message from an overseas buyer that I can't understand
hello
someone from Australia bought me a jewelry lot
and he sent me a message telling me this
Could you help me merge them and mail them
I responded
Hello
You won one lot.
I use eBay's international shipping service, I don't know if it's possible to combine orders through that.
thank you
he responded
Give it a try, or there will be too many
I responded
Unfortunately, I cannot send the invoice through eBay's international shipping system.
I don't think it's possible to combine shipping because the system won't let me send you the invoice.
I don't understand why you want to combine shipping?
thank you
16 comments
squinkercat59
·8 months agoI agree with mspirit57's assessment; I have had overseas buyers ask about this also: they want to combine orders from different sellers into one box to save on shipping costs, which is not possible as the packages might not even be going to the same hubs. The buyer should've asked about that first before he purchased.
a_c_green
·8 months agoIt's also not possible because that seller has zero ability to intermix his order with anyone else's.
squinkercat59
·8 months agoYes, obviously, but I was trying to give an explanation the seller could pass on to the buyer that they could easily understand. They expect Ebay, and the sellers, to sort it all out for them. Overseas buyers don't realize just how enormous this country is, and that there would be more than one hub.
A Japanese-American friend of mine had her Japanese aunt come for a visit. My friend lived in the Chicago area, and took her aunt to see the (then) Sears Tower and some other sites around the area; the aunt then said she wanted to go see Niagara Falls, the Grand Canyon, and the Bay Bridge the next day. No concept at all, at the size of the U.S.
itsjustasprain
·8 months agoThe reason the OP cannot help the buyer is because EIS orders cannot be combined. With that in mind, it does not matter whether there is one hub or more than one.
iamalwaysright
·8 months agoReally? I’ve sold tons of items to overseas buyers and I’ve actually never had a buyer ask me this. At least I know what to expect once I get one that asks.
powell-collectibles
·8 months agoYes, you can combine shipping through EIS. I've done it a couple of times, but I accept that there is some human-error risk involved. What I've done is write all of those EIS transaction ID's on the package, loud and clear, front and center. I've only done it when buyer does something like make 9 separate transactions instead of adding all to his cart and purchasing. I really had to cross my fingers each time I did it - but it worked out well.
soh.maryl
·8 months agoA "lot" is by definition just one item, a collection, more or less, of several or even many items, usually similar. I see that you have sold quite a few lots.
If this buyer bought just one lot, it's one transaction, one item, in eBay's eyes and will be sent by you in one box.
Am fairly certain that, even if he purchased more than one lot, since you use EIS, it cannot be combined.
fullers_uk
·9 months agoDont do it, they could get ilegal items sent to you to get sent on, the items they want to merge may not even be from ebay and they bought your item as a cover up for something.
soh.maryl
·8 months agoSorry, but your message makes no sense.
This seller evidently sold at least one lot to a buyer who might possibly think that each item in the lot will be packaged and shipped separately. That's not the way it works and several of us have explained that. And if a seller uses EIS or even another freight forwarder, two different transactions can't be combined.
How could illegal items be sent to the seller to be sent on?
colnwan_0
·9 months agoThe buyer likely wants to 'merge' them because international shipping to Australia is expensive. If they bought multiple items separately, they are being charged individual international shipping fees and import duties for each one. If the buyer hasn't paid yet, the cleanest way to help them is to cancel the individual orders (use 'Buyer requested' as the reason) and create a single 'Reserved Bundle Listing' for them containing all the items at the total price. This allows them to pay one shipping fee.
mspirit57
·9 months agoBuyer most likely purchased more than one item -- from more than one seller -- and thinks "eBay" is shipping and wants them all shipped together.
cristian3_6
OP9 months agoHello, thank you for the reply.
But if I send two boxes, it will be in a very large box, which might cost the buyer more.
cristian3_6
OP9 months agoHow can I modify the shipping price?
How can I combine shipping if eBay doesn't let me send the invoice because it's an international sale?
iamalwaysright
·9 months agoCombine with what exactly??? I’m sorry but your post is actually confusing to me and I assumed some details when I wrote my reply because you didn’t state them. Let’s back up to clarify.
You mentioned you told the buyer they won “one lot.†What does that mean? How many transactions (order numbers) do you have with this buyer? I assumed you only had one order number.
soh.maryl
·8 months agoGets more confusing by the minute. OP first stated that only one lot was sold, then later asked about combined shipping as if there were more than one lot sold. Maybe that buyer just asked the seller if he bought more than one lot whether or not they could be combined. We don't know.
iamalwaysright
·9 months agoType this to your buyer
“My records show that you only won one lot, which is being shipped in one package. What are you asking to combine these with? Please clarify. Thanks.â€
Is it possible the buyer thinks you’re shipping each item in his lot separately? I haven’t bothered to check what you actually sold.