Sending Invoice before payment

[brw00]

I just tried to help a buyer with combined shipping and multiple items that she wanted to purchase.  I thought if she added the items to her cart and requested an invoice, I could correct some discounts I was giving and combine the shipping so that would be discounted also.  It didn't work.  

Can a buyer still request an invoice?  This isn't the first time that I have gone through this and "help" is no help".  At least I couldn't find anything.  These items were all "buy it now" items.  The "help" info seems to have been dealing with auction items.

[comics-scifi-collectibles]

@brw00   The option for buyers to request an invoice doesn't work on the app or if it's a GSP order.  If they have committed buy the items and they are in your awaiting payment section you can initiate the invoice

 You can only adjust the shipping on an invoice,  not the item price.  

Here's how to combine shipping as long as it's not a Global Shipping Program order. You can't combine shipping on GSP orders without a bit more work.

This is how I handle combined shipping if the buyer doesn't request an invoice>

If the buyer has not paid yet:

Go to your sold listings on a PC and select send invoice from next to one item. The next page will then have all of the items from your buyer. Weigh and measure the new package and then adjust the shipping price.

Look up the shipping price using this tool: https://www.ebay.com/shp/Calculator

Here's how to send an invoice:

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/getting-paid/sending-invoices-buyers?id=4139&st=12&pos=1&query=Sen...

If the buyer has already paid:

Go to the sold item and select Send Refund from the drop-down menu next to the item.
Next screen select the reason for the refund> enter the amount> submit I like to take some off of each item and not the order total just in case on item is returned.

eBay does not refund your seller's fees on the portion you refund so keep that in mind when making a partial refund.  

When you print the labels if the buyer paid without an invoice then be sure to select all items then select print shipping labels from the top the list.   This will then apply the tracking to all items in your order, this is very important.  

I suggest you allow combined shipping in your account settings so that in the future buyers can request an invoice from their cart:

https://www.ebay.com/ship/prf

I set my combined shipping date to 7 days as I occasionally run auctions.  

[wooden_flower]

A buyer can request an invoice if you have enabled combined payments.

1. On the Manage shipping settings - opens in new window or tab page, select Edit beside Allow combined payments and shipping.
2. Choose the time period during which you're willing to combine payment for purchased items and select Save.  3 days is usually sufficient.

Your buyer may need to remove one item from her cart and then add it again to prompt the system to look for combined payments.

[brw00]

I do have "allowed" combined payments and 3 days selected.  Even though I told her to place her items in her cart, she just ended up purchasing everything.  I am not sure if this is a problem that people aren't familiar with the process but it happens this way most of the time.  And then I have to issue a refund.  I just don't know anything more I can do as I obviously can't see what they see.

[brw00]

You have some very interesting information but unfortunately it doesn't work for me.  I don't do GSP.  My items don't weight the same so I don't have combined shipping selected.  I know in the past (who knows when as I have been selling on Ebay for at least 10 years.)  I have used invoices.  And I thought at one point it did allow discounts and shipping fee adjustments.  

My question to you is how does a customer buy something and not have to pay for it.  My items are all buy it now.  Even if I say "Don't Pay!!"  they still do. If I could keep them from paying then I could send an invoice. Again, I can't see what the choices are.   I'm pretty sure that when you purchase something that is listed "buy it now", payment is automatic..  I need to buy something!!

Thanks for all your help.

[wooden_flower]

Ah, sorry, I thought you asking how to make it work.  Unfortunately, you can't make buyer read or follow instructions.  I used to have buyers purchase 30 items one at a time, then message me asking for combined shipping. 😞

[brw00]

As a follow up to this thread, I refunded the amount that was due to the customer for her promised discount.  What I didn't realize at the time was the fact that I could not go back and select the refund for combined shipping discount.  Now I still owe her money.

[comics-scifi-collectibles]

@brw00. There is currently a site wide issue affecting partial refunds for shipping.     I just called because I couldn't issue a partial refund.  

I am going to ask the buyer for their PayPal email address and issue the refund as friends and family.   

You are allowed to share contact information after a recent sale. 

  Only draw back is you don't get your sellers fees back on the partial refund this way.   Not a big deal for me since I am only refunding $3