Issue when buyer purchases multiple items and ebay not collecting correct shipping $

[camcalli55]

I am having problems with ebay collecting the incorrect amount of money when a seller buys multiples of the same item. I called Ebay and they said I need to set up the shipping preferences but this does appear correct. Here are the 2 situations:

1. Person buys a quantity of 3 of the identical small items. Ebay charges the buyer the regular shipping cost X3. The item purchased is small and I can fit all 3 items in average size box and only the weight increases the shipping cost incrementally. (I did a partial refund for the excessive shipping)

2. Person buys  a quantity of 3 of the identical large items which fit in the allowable USPS box size before UPS charges extra fees for the box size.  There is no extra room in the box and I cannot fit 3 items in the same box.  The items have to be shipping in 3 different boxes or one huge box which will be expensive.  The items don't weigh a lot but take up a lot of physical space.  Ebay charged the seller to ship one box for the combined weight of the three items. I can only send one boxes for the shipping that was collected. (I would lose a ton of money on the shipping if i fulfilled all 3 orders so I cancelled the order.)

On the shipping preference page, "combining shipping cost " only seems to allow the option to combine the weight but there is no consideration for box size or box quantity.  How do I set this so I don't lose money on shipping and sellers are charged a fair price?  Is there a way to set a specific item so it can only be purchased 1 item per box with no combined shipping? Any advise or link to an article would be greatly appreciated (I've looked and haven't found the answer). It is coming into the season where I sell the majority of my large items so I'd like to resolve this as quickly as possible. Thanks for your help!

[wooden_flower]

For calculated shipping, if you can subtract a weight amount for each additional item (it can be minimal), you can set up multiple rules.  Then you add the correct rule to each item.  This would apply to multiples of the same item as well as multiple different items.  Set up the rules here - select edit by combined shipping rules - https://www.ebay.com/ship/prf. You can have lots of rules, so you cauldron make one for 2oz, 4oz, 8oz etc amounts to subtract so you wind up with 0 added shipping.

To stop the system from combining the shipping at all, you do not add any rule to that item/do not check the combined shipping box.

[camcalli55]

Thanks for the info but I still a little lost. Sorry, I'm a little dense these days 😄  Attached is an image of what my settings area (and were).  I don't believe I have combined shipping enabled and by what you just said, if it is not enabled, ebay should be charging for shipping of 3 separate items instead of combined, correct? 

Did ebay make a mistake with the order of 3 items for which they only charged for the additional weight instead of the shipping of 3 boxes? 

[wooden_flower]

You do have combined payments and shipping enabled - see the ‘specified’ by combined payments.  But also, if you are looking at multiple quantities of the same item, it would always be a combined payment unless the buyer bought one, paid, bought another and paid, etc.  

I’m pretty sure that the default for combined calculated shipping is to add all weights together if you have not specified a rule.   So to make the system not combine the weights, you need at least 1 rule that says combine the weights, and then not tag items with that rule when you don’t want it applied.  I know it sounds backwards, but I assume the majority of sellers want the weights combined.

Another way around the combined weight rules would be to use flat rate shipping.  Then you get to specify a dollar amount to charge for each additional quantity of the same item.  So you could have 0 (or some small amount) additional on the light items, and the full amount as the additional on items that require multiple boxes.  You would have to use the shipping calculator to figure out the flat rate, but it looks like it is only an issue for you on a handful of items.

[camcalli55]

Thanks for your assistance.  I've made the edits...fingers crossed.

[mr_lincoln]

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@camcalli55 wrote:

Thanks for the info but I still a little lost. Sorry, I'm a little dense these days 😄  Attached is an image of what my settings area (and were).  I don't believe I have combined shipping enabled and by what you just said, if it is not enabled, ebay should be charging for shipping of 3 separate items instead of combined, correct? 

Did ebay make a mistake with the order of 3 items for which they only charged for the additional weight instead of the shipping of 3 boxes? 

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Hi @camcalli55 

On the page that @wooden_flower supplied look over on the right and click EACH one of the Edit links then read about the Combing options eBay provides.  I use Calculated and have it set so ALL shipping costs are added together and I refund the overage on multiple purchases.  For what I sell there is no "canned" setting that automatically tabulates weights and dimensions because eBay has NO CLUE how I will pack multiple item purchases. 

My listing Descriptions end with a simple "Shipping i combined", then I take it from there.  On larger items I state, "Shipping combined when economical."

Don't expect eBay's program to make perfect adjustments for every variation of possible Combined items ... its just not going to happen.  If you don't want to lose money on shipping then use Calculated on ALL your listings and have the Combined setting ADD All shipping costs ... then refund the Buyer the overage ...

Regards,

Mr. L

[camcalli55]

Thanks. I "think" I have it set correctly now.  eBay doesn't make this straight forward if you can't put items in the one box.  They need a function that says "this order only ships one item purchased per box."  

[mr_lincoln]

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@camcalli55 wrote:

Thanks. I "think" I have it set correctly now.  eBay doesn't make this straight forward if you can't put items in the one box.  They need a function that says "this order only ships one item purchased per box."  

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@camcalli55   While I understand the sentiment the reality is that there are billions of ways multiple purchases can be combined with all Sellers, no programming will ever cover all possibilities.  Even when I state in my listings that I combine shipping some Buyers still ask if I combine shipping ... Some Sellers sell items that fit some of eBay's canned Combining options ... I don't.  One recent multiple item sale included a 6 lbs locomotive and three 13 ounce to 1 lbs freight cars ... when I packed them all together I paid special attention NOT to exceed USPS's Dimensional weight package size spec ... that literally can double the shipping cost depending on destination ...

So you go through what eBay offers and if they don't cover your business profile for what you sell then you go the route I suggested earlier, combine ALL shipping and refund Buyers ...

Regards,

Mr. L