Two problems with Combined Postage

[petermyersaus]

When buying multiple items from one Seller, in eBay Australia:

(1) When not using the Cart, if you pay with Paypal, and need Combined Postage, you need to Request an Invoice from the Seller, but you can't any more. There used to be 2-step buying - a button called "Commit to Buy", after which you could request an Invoice, then Pay in a 2nd step. But now it only offers one-step buying - the "Commit and Pay" button offers no opportunity to get an Invoice with Combined Postage.

(2) If you use the Cart, "Request Total from Seller" is greyed out in certain circumstances, preventing Combined Postage.

Two days ago, I was trying to buy packets of seeds from martin8879. He offers Combined Postage; I bought about 15 packets. At first I tried to use the Cart. After adding various packets of seeds to it, I tried to click "Request Total from Seller", but that button was greyed-out. A note next to it says "You can't request a total because the seller has already offered a discount for these items." That refers to his Free Postage if you spend over $20 in one invoice.

[comics-scifi-collectibles]

#1 is because Ebay is now requiring immediate payment for some purchases ( that's what's happening here in USA)   OR because the seller did not set up their account for combined shipping.

The seller needs to set up their account like this:   

My Ebay> Account> Site Preferences > Shipping Preferences> Offer Combined Payments and Shipping choose YES

#2 The system can not process the combined shipping because of the discount offer.    The seller should just charge free shipping then offer a higher discount for more items if they wished.  

Currently that's the only work around for this problem.  Other than seller issuing you a refund on paypal for the shipping overcharge.      Ebay is aware of this issue.  

[startagaintoday]

It is over 12 months later and I have the same problem.