When making an offer and adding a message to the seller don’t assume he’s going to get it. Ebay has some kind of scam going where the message isn’t red.
Summary: rabbitttt shared a frustrating experience with eBay's automated system, where an offer for $153 was automatically accepted, leading to an unexpected charge for high shipping. rabbitttt believed they had specified in a message not to agree to the shipping cost, but the system proceeded without acknowledging this stipulation. Several participants explained that offers are only for item prices and cannot include shipping negotiations, reasoning it was user error and suggesting more careful attention to eBay's policies. In response, rabbitttt defended their position, expressing frustration over the lack of seller response and arguing for better buyer protections. The discussion highlighted differing viewpoints on eBay’s automatic offer acceptance and shipping policies.
I sent the message along with an offer for $153 to purchase an item. The shipping they wanted to charge was close to $70. I knew that they might take the offer of 153 for what they were asking but I thought they were going to read the message that I put that stated I’m agreeing to paying the $153 for the item that you’re selling plus tax. I don’t agree to the shipping costs if you are still wanting sell the item at a reasonable shipping cost I might accept. But instead, the algorithm in eBay took an automatic sell for the seller. Excepted $153 and automatically billed me. He never got the message that said I didn’t wanna pay for the shipping and the algorithm and ebay never even cared so now I’ve waited two days to see if the person is going to refund my money he hasn’t shipped it but I still have to wait then I get a message from him that says you shouldn’t place an offer that you don’t want to accept it does it automatic. Excepted the $153 and automatically billed me. He never got the message that said I didn’t wanna pay for the shipping and the algorithm and ebay never even cared so now I’ve waited two days to see if the person is going to refund my money he hasn’t shipped it but I still have to wait then I get a message from him that says you shouldn’t place an offer that you don’t want to accept it does it automatic I thought that was a Horrible answer, and demanded that I get my money back again the seller did not reply he thought it was my fault and ebay’s fault. If it wasn’t for ebay’s other rules, I probably would not have gotten my money back. This is absolutely ridiculous. I should have at least had the option like I get when I make an offer and somebody makes a counter offer. It doesn’t automatically sell it to me I have to click on it. This was total BS and the fact that I had to worry about if I’m getting my money back so I found now you have to send a message Personally to the seller and ask him to change the price so that this doesn’t happen that works for me but what a bunch of crap
rabbitttt
OP2 weeks ago · Editedso I've got one for you in response to the answers I get ,. I get youre car at my shop and you drop it off in the overnight envelope and you sign it along with what you've asked. I decide not to respond to you because you authorized by signing the bottom (read the fine print you're responsible) but in youre note you write I don't know if I'm going to keep the car. should I ignore that part should I do the repair you want or call you to tell you youre frame is rotted out and its not worth it . legal you sighned and I can do the work but instead I read the note and called to tell you no you shouldn't do the job or keep the car. obviously I know now to message the seller an offer where I can request whatever I want (SHIPPING COST ELIMINATED) and if they don't want to they don't have to and let them change the listing if they want to accept no shipping cost to cover my *** . this is so stupid in the past doing business anywhere a negotiation could be made I've asked people to waive a shipping charge and I'll buy from them and they do . and why do you think people offer free shipping not because they get it for free, they have decided to absorb the cost. so why not ask
grand-and-glorious-purpose
·2 weeks agoShipping is not negotiable through best offer.
This is on you.
Be a better buyer in the future.
rabbitttt
OP2 weeks agoso if I didn't have a payment on file would it have still completed the sale or wouldn't it have asked me for a payment method . what if I wanted to pay with a different method I honestly had no idea there was any payment method of mine on file at eBay all my purchases make me get a text to verify. this is shady business regardless of what you say about shipping people ask me if I'm asking a lot for something not on eBay if I can take the amount of shipping off and they'll buy it so yes you can ask for that and should have the right to say no or not purchase it, and if there's a message that is a stipulation of a CONTRACT and it wasn't read and ignored ,why I received my refund
jonathanbrightlight
·2 weeks agoIt's right there in front of you when you make the offer. It states that if it's accepted your payment method on file (which is shown) will be charged. Just because you overlooked it doesn't make any part of it shady.
