Combined Invoice eBay Global Shipping
So, yes, I know we cannot create a combined invoice for international shipments sent via eBay's Global Shipping program. Please read on...
At least once a month I receive a message from an international customer who has purchased multiples of the same type of item. Multiple films, or photos, or postcards. Then I get messages like this:
Of course, my hands are tied. When I explain this to them, they almost always respond with messages claiming I am trying to take advantage of them. I tell them I am restricted to eBay's rules on the matter. Typically, they do not believe me.
My questions to those who know:
1. eBay claims to combine like items for Global shipping. However, I rarely see evidence of this. If an international customer purchases multiples of items that reside in the same eBay category, wouldn't that qualify?
2. Does it help/work for international customers to place items in their cart before checkout? If they send me offers on multiple items and I accept, are those items precluded from being placed in the cart for combination?
3. Is my only recourse in these situations to cancel all the items and populate them into a single listing?
4. Is there any customer facing eBay documentation that spells out the limitations of the Global Shipping Program and how items can and cannot be combined? Sending them a link to seller eIS documentation will not be effective.
I feel like I already know the answers to these questions, but would appreciate any input from those with similar experiences.
jonathanbrightlight
·8 months agoThe only other way I’m aware of to work around that would be to cancel the customer’s orders and relist the items in one listing, which would allow you to ship them together and the buyer would be charged only one time for that shipment.
segestius
·8 months agojonathanbrightlight
Thanks for the suggestion. However, having foreign customers (sometimes with a different language) jump through unfamiliar hoops, may be fraught with peril.
At my age, just like to keep things simple.
jonathanbrightlight
·8 months agoThat’s a completely fair consideration. I would probably judge that on a case by case basis.
deltilogical
·8 months agoYou could just deal direct with USPS...do your own forms and take the risk yourself.
segestius
·8 months agoI have been in contact with the eBay International Shipping Team several times. It does appear that they will allow combined shipping in some instances. My problem is that combined shipments on auctions are not allowed at all... and all of my sales are through auctions.
eBay has told me that they are working with customs officials on this... so the hold-up appears to be customs.
Here is the last communication received from the International Shipping Team, which may help you understand it a little better:
"With eBay International Shipping, combined shipping is only available for select categories of items. If you are eligible to ship combined orders through our program, then items will be automatically combined into one order when your buyer completes their order. You will then be instructed to ship all items in that order in one shipment. If the items are not eligible to be combined and so are placed in separate orders, then you will be instructed to ship each item in its own order separately.
There are several reasons why items may not be combined into one order. If the items are too large to ship together in one package, they will not be combined. If the item values take the order over the limits for the program they will also not be combined. Items that are listed with different international programs cannot be combined. Auction style listings cannot be combined. Finally, items that are DDU (delivery duties unpaid) and items that are DDP (delivery duties paid) cannot be combined into one order.
When your order is processed through our shipping hub, a manifest is generated for customs clearance, and import regulations. This manifest must state every item that is in the parcel, and include a description of each item. "
If you have specific questions / issues you may want to contact the eBay International Shipping Teams directly at: ebayintlshipping@ebay.com
Cheers
sanfordsherman
OP8 months ago@segestius thanks for the reply. You're exactly the person I was wanting to hear from. Sorry to hear about your gross margins being slashed.
"The problem is that eBay has little control over this issue." This is something I did not consider. Do you happen to know what is being discussed/bogged down or where I could read more about this?
segestius
·8 months agoHello Sanfordsherman
I know exactly what you are talking about. My seller account sells about 70 to 80 world coins weekly through eBay auctions. Before the shipping changes, my international sales were about 1/3 of my revenue.
Some of my international customers were buying 8 to 10 coins weekly. So... with the change of not allowing combined shipping... I would have to charge them about $250 ($25 each coin) for shipping these items that would fit into a small envelope. My customers would not have been happy.
My only solution was to discontinue international shipping. I receive one or two e-mails weekly asking why my account does not allow international sales, and just give them an honest answer.
Have given up contacting eBay on this issue, as the responses are always "we are looking at it, and should be making changes soon"
The problem is that eBay has little control over this issue, and they do have people working on it. It is the USPS / Customs people who are dragging their heels on this issue. And bureaucracy always tends to be slow moving... or not moving at all.
It is definitely costin sellers money, and also costing eBay money not having the issue addressed.