." But my better sense told me to come here and seek advice. She has perfect feedback, mostly from buying. The cards are nice and I would have cheerfully paid the exorbitant shipping if I had known up front. The total for shipping was 5.10 and it had tracking number which she didn't include in eBay. She also didn't add stiffener or write please do not bend on the envelope. Just threw the cards in willy nilly.
I am not sure what to do. I feel that she deliberately jerked me around and that she makes money off the shipping. Help.
kalyoth
·3 years agoin regards to the combined shipping - any chance it can be flagged for ebay to alter so that that flag is not able to catch anymore for sellers? I hate to make sellers combine shipping, but those buying larger amounts tend to be smaller sized more than not.
moondogblues
OP3 years agoI finally left neutrals explaining the whole deal, and by accident one positive. I don't have the coldness of heart to leave all negs though I probably should have. I'm just not a mean person.
moondogblues
OP3 years agoI opened this thread on the Seller platform because I wanted Seller's views. In all of eBay's wisdom they moved it to Buyer's where no advice is to be found....shame.
chapeau-noir
·3 years agoI think that's a forum mod decision rather than eBay. But might be good to get buyers views.
moondogblues
OP3 years ago"I think that's a forum mod decision rather than eBay. But might be good to get buyers views."
This forum is dead. Maybe too many fireworks...
readabouthorses
·3 years agoI wonder if you would have gotten a different answer from her if you had asked if she would discount the shipping if you bought more than one item instead of asking for combined shipping?
sin-n-dex
·3 years agoI came back to read it (because I got a few helpfuls).
But I don't have much more to say than that I hate being lied to by anyone, and I despise greed. So I'm on your side on this one. If it was strictly economic and no communication took place, I'd probably not sweat the few extra dollars in shipping. I've overpaid shipping some times before, but was never offered any "combined shipping" or "discounted shipping", so I just paid what it said and moved on.
Anyway hopefully some buyers will respond. But lots of sellers also read the buyer's forum (I do sometimes when I have time), so you might still get seller responses.
C.
gone.c-33
·3 years agoUnless I had been given a quote for discounted shipping, I wouldn’t leave the seller less than positive feedback.
moondogblues
OP3 years agoSure hope you never get gouged like this.
gone.c-33
·3 years agoI wouldn’t because I would never bid/buy without getting a quote.
moondogblues
OP3 years ago""In addition, you have 3000 plus feed backs so we're sure you know exactly what do to. Playing feedback extortion is not one of them! and your well aware of what happens when you start playing those games."
Not really sure what you mean by that.
The thread has been moved. I am on my own. All is well.
marculamba
·3 years agoIn addition, you have 3000 plus feed backs so we're sure you know exactly what do to. Playing feedback extortion is not one of them! and your well aware of what happens when you start playing those games.
marculamba
·3 years agoOk first off, the one thing you have to understand is that Item Price and Shipping costs to you are not two separate items. Your paying one total amount to have product X shipped you to. Whatever expenses a seller has to do, to get you the items to your confirmed address is their problem.
You know well off that if a product costs $15.00 and a seller has $5.00 for shipping, The total price is $20.
Another seller could have the item for $20 and free shipping, it does not mean anything the order is $20
Another seller could have the item for $20 and $10 shipping, again $20.
As a buyer, its your responsibility to read the listing prior to bidding. If it said they seller doesn't offer combined shipping then they don't. FIRST dont start paying the games by making threats with FeedBack, first its illegal and it can get you booted off eBay immediately. If you cant work things out with the seller, tell the seller to cancel the transaction and walk away from it. It was not yours in the first place and you haven't paid for the item.
chapeau-noir
·3 years ago😖
(Please enter 10 or more characters here.)
moondogblues
OP3 years ago"As a buyer, its your responsibility to read the listing prior to bidding. If it said they seller doesn't offer combined shipping then they don't. FIRST dont start paying the games by making threats with FeedBack, first its illegal and it can get you booted off eBay immediately. If you cant work things out with the seller, tell the seller to cancel the transaction and walk away from it. It was not yours in the first place and you haven't paid for the item."
Please read the whole thread.
moondogblues
OP3 years ago" It was not yours in the first place and you haven't paid for the item."
I DID pay. Read the thread. I overpaid. Sheesh.
ed8108
·3 years agoYou not only need a seller to confirm a combined shipping discount but the dollar amount that will be refunded.
What if your seller decides not to honor their agreement ?
ms.rodriguez*
·3 years agoYou paid for the items so like they say in Brooklyn, forgetaboutit. The seller lied to you but you paid. I would tell her that she is lucky that she does not have a negative for each one because you agreed to buy more if she discounted and she said that she would. She was dishonest. Yes, I know that the shipping price was there but the seller lied in the email so that overides the shipping costs in my book. It's too late now. If I were you , I would not have paid until I got a combined invoice after the seller promised me 'combined shipping." I would have taken the unpaid strikes too. So leaving her a negative now is pointless. Let it go. Enjoy the little works of art. When you get tired, bundle them and sell them in a lot and try to recover all or most of your money.
legalbeagle52
·3 years agoI can understand why you would be upset with this transaction. It's the kind that makes people afraid to buy on ebay. I buy ACEO's all the time, in fact I am bidding on several as we speak, so I am familiar with the different costs. They are beautiful little pieces of artwork, I have them in frames scattered all though my house, but they are teeny, tiny & we don't usually expect the shipping to be high. The shipping you were charged was ridiculous. As a seller, I would have been embarrassed to charge that.
(Combined shipping to me has always meant discounted.) She told you she would combine shipping & she did not, she sent you a very nasty & uncalled for note & on top of that you weren't thrilled with her packing & I think you said she didn't send you the tracking #. Her age doesn't matter, she sounded plenty coherent in your message to you & it doesn't matter that you paid only .99 as that was on her, not you.
I truly hate to leave negative feedback and I rarely do. I've been on ebay nearly 20 years with several accts. & wouldn't leave a negative for the first 15 yrs. or so ..., so I don't say this lightly ... but in my view she deserves a negative. So you like her work, but she didn't provide you with a pleasant transaction and that is also part of doing business. So it's up to you, but if you were so inclined to leave a negative, I think it would be justified. You sound like a nice, reasonable, thoughtful person! 🙂
Good luck, there are many wonderful sellers of ACEO's on ebay.. They are fun to collect ... Such amazing talent, you will find plenty of others that you will enjoy as much.
moondogblues
OP3 years ago"Good luck, there are many wonderful sellers of ACEO's on ebay.. They are fun to collect ... Such amazing talent, you will find plenty of others that you will enjoy as much."
Thank you for that! I have been collecting them for years now. And have even developed friendships with some of the artists. They are amazing! This one...sheesh.
chapeau-noir
·3 years ago"Combine shipping" is different than "combine items/packing" - if the seller had been truly confused, she wouldn't have jumped the gun with that message telling OP to get lost, she knows what she's doing.
All things do not need to be resolved and having the last word is generally over rated - I'd say just do what you can live with - I'm kind of crunchy so I try to err on the side of honest kindness rather than letting my temper go. In the end it sounds like 7 pieces of nice artwork for $25 or whatever - that seller isn't going to do well with those business practices, though, and that's unfortunate. She needs to respect her art and not fall into the .99 auction trap.
stuff4divas
·3 years ago@moondogblues When a buyer asks a seller to combine shipping, it is understood that the purpose is to get a discount on shipping cost. If the seller acts otherwise, especially after the fact, they are playing word games.
Here is eBay policy> https://www.ebay.com/help/buying/shipping-delivery/shipping-rates/saving-combined-shipping?id=4063&st=12&pos=1&query=Saving%20through%20combined%20shipping&intent=combined%20shipping&docId=HELP1020
I definitely would leave a negative with the comments already suggested in the other posts, bc you got 'jerked around' and lied to.
That was a horrible way to treat a buyer and on top of it, leave such a nasty message to you.
She may not have liked that u won at such a low price, but that is not ur fault, it's on the seller for not starting the auction at a higher price.
sin-n-dex
·3 years agoI've been promised discounted shipping in a listing, and in the end the seller never sent a combined shipping invoice and just let eBay keep warning me I had to pay or get a strike. I ended up paying the full price to avoid the strike, even though the seller said specifically in the listing how many items and how much. I did not leave him negative feedback, I just took my business elsewhere.
What would do it for me in the OP's situation is the nasty message after all that jerking around... that would inspire me to leave a neg because I'd be angry about being treated like that over what might have just been a misunderstanding between two people.
C.
momtoabeautifuldaughter
·3 years agoYou are confusing combined shipping (all items in 1 package) with a combined discount (less shipping when you buy multiple items)
She even told you what envelope she would use and that it fits 6 cards....
moondogblues
OP3 years ago"She even told you what envelope she would use and that it fits 6 cards...."
She also said TWICE that she would pay the shipping. I assumed (silly me) that she would pay what it cost and refund me the rest, minus the silly little envelope.
sin-n-dex
·3 years agoLeave factual, appropriate feedback. Seller promised to provide combined shipping so I bid on x number of lots. Request an invoice with combined shipping and seller refused to provide. Paid full shipping on the invoice and seller did not refund any to reimburse me for the combined shipping she offered before I bid. Then seller sent me a nasty message and told me to take my business elsewhere.
that's about all. I rarely if ever leave negs, but I would in your shoes.
C.
chapeau-noir
·3 years agoAs it was, if I understand correctly, it wasn't even fee avoidance - she still will be paying fees on all that shipping. If she had combined shipping and sent an invoice for everything (including a bit lower shipping, but still enough to give her some decent money - I would have understood, myself), her fees bill would have been cheaper.
You could chose not to leave feedback at all, but I would not leave a positive. I would just upfront tell her that I would have appreciated simple honesty and not nasty messages taking her frustration out on me, as I would have understood if she needed to charge more, as we're all fighting the same battle.
femmefan1946
·3 years agoLess than $20 for six pieces of art.
The seller should have priced them at $3.99 each with Free Shipping and there would have been no argument.
Buyers hate to pay shipping. Buyers hate even more to pay shipping that is greater than the purchase price.
This has nothing to do with reality and a lot to do with visceral reaction.
moondogblues
OP3 years agoI agree. It was 23.38 or so. I would have been more than happy with that UP FRONT. But being lied to just isn't in my happy camper ballpark.
fashunu4eeuh
·3 years agoHi @moondogblues sorry this happened to you. It is up to you as to whether you want to proceed or just put this behind you.
If pursuing it, I think you could consider reporting this seller for potentially violating the Shipping policy, and the Fee Avoidance policy.
eBay’s shipping policy reads as follows:
â€Only include shipping charges that are actually incurred and are related to the cost of shipping and handling the items being delivered
https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/default/shipping-policy?id=5035
It doesn’t actually say it is a violation to make a profit off shipping, but it strongly implies it. And the seller charged you an excess over the amount of his actual costs, which is not allowed.
Then there is this policy:
https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/selling-policies/selling-practices-policy/ebay-fee-avoidance-policy?id=4354
In the Fee Avoidance policy, it stipulates that charging a buyer more than the actual costs to package and ship should not be passed onto the buyer. It reads as follows:
“Examples of avoiding fees includes making offers to buy or sell outside of eBay, requiring the buyer to make additional purchases, or charging excessive shipping fees.â€
Under the circumstances, you inquired about combined shipping upfront, and the seller assented, therefore you expected a cost savings. So I am wondering if you could make a case for excessive shipping. And that it was unreasonable for the seller to have charged much more than their actual shipping costs incurred, which was $5.10 postage, and whatever their cost for a manilla envelope, and a handling charge, if any.
It was after the fact that you see the seller profited from an excess shipping charge. But i also believed that when the seller assented to combined shipping, that meant a discounted shipping for you. Otherwise you would not have bid on the items. (So in future, you’ll know to pinpoint a seller by asking if they combine shipping for a discounted postage rate for you as the buyer.)
I believe i would not keep the items, but return for a full refund, as promised in the seller’s listings. But only if the entire amount is refunded.
moondogblues
OP3 years ago"I believe i would not keep the items, but return for a full refund, as promised in the seller’s listings. But only if the entire amount is refunded."
I am on the fence at this as well. We lost our last dog, a Puggle named Livvie, in April, and I was looking for ACEO's that looked like her. I am NOT looking for the sympathy vote here. We were her humans for 13 wonderful years. But now the cards seem a bit tainted to me. I am an artist also. And a singer/songwriter. Published writer. And 71. Does that give me a hall pass?
I have decided not to send them back. And will mull over all the responses here and my own gut reaction.
moondogblues
OP3 years agoI so want to tell her how I really feel. Maybe a last message before the negs. Arghhh, the vodka is getting to me. I still really appreciate the responses. I don't believe I have left maybe one neg in my 20 plus years here. Over three accounts and thousands of buys and sells.
nanniestreasurechest
·3 years agoYou still got a good deal for someone's original art even with paying the shipping but if she said she would combine shipping she should have refunded part of the shipping. It would have probably made me a little angry also if they didn't follow through with what they said they would do regardless of the great deal. $.99 for ACEO's blows my mind anyway. That's why it's hard for more serious artists to get a decent price for their work.
chapeau-noir
·3 years agoShe sure didn't respect her art much to be just tossing it into an envelope any old way. Sheesh.
femmefan1946
·3 years agoThe total for shipping was 5.10 and it had tracking number which she didn't include in eBay.
She may have added that after having an argument with you.
I use Free Shipping and usually don't track, but when I pay more to add it, it's because of something the buyer did.
She also didn't add stiffener or write please do not bend on the envelope. Just threw the cards in willy nilly.
If the cards were damaged, you can open a Not As Described.
But not adding a stiffener is just stupid and lazy.
moondogblues
OP3 years ago"I tried to 'request' a total through the shopping cart and got the message 'seller has disallowed combined shipping'. What is my next step, or can you adjust the shipping from your end?
Thanks!
Her reply: "I have them in one envelope (6 x 9) and am paying for the postage. Thay are in the mail."
Then eBay reminded me to pay so I did. Then sent this: "You never had a solution to the problem. There never was combined shipping. I just paid the whole amount, less than 6 dollars for the cards and over 14.00 for shipping. Not a happy camper."
moondogblues
OP3 years agoOrangehound...I just don't like being lied to, or jerked around.
moondogblues
OP3 years agoHer age shouldn't matter...I am 71. And would never have done this. Here is the first message she sent as a reply to my query.
"Yes, I do combined shipping. Not a problem. I have six by 9 Yellow envelopes holding six cards, and I cover the postage."
This led me to believe that I would be getting a revised invoice, and then she basically just ignored me.
house*of*paws
·3 years agoHi @moondogblues
I’m very sorry this happened … but you weren’t really lied to. However, you did ask the wrong question.
’Combining shipping’ technically means shipping more than one item in the same package. What you needed to ask was whether shipping was discounted if you win more than one item … OR, better yet, ask for the specific shipping cost to your ZIP Code for each additional item you win.
When an item is listed as an auction … a seller would lose money if you win multiple items at 99 cents each and expect to pay shipping cost for one.
[I believe you would hurt yourself with future sellers if you leave the seller a string of negs or neutrals for what sounds like miscommunication.]
sin-n-dex
·3 years agoAs a seller, I get asked in all different forms about a shipping discount... combined shipping, discounted shipping, reduction on shipping for more than one, how much if I buy 3... I know what they are asking when they ask, I'm experienced at selling things. Anyone who is experienced at selling things knows what the question means.
If the seller in question wasn't completely obtuse, then they were nit picking word by word to ensure they answered correctly to the question asked, but ignored what was really being asked by the buyer.
Not related to a shipping price... one buyer messaged me a laundry list of instructions on how to ship a Plug-in Module (industrial computer part). I said "if you're worried about static, it goes in a non static bag inside a box". The response I got was that I answered correctly, but few sellers know how to properly pack them, so he gives instructions instead of asking questions. I knew what he was getting at, and answered what he really wanted to know.
If someone is telling me they want combined shipping, I am taking that to mean "combined shipping costs", and I'm also expecting to be charged relatively close to the cost of shipping plus a couple dollars or so for handling. (The handling I expect to pay goes up when things require lots of time packing, like the giant stamp albums I order).
C.
house*of*paws
·3 years agoI replied to the OP's post which was Msg. #9 ... and read the subsequent posts afterwards, which contained additional information. I probably wouldn't have responded as such had I read the whole thread.
That said, we really don't know the seller's selling experience ... so I think there really could have been an initial miscommunication. Clues to the seller being fairly new:
Anyway, I'm still unclear about whether the seller actually understood what was being asked. Good artists and good sellers rarely share the same DNA. They are very incompatible traits. 😉
house*of*paws
·3 years ago[Ran out of editing time.]
The ONLY way I would approach a seller about combining shipping is to ask: I am interested in buying the following items from you: (list Item Numbers). What would be the total shipping cost to ZIP Code 12345?
moondogblues
OP3 years agoI appreciate everyone's views. But if a seller wants 3.50 for a card then they should list it for 3.50. Maxine, love your comment. Made me laugh. The envelope did have a bit of padding though. Not much but a bit, and she did put the cards in plastic sleeves so there is that. She also included a note that says "Thank you for all of your continuing support. I'm so happy you enjoy my art." That made me laugh too, tho I won't be doing any support 'continuing' or otherwise.
dqdistribution
·3 years agoCombine shipping sometimes only does mean putting in a single package.
I don't agree with if the seller wants $3.50 they should list it for $3.50.
They listed it for what they wanted, and you accepted it.
orangehound
·3 years agoI would assume there is a communication break-down, and she is not being obtuse.
The bottom line is that you are paying $3.50 for original art in an ACEO size. You are not getting ripped off, so enjoy the beauty she created for you and the world, and put aside the unnecessary stress of hassling over a few dollars.
maxine*j
·3 years agoIt depends upon your own mood, really.
If you would have paid the total, had you not been given to think you'd get the cards for less, you could let it go or perhaps leave a neutral, noting the poor packing.
If you're in the mood to neg, it would be legitimate to say: Nice artwork but seller reneged on promise to combine shipping, so I paid over three times the actual shipping cost for seven ACEOs mailed loose and unprotected in an unpadded envelope.
If she thinks you have an attitude, you could let her see what a real attitude is like.
-
moondogblues
OP3 years agoIf the seller had been upfront with me then I wouldn't be upset. I tried to copy/paste the whole message chain but eBay kept disallowing it, even though I had no names. The cards weren't damaged luckily so I am going to keep them. It was the way she just danced around the real issue that bugs me the most. Unless she is really stupid and thinks combined shipping is just using one envelope to mail the cards...then she lied to me.
vintage-camerastuff
·3 years agoYou can always leave her neutral feedback because of not following through with combined shipping as promised.
momtoabeautifuldaughter
·3 years agodqdistribution
·3 years agoI'm more on that side that it was just a request to put order in a single package.
I don't see anywhere where the buyer suggested a discount.
ed8108
·3 years agoBuyer purchased 7 cards & was charged & paid $2.35 the individual mailing on each, seller combined shipping as requested into one envelope & pocketed the shipping cost savings.
Transparency needed
In reply to buyer's inquiry about combined shipping before entering bids, should seller have disclosed to buyer there would be no discount on the shipping of multiple cards won ?
How likely that seller in the absence of an inquiry on combined shipping would then send buyer 7 individual mailings ?
moondogblues
OP3 years ago"I don't see anywhere where the buyer suggested a discount."
Then you haven't been here very long. Common knowledge is that Combined Shipping means a savings for the buyer. Her shipping was 5.10...I paid three times that. Oh and an envelope. I used to sell here, so I know what happened. She gets to keep the inflated shipping, I get to pay extra. I probably would have bought a lot more cards from her.
sin-n-dex
·3 years agowhen someone says combined shipping, I expect them to mean "combine items and charge appropriately" not just charge the same shipping and put it all in one package.
C.
downunder-61
·3 years agoIt is, you should have asked if they ''discount'' for combined shipping.
dqdistribution
·3 years agoI'm split on this situtation.
I see the seller told you they would combine but doesn't mention if they will reimburse you.
You only paid what you agreed to pay. When you bid on the auction you accepted the potential S/H.
Many of the sellers on the platform make a bit from the S/H, especially when the item they sell is only 0.99.
If the product is damaged because they didn't ship it right and you want to return then follow what @ebooksdiva said.
If you want to keep it, you may have to just accept the S/H.
You can always leave negative feedback.
moondogblues
OP3 years ago"I see the seller told you they would combine but doesn't mention if they will reimburse you.
You only paid what you agreed to pay. When you bid on the auction you accepted the potential S/H."
Robbie, I always ask about combined shipping before I bid or buy. Which I did, and she told me yes. So I was bidding in good faith that I would get a break on the shipping.
fern*wood
·3 years agoIn the future I would be sure to add "discounted" to your combined shipping question.
sin-n-dex
·3 years agoIt's because of sellers like her, that my buyers don't trust me when I tell them the shopping cart is glitchy and I will refund over payments. Some buyers trust me and pay excessive amounts in shipping because they want the items, and trust I will not keep $40 in shipping on something that costs $8.30 to ship. Other buyers ask about combined shipping but shop elsewhere because they can't request a total (I have it set up to combine shipping, but only some buyers are able to request a total), they don't trust they'll get refunded because so many sellers wouldn't refund anything that was overpaid.
C.
dqdistribution
·3 years agoI don't trust a single seller, and trust what eBay shows me I'm obligated to pay.
The agreement that is made is based on what eBay shows, not what anyone says.
sin-n-dex
·3 years agoI'm in a similar boat that if eBay says I pay X, I just do it, and don't expect any special favours. Generally when I want something, a few dollars in combined shipping is not going to make a big difference in the big picture. I live with someone who will walk 2 miles further to the store to save 20 cents on a package of Oreos. I think my time is worth money, I go to the closest store and pay the price. If I don't like the price, I just don't buy it. (I was telling my dad earlier today I stopped buying crackers because they are now $7 a box).
C.
theteamsetguy
·3 years agoI would give the 81 year old seller a break. She deserves it.
chapeau-noir
·3 years agoNo age card - older does not excuse incompetence.
@moondogblues That seller has shuffled you off in a typically passive-agressive manner. I would leave an appropriate feedback. If she was going to charge you all that shipping anyway, she could have done a better job packing, that would have gone a long way, but she didn't even go that far, and evidently refuses to learn the lesson of not starting her art at 99 cents.
Unavailable member
·3 years agoIf the items you purchased are not in the condition stated in the listing , open a return for “doesn’t match pictures or description†upload a picture of damaged items, follow the prompts. The seller has 3 days to issue you a return label( the seller will be paying return shipping) when you receive the return label pack up the items and mail them out. When the seller receives the return they have 2 days to issue a refund. If by the third day they haven’t done that you can go back to the return request and ask eBay to step in.
Good luck.