It also specifically says the offer is for the item price only and not the shipping, so you're the one that didn't read the "contract".
rabbitttt
OP2 weeks agoIt doesn’t matter what you’re telling me that I did wrong I put a stipulation in a contract and it should’ve been read and not one person has commented on the fact that I asked a question that wasn’t answered before I was billed for something and I didn’t agree Without my question being answered, and regardless, if you think my question was stupid, it should’ve been answered before I was billed for something, especially when it’s a difference between buying it, and not buying it, it was ignored, and all of you are ignoring the fact that I asked this question, and if this was in a court of law, I would win over and over again, regardless of what I saw and did not read. I put in a stipulation that if any seller would have read, they wouldn’t have gone through with the sale. It’s amazing how everybody has become a lawyer
kensgiftshop
·2 weeks agoDoesn't matter what you say while making an offer, the shipping is not part of the offer.
It doesn't matter if the seller read the note or not.
lacemaker3
·2 weeks ago · Edited@rabbitttt
You can't negotiate shipping during an offer. That is eBay's policy. Shipping is not negotiable.
When you make an offer, the shipping price is locked down at whatever is shown in the listing at the time. You were told this when you submitted the offer.
Many times, acceptance of an offer is automatic, if the offer price is above the threshold which was set when the listing was posted. The seller doesn't get a chance to review the offer or read any messages. The offer is accepted automatically.
You were told when you made the offer that shipping was not included/negotiable (whether you noticed that or not). When you followed through and sent the offer, you accepted that condition.
Knowing how much shipping was going to be charged, you should have reduced the amount of your offer so the total would be what you wanted to spend.
jonathanbrightlight
·2 weeks agoYou essentially put an illegal stipulation, or rather, you tried to do something that isn't allowed under policy, so it didn't matter what you wrote, it was non-binding.
The seller should have declined the offer, but they weren't required to. You should have learned and followed the rules.
stainlessenginecovers
·3 weeks agoAs others have stated, you don't get to 'haggle' the shipping. You either agree or don't offer/buy.
dbmm-media
·3 weeks agothe best offer worked the way ebay designed it to do. the seller did nothing wrong. your situation was buyer error
mudshark61369
·3 weeks ago@rabbitttt ,
"But instead, the algorithm in eBay took an automatic sell for the seller. Excepted $153 and automatically billed me".
There is no ebay algorithm. Sellers can set up auto accept or decline price points for offers. So if your offer is within the acceptable level it will be automatically accepted, and the seller will not see your note. Many high volume sellers have that set up to save them time.
As for shipping costs they have been climbing very quickly. Shippers are adding surcharges, and for larger size items they use a dimensional rate even if the item is light weight. It is based on how much space the item takes up in a truck or airline container.
"I should have at least had the option like I get when I make an offer and somebody makes a counter offer. It doesn’t automatically sell it to me I have to click on it".
When you send an offer, depending on the seller's payment rules, you will see under the offer box a line that says, If the seller accepts your offer your payment source will automatically be charged.
whiteparrot2003
·3 weeks ago · EditedAlways send all questions about items/shipping/costs before bidding or buying. It's not the seller's fault you don't understand the process. Glad you got your money back. Most sellers would rather lose the sale than have an unhappy buyer.
momtoabeautifuldaughter
·3 weeks agoThe policy states that your offer is for the item only and shipping is non negotiable.
mtgraves7984
·3 weeks agoFor what it's worth, @rabbitttt ... here's the policy. >> Making a Best Offer | eBay
Shimmy down to the 'Tip' which reads, "Your offer only applies to the item price. Shipping costs and all the other terms specified in the seller’s listing remain the same."
kensgiftshop
·3 weeks agoAn offer is for the item only.
Shipping is not part of the offer, you pay whatever is shown in the listing